A Guide to Nursing Licenses and Renewals in Kentucky

Career Resources / Nursing Licensure / Kentucky

Kentucky boasts a low cost of living, outstanding infrastructure, beautiful natural wonders and abundant opportunities. Nurses interested in a career in this remarkable state should start by applying for their registered nursing license. 

In this article, we will cover:

• How to get your Kentucky nursing license by exam
• How to get your license by endorsement
• How to renew your Kentucky nursing license
• Licensing fees
• Continuing education requirements
• How to contact the Kentucky Board of Nursing

How to get your Kentucky nursing license by examination

Step 1: Education

The state of Kentucky recommends that prospective students seeking a nursing degree from an in-state program choose a school that has been approved and accredited by the Kentucky Board of Nursing. The board also recognizes graduates of programs that have been approved or accredited by other state boards of nursing. Any of the following degrees will prepare you for a career as a registered nurse:

• Associate Degree in Nursing (ADN)
• Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) 
• Accelerated Bachelor of Science in Nursing for those who have achieved a bachelor’s degree and who take the additional classes necessary to become a registered nurse.

Step 2: Apply

The road to a Kentucky nursing license begins with completing the state’s application and ensuring that you have met all of Kentucky’s requirements. The application can be completed and the $125 fee submitted online. If all requirements are not met within one year the application will need to be resubmitted. Applicants who prefer to submit a paper application can download it here, complete it, and mail it to the Kentucky Board of Nursing at:

Kentucky Board of Nursing
312 Whittington Parkway
Suite 200
Louisville, KY 40222-5172 

The state will charge an additional $40 processing fee for paper applications.

After completing the application, candidates for licensure in Kentucky are required to pass the state’s Jurisprudence Exam with a score of 80% or higher. This is an open-book computerized exam consisting of 35 questions that test knowledge of Kentucky nursing law. It is administered by the National Council of State Boards of Nursing. 

To access the Jurisprudence Exam, applicants should submit their application for licensure and then go to the application status link. Upon entering your Social Security number, select search. You will see a link stating “Click here to take the Jurisprudence Exam” and a Jurisprudence I.D. number that will be needed to register for the exam. Upon clicking the link, you will be taken to the exam and a $!5 icon. Click the icon to place the exam in your shopping cart, then enter your information (including the Jurisprudence I.D. Number) to create an account, and follow the steps to purchase and complete the course.

You should also apply for the NCLEX exam at the Pearson VUE website. You can apply online and pay the $200 test fee by going to Pearson VUE’s website or by phone by calling 866-496-2539.

Once you have completed all Kentucky Board of Nursing application requirements, a provisional license will be issued. An email will be sent to the email address on file within 14 days. The provisional license allows the applicant to work as a registered nurse applicant under direct supervision. 

Step 3: Submit Transcripts

The state requires verification that you have completed an approved nursing program. If you attended a Kentucky program of nursing, your school will submit your name to the state on a certified list at the time of your graduation. Graduates of out-of-state nursing programs need to submit an official transcript to the Kentucky Board of Nursing. This can be done through a clearing house or the applicant can obtain a copy in a sealed, unopened envelope. 

Official transcripts can be sent electronically through services such as Parchment or by the nursing program to [email protected] 

Paper copies in sealed, unopened envelopes can be sent via mail to:

Kentucky Board of Nursing
312 Whittington Parkway
Suite 200
Louisville, KY 40222-5172 

Step 4: Criminal Background Check (CBC)

The state requires registered nurse licensure candidates to complete a state and federal criminal background check through IdentoGO. Register at the UEnroll website using KBN Service Code 27GKJR. The fee is $51.25 for both the state and federal background reports.

If you are not in Kentucky, you can follow the same procedure listed above, choosing an enrollment center that is convenient to your location to complete the live scan fingerprinting. Alternatively, you can opt to complete the out-of-state hard card scan process if you do not have access to an enrollment center.

Step 5: Take the NCLEX

Upon completion of the application process, the Board of Nursing will notify Pearson VUE and you will be sent Authorization to Test for the NCLEX-RN exam. This important exam represents the final test of your nursing education. It covers the following topics:

• Safe and Effective Care Environment
• Management of Care  
• Safety and Infection Control 
• Health Promotion and Maintenance 
• Psychosocial Integrity 
• Physiological Integrity 
• Basic Care and Comfort 
• Pharmacological and Parenteral Therapies 
• Physiological Adaptation 

If you do not pass the NCLEX exam, you will be sent a Candidate Performance Report that details your performance in each of the test’s content areas. This will help you prepare for retaking the exam. To take the test a second time, you will need to re-register with Pearson VUE and pay the $200 fee. There is no need to reapply to the Kentucky Board of Nursing or to revisit any of the other steps of your application. A new Authorization to Test will be emailed to you by Pearson VUE. You can reapply and retake the test at any point 45 days after the last time you have taken the exam.Your provisional license will be voided after your second unsuccessful attempt at passing the NCLEX. After three or more attempts you will need to complete the examination application again and pay the application fee of $125. Your background check will transfer to your new application if it was completed within six months, but if more time has gone by then it will need to be redone. The Jurisprudence exam results are valid for one year and will transfer to your new application but after one year it will need to be redone. You will need to re-register with Pearson VUE and retake the exam.

Licensing by endorsement (already have RN licensure)

If you were originally licensed in a state other than Kentucky and want to be licensed as a registered nurse in Kentucky, you will need to apply for licensure by endorsement. The requirements are:

• Complete the online application and pay the fee of $165. Applicants who prefer to submit a paper application can download it here, complete it, and mail it to the Kentucky Board of Nursing at:

Kentucky Board of Nursing
Attn: Endorsement
312 Whittington Parkway
Suite 300
Louisville, KY 40222

• The state will charge an additional $40 processing fee for paper applications.

