Kentucky is a state known for its excellent infrastructure and the wealth of beautiful natural wonders. With a ton of hiking trails, lakes, historical sites, and museums, it is a terrific place for anyone to live and work. The fact that it has a welcoming atmosphere, friendly people, and a low cost of living, Kentucky is an attractive destination for any professional.
If you work in the healthcare sector, especially as a nurse, you will love Kentucky. The average base salary of a registered nurse in Kentucky is $120,800, above the national average.
Kentucky is facing a shortage of nurses – a problem that is persisting throughout the country. According to the Kentucky Hospital Association, the state has a shortage of 6,000 nurses. Even as the state doubles down on efforts to recruit and retain working nurses, it will take years for the crisis to be resolved.
As the Kentucky Board of Nursing works with the state to address the issue, licensed nurses must continue to support the state’s healthcare system. To continue to legally work as a registered nurse in Kentucky, you must renew your license before it expires. Fast CE For Less has created this guide to help you understand the nursing board license renewal requirements in Kentucky.
How to Renew Your Registered Nurse License in Kentucky
Renewing your registered nurse license is more than about keeping your license current. Granted, you need to renew your credentials to continue practicing. However, the process you must go through also enhances your skills to advance your career. In this guide, we will discuss how you can determine the deadline to submit your application, what you must do to fulfill your nursing continuing education requirements, and how to submit your license renewal application to the Kentucky Board of Nursing.
Step 1: Identify the Deadline to Renew Your Registered Nurse License
An important part of keeping your nursing career on track is maintaining your license and being mindful of when it expires. In most states, registered nurse licenses are valid for two to three years. License holders must renew their credentials before the deadline defined by the nursing board in their state to ensure that the license does not lapse.
Unlike most other boards, Kentucky does not offer licenses that expire after two or three years. A license holder in Kentucky must renew their license annually. Instead of the deadline being tied to birthdays, the Kentucky Board of Nursing keeps the process simple. Each year, the renewal cycle begins on September 15 and ends on October 31.
In most states, the nursing board sends out notices to remind license holders of the expiration date. Even if the board does not send a reminder notice, it is up to individual license holders to remember to fulfill their nursing CEU requirements and submit their applications on time. The key to avoiding late fees or risk lapsing credentials is to begin the renewal process before the cycle begins so you have ample time to submit your application without facing complications.
Step 2: Fulfill Nursing Continuing Education Requirements
After identifying your application deadline, you must ensure you complete the nurse continuing education requirements set by your state’s nursing board to qualify for renewed credentials. Each nursing board sets its own requirements, consisting of completing contact hours of nursing continuing education courses, having a certain number of practice hours during the renewal period, or a combination of both. In Kentucky, registered nurses have a few options to become eligible for a renewed license:
- Complete 14 contact hours of nursing continuing education courses: This involves engaging in nursing-related educational activities from a provider approved by the Kentucky Board of Nursing; or
- Combination of 7 contact hours of nursing continuing education courses from a board-approved provider and a nursing employment evaluation; or
- Completing a recertification related to their role as a nurse; or
- Completing a post-licensure academic course that correlates to nursing practice.
There are several other options that registered nurses in Kentucky can consider pursuing to qualify for a renewed license. You can learn more about them on the Kentucky Board of Nursing’s official website here.
These approaches are necessary for the Kentucky Board of Nursing to ensure that you can deliver a high standard of care delivery to patients. While you will not need to provide proof of these activities with your renewal application, we highly recommend retaining your certificates. The Kentucky Board of Nursing can request these documents during random audits.
Step 3: File Your License Renewal Application
After you complete the required nursing continued education requirements, the next step in renewing your registered nurse license in Kentucky is filing the renewal application with the Kentucky Board of Nursing. You can complete this process online by visiting the board’s nursing portal here. If it will be your first time renewing your license, you can use the tutorial on creating an account and the process to submit your application when you log in.
When the renewal cycle begins, you will see the option to renew your credentials. After logging in, click the option and follow the steps to complete your application. Make sure you enter all the information accurately and double-check it. To file the application with the Kentucky Board of Nursing, you must submit the renewal fee.
Understand the Nursing Continuing Education Requirements to Renew Your Registered Nurse License
Unlike many other states, the Kentucky Board of Nursing is very particular about completing a few specific continuing education courses.
Here is some additional information regarding specific course requirements set by the board. Of the 14 contact hours of continuing education courses, you must complete:
- At least 2 hours of courses on suicide prevention every renewal period.
- At least 1.5 hours on implicit bias courses every renewal period.
- A one-time requirement of at least 3 hours on domestic violence courses.
- A one-time requirement of at least 1.5 hours on pediatric abusive head trauma courses
For detailed information on the specific continuing education requirements needed for license renewal in Kentucky, you can visit www.fastceforless.com/nursing-ce-kentucky. You can also find course bundles designed to help you meet your Nurse CEU requirements while easily managing your busy nursing schedule.
To access convenient and affordable nursing continuing education courses approved by the Kentucky Board of Nursing, Fast CE For Less offers convenient course bundles at www.fastceforless.com.
