Retire a License or Credential
To retire from active practice, log in to your Kentucky Board of Nursing Nurse Portal account and go to the bottom of the Nurse Portal Dashboard to ‘Other Applications’ and select Apply. On this page, you will choose the application called ‘ALL LICENSE TYPES (EXCEPT SRNA) – Retire a License.’ You will complete the application and pay the one-time $25 fee. (All Fees are Non-Refundable).
PLEASE NOTE: When the retired license request is completed, it is effective immediately. A retired license cannot be renewed during annual renewal. To obtain an active license again you would need to complete the Reinstatement application process.
Voluntary Relinquish a License or Credential
To voluntarily relinquish a license or credential, log in to your Kentucky Board of Nursing Nurse Portal account and click on the ‘Inactivate’ option. There is no fee to voluntarily relinquish a license or credential.
When a nurse voluntarily relinquishes a license or credential, the online validation will indicate that the license has lapsed.
Once a license or credential is relinquished, the nurse may not work as a nurse. To return to active practice, the nurse will need to apply for reinstatement and meet all requirements.
Let a License or Credential Lapse
A nurse can choose to let their Kentucky license or credential lapse by not renewing their license or credential during the annual renewal period (September 15 – October 31). When this occurs, the online validation will indicate that the license has lapsed.
Once a license or credential lapses, the nurse may not work as a nurse. To return to active practice, the nurse will need to apply for reinstatement and meet all requirements.