Below is the primary license information and continuing education requirements for nurses licensed in Tennessee. Please visit the Tennessee Board of Nursing CE page for more information on continuing education requirements.
Licensing information
Licensing fees by examination (for first-time nurses):
- NCLEX exam fee: $200
- Application fee: $100 (RN/LPN)
- Criminal background check fee: $35.15
Licensing fees by endorsement (already have RN licensure):
- Application fee: $115 (RN/LPN); $210 (APRN)
- APRN license verifications: $25
- Criminal background check fee: $35.15
License renewal fees:
- Application fee: $100 (RN/LPN); $110 (APRN)
*Fees are subject to change
Steps to renew your Tennessee nursing license
- Verify the status of your license
Visit the Verification page in order to confirm your license.
- Complete your Tennessee nursing continuing education requirements before your license expires
You can complete your nursing CEUs online, on your schedule, and 100% free with Incredible Health.
- Go to the Tennessee Department of Health to request a license renewal
Visit the Renewal Information page for specifics. Tennessee is a compact state. If your Primary State of Residency is in another compact state do not apply for licensure in Tennessee unless you are declaring Tennessee as your Primary State of Residency.
Continuing education requirements
Registered Nurse (RN) and Licensed Practical Nurse (LPN)
RNs and LPNs will need to renew their licenses every two years. These nurses are required to have a combination of two of the following requirements:
- Five hours of continuing education and 10 hours if not practicing
- Copy of satisfactory employer evaluation
- Documentation from a school of nursing that shows participation in the education of nursing students (RNs only)
- Evidence of successfully retaken NCLEX
- Evidence of current national certification
- Transcript to demonstrate two hours of nursing credit
- Letter of satisfactory completion of a comprehensive nursing orientation program
- Letter of completion of a nursing refresher course
- A published article relevant to nursing published by the licensee
- Proof of two nursing goals and how you met them
- A letter from an agency where you volunteered as a nurse
- Letter from a patient to show great patient/nurse relationship
- Letter from a peer evaluating your professional performance
- Written self-evaluation based on the set standards
- Contract of re-appointment or renewal to a nursing position
Earn your CEUs free
Our easy online CE courses are ANCC-accredited and 100% free for nurses.
Advanced Practice Registered Nurse (APRN)
APRNs must renew their licenses every two years.
APRN With Certificate of Fitness (CF)
Verify your license and CF at https://apps.health.tn.gov/Licensure/default.aspx
- Five hours of continuing education and 10 hours if not practicing
- Current national certification (NOT state license; example: from ANCC, AANP, NBCRNA)
- ONE item from the Registered Nurse proof of competence above (in addition to national certification)
- TWO contact hours of continuing education designed specifically to address controlled substance prescribing practices including the Tennessee Chronic Pain Guidelines http://tn.gov/health/article/nursing-coedu
- Copy of current collaborative Request/APRN Supervisory Request (formerly Notice and Formulary) if prescribing https://lars.tn.gov/datamart/mainMenu.do
APRN Without Certificate of Fitness (CF)
- Current national certification (NOT state license; example: from ANCC, AANP, NBCRNA)
- ONE item from the Registered Nurse proof of competence above (in addition to national certification)
Incredible Health offers ANCC-accredited continuing education courses for nurses in all 50 states, 100% free and online. The Tennessee Board of Nursing accepts courses that are ANCC accredited.
Additionally, Tennessee is a nursing compact state, which allows nurses to hold multi-state licenses.
[ MORE: Average nurse salary in Tennessee ]
Contact information
Tennessee Board of Nursing
Phone: (615) 532-5166 or (800) 778-4123
Email: [email protected]
Website: https://www.tn.gov/health/health-program-areas/health-professional-boards/nursing-board/nursing-board/about.html
665 Mainstream Drive
2nd Floor
Nashville, TN 37243
