Tennessee State Board of Nursing · RN

0 hours. Every two years. Tied to your license anniversary.

Below is exactly what Tennessee State Board of Nursing requires: mandatory topics, exemptions, accepted credit types, and documentation rules.

Updated April 2026Sourced from TSBN~6 min read

Compiled by Atlas CME from official board sources · Last updated April 25, 2026

Mandatory topics

Tennessee has no state-mandated topic requirements beyond the 0-hour total.

Atlas CME tracks each of these mandatory topics against your Tennessee cycle automatically. Start tracking free →
Conditional requirements

These rules apply only when the trigger described under each card is met (for example, holding a state-issued controlled substance registration or treating a specific patient population). Each cites the underlying statute or rule directly.

ConditionalGeneral[1]
Hrs vary
One-time

Nurses reactivating after more than 5 years of inactivity must demonstrate competency through one of several options including 10 CE hours per year of inactivity

View sourceVerbatim from source
“Nurses seeking to reactivate their licenses after more than five (5) years break from practice, shall submit proof of one (1) of the following as evidence of continued nursing competence: (a) Ten (10) contact hours of continuing education for each year of inactivity.”
Tenn. Comp. R. & Regs. 1000-01-.18(4)See source [1] in Primary Sources
Accepted credit

Credit must come from an organization accredited by the ACCME, AMA, Tennessee Medical Association, or AAFP. ACGME residency or fellowship time accrues toward the requirement. Teaching or presenting accredited CME can satisfy a portion of required hours.

Credit systemNotes
ANCC Contact Hour
CE from nationally recognized certification bodies, accredited nursing programs, and board-approved providers accepted. CE Broker is the official tracking system for the Tennessee Board of Nursing — licensees have a complimentary Basic Account.SourceTenn. Comp. R. & Regs. 1000-01-.18
Board-approved credit
In-service education and CE applicable to nursing practice accepted. CE Broker tracks approved providers.SourceTenn. Comp. R. & Regs. 1000-01-.18(2)(a)(9)
Documentation & audit

Documentation must be retained for 4 years from when the competency requirements were completed. Licensees must produce evidence within 30 days of a board request.

Waivers & exemptions

Nurses who have not practiced for five years or more and do not intend to practice in the future are not required to comply with the competency rule.

FAQ
What counts as qualifying CE for Tennessee RN renewal?
When a Tennessee nurse uses the CE pathway (10 contact hours as one of their two competency items), the CE must be continuing education or in-service education applicable to nursing practice, as specified by Rule 1000-01-.18(2)(a)(9). The CE must include instruction in the Tennessee Department of Health's treatment guidelines on opioids, benzodiazepines, barbiturates, and carisoprodol. CE from nationally recognized certification bodies, accredited nursing programs, and board-approved providers generally qualifies. CE Broker is the official tracking platform and is the best resource for verifying provider approvals.
Is Tennessee in the Nursing Licensure Compact (NLC)?
Yes. Tennessee is an NLC compact member, meaning eligible Tennessee RNs hold a multistate license that authorizes nursing practice in all other member states. CE and competency obligations for renewal are governed by the nurse's home state — the state where the nurse has primary legal residence. Tennessee nurses residing in Tennessee renew with TNBON and must document two competency items per biennial renewal period under Tenn. Comp. R. & Regs. 1000-01-.18.
What is the "two-item" competency rule in Tennessee?
Tennessee's Rule 1000-01-.18 requires every active licensee to maintain a personal file documenting evidence of continued competency through at least two items from the approved list during each renewal period. The fourteen options include employer evaluations, national certification maintenance, 10-hour CE completion, academic enrollment, published articles, volunteer nursing work, student education, board-approved programs, and NCLEX re-examination. Choosing any two qualifying items constitutes compliance — no single item is mandatory for all nurses. Documentation must be retained for four years and produced within 30 days of a board request.
Where can I check my Tennessee RN license renewal date?
Tennessee nurses can verify their license status and expiration date through the Tennessee Department of Health Health Licensure Verification portal at https://apps.health.tn.gov/Licensure/. The Tennessee State Board of Nursing's main page is at https://www.tn.gov/health/licensure/nurs.html. CE Broker also tracks license status for enrolled Tennessee licensees. Renewal notices are sent by TNBON prior to the license expiration date.

Never miss a Tennessee CME deadline.

Atlas CME tracks your hours, maps them to your state requirements, and reminds you before your your license anniversary renewal.

Start tracking freeSee how it works

Other roles in Tennessee

Registered Nurses CME requirements in other states

Sources & Citations

Every mandatory topic and conditional requirement above cites the underlying statute or rule. Numbered references below correspond to the bracketed citations next to each requirement.

  1. Tenn. Comp. R. & Regs. 1000-01-.18 — Standards of Nursing Competence (April 2026 PDF)
    Primary sourceAccessed 2026-04-24
    Show verbatim text
    “Nurses seeking to reactivate their licenses after more than five (5) years break from practice, shall submit proof of one (1) of the following as evidence of continued nursing competence: (a) Ten (10) contact hours of continuing education for each year of inactivity.”Tenn. Comp. R. & Regs. 1000-01-.18(4) · Effective 2024-10-08

This page is provided for general educational purposes and reflects the best available information as of the last reviewed date above. CME requirements change. Atlas CME is not affiliated with the Tennessee State Board of Nursing, or any other state medical board, licensing authority, or professional organization. Physicians are solely responsible for verifying their own current CME requirements directly with their state medical board before relying on any information presented here.

Privacy policyTerms of serviceContact