Become a Nurse in Kentucky – Licensure & Requirements

^{¹ According to the Kentucky Board of Nursing, this master's requirement applies to APRN education completed on or after January 1, 2005 (a master's degree or post-master's certificate); earlier education pathways are evaluated differently.}

Kentucky Nursing Salaries

^{Nursing salary data above is from the Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics for May 2025, covering Kentucky statewide and the Louisville/Jefferson County, KY-IN, Lexington-Fayette, and Bowling Green metropolitan areas.}

There are many paths to becoming a nurse in Kentucky. The path you take will mostly depend upon the type of nurse you’d like to become and your current or prospective level of education. The higher your level of education, the more opportunities you’ll have to choose where and how you pursue your career in nursing.

In addition to nursing salaries in Kentucky, you’ll find information on acquiring and maintaining several types of Kentucky nursing license. We’re constantly making updates, but with the speed of change in the healthcare sphere it’s difficult to stay current. If you have any comments or suggestions for our information on nursing in Kentucky, please email us at info@nursinglicensemap.com!

Compact State Status

Kentucky is a Nursing Licensure Compact state — a member of the Nurse Licensure Compact (NLC), as confirmed by both the Kentucky Board of Nursing and the Nurse Licensure Compact Commission. A registered nurse or licensed practical nurse who holds an active multistate license from another compact state may practice in Kentucky under that license without applying for a separate Kentucky license, unless the nurse changes their primary state of residence to Kentucky — in which case Kentucky's current rule requires applying for a new multistate license within 60 days of that change.

Prescriptive Authority in Kentucky

Advanced practice registered nurses in Kentucky may apply for prescriptive authority for Schedule II–V controlled substances. According to the Kentucky Board of Nursing and 201 KAR 20:057, an APRN must first establish a written collaborative agreement (CAPA-CS) with a Kentucky-licensed physician in the same or a similar specialty, hold current Kentucky DEA registration, and maintain a KASPER (Kentucky's prescription drug monitoring program) account before prescribing controlled substances.

The APRN and collaborating physician must meet quarterly to review the APRN's KASPER activity during the first year of the CAPA-CS, then at least biannually during the following three years. After four years of prescribing controlled substances in good standing, an APRN may apply for a CAPA-CS exemption to prescribe independently.

Advanced Practice Registered Nurse (APRN) in Kentucky

Education: Master's Degree or Post-Master's Certificate in Specialty Area, per the Kentucky Board of Nursing, for APRN education completed on or after January 1, 2005; earlier education pathways are evaluated differently.

Examination: Varies for Different Certifications, per the Kentucky Board of Nursing.

Certification Required: Current National Certification in Specialty Area, per the Kentucky Board of Nursing.

Fees:

• $165 Application/Endorsement Fee, per the Kentucky Board of Nursing
• Criminal background check through IdentoGO®: $54 through September 30, 2026, increasing to $57 effective October 1, 2026 (paid to IdentoGO, not to the Kentucky Board of Nursing), per KBN Background Checks
• Examination Fee (Varies for Different Certifications)

Experience: Varies for Different Certifications

Endorsement: Endorsement applicants must submit, per the Kentucky Board of Nursing, the $165 application/endorsement fee, the current IdentoGO criminal-background-check fee ($54 through September 30, 2026; $57 effective October 1, 2026, paid to IdentoGO rather than the Kentucky Board of Nursing), an advanced-practice transcript, and proof of current national certification in the specialty area. Registered nurses who hold an active multistate license from another compact state need not apply for licensure in Kentucky, unless they change their primary state of residence to Kentucky, in which case, per the Kentucky Board of Nursing and the Nurse Licensure Compact Commission, they must apply for a Kentucky multistate license within 60 days of the change.

Additional Information: Per the Kentucky Board of Nursing, a current Kentucky RN license or current RN multistate license is required.

