Become a Nurse in Tennessee – Licensure & Requirements

Master's-degree requirements above reflect current Tennessee Board of Nursing APRN standards under Chapter 1000-04; a limited historical pathway exception applies to some legacy-certified nurse anesthetists licensed before the master's requirement took effect.

Tennessee Nursing Salaries

Nurse salaries above were retrieved from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics' Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) program — Tennessee statewide estimates, Nashville-Davidson–Murfreesboro–Franklin MSA, Memphis, TN-MS-AR MSA, and Knoxville, TN MSA, May 2025 estimates.

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

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

Compact State Status

Tennessee is a Nursing Licensure Compact State. Under the NLC, a nurse who holds an active Tennessee multistate license may practice in any other NLC member state without applying for a separate license there, as long as Tennessee remains their primary state of residence. The Tennessee Board of Nursing confirms the state's continued participation under the compact's current rules, in effect since January 2, 2024, and Tennessee is listed as a current member jurisdiction by the Nurse Licensure Compact Commission.

Prescriptive Authority in Tennessee

In Tennessee, Nurse Practitioners, Clinical Nurse Specialists, Certified Nurse Midwives and Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetists who hold a Certificate of Fitness may apply for prescriptive authority for controlled substances under schedule II to V in collaboration with a designated physician, according to current Chapter 1000-04 of the Rules of the Tennessee Board of Nursing and the Board's current Notice and Formulary.

Advanced Practice Registered Nurses (APRN) in Tennessee

Education: Advanced practice nursing education at post-basic professional nursing level with master’s or higher degree in a nursing specialty.

Examination: Current national certification appropriate to the APRN specialty area is required; the certifying body and examination vary by specialty.

Certification Required: Current national certification in the applicable APRN specialty. This is separate from licensure eligibility, which requires a current, unencumbered Tennessee Registered Nurse license or a qualifying multistate RN privilege.

Fees: Initial licensure $150; renewal $150 (both effective April 8, 2026)

Renewal: Advance Practice Nurse licenses in Tennessee expire biennially. APRNs who hold a Certificate of Fitness to prescribe must also complete two hours of continuing education on prescribing controlled substances each renewal period.

Requirements above are governed by the Tennessee Board of Nursing, current Chapter 1000-04, and — for the controlled-substance continuing-education requirement — the Board's current notice.

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

Registered Nurse (RN) in Tennessee

Education: Approved school of nursing

Examination: NCLEX-RN

Fees:

• Initial licensure by examination: $150
• $150 Licensure by Endorsement
• $140 Renewal (effective April 8, 2026)

Endorsement: RNs may apply for licensure by endorsement with approved education and licensure in another state, provided Tennessee is their primary state of residence or they reside in a noncompact state. A nurse residing in another compact state under an active multistate license is not eligible for a Tennessee license by endorsement unless Tennessee becomes their primary state of residence.

Renewal: Registered Nurse licenses in Tennessee expire biennially, on the last day of the nurse’s birth month.

Fee, endorsement and renewal information is maintained by the Tennessee Board of Nursing, including its endorsement eligibility instructions.

Learn more about how to become a registered nurse.

Licensed Practical Nurse (LPN) in Tennessee

Education: School approved by board

Examination: NCLEX-PN

Fees:

• Initial licensure by examination: $150
• $150 Licensure by Endorsement
• $140 Renewal (effective April 8, 2026)

Endorsement: LPNs may apply for licensure by endorsement with approved education and licensure in another state, provided Tennessee is their primary state of residence or they reside in a noncompact state. A nurse residing in another compact state under an active multistate license is not eligible for a Tennessee license by endorsement unless Tennessee becomes their primary state of residence.

Renewal: Licensed Practical Nurse licenses in Tennessee expire biennially, on the last day of the nurse’s birth month.

Fee, endorsement and renewal information is maintained by the Tennessee Board of Nursing, including its endorsement eligibility instructions.

Learn more about how to become a licensed practical nurse.