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Kentucky CME and nursing CE requirements
Continuing education and license renewal rules for physicians, advanced practice clinicians and nurses licensed in Kentucky, as recorded by ClinLicense for planning.
Planning aid only. ClinLicense is not legal or compliance advice. Boards change rules between cycles, so confirm every requirement with the board before you rely on it.
- Licensing board
- Kentucky Board of Medical Licensure
- License renewal
- Every 1 year
MD CME requirements
Reviewed 2026-10-31 This entry was last reviewed on 2026-10-31. That date records our own review and is not a board approval. Some details below are marked for confirmation, so treat those as unverified until the board confirms them. Always confirm with the board before you rely on it.
Board-approved course required At least one topic must come from a course the board has approved, and a general CME course may not count. Check the board’s approved list before you buy.
- Total hours
- 60 hours every 3 years, with at least 30 in Category 1 or the equivalent
- License renewal
- Every 1 year
Required topics
| Topic | Hours | How often | Applies to | Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Opioid & controlled-substance prescribing | 4.5 | Every cycle | DEA registrants Board-approved course required | KASPER, pain management, addiction disorders |
| HIV/AIDS | 2 | Every cycle | Everyone | HIV/AIDS, every 10 years (confirm) |
| Domestic violence | 3 | Every cycle | Everyone | One-time within first 3 years of licensure (confirm) |
Notes. 60 hours per 3 years, at least 30 Category 1. Also a one-time pediatric abusive head trauma hour for some licensees. Details need confirming.
DO CME requirements
Not yet verified Not yet verified, confirm with the board. This entry has not been checked against the board’s own published rules.
Board-approved course required At least one topic must come from a course the board has approved, and a general CME course may not count. Check the board’s approved list before you buy.
- Total hours
- 60 hours every 3 years, with at least 30 in Category 1 or the equivalent
- License renewal
- Every 1 year
Required topics
| Topic | Hours | How often | Applies to | Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Opioid & controlled-substance prescribing | 4.5 | Every cycle | DEA registrants Board-approved course required | KASPER, pain management, addiction disorders |
| HIV/AIDS | 2 | Every cycle | Everyone | HIV/AIDS, every 10 years (confirm) |
| Domestic violence | 3 | Every cycle | Everyone | One-time within first 3 years of licensure (confirm) |
Notes. Copied from the MD block as a planning default; the osteopathic rules were not separately confirmed. Confirm with the board.
NP CME requirements
Reviewed 2026-11-01 This entry was last reviewed on 2026-11-01. That date records our own review and is not a board approval. Always confirm with the board before you rely on it.
- Total hours
- 5 hours every year
- License renewal
- Every 1 year
Required topics
| Topic | Hours | How often | Applies to | Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pharmacology | 5 | Every cycle | Everyone | Annual; 5 contact hours in pharmacology each Nov 1 to Oct 31 |
| Pain management | 3 | Every cycle | DEA registrants | Of the 5 pharmacology hours, 3 must be pain management or addiction disorders for APRNs with a DEA registration and a KASPER account |
| Alzheimer's / dementia | 1 | Every cycle | Everyone | One-time, all nurses; actively licensed as of 7/15/2024 must finish by 10/31/2027 (separate page, kbn.ky.gov Content-Specific CE) |
Notes. Kentucky APRN CE is annual (Nov 1 to Oct 31): at least 5 pharmacology contact hours per year; APRN national certification satisfies the 14-hour RN requirement. APRNs authorized to certify medicinal cannabis need 3 additional hours per year (no matching topic key). Rechecked 2026-11-03: APRNs also owe one-time domestic violence (3 hours), suicide prevention (2 hours) and pediatric abusive head trauma (1.5 hours) courses, and DEA-registered APRNs a one-time 8 hours on opioid and other substance use disorders; see the nursing CE block for Kentucky.
PA CME requirements
Reviewed 2026-11-01 This entry was last reviewed on 2026-11-01. That date records our own review and is not a board approval. Some details below are marked for confirmation, so treat those as unverified until the board confirms them. Always confirm with the board before you rely on it.
