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Kentucky · Nurse Practitioner

Nurse Practitioner CE requirements in Kentucky

High confidenceLast verified June 4, 2026

Requirements at a glance

Licensing board
Renewal cycle
Every year (CE earned Nov 1–Oct 31)
Total CE hours
≥5 contact hours pharmacology/year (plus RN continuing competency)
Pharmacology hours
5 hrs/year; for DEA + KASPER holders, 3 of the 5 in pain management or addiction disorders
Accepts AANP or ANCC in lieu
National certification required for APRN licensure

State-mandated CE topics

  • Controlled substances/pain/addiction (HB1): — 3-of-5 pharmacology hours for DEA registrants.

Sources

Every figure on this page is compiled from the primary board and national certification sources below, cross-checked against reputable aggregators. Requirements change often and some boards publish only in PDFs or login-walled portals — confirm current rules directly before relying on them for renewal.

Kentucky licensing boardKentucky Board of Nursing
AANP certification (national)aanpcert.org/recert
ANCC certification (national)nursingworld.org/globalassets/certification/renewals/ancc-certrenewalrequirements.pdf
DEA MATE Act (federal)samhsa.gov/substance-use/treatment/statutes-regulations-guidelines/mate-act
DEA MATE Act (federal)dea.gov
Verify with Kentucky Board of Nursing →

How this fits the national picture

Independent of Kentucky, every NP maintains national certification through AANP (100 CE hours over 5 years including 25 pharmacology, plus 1,000 practice hours) or ANCC (75 CE hours over 5 years including 25 pharmacotherapeutics). State CE sits on top of that.

Keep exploring

Frequently asked questions

How many CE hours do nurse practitioners need in Kentucky?

≥5 contact hours pharmacology/year (plus RN continuing competency). Renewal cycle: Every year (CE earned Nov 1–Oct 31).

Does Kentucky accept AANP or ANCC certification in lieu of state CE?

National certification required for APRN licensure.

What topic-specific CE does Kentucky require for nurse practitioners?

Controlled substances/pain/addiction (HB1): — 3-of-5 pharmacology hours for DEA registrants.

How many pharmacology hours do nurse practitioners need in Kentucky?

5 hrs/year; for DEA + KASPER holders, 3 of the 5 in pain management or addiction disorders.

Informational only, not legal or compliance advice. Continuing education rules change frequently. Confirm current requirements with the Kentucky Board of Nursing and your certifying body before relying on any figure here.