• After completing the application, candidates for licensure in Kentucky are required to pass the state’s Jurisprudence Exam with a score of 80% or higher. This is an open-book computerized exam consisting of 35 questions that test knowledge of Kentucky nursing law. It is administered by the National Council of State Boards of Nursing. To access the Jurisprudence Exam, applicants should submit their application for licensure and then go to the application status link. Upon entering your Social Security number, select search. You will see a link stating “Click here to take the Jurisprudence Exam” and a Jurisprudence I.D. number that will be needed to register for the exam. Upon clicking the link, you will be taken to the exam and a $15 icon. Click the icon to place the exam in your shopping cart, then enter your information (including the Jurisprudence I.D. Number) to create an account, and follow the steps to purchase and complete the course.
• The state requires registered nurse licensure candidates to complete a state and federal criminal background check through IdentoGO. Register at the UEnroll website using KBN Service Code 27GKJR. The fee is $51.25 for both the state and federal background reports.

If you are not in Kentucky, you can follow the same procedure listed above, choosing an enrollment center that is convenient to your location to complete the live scan fingerprinting. Alternatively, you can opt to complete the out-of-state hard card scan process if you do not have access to an enrollment center.

• Request verification of your license from the state where you took and passed the NCLEX. This request should be made through the NURSYS system, which will charge a $30 fee unless your state does not participate.  If your state does not participate in NURSYS you will need to complete the verification of licensure form and send it to the board of nursing in that state for them to send to the Kentucky Board of Nursing.
• If you were licensed from California, Connecticut, Hawaii, Kansas, Michigan, or Washington state, you must ask your nursing program to send the Kentucky Board of Nursing an official transcript with your degree and graduation date posted, either through a clearing house or in an original sealed, unopened envelope. Transcripts can be sent electronically through Parchment or the program of nursing directly to [email protected] or by mail to:

Kentucky Board of Nursing
Attn: Endorsement
312 Whittington Parkway
Suite 300
Louisville, KY 40222

How to renew your Kentucky nursing license

Step 1: When to submit your renewal application

Kentucky requires that registered nurses renew their licenses every year between September 15 and October 31.

Step 2: Fulfill continuing competency requirements

Kentucky requires all nurses to complete mandatory continuing education in suicide prevention and implicit bias if they have not already completed these courses. They are also required to complete at least:

• 14 contact hours of nursing education; or 
• 7 hours plus a nursing employment evaluation; or 
• Recertification related to a practice role; or 
• A post-licensure academic course relevant to nursing practice; or 
• Other options that can be found here

You do not need to submit proof of completing your continuing competency requirements when you renew. You can upload CE documents into your CE Broker account, but this is optional unless you have been selected for the CE audit.

Incredible Health offers free Kentucky CE credits, as well as immediate certification of completion. 

Step 3: Submit your renewal application

Renew your Kentucky registered nurse license here for a fee of $65. 

Kentucky nursing licensing fees

Below are the fees for becoming a nurse in Kentucky whether you are a first-time nurse or are moving to Kentucky from another state. For more information visit the Kentucky licensing page.

Licensing fees by examination (first-time nurses):

• NCLEX exam: $200
• Application fee: $125
• Fingerprint processing fee: $13.25

Licensing fees by endorsement (already have RN licensure):

• Application fee: $165 (RN/LPN/APRN)
• Fingerprint processing fee: $13.25

License renewal fee:

• Application fees: $65 (RN/LPN); $55 (APRN, for each designation)

Kentucky is a nursing compact state, which allows nurses to hold multi-state licenses.

*Fees are subject to change.

Continuing education requirements

RN: 14 contact hours every year:

• There is a one-time requirement of 2 hours related to Pediatric Abusive Head Trauma
• At least 3 hours must be related to  Domestic Violence
• 2 hours of Suicide Prevention
• 1.5 hours of Implicit Bias
• Nurses with SANE credentials must complete Forensic Evidence Collection training

LPN: 14 contact hours every year:

• There is a one-time requirement of 2 hours related to Pediatric Abusive Head Trauma
• At least 3 hours must be related to  Domestic Violence
• 2 hours of Suicide Prevention
• 1.5 hours of Implicit Bias
• Nurses with SANE credentials must complete Forensic Evidence Collection training

APRN: 14 contact hours every year (or board certification):

• Additional 5 hours must pertain to pharmacology
• There is a one-time requirement of 2 hours related to Pediatric Abusive Head Trauma
• At least 3 hours must be related to Domestic Violence
• 2 hours of Suicide Prevention
• 1.5 hours of Implicit Bias
• Nurses with SANE credentials must complete Forensic Evidence Collection training
• APRNs with a DEA-X Registration are required 4 contact hours in addiction disorders, which must include 1.5 hours in addiction disorder pharmacology

All licensees who hold a SANE (Sexual Assault Nurse Examiner) credential are required 5 hours in sexual assault continuing education each renewal. Any domestic violence or forensic nursing course(s) will meet this mandate. Hours may count towards the 14 hours of continuing education required for renewal.

Incredible Health offers ANCC-accredited continuing education courses for nurses in all 50 states, 100% free and online. The Kentucky Board of Nursing accepts courses that are ANCC accredited.

How to contact the Kentucky Board of Nursing

Kentucky Board of Nursing
Phone: (502) 429-3300 or (800) 305-2042
Fax: (502) 429-3311

Website: https://kbn.ky.gov/Pages/default.aspx

312 Whittington Pky
Suite 300
Louisville, KY 40222

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