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Continuing Education (CE) Providers

Requirements to obtain and renew a KBN CE Providership

Who can be a KBN approved CE Provider?

A provider of continuing education may be any individual, organization, or entity approved by the KBN.

A potential provider should apply to the KBN for approval in accordance with regulatory requirements outlined in 201 KAR 20:220.

Do I need to become a KBN approved CE provider?

Nursing continuing education provider approval is required to offer continuing education.

The KBN accepts continuing education from providers approved by the KBN, and providers approved by another state board of nursing and those providers approved by one of the national nursing organizations listed in 201 KAR 20:220.

If you are planning on offering continuing education to Kentucky licensed nurses, and are not approved to provide nursing continuing education by another state board of nursing, or by one of the national nursing organizations listed in 201 KAR 20:220, then you will need to obtain approval from the Board.

How can I obtain initial approval as a CE provider?

An application for initial approval form must be completed and submitted with all required documentation, and a nonrefundable $400 application fee.

The application process is lengthy. Once the application has been reviewed and a request for additional information is sent, the providership applicant has one year to correct and resubmit all required/requested items for approval.

After one year, the providership applicant must restart the process, including filing an initial application form for approval, submitting all required documentation, and the nonrefundable $400 application fee.

Please contact the KBN Web Professional Support Branch at kbnweb.prosup@ky.gov for a link to complete the initial application online.

What requirements must be followed by a KBN CE Provider?

Continuing education providers must follow the requirements established in 201 KAR 20:220. providing continuing education that extends beyond the nurse's knowledge obtained in their prelicensure program.

Learning activities must provide nursing education that supports competent judgements and decisions in nursing practice, nursing administration, nursing education, and be relevant to the performance of nursing tasks.
Each continuing education provider must have a nurse administrator to plan, develop, implement, and evaluate continuing education activities. The nurse administrator must have obtained a BSN or higher; and have experience in Adult Education.
The provider must have a system for record maintenance, maintaining and retrieving accurate records of each continuing education offering, the providership as a whole, and verification of attendance, contact hours earned, and evaluation of the offering. All records must be maintained for at least five 5 years.

The KBN assigns a core provider number based on the type of providership. It must be included on all materials, documents for the providership along with the month and year of expiration of the providership. The providership should assign additional numbers to identify each offering for record keeping purposes.

This link is to a copy of the CE Providership Guidelines.

When and how do I renew the KBN approved CE Providership?

Renewal applications, the required attachments, and the $100 renewal fee, must be submitted by September 30 of the year in which the providership expires.

KBN approves CE providers for 2 years, expiring on December 31 of the second year. Category 4 "Health Service Agency Employer of Nurses" (e.g. health departments, nursing homes, hospitals, etc.) expire on even numbered years. All other categories expire on odd numbered years.

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