- Total hours
- 100 hours every 2 years
- License renewal
- Every 1 year
Required topics
| Topic | Hours | How often | Applies to | Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Opioid & controlled-substance prescribing | 7.5 | Every cycle | DEA registrants | Controlled substance diversion, pain management, addiction disorders or KASPER; only if authorized to prescribe or administer controlled substances, counted within the 100 |
| Child abuse recognition | 1.5 | Every cycle | Everyone | Pediatric abusive head trauma, within first two years of licensure; counts toward the 100 |
Notes. 201 KAR 9:360: 100 hours per 2-year cycle approved by AMA, AOA, AAFP, AAPA or board. 12 hours addiction medicine if authorized for buprenorphine products. Regulation title also covers Alzheimer's and other dementia content (hours not stated). Confirm with the board.
CRNA CME requirements
Reviewed 2026-11-01 This entry was last reviewed on 2026-11-01. That date records our own review and is not a board approval. Always confirm with the board before you rely on it.
- Total hours
- 5 hours every year
- License renewal
- Every 1 year
Required topics
| Topic | Hours | How often | Applies to | Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pharmacology | 5 | Every cycle | Everyone | Annual; 5 contact hours in pharmacology each Nov 1 to Oct 31 |
| Pain management | 3 | Every cycle | DEA registrants | Of the 5 pharmacology hours, 3 must be pain management or addiction disorders for APRNs with a DEA registration and a KASPER account |
| Alzheimer's / dementia | 1 | Every cycle | Everyone | One-time, all nurses; actively licensed as of 7/15/2024 must finish by 10/31/2027 (separate page, kbn.ky.gov Content-Specific CE) |
Notes. Kentucky APRN CE is annual (Nov 1 to Oct 31): at least 5 pharmacology contact hours per year; APRN national certification satisfies the 14-hour RN requirement. APRNs authorized to certify medicinal cannabis need 3 additional hours per year (no matching topic key). Applies to all APRN roles including CRNAs under the Kentucky Board of Nursing APRN page.
CAA CME requirements
Not yet verified Not yet verified, confirm with the board. This entry has not been checked against the board’s own published rules.
- Total hours
- Not recorded, and the renewal cycle is not recorded
- License renewal
- Every 1 year
Required topics
No mandated topics are recorded for this profession in this state. That is not the same as the board having none, so confirm with the board.
Notes. Secondary source; confirm with the board. The CU Anschutz and BYU lists show Kentucky as a state where anesthesiologist assistants work, and a secondary summary of KRS 311.840 to 311.862 indicates Kentucky regulates them through the Board of Medical Licensure's physician assistant framework (a PA practicing as an anesthesiology assistant) rather than a separate AA license. CE hours are not confirmed.
Kentucky nursing CE requirements
Nursing boards usually count continuing education in contact hours rather than CME credits, and the nursing license renews on its own schedule, which may differ from the medical board dates above. Nurse practitioners and nurse anesthetists have their own sections above.
Nurse Licensure Compact Kentucky has implemented the Nurse Licensure Compact. A registered or practical nurse whose primary state of residence is Kentucky can hold a multistate license issued by Kentucky, which carries the privilege to practice in the other compact states, and a nurse with a multistate license from another compact state can practice in Kentucky under that privilege. Renewal and CE for a multistate license follow the rules of the home state that issued it. The compact covers RN and LPN/LVN licenses only, and advanced practice authority is still granted state by state. This compact list was last reviewed on November 3, 2026. Read the compact guide for RNs and LPNs.
Registered nurses (RN)
Reviewed 2026-11-03 This entry was last reviewed on 2026-11-03 against the source linked below. That date records our own review and is not a board approval.
- Continuing education
- 14 contact hours every year
- Other ways to meet it
- 201 KAR 20:215: Kentucky validates continued competency every earning period of November 1 to October 31, by 14 contact hours of approved CE, by current national certification, by a research project, a peer-reviewed publication or 120 preceptor hours, or by 7 CE hours plus a satisfactory employer evaluation; whichever method is chosen, the one-time content requirements must be completed.
