Navigating CE Requirements for RNs in Tennessee

What are the Tennessee RN license renewal requirements? 

If you’re looking up TN RN license renewal requirements (or TN nursing license renewal requirements), here’s the quick picture for RN license renewal in Tennessee: 

• Renewal cycle: Every two years.
• Renewal due date: Last day of your birth month.
• How early you can renew: Up to 60 days before your license expires. 
• Renewal fee (RN): The fee is $100. 
• Continued competence: Keep evidence of two items from the approved list (CE is only one possible option). 
• Record retention: Keep competence documentation for four years in case you’re audited.  

Think of Tennessee’s process like this: Renew on time, pay the fee, and be ready to prove you stayed competent if you’re selected for an audit.  

When do I have to renew my Tennessee RN license? 

Your RN license renewal is due on the last day of the month of your birthday under Tennessee’s renewal system.  

Tennessee also describes RN renewal as a two-year cycle.  

A practical way to think about this: 

• Your birthday month tells you the month your license expires.
• The renewal cycle is every 24 months, so your expiration year will jump ahead by two each time you renew.  

If you’re ever unsure, don’t guess. Use the state’s license verification tool to confirm the exact expiration date on file.  

How do I find my Tennessee RN license expiration date? 

The safest way is to check Tennessee’s online license verification system.  

Why this matters for nurses: If you work PRN, float, travel, or hold multiple licenses, it’s easy to lose track. A quick license lookup gives you the exact expiration date so you can plan your renewal before a busy stretch of shifts.  

Tennessee also notes that Nursys is the designated primary source equivalent for licensure status and discipline in other states, helpful if you’re crossing state lines or if your employer verifies through Nursys.  

How do I renew my nursing license in TN online? 

1. Check your expiration date so you know your real deadline. 
2. Renew online through Tennessee’s licensing system (LARS) when you’re in the renewal window. 
3. Complete the renewal application and answer questions honestly. Tennessee’s rules warn that submitting an untrue renewal application can lead to discipline. 
4. Attest you met continued competence requirements.
5. Pay the renewal fee (RN renewal is listed as $100). 
6. Save your confirmation (PDF, email, screenshot — anything you can keep for your records).
7. Verify your license status after renewal using the state verification tool.  

Renew on a day you’re not slammed. Trying to do it at 2:00 a.m. after a rough shift is how details get missed. 

Can I renew my Tennessee RN license early? 

Yes. Tennessee states that a license can be renewed up to 60 days before the expiration date.  

Even though you can renew within that 60-day window, most RNs benefit from prepping earlier, because the bigger lift isn’t the renewal form. It’s making sure your continued competence documentation is ready and filed where you can find it if you’re audited.  

Will Tennessee send me a renewal notice, or is it up to me to keep track? 

Tennessee says renewal notices are mailed about 45 days before expiration (to the address on file). The BON also emphasizes that you are responsible for renewing on time and keeping your information current.  

Even if the reminder never shows up (wrong address, spam filters, travel assignment, life happening), you still need to renew by the deadline. Set a calendar reminder for your birth month renewal. 

Can I renew my Tennessee RN license by paper application? 

Yes. Tennessee’s nursing rules allow renewal by either: 

• Internet renewal (for people who do not have unreported crime or discipline from another state) OR
• Paper renewal (available from the BON’s administrative office).  

If you’re unsure whether online renewal is appropriate for your situation, especially if there’s something you need to disclose, paper renewal or contacting the BON directly may be the safer route.  

How much does it cost to renew an RN license in Tennessee? 

According to the Tennessee’s BON fee schedule, the RN renewal fee is $100.  

If you’re budgeting (because everything costs more than it used to), it also helps to know the listed reinstatement fee is $200 if you let your license lapse and need reinstatement.  

Fees can change over time, so it’s smart to double-check the BON’s current fee schedule when your renewal window opens.  

Do I need CE to renew my RN license in Tennessee? 

Tennessee doesn’t frame RN renewal as “complete X CE hours, and you’re done.” Instead, Tennessee uses a continued competence model. 

For RNs, the BON requires you to maintain evidence of two items from the approved list of competence activities for the renewal period. One of those items can be CE/in-service: 10 contact hours per renewal period counts as an approved item.  

So if you’re asking, “How many CEUs for RN in Tennessee?” the best answer is: 

• CE is optional as one of your competence items,.
• If you use CE/in-service as one item, it’s 10 contact hours per renewal period.
• You still need one more approved competence item.  

What counts as “continued competence” for Tennessee RNs? 

Tennessee lists multiple ways for RNs to show continued competence, and you must keep proof of two items. The BON’s published list for RNs includes options like: 

• A satisfactory employer evaluation
• A satisfactory peer evaluation
• Proof of contract renewal/re-appointment
• A self-evaluation based on professional standards
• Proof of national certification
• A plan showing goals and development/evaluation
• Evidence of volunteer/community nursing activities
• Participation in formal nursing education of students (RNs only)
• Ten contact hours each renewal period of CE or in-service applicable to nursing practice
• A published nursing article
• A BON-approved refresher program or employer orientation program
• Nursing school coursework (with specific credit criteria)
• Successfully retaken NCLEX  

You’re already doing competence work in real life, precepting, annual evals, in-service, certifications, and unit education. Tennessee is basically telling you: keep proof.  

