Returning to Nursing in Kentucky

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 Kentucky.

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

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

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

The Kentucky RN reinstatement fee is $135, 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 Kentucky Board of Nursing before applying.

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

Reinstatement CE scales with lapse length: 14 contact hours per year lapsed (up to 5 years). Lapsed 5 or more years: 120 contact hours. A jurisprudence exam (80 percent pass) applies once lapsed a year or more. Kentucky uses scaled CE plus the jurisprudence exam rather than a refresher-course mandate. Alternative: being currently licensed in another jurisdiction with at least 500 practice hours there in the prior 5 years waives the CE requirement (201 KAR 20:225 Section 1(4)). A state and FBI background check applies.

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

The exam Kentucky requires is its jurisprudence exam, not an NCLEX retake.

Is there a grace period after my Kentucky license expires?

Kentucky's published rule: No grace period. A license not renewed by 11:59 p.m. EDT on October 31 lapses, and practicing on a lapsed license is illegal (KRS 314.071(4)). You must apply to reinstate: a Nurse Portal application, the $135 fee, a state and FBI fingerprint background check, and CE scaled to how long the license has been lapsed (201 KAR 20:225). CE used to reinstate cannot also be used for renewal.. A grace or late window is not permission to practice; check your status with the board before working.

How long does Kentucky 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 Kentucky Board of Nursing publishes processing updates on its portal.