Renewal: Renewal fees include the RN license renewal fee plus $55 for each APRN certification that is renewed, per the Kentucky Board of Nursing fee schedule. Per the Kentucky Board of Nursing, APRNs are required to complete 14 contact hours during each renewal period or complete one of the following: national certification, a nursing research project as principal investigator, or publication in a nursing journal. All APRNs must earn five contact hours in pharmacology each renewal period, and APRNs registered with the DEA and maintaining a KASPER/PDMP account must complete at least 3 of those 5 hours in pain management or addiction disorders.

Learn more on how to become an advanced practice registered nurse.

Registered Nurse (RN) in Kentucky

Education: Completion of an approved Registered Nurse program, per the Kentucky Board of Nursing.

Examination: NCLEX-RN, per the Kentucky Board of Nursing.

Fees:

• $125 Application Fee, per the Kentucky Board of Nursing
• $200 Examination Fee, per NCLEX Fees & Payment
• Criminal background check through IdentoGO®: $54 through September 30, 2026, increasing to $57 effective October 1, 2026 (paid to IdentoGO, not to the Kentucky Board of Nursing), per KBN Background Checks

Continuing education for inactive nurses: Per the Kentucky Board of Nursing, a nurse licensed more than five years who has not practiced at least 500 hours within the preceding five years must complete 120 hours of approved continuing education before applying by endorsement.

Jurisprudence Exam: Per the Kentucky Board of Nursing, Kentucky requires RN applicants for licensure by examination, by endorsement, or by reinstatement — and any RN whose Kentucky license has lapsed for one year or more — to pass the Kentucky Board of Nursing Jurisprudence Exam with a score of 80% or higher.

Endorsement: Individuals licensed as a registered nurse in another state may apply for licensure through endorsement. Per the Kentucky Board of Nursing, endorsement requires submitting the endorsement application, paying the $165 application fee plus the current IdentoGO criminal-background-check fee ($54 through September 30, 2026; $57 effective October 1, 2026, paid to IdentoGO rather than the Kentucky Board of Nursing), passing the Jurisprudence Exam, and requesting verification of licensure from the jurisdiction where the applicant originally passed the NCLEX and was licensed by examination — with a transcript required in specified circumstances.

Separately, and generally due after initial Kentucky licensure rather than as an endorsement prerequisite, Kentucky requires several one-time, content-specific continuing education courses tied to when and where a nurse was educated. Per the Kentucky Board of Nursing, a course on Alzheimer's disease and other dementias is required of all nurses — due by October 31, 2027 for nurses actively licensed by July 15, 2024, or within three years of initial licensure for later licensees — and, depending on education location and date, courses on domestic violence (3 contact hours), pediatric abusive head trauma (1.5 contact hours), and suicide prevention (2 contact hours) are generally due within three years of initial licensure when applicable.

Registered nurses who hold an active multistate license from another compact state need not apply for licensure in Kentucky, unless they change their primary state of residence to Kentucky, in which case, per the Kentucky Board of Nursing and the Nurse Licensure Compact Commission, they must apply for a Kentucky multistate license within 60 days of the change.

Renewal: Per the Kentucky Board of Nursing, all Kentucky licenses should be renewed between September 15 and midnight of October 31. The registered nurse (RN) license renewal fee is $65, per the Kentucky Board of Nursing fee schedule. Any advanced licenses should be renewed separately and for an additional fee. Per the Kentucky Board of Nursing, RNs are required to complete 14 contact hours for renewal or complete one of the following: national certification, a nursing research project as principal investigator, publication in a nursing journal, a qualifying work evaluation plus 7 contact hours, approved post-licensure coursework, serving as a preceptor for 120 or more hours, or presenting an approved continuing education course.

Learn more on how to become a registered nurse.

Licensed Practical Nurse (LPN) in Kentucky

Education: Completion of an approved Licensed Practical Nurse program, per the Kentucky Board of Nursing.

Examination: NCLEX-PN, per the Kentucky Board of Nursing.