What are easy “two-item” combinations that work well for busy RNs? 

Tennessee requires two items. It helps to think in pairs. Here are examples that match how nurses actually work: 

• Employer evaluation and 10 contact hours CE/in-service
• Peer evaluation and self-evaluation
• National certification and employer evaluation
• Contract renewal/re-appointment and CE/in-service hours 

The goal is to pick two items you can reasonably document without making your life harder.  

Do I have to submit my CE/competence proof when I renew? 

Not usually in the way nurses expect (like uploading a stack of certificates). 

Tennessee explains that by signing the renewal application, licensees affirm they met the requirement, and the Department of Health will be auditing licensees to confirm compliance.  

That means your documentation needs to be ready if you’re audited. And if you falsely certify that you met requirements, the BON indicates that it can lead to disciplinary action.  

So renew honestly, and keep your proof organized. 

How long should I keep my Tennessee RN renewal and continuing competence records? 

According to Tennessee BON guidance: 

• Each active licensee must retain proof of compliance for four years from when the requirements are finished.
• Documentation must be produced for inspection and confirmation within 30 days of a written request.  

Keep a folder (digital or paper) labeled something like “TN RN renewal — 2026–2028” and drop your two items in there as you go. 

What is CE Broker, and do I have to use it for Tennessee RN renewal? 

Tennessee encourages nurses to use CE Broker to track required continuing competency, and the BON states that CE Broker is the official tracking system for the Tennessee Board of Nursing. They also note that the BON provides a free Basic Account for licensees.  

You don’t want to rely on any single system as your only backup, though. Even if a course reports automatically, Tennessee still advises keeping copies of certificates for your records.  

If you like simple, CE Broker can help you answer: “Am I compliant yet?” without digging through old emails. 

What happens if I miss my Tennessee RN license renewal deadline? 

First and most importantly, don’t practice on an expired license. Tennessee states that it is a violation to practice on an expired license.  

Tennessee’s nursing rules also say failure to renew and pay the required fees will automatically forfeit your right to practice nursing in the state.  

As far as how long you can still submit a renewal, Tennessee’s Division of Health Related Boards rule says no renewal application will be accepted after the last day of the month following the licensee’s expiration date.  

So even if you can still submit paperwork shortly after expiration, the safest mindset is: 

• Expired means stop working until your status is active again. 

If you realize you’re late, act quickly. Late renewals become reinstatements, and reinstatement is a bigger, more stressful process.  

How do I reinstate my Tennessee RN license if it has lapsed? 

If your license has lapsed and you need reinstatement, Tennessee’s nursing rule describes reinstatement as requiring: 

• Completion of the appropriate application (signed and attested under penalty of perjury)
• Results of a biometric criminal background check submitted directly to the BON’s administrative office from the identified vendor
• Payment of reinstatement and state regulatory fees (RN reinstatement fee is listed as $200 on the fee schedule)  

The rule also notes that the BON may request evidence of satisfactory health, character, or nursing competence before reinstatement, and may require an evaluation by a qualified expert.  

Bottom line: Reinstatement is doable, but it’s not as quick as a normal renewal. So if you can renew on time, do it. 

What if I’ve been out of nursing practice for more than five years? 

If you’ve had a long break (more than five years) and want to reactivate your license, Tennessee’s nursing competence rule lists specific ways to show continued nursing competence, such as: 

• 10 contact hours of CE for each year of inactivity
• A BON-approved refresher program
• A BON-approved comprehensive orientation program offered by a potential employer
• Enrollment in nursing education with required credits/transcripts
• Current specialty certification
• NCLEX re-examination  

If you’re returning after years away, check your status early and map out what you’ll need before accepting a start date. 

How do I change my name or address with the Tennessee BON? 

Life happens — marriage, divorce, moving for a job, relocating for family. Tennessee’s nursing rule says: 

• Name changes: Notify the BON in writing, provide both old and new names, include a copy of the official document, reference your license number, and do this within 30 days of the change becoming effective. 
• Address changes: Notify the BON in writing with old and new address, reference your name and license number, and do this within 30 days.  

Keeping this updated matters because renewal notices are mailed to your address on file.  

How can I verify my Tennessee RN license status after renewal? 

Use Tennessee’s Licensure Verification tool (linked by the BON) to confirm your license is active and up to date.  

For multi-state situations, Tennessee also notes that Nursys is a primary source equivalent for licensure status and discipline in other states.  

This step is worth doing even if you receive a confirmation screen. It’s the easiest way to protect yourself if an employer asks, “Can you email proof today?” 

I have a compact (multistate) license — how does renewal work? 

If Tennessee is your primary state of residence (PSOR) and you hold a multistate license, you renew through Tennessee like any other Tennessee RN.  

If you move to another compact state, Tennessee highlights a Nurse Licensure Compact rule that took effect January 2, 2024. Nurses moving to another compact state have 60 days from the move to apply for a new license by endorsement in the new primary state of residence.  

For travel nurses, this is a big deal. Your PSOR is what drives where your multistate license “lives,” so keep your records straight when you relocate. 

How do I contact the BON if I have questions about Tennessee RN license renewal? 

For official help, contact the Tennessee BON directly. NCSBN lists the BON’s contact information, including phone number and mailing address.  

If your question is about rules, fees, audits, or a situation involving discipline/criminal disclosure, it’s worth getting guidance straight from the source.