- Nursing license renewal
- Every 1 year, based on a fixed calendar date (10-31)
- Board
- Kentucky Board of Nursing
- Source
- The board page this entry was checked against
Required topics
| Topic | Contact hours | How often | Applies to | Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pediatric abusive head trauma | 1.5 | Once | Some licensees, see the note | One-time 1.5 hours on pediatric abusive head trauma (KRS 314.073(6)); graduates of Kentucky programs with the added curriculum are exempt, and others complete it within 3 years of licensure |
| Domestic violence | 3 | Once | Some licensees, see the note | One-time 3 hours on domestic violence and elder abuse, neglect and exploitation (KRS 194A.540); Kentucky graduates with the added curriculum are exempt |
| Alzheimer's / dementia | 1 | Once | Everyone | One-time 1 hour on Alzheimer's disease and other dementias; nurses licensed on July 15, 2024 must finish by October 31, 2027 |
| Suicide prevention | 2 | Once | Everyone | One-time 2 hours on suicide prevention (1 general and 1 on nurse suicide risk and care pathways) |
Notes. 201 KAR 20:215: Kentucky validates continued competency every earning period of November 1 to October 31, by 14 contact hours of approved CE, by current national certification, by a research project, a peer-reviewed publication or 120 preceptor hours, or by 7 CE hours plus a satisfactory employer evaluation; whichever method is chosen, the one-time content requirements must be completed. Nurses who finished a one-time topic on or before July 15, 2024 need not repeat it. Records are kept 5 years and the board audits at random.
Licensed practical and vocational nurses (LPN/LVN)
Reviewed 2026-11-03 This entry was last reviewed on 2026-11-03 against the source linked below. That date records our own review and is not a board approval.
- Continuing education
- 14 contact hours every year
- Other ways to meet it
- 201 KAR 20:215: Kentucky validates continued competency every earning period of November 1 to October 31, by 14 contact hours of approved CE, by current national certification, by a research project, a peer-reviewed publication or 120 preceptor hours, or by 7 CE hours plus a satisfactory employer evaluation; whichever method is chosen, the one-time content requirements must be completed.
- Nursing license renewal
- Every 1 year, based on a fixed calendar date (10-31)
- Board
- Kentucky Board of Nursing
- Source
- The board page this entry was checked against
Required topics
| Topic | Contact hours | How often | Applies to | Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pediatric abusive head trauma | 1.5 | Once | Some licensees, see the note | One-time 1.5 hours on pediatric abusive head trauma (KRS 314.073(6)); graduates of Kentucky programs with the added curriculum are exempt, and others complete it within 3 years of licensure |
| Domestic violence | 3 | Once | Some licensees, see the note | One-time 3 hours on domestic violence and elder abuse, neglect and exploitation (KRS 194A.540); Kentucky graduates with the added curriculum are exempt |
| Alzheimer's / dementia | 1 | Once | Everyone | One-time 1 hour on Alzheimer's disease and other dementias; nurses licensed on July 15, 2024 must finish by October 31, 2027 |
| Suicide prevention | 2 | Once | Everyone | One-time 2 hours on suicide prevention (1 general and 1 on nurse suicide risk and care pathways) |
Notes. 201 KAR 20:215: Kentucky validates continued competency every earning period of November 1 to October 31, by 14 contact hours of approved CE, by current national certification, by a research project, a peer-reviewed publication or 120 preceptor hours, or by 7 CE hours plus a satisfactory employer evaluation; whichever method is chosen, the one-time content requirements must be completed. Nurses who finished a one-time topic on or before July 15, 2024 need not repeat it. Records are kept 5 years and the board audits at random.
Certified nurse-midwives (CNM)
Reviewed 2026-11-03 This entry was last reviewed on 2026-11-03 against the source linked below. That date records our own review and is not a board approval.
- Continuing education
- 5 contact hours every year
- Nursing license renewal
- Every 1 year, based on a fixed calendar date (10-31)
- Board
- Kentucky Board of Nursing
- Source
- The board page this entry was checked against
Required topics
| Topic | Contact hours | How often | Applies to | Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pharmacology | 5 | Every cycle | Everyone | Annual; 5 contact hours in pharmacology each November 1 to October 31 |
| Pain management | 3 | Every cycle | DEA registrants | Of the 5 pharmacology hours, 3 on pain management or addiction disorders for APRNs with a DEA registration and PDMP account |
| Opioid & controlled-substance prescribing | 8 | Once | DEA registrants | One-time 8 hours on treating and managing opioid and other substance use disorders, for APRNs with a DEA registration (after June 27, 2023) |
| Pediatric abusive head trauma | 1.5 | Once | Some licensees, see the note | One-time 1.5 hours on pediatric abusive head trauma (KRS 314.073(6)); graduates of Kentucky programs with the added curriculum are exempt, and others complete it within 3 years of licensure |
| Domestic violence | 3 | Once | Some licensees, see the note | One-time 3 hours on domestic violence and elder abuse, neglect and exploitation (KRS 194A.540); Kentucky graduates with the added curriculum are exempt |
| Alzheimer's / dementia | 1 | Once | Everyone | One-time 1 hour on Alzheimer's disease and other dementias; nurses licensed on July 15, 2024 must finish by October 31, 2027 |
| Suicide prevention | 2 | Once | Everyone | One-time 2 hours on suicide prevention (1 general and 1 on nurse suicide risk and care pathways) |
Notes. 201 KAR 20:215 section 5: each APRN earns at least 5 contact hours in pharmacology every year, and an APRN with a DEA registration and a PDMP (KASPER) account needs at least 3 of them on pain management or addiction disorders. Those with a DEA registration also owed a one-time 8 hours on opioid and other substance use disorders after June 27, 2023, and national certification meets the general 14-hour requirement. The same one-time topics as for RNs apply, and APRNs authorized to certify medicinal cannabis owe additional hours.
Clinical nurse specialists (CNS)
Reviewed 2026-11-03 This entry was last reviewed on 2026-11-03 against the source linked below. That date records our own review and is not a board approval.
- Continuing education
- 5 contact hours every year
- Nursing license renewal
- Every 1 year, based on a fixed calendar date (10-31)
- Board
- Kentucky Board of Nursing
- Source
- The board page this entry was checked against
Required topics
| Topic | Contact hours | How often | Applies to | Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pharmacology | 5 | Every cycle | Everyone | Annual; 5 contact hours in pharmacology each November 1 to October 31 |
| Pain management | 3 | Every cycle | DEA registrants | Of the 5 pharmacology hours, 3 on pain management or addiction disorders for APRNs with a DEA registration and PDMP account |
| Opioid & controlled-substance prescribing | 8 | Once | DEA registrants | One-time 8 hours on treating and managing opioid and other substance use disorders, for APRNs with a DEA registration (after June 27, 2023) |
| Pediatric abusive head trauma | 1.5 | Once | Some licensees, see the note | One-time 1.5 hours on pediatric abusive head trauma (KRS 314.073(6)); graduates of Kentucky programs with the added curriculum are exempt, and others complete it within 3 years of licensure |
| Domestic violence | 3 | Once | Some licensees, see the note | One-time 3 hours on domestic violence and elder abuse, neglect and exploitation (KRS 194A.540); Kentucky graduates with the added curriculum are exempt |
| Alzheimer's / dementia | 1 | Once | Everyone | One-time 1 hour on Alzheimer's disease and other dementias; nurses licensed on July 15, 2024 must finish by October 31, 2027 |
| Suicide prevention | 2 | Once | Everyone | One-time 2 hours on suicide prevention (1 general and 1 on nurse suicide risk and care pathways) |
Notes. 201 KAR 20:215 section 5: each APRN earns at least 5 contact hours in pharmacology every year, and an APRN with a DEA registration and a PDMP (KASPER) account needs at least 3 of them on pain management or addiction disorders. Those with a DEA registration also owed a one-time 8 hours on opioid and other substance use disorders after June 27, 2023, and national certification meets the general 14-hour requirement. The same one-time topics as for RNs apply, and APRNs authorized to certify medicinal cannabis owe additional hours.
See nursing CE requirements by state to compare Kentucky with other states.
Plan this renewal
Use the free opioid CME planner to see the controlled-substance rules for Kentucky next to other states, or the license cost calculator to estimate fees. Read how multi-state CME works if you hold more than one license.
Nurse practitioners, physician assistants, nurse anesthetists and anesthesiologist assistants usually also maintain national certification, which has its own cycle. The recertification basics guide explains how that fits alongside state rules. Nurses who hold licenses in more than one state can read the Nurse Licensure Compact for RNs and LPNs.
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