Fees:

• $125 Application Fee, per the Kentucky Board of Nursing
• $200 Examination Fee, per NCLEX Fees & Payment
• Criminal background check through IdentoGO®: $54 through September 30, 2026, increasing to $57 effective October 1, 2026 (paid to IdentoGO, not to the Kentucky Board of Nursing), per KBN Background Checks

Continuing education for inactive nurses: Per the Kentucky Board of Nursing, a nurse licensed more than five years who has not practiced at least 500 hours within the preceding five years must complete 120 hours of approved continuing education before applying by endorsement.

Jurisprudence Exam: Per the Kentucky Board of Nursing, Kentucky requires LPN applicants for licensure by examination, by endorsement, or by reinstatement — and any LPN whose Kentucky license has lapsed for one year or more — to pass the Kentucky Board of Nursing Jurisprudence Exam with a score of 80% or higher.

Endorsement: Individuals licensed as a licensed practical nurse in another state may apply for licensure through endorsement. Per the Kentucky Board of Nursing, endorsement requires submitting the endorsement application, paying the $165 application fee plus the current IdentoGO criminal-background-check fee ($54 through September 30, 2026; $57 effective October 1, 2026, paid to IdentoGO rather than the Kentucky Board of Nursing), passing the Jurisprudence Exam, and requesting verification of licensure from the jurisdiction where the applicant originally passed the NCLEX and was licensed by examination — with a transcript required in specified circumstances.

Separately, and generally due after initial Kentucky licensure rather than as an endorsement prerequisite, Kentucky requires several one-time, content-specific continuing education courses tied to when and where a nurse was educated. Per the Kentucky Board of Nursing, a course on Alzheimer's disease and other dementias is required of all nurses — due by October 31, 2027 for nurses actively licensed by July 15, 2024, or within three years of initial licensure for later licensees — and, depending on education location and date, courses on domestic violence (3 contact hours), pediatric abusive head trauma (1.5 contact hours), and suicide prevention (2 contact hours) are generally due within three years of initial licensure when applicable.

Licensed practical nurses who hold an active multistate license from another compact state need not apply for licensure in Kentucky, unless they change their primary state of residence to Kentucky, in which case, per the Kentucky Board of Nursing and the Nurse Licensure Compact Commission, they must apply for a Kentucky multistate license within 60 days of the change.

Renewal: The LPN license renewal fee is $65, per the Kentucky Board of Nursing fee schedule. Per KBN RN/LPN Continuing Education, LPNs are required to complete 14 contact hours during each renewal period or complete one of the following: national certification, a nursing research project as principal investigator, publication in a nursing journal, a qualifying work evaluation plus 7 contact hours, approved post-licensure coursework, serving as a preceptor for 120 or more hours, or presenting an approved continuing education course.

Learn more on how to become a licensed practical nurse.

Information Disclosure:

Information for the nursing careers above: advanced practice registered nurse, registered nurse, and licensed practical nurse was retrieved from the Kentucky Board of Nursing, as of September 2026 — see the specific Board pages linked above for each requirement.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Kentucky a Nurse Licensure Compact state?

Yes. Per the Kentucky Board of Nursing and the Nurse Licensure Compact Commission, Kentucky is a member of the Nurse Licensure Compact, so a multistate RN or LPN license issued by another compact state is valid to practice in Kentucky without applying for a separate Kentucky license — unless the nurse changes their primary state of residence to Kentucky, in which case Kentucky's current rule requires applying for a new multistate license within 60 days of that change.

Does Kentucky require a jurisprudence exam for nursing licensure?

Yes. Per the Kentucky Board of Nursing, RN and LPN applicants for licensure by examination, by endorsement, or by reinstatement — and anyone whose Kentucky nursing license has lapsed for a year or more — must pass the Jurisprudence Exam with a score of 80% or higher.

When do Kentucky nursing licenses renew?

Per the Kentucky Board of Nursing, Kentucky RN and LPN licenses renew annually between September 15 and October 31, with 14 continuing education contact hours (or an approved alternative) due by October 31 as well.

How much does a registered nurse make in Kentucky?

As of the most recent (May 2025) BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics estimates, the statewide annual mean wage for a Registered Nurse in Kentucky is $86,140. See the salary table above for LPN, NP, Nurse Anesthetist, and metro-area figures.