Tennessee licensing facts
How regulation is organized
Tennessee Board of Nursing regulates the credentials recorded for Tennessee: LPN, RN, APRN. Public status checks use Tennessee Licensure Verification; renewal uses Tennessee LARS. The recorded renewal schedule is Biennial The compact classification shown for this review is Compact jurisdiction.
Public verification
Tennessee Licensure Verification is the reviewed public verification route for Tennessee. The destination is hosted on internet.health.tn.gov. Search the exact credential, then compare status, expiration, record date, and public restrictions before relying on the result.
Renewal timing
For Tennessee, the recorded renewal cycle is Biennial The named renewal route is Tennessee LARS. The current fee summary is The Board lists RN/LPN renewal at $140 after the April 2026 fee update. Confirm the current amount in LARS..
CE or competence
The reviewed Tennessee continuing-education or competence rule is: RN and LPN licensees must maintain evidence of two approved continued-competence activities during the renewal cycle. One listed option is 10 continuing-education contact hours. The record-retention or audit note is: Retain evidence of completed competence activities for four years..
| Reviewed field | Current dataset value |
|---|---|
| Authority | Tennessee Board of Nursing |
| Public verification | Tennessee Department of Health Licensure Verification |
| Renewal cycle | Biennial |
| Renewal deadline | Renew by the expiration date shown for the individual license. |
| Continuing competence | RN and LPN licensees must maintain evidence of two approved continued-competence activities during the renewal cycle. One listed option is 10 continuing-education contact hours. |
| Fees | The Board lists RN/LPN renewal at $140 after the April 2026 fee update. Confirm the current amount in LARS. |
| Compact status | Compact jurisdiction |
| Credentials | LPN, RN, APRN |
| Phone | (615) 532-5166 |
| Physical location | 665 Mainstream Drive, 2nd Floor, Nashville, TN 37243 |
| Mailing address | 665 Mainstream Drive, 2nd Floor, Nashville, TN 37243 |
| Primary official domains | www.tn.gov, internet.health.tn.gov, lars.tn.gov |
How to verify a Tennessee nursing license
Tennessee Licensure Verification is the reviewed public verification route for Tennessee. The destination is hosted on internet.health.tn.gov. Search the exact credential, then compare status, expiration, record date, and public restrictions before relying on the result. Renewal-related transactions use Tennessee LARS.
Open Tennessee Licensure Verification ↗
Read the detailed lookup and troubleshooting guide
How to interpret the result
| Field | Meaning | Risk to avoid |
|---|---|---|
| Tennessee credential type | For Tennessee, confirm the exact credential among LPN, RN, APRN; the same person may hold more than one license, approval, certificate or permit. | For Tennessee, treating an RN result as proof of APRN, assistant, certificate, permit or prescriptive authority. |
| Current status | Read the exact status wording published by Tennessee Board of Nursing, including active, inactive, expired, lapsed, probationary, suspended, revoked or restricted. | For Tennessee, assuming that a record appearing in search means the person may currently practice. |
| Expiration / renewal timing | Biennial. Renew by the expiration date shown for the individual license. | For Tennessee, using a wallet card, employer roster or old screenshot instead of the live record. |
| Multistate designation | Tennessee is recorded as an operational Nurse Licensure Compact jurisdiction in this dataset. Verify that the individual public record is actually designated multistate and that the nurse maintains Tennessee or another qualifying compact state as the primary state of residence. | For Tennessee, assuming compact membership automatically makes every license multistate or survives a permanent residence move. |
| Public discipline or restrictions | Review public orders or restrictions linked by Tennessee Board of Nursing, Tennessee Department of Health Licensure Verification or Nursys when applicable. | Checking only expiration while ignoring conditions that limit practice. |
| Verification date | The result supports a decision as of the date it was checked. Record the live Tennessee verification date. | For Tennessee, reusing an undated or stale printout for a new employment or credentialing decision. |
Tennessee nursing license renewal
Named renewal system: Tennessee LARS.
- Confirm the expiration date.
