Direct answer
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.
Tennessee factual snapshot for this workflow
| Reviewed item | Jurisdiction-specific detail |
|---|---|
| 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 |
For Tennessee, 4 primary official source records and 8 labeled official destinations support this jurisdiction guide. Source verification dates are shown separately from editorial release dates.
Continuing education or continuing competence rule
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.
Mandatory topics, pathways and conditions
- 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.
Credential-specific checks
Tennessee routing note: The Tennessee Board of Nursing regulates LPN, RN and APRN credentials. The public licensure verification site and the LARS renewal/account system are separate.
For Tennessee, lPN: verify the exact credential record, renewal rule and any credential-specific education or practice requirements.
For Tennessee, rN: verify the exact credential record, renewal rule and any credential-specific education or practice requirements.
For Tennessee, aPRN: verify the exact credential record, renewal rule and any credential-specific education or practice requirements.
Tennessee LPN: verify that the Tennessee Board of Nursing record or the specifically named registry shows the credential, current status and any separate approval required for the role. Renewal or competence requirements may differ from other Tennessee credentials.
Tennessee RN: verify that the Tennessee Board of Nursing record or the specifically named registry shows the credential, current status and any separate approval required for the role. Renewal or competence requirements may differ from other Tennessee credentials.
Tennessee APRN: verify that the Tennessee Board of Nursing record or the specifically named registry shows the credential, current status and any separate approval required for the role. Renewal or competence requirements may differ from other Tennessee credentials.
Keep evidence for an audit
Retain evidence of completed competence activities for four years.
- Keep certificates and provider details for the published retention period.
- Confirm course completion falls inside the correct renewal period.
- Do not assume RN and APRN requirements are identical.
- Check whether the provider reports electronically or whether you must upload documentation.
Common CE problems
CE or competence is not accepted
Compare the course, provider, date, credential and documentation with the exact Tennessee rule: 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. Retain evidence and use the authority’s upload or audit instructions.
Wrong credential rule
Return to the official source and match RN, LPN/LVN, APRN, first-renewal, certificate or assistant requirements before purchasing additional coursework.
Course not accepted
Confirm provider approval, topic, completion date and documentation against the authority instructions. A generic completion certificate does not prove acceptance.
Fraud and privacy safety
- Begin every Tennessee transaction from a reviewed authority domain (www.tn.gov, internet.health.tn.gov, lars.tn.gov) or a source-reviewed link on this guide.
- Do not give a caller payment-card details, a password or a one-time code merely because the caller claims to represent Tennessee Board of Nursing.
- If threatened with immediate suspension or arrest, end the call and verify the issue through (615) 532-5166 or the secure Tennessee account.
- Use Tennessee Licensure Verification to confirm current status rather than a private lookup page or emailed screenshot.
- Upload identity, background, education or legal documents only through a secure method explicitly named by Tennessee Board of Nursing.
- Before paying, verify the credential, transaction and amount against the current Tennessee instructions; save the receipt and then verify the public record.
- For Tennessee, report a suspected licensing impersonation or phishing attempt to the authority and the relevant consumer-protection or law-enforcement channel.
Frequently asked questions
How much continuing education is required 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.
Are there mandatory topics?
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.
Should I keep completion records?
Retain evidence of completed competence activities for four years.
Can CE rules differ by credential?
Yes. RN, LPN/LVN, APRN, first-renewal, assistant and certificate-specific rules can differ.
What if CE does not appear in my account?
Compare the course, provider, date, credential and documentation with the exact Tennessee rule: 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. Retain evidence and use the authority’s upload or audit instructions.
Can I use any online course?
No. Confirm accepted providers, course categories, mandatory topics and completion dates before purchasing a course.
Is CE always required for every renewal?
Not necessarily. Some jurisdictions use practice hours, competency pathways, exemptions or credential-specific requirements. Use the exact official rule.
Where do I verify CE information?
Use the official continuing education or competence source listed in the official-resource directory.
Source-reviewed official resources
Tennessee 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 · July 28, 2026Tennessee Licensure Verification ↗
Primary official source reviewed for this jurisdiction.
Exact primary-source record · July 27, 2026Tennessee Continued Competence Requirements ↗
Primary official source reviewed for this jurisdiction.
Exact primary-source record · July 27, 2026Tennessee LARS ↗
Primary official source reviewed for this jurisdiction.
Exact primary-source record · July 27, 2026Tennessee Board of Nursing ↗
Primary official source reviewed for this jurisdiction.
Exact primary-source record · July 27, 2026Nurse Licensure Compact ↗
National compact resource used with the Tennessee status recorded as Compact jurisdiction; individual eligibility depends on the actual license designation and primary state of residence.
National official source · July 28, 2026NCLEX Official Website ↗
Official NCLEX information for examination candidates applying through Tennessee Board of Nursing; passing the exam does not itself create a Tennessee license.
National official source · July 28, 2026NCSBN License Verification Guidance ↗
National licensing guidance used to interpret verification categories; the local Tennessee source remains Tennessee Department of Health Licensure Verification.
National official source · July 28, 2026Nursys QuickConfirm and e-Notify ↗
National participating-board service used alongside Tennessee Department of Health Licensure Verification for Tennessee; follow Tennessee Board of Nursing instructions for endorsement or monitoring.
National official service · July 28, 2026Official sources reviewed
Tennessee Board of Nursing ↗
Reviewed July 27, 2026
Tennessee Licensure Verification ↗
Reviewed July 27, 2026
Tennessee Continued Competence Requirements ↗
Reviewed July 27, 2026
Tennessee LARS ↗
Reviewed July 27, 2026