Returning to Nursing in Kansas

Built by Keegan, a travel RN · verified against official board sources

Reinstatement and refresher requirements · Verified against the Kansas State Board of Nursing · 2026-06-04

The Kansas RN reinstatement fee is $150, plus any back renewal fees. What else your return takes depends on how long the license has been lapsed: short lapses are paperwork and CE, long ones can add a refresher course.

Grace period: No grace period; if the renewal application is even one day late, the license lapses and reinstatement is required

What your lapse length means in Kansas

Lapsed	Status	Estimated cost
2 months lapsed	Reinstatement required	Reinstatement fee (Kansas: $150) plus back fees for missed renewal cycles. Total typically $300–$800.
1 year lapsed	Reinstatement required	Reinstatement fee (Kansas: $150) plus back fees for missed renewal cycles. Total typically $300–$800.
3 years lapsed	Reinstatement + likely refresher course	Reinstatement fee (Kansas: $150) + refresher course tuition ($500–$2,500) + back fees. Total usually $1,500–$4,000.
6 years lapsed	Deep lapse: refresher course + possible re-application	If reinstatement is allowed: $1,500–$4,500 (fees + refresher). If re-application is required: $300–$800 in application fees plus NCLEX retake costs.

Size your exact situation with the reinstatement calculator, which uses the same board data.

Reinstating usually means catching up on continuing education. Earn it cheaply: free CE in Kansas.

Refresher course rules in Kansas

What the board publishes

Board-sourced

When a refresher applies: Lapsed under 5 years: 30 hours of continuing nursing education before applying. Lapsed 5 or more years: a board-approved refresher course is required.
What it takes: The Kansas refresher runs at least 120 didactic clock-hours plus 120 clinical clock-hours, with 96 of the clinical hours in acute care, from a board-approved provider.
Re-examination: Kansas publishes no routine re-examination requirement; the CE-or-refresher tiers govern.

Source: Kansas State Board of Nursing, refresher course, last checked 2026-06-11. Rules change; confirm with the board before enrolling in anything.

Steps to reinstate in Kansas

1Stop practicing immediately if you haven't already.
2Pull your CE records together: every certificate, every approved provider.
3Submit the reinstatement application through the board portal.
4Pay reinstatement fee + any back renewal fees.
5Expect a fingerprint background check (most states require one at reinstatement).
6Plan for 2–8 weeks of processing before you can return to work.

Start at the source: Kansas State Board of Nursing or the online renewal portal.

Kansas reinstatement FAQ

How much does it cost to reinstate a lapsed RN license in Kansas?: The Kansas RN reinstatement fee is $150, plus any back renewal fees the board assesses. A refresher course, where required, adds tuition on top (typically $500 to $2,500 nationally). Confirm the current total with the Kansas State Board of Nursing before applying.
Do I need a refresher course to reinstate my Kansas nursing license?: Lapsed under 5 years: 30 hours of continuing nursing education before applying. Lapsed 5 or more years: a board-approved refresher course is required. The Kansas refresher runs at least 120 didactic clock-hours plus 120 clinical clock-hours, with 96 of the clinical hours in acute care, from a board-approved provider.
Will I have to retake the NCLEX to get my Kansas license back?: Kansas publishes no routine re-examination requirement; the CE-or-refresher tiers govern.
Is there a grace period after my Kansas license expires?: Kansas's published rule: No grace period; if the renewal application is even one day late, the license lapses and reinstatement is required. A grace or late window is not permission to practice; check your status with the board before working.
How long does Kansas license reinstatement take?: Short lapses usually process in 2 to 8 weeks once the application is complete. If a refresher course is involved, plan around the course length, often 3 to 9 months end to end. The Kansas State Board of Nursing publishes processing updates on its portal.

Inactive vs lapsed: which path costs less

CE requirements for returning nurses

More for Kansas nurses

Never let it lapse again

Once you're reinstated, put the renewal date somewhere that yells. RenewRN tracks your Kansas license countdown free.

Start free

Track your path back to active practice, free

We track the CE and steps your state requires to reactivate, so nothing slips. No spam, unsubscribe anytime.