- Complete and document two accepted competence activities.
- Sign in to LARS.
- Submit renewal disclosures and the displayed fee.
- Verify the renewed status in the public system.
Renewal cautions
- Do not reduce the rule to a generic CE-hour total; Tennessee uses multiple competence options.
- Keep competence evidence for four years.
- APRN renewal includes separate national-certification and practice requirements.
Continuing education or continuing competence
RN and LPN licensees must maintain evidence of two approved continued-competence activities during the renewal cycle. One listed option is 10 continuing-education contact hours.
- Select two activities from the current Board list.
- A 10-contact-hour CE activity counts as one option.
- Other options can include practice, certification, academic work, teaching, publication or quality-improvement activities.
Records and audits: Retain evidence of completed competence activities for four years.
Tennessee license by endorsement
The reviewed Tennessee credential set is LPN, RN, APRN. Use Tennessee Licensure Verification for the public record and Tennessee LARS for renewal-related work. Do not infer an advanced-practice, assistant, certificate, permit, or compact privilege from a different credential record; Compact jurisdiction. The public record host is internet.health.tn.gov, and the recorded renewal schedule is Biennial
No direct endorsement URL is recorded; use the detailed checklist below.
National verification and compact status
Compact jurisdiction
Tennessee is classified as Compact jurisdiction. The recorded renewal cycle is Biennial and the authority model is Board within the Tennessee Department of Health. Confirm primary residence, the exact license designation, and restrictions in the current official record before relying on compact authority.
Published fee records
| Transaction | Credential | Amount | Source note |
|---|---|---|---|
| Renewal | RN/LPN | $140 | Current Board fee after the 2026 update. Official source ↗ |
| Endorsement | RN/LPN | $150 | Current Board endorsement fee. Official source ↗ |
| Initial examination application | RN/LPN | $150 | Board application fee, separate from testing fees. Official source ↗ |
Tennessee Board of Nursing contact and location
Confirm current service hours before calling or visiting.
5 reviewed official destinations for Tennessee
Tennessee Licensure Verification ↗
Primary official source reviewed for this jurisdiction.
Exact primary-source record · reviewed July 27, 2026Tennessee LARS ↗
Tennessee LARS is the reviewed Tennessee renewal destination on lars.tn.gov. Confirm the credential, deadline, and amount before submitting payment.
Tennessee Department of Health official Licensure and Regulatory System · reviewed July 28, 2026Tennessee Continued Competence Requirements ↗
Primary official source reviewed for this jurisdiction.
Exact primary-source record · reviewed July 27, 2026Tennessee LARS ↗
Primary official source reviewed for this jurisdiction.
Exact primary-source record · reviewed July 27, 2026Tennessee Board of Nursing ↗
Primary official source reviewed for this jurisdiction.
Exact primary-source record · reviewed July 27, 2026Frequently asked questions
Who regulates nursing licenses in Tennessee?
Tennessee Board of Nursing. The Tennessee Board of Nursing regulates LPN, RN and APRN credentials. The public licensure verification site and the LARS renewal/account system are separate.
What is the reviewed Tennessee license lookup?
Tennessee Department of Health Licensure Verification. Tennessee Licensure Verification is the reviewed public verification route for Tennessee. The destination is hosted on internet.health.tn.gov. Search the exact credential, then compare status, expiration, record date, and public restrictions before relying on the result. Renewal-related transactions use Tennessee LARS.
When is a Tennessee nursing license renewed?
Biennial. Renew by the expiration date shown for the individual license.
What CE or competence applies in Tennessee?
RN and LPN licensees must maintain evidence of two approved continued-competence activities during the renewal cycle. One listed option is 10 continuing-education contact hours.
What fee information is published for Tennessee?
The Board lists RN/LPN renewal at $140 after the April 2026 fee update. Confirm the current amount in LARS.
How can I contact the nursing authority in Tennessee?
Tennessee Board of Nursing publishes (615) 532-5166 and 665 Mainstream Drive, 2nd Floor, Nashville, TN 37243.