Career Resources / Nursing Licensure / Tennessee
If you are a registered nurse (or are thinking of becoming one), and you want to live in economically booming Tennessee, read on to find the information you need, from licensing info, continuing education requirements, job & salary outlook, top hospitals, and nursing associations. Let us help you find your dream job!
In this article, we will cover:
- Licensing information
- Steps for renewing a Tennessee nursing license
- Continuing education requirements
- Job & salary outlook for nurses in Tennessee
- Top hospitals in Tennessee
- Nursing organizations & associations in Tennessee
- Basic steps for licensing and certification
- Contact information
Licensing information
Below are the fees for becoming a nurse in Tennessee whether you are a first-time nurse or are moving to Tennessee from another state. For more information visit the Tennessee licensing page.
Licensing fees by examination (first-time nurses):
- NCLEX exam fee: $200
- Application fee: fee eliminated as of 08/05/19
- Criminal background check fee: $35.15
Licensing fees by endorsement (already have RN licensure):
- Application fee: $115 (RN/LPN)
- APRN license verifications: $25
- Criminal background check fee: $35.15
License renewal fees:
- Application fee: $100 (RN/LPN); $110 (APRN)
Tennessee is a nursing compact state, which allows nurses to hold multi-state licenses.
*Fees are subject to change.
Steps for renewing a 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
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.
Earn your CEUs free
Our easy online CE courses are ANCC-accredited and 100% free for nurses.
Job and salary outlook for nurses in Tennessee
Due to the shortage of nurses, these healthcare professionals are in high demand. The Bureau of Labor and Statistics estimates the profession will grow by 6% between 2021 and 2031. The average salary is $82,750.
We can also help you check out salary estimates to help determine if Tennessee is the right state for you.
[ MORE: Average nurse salary in Tennessee ]
Top hospitals in Tennessee
If you’re not already picking up the phone to call movers, maybe this list of the best hospitals in Tennessee will sway you in the right direction. Here are the top hospitals according to U.S. News and World Report:
- Vanderbilt University Medical Center – Nashville, TN: This hospital is a member of the Magnet Recognition Program® and is ranked No. 20 on the Best Hospitals Honor Roll. It is nationally ranked in 9 adult and 10 pediatric specialties and rated high performing in 4 adult specialties and 16 procedures and conditions. Some specialties include:
- Ear, Nose & Throat (#10 in the nation)
- Urology (#14 in the nation)
- Cardiology & Heart Surgery (#17 in the nation)
- Neonatology (#17 in the nation)
- Baptist Memorial Hospital-Memphis – Memphis, TN: This hospital is rated high performing in 11 adult procedures and conditions. Some specialties include:
- Colon & Lung cancer surgery
- Heart attack & Heart failure
- Diabetes
- Hip & Knee replacement
- CHI Memorial Hospital – Chatanooga, TN: This hospital is rated high performing in 11 adult procedures and conditions. Some specialties include:
- Colon & Lung cancer
- Abdominal Aortic Aneurysm Repair
- Heart Bypass
- Stroke
*Magnet status – Awarded by the American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC) and is considered the “gold standard” for excellence in nursing practice and care. Hospitals must meet certain criteria and apply to be designated.
Nursing organizations and associations in Tennessee
Once you become a registered nurse (or even if you’re in the process), joining a nursing organization or association will give you access to networking, job opportunities, and a wealth of information shared between fellow nurses. Here are a few of the organizations and associations for nurses in Tennessee:
Tennessee Nurses Association: This mission for this association is to “empower the registered nurse, advocate for the practice of nursing, model nurse advocacy and political involvement, and champion quality healthcare equity for all Tennesseans.”
Tennessee Student Nurses Association: One aspect of the mission for this association is “to organize, represent and communicate with students who are preparing for initial Licensure as Registered Nurses through diploma, associate degree or baccalaureate degree programs, students enrolled in pre-nursing curriculum, as well as those Registered Nurses enrolled in baccalaureate completion programs.”
Tennessee Nurse Practitioner Association: “Our mission is to promote high standards of healthcare delivery through the empowerment of nurse practitioners and the profession throughout Tennessee State.”
Check out the comprehensive list of national organizations as well.
Basic steps for licensing and certification
Step 1: Education
Attend an accredited nursing school to earn either an Associate Degree in Nursing (ADN) or a Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN). An ADN will take between 18 and 24 months to complete, while you can expect to spend roughly four years to earn a BSN. If you already have an ADN, there is an ADN to BSN bridge program that allows you to earn a BSN in 12-18 months. There is also an RN to BSN bridge which takes three semesters of nursing courses to be completed in one year. These programs will save you time and money. The more education you have, the better your chances of landing your dream job.
Step 2: Licensing
When you are six weeks away from graduation, you can apply to sit for the NCLEX-RN exam. There are 75 to 265 questions on the NCLEX-RN with a five-hour time limit for completion. If you do not pass the NCLEX-RN on your first attempt, you must wait 45 days before you can try again.
The NCLEX includes questions on the following topics to test nursing candidates’ knowledge:
1. Safe and effective care environment
2. Health promotion and maintenance
3. Psychosocial integrity
4. Physiological integrity
Step 3: Experience
This step in the process is to gain hands-on experience. This will provide you with invaluable opportunities to work with patients making you attractive to future employers.
Step 4: Certification
The final step is to obtain certifications for your chosen career. Requirements for earning a certification vary so it is important to check with the governing body for information. Incredible Health offers free courses in order to obtain or renew certification requirements. Create a free account to access professional development mandates and get instant certificates.
Expert advice from nurses like you
Join the free Incredible Health Nurse Community to get career advice, support, and tips from experienced fellow nurses.
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