No spam. We'll never sell your email. See our Privacy Policy.

Returning to Nursing in Kansas

Reinstatement and refresher requirements · Verified against the Kansas State Board of Nursing · 2026-06-04

Grace period: No grace period; if the renewal application is even one day late, the license lapses and reinstatement is required

What your lapse length means in Kansas

Lapsed	Status	Estimated cost
2 months lapsed	Reinstatement required	Reinstatement fee (Kansas: $150) plus back fees for missed renewal cycles. Total typically $300–$800.
1 year lapsed	Reinstatement required	Reinstatement fee (Kansas: $150) plus back fees for missed renewal cycles. Total typically $300–$800.
3 years lapsed	Reinstatement + likely refresher course	Reinstatement fee (Kansas: $150) + refresher course tuition ($500–$2,500) + back fees. Total usually $1,500–$4,000.
6 years lapsed	Deep lapse: refresher course + possible re-application	If reinstatement is allowed: $1,500–$4,500 (fees + refresher). If re-application is required: $300–$800 in application fees plus NCLEX retake costs.

Size your exact situation with the reinstatement calculator, which uses the same board data.

Reinstating usually means catching up on continuing education. Earn it cheaply: free CE in Kansas.

Refresher course rules in Kansas

What the board publishes

Board-sourced

When a refresher applies: Lapsed under 5 years: 30 hours of continuing nursing education before applying. Lapsed 5 or more years: a board-approved refresher course is required.
What it takes: The Kansas refresher runs at least 120 didactic clock-hours plus 120 clinical clock-hours, with 96 of the clinical hours in acute care, from a board-approved provider.
Re-examination: Kansas publishes no routine re-examination requirement; the CE-or-refresher tiers govern.

Source: Kansas State Board of Nursing, refresher course, last checked 2026-06-11. Rules change; confirm with the board before enrolling in anything.

Steps to reinstate in Kansas

1Stop practicing immediately if you haven't already.

2Pull your CE records together: every certificate, every approved provider.

3Submit the reinstatement application through the board portal.

4Pay reinstatement fee + any back renewal fees.

5Expect a fingerprint background check (most states require one at reinstatement).

6Plan for 2–8 weeks of processing before you can return to work.

Kansas reinstatement FAQ

How much does it cost to reinstate a lapsed RN license in Kansas?

The Kansas RN reinstatement fee is $150, plus any back renewal fees the board assesses. A refresher course, where required, adds tuition on top (typically $500 to $2,500 nationally). Confirm the current total with the Kansas State Board of Nursing before applying.

Do I need a refresher course to reinstate my Kansas nursing license?

Lapsed under 5 years: 30 hours of continuing nursing education before applying. Lapsed 5 or more years: a board-approved refresher course is required. The Kansas refresher runs at least 120 didactic clock-hours plus 120 clinical clock-hours, with 96 of the clinical hours in acute care, from a board-approved provider.

Will I have to retake the NCLEX to get my Kansas license back?

Kansas publishes no routine re-examination requirement; the CE-or-refresher tiers govern.

Is there a grace period after my Kansas license expires?

Kansas's published rule: No grace period; if the renewal application is even one day late, the license lapses and reinstatement is required. A grace or late window is not permission to practice; check your status with the board before working.

How long does Kansas license reinstatement take?

Short lapses usually process in 2 to 8 weeks once the application is complete. If a refresher course is involved, plan around the course length, often 3 to 9 months end to end. The Kansas State Board of Nursing publishes processing updates on its portal.

Returning to Nursing in Kansas

What your lapse length means in Kansas

Refresher course rules in Kansas

Steps to reinstate in Kansas

Kansas reinstatement FAQ

Related guides

More for Kansas nurses

Never let it lapse again

Track your path back to active practice, free

Returning to Nursing in Kansas

What your lapse length means in Kansas

Refresher course rules in Kansas

Steps to reinstate in Kansas

Kansas reinstatement FAQ

Related guides

More for Kansas nurses

Never let it lapse again

Track your path back to active practice, free