Board of Nursing

Regulates the licensure, education, and practice in Tennessee of qualified practical nurses, registered nurses, advance practice registered nurses, and registered nurse first assistants.

About  the Board of Nursing

The Board of Nursing was created in 1911 by an act of the State Legislature and signed into law by former Governor Ben W. Hooper. The board’s mission is to safeguard the health, safety and welfare of Tennesseans by requiring that all who practice nursing within this state are qualified and licensed to practice.

Board responsibilities center around three broad functions—licensure, education and practice. The board grants licenses to practical nurses, registered nurses, advanced practice registered nurses (certificate), and registered nurse first assistants (certificate) who meet the requirements of the statutes and rules. Only graduates of approved schools of nursing are eligible to take the National Council Licensure Examination (NCLEX), which is required for licensure.

 Legislation passed in 2009 authorized the board to issue a Medication Aide Certificate to nurse aides with additional training in a board approved medication administration program.  Medication Aides must successfully complete the Tennessee Medication Aide Certification Examination for licensure.

Registered and practical nurses may be licensed by examination or endorsement from another state. Once licensed, nurses renew their licenses every two years. Renewal notices are mailed from the administrative office forty-five days prior to expiration of the license to the current address on file. Licensees are responsible for renewing on time and keeping the board apprised of current information. Licenses may be renewed online up to sixty days prior to expiration at https://lars.tn.gov/datamart/mainMenu.do.  It is a violation of the law and of the board’s rules to practice on an expired license.

The board is further authorized to issue an advanced practice registered nurse (APRN) certificate with or without a certificate to prescribe (CF) to registered nurses in four roles: nurse practitioners, nurse anesthetists, nurse midwives and clinical nurse specialists. Qualifications include current registered nurse licensure, a master’s degree in a nursing specialty area, three quarter hours of pharmacology, national certification and evidence of specialized practitioner skills. An advanced practice nurse certificate without prescriptive authority is issued when the nurse does not meet the pharmacology qualification or “grandfathering” provisions.

The board prescribes the minimum curriculum for all nursing programs on ground, online, distance or via other electronic means and annually approves schools of nursing meeting board standards. New schools undergo an approval process including a survey of the program. Schools not meeting standards are investigated and the board is authorized to place the school on conditional approval or close the program if standards are not met.

The board interprets the statutes and administrative rules to determine the appropriate standards of practice in an effort to ensure the highest professional conduct. The board issues private advisory opinions to licensees on request. The board causes the investigation of nurses alleged to have violated the law and rules and is responsible to discipline the license of and/or imposes civil penalties on those found guilty.

The Tennessee Professional Assistance Program, under contract with the department, provides professional assistance to nurses with physical, mental, emotional and/or chemical dependency issues. The monitoring and referral program, supported by licensure and renewal fees, provides a valuable service to protect the public and assist in the rehabilitation of nurses.

To assist in the discharge of its duties, the board employs a registered nurse executive director. The professional and administrative staff of the board and Division of Health Related Boards supports the board by issuing licenses to those who meet the requirements of the law and rules.

The board consists of eleven members appointed by the Governor for four-year terms or until their successors are appointed. Legislation passed in 2012 mandated the composition of the board to the following: nine registered nurses or advanced practice registered nurses, one licensed practical nurse, and one consumer member who is not a nurse and is not commercially or professionally associated with the health care industry. Members may be selected from lists of nominees submitted by their respective organizations for each appointment.

The board meets quarterly for regular meetings and as needed for special or called meetings. A quorum of six members is required to conduct business. Meetings are open to the public.

 

Licensure Scam Alert

The Department of Health has been made aware that some licensees of a few different health licensure boards have received