Licensure Renewal

• Reinstating a Lapsed License
• Obtaining a Retired Status License
• Nurse Licensure Compact
• Continuing Competency Requirements

Active nurses who want to renew their license, registration, or credential during the renewal period (beginning July 1 through midnight October 31, Eastern Time, of every year).  Requirements for specific nursing types are listed below.

Registered Nurse (RN) and Licensed Practical Nurse (LPN):

• Whose primary state of residence is Kentucky,
• Whose primary state of residence is a non-compact state, OR
• Whose primary residence is a compact state (see list below) and who practices ONLY in a military/federal facility.

Advanced Registered Nurse Practitioner (ARNP):

• You must have a current Kentucky RN or a compact (see list below) RN license before you can renew your Kentucky ARNP registration.

Sexual Assault Nurse Examiner (SANE):

• You must have a current Kentucky RN or a compact (see list below) RN license before you can renew your Kentucky SANE credential.

List of Compact States:

Arizona, Arkansas, Colorado,  Delaware, Idaho, Iowa, Kentucky, Maine, Maryland, Mississippi, Nebraska, New Hampshire, New Mexico, North Carolina, North Dakota, South Carolina, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, Virginia, and Wisconsin

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When you can renew:

Beginning July 1 through midnight October 31, Eastern Time, of every year.

• You must renew your license before midnight October 31 or your license will lapse.
• If you must respond “yes” to any of the discipline, criminal conviction, and/or ARNP national certification revocation questions, your documentation must be received by KBN prior to October 31, or your license will lapse.

What you need to renew:

Before you access the online renewal system, you will need to have the following information readily available:

• Last four digits of your social security number
• Your RN or LPN license number
• Your date of birth
• Method of payment (see information below)

When you should receive your new license card:

You should receive your new card within 4 weeks of the date that you renew online. 

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Renewal Fees (non-refundable):

Methods of Payment:

• Credit or debit MasterCard or Visa 
• Personal or business checking or savings account (see sample of routing number and account number below)
• A prepaid credit card, available from most banks

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• The processing fee of $35 [check or money order payable to Kentucky Board of Nursing] 
• A copy of a legal name change document:
  • Marriage license
  • Divorce decree
  • Social security card
  • Other legal name change documents
• Access the Name Change link for additional information.

Your renewal request will not be processed until KBN receives:

• A detailed letter of explanation.
• Certified copies of the disposition page of the court record of the misdemeanor and/or felony.
• Board certified copies of any action taken by a Board other than KBN.

If the documentation is not received at KBN before October 31, your license will lapse.

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• Submit a copy of the official overseas deployment orders to KBN.
• Your license will be renewed to reflect an expiration date through the renewal period that corresponds with your deployment orders.
• You are not required to submit a fee; AND
• You are exempt from meeting the continuing competency requirement.

You may practice in a military/federal facility on any state’s RN, LPN, and ARNP license. 

However, if you are an RN or LPN and practice in BOTH a military/federal and a non-military/federal facility, you must have either a Kentucky or a compact/multi-state RN or LPN license.

If you are an advanced practice nurse and you practice in BOTH a military/federal and a non-military/federal facility, you must have either a Kentucky or a compact/multi-state RN license and a Kentucky ARNP registration.

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• If your primary residence is Kentucky, you will receive a multi-state license, which allows you to practice in any COMPACT state.
• If your primary residence is a non-compact state, you will receive a single state license, which is valid only in Kentucky.
• If your primary residence is another compact state and you do not practice ONLY in a military/federal facility, you cannot be issued a Kentucky license.
• If your primary residence is another compact state and you practice ONLY in a military/federal facility, you may be issued a Kentucky single state license.
• If you have current disciplinary action or are in the KARE program, you will be issued a single state license.

There is a fee of $40 for a paper application.  This fee is IN ADDITION TO the renewal fee.

To request a paper application, submit in writing to the KBN office the following information:

• Your name and address;
• Your license number; and
• A check or money order in the amount of $40, payable to KBN.

Submit only the $40 for the request for a paper renewal or your request will be returned for the correct fee.  (Submit the renewal fee with the completed paper application.)

Requested paper applications will be mailed AFTER September 10.

After returning the renewal application with the renewal fee to KBN, allow 3 weeks for processing the application.  It may take an additional 4 weeks to receive your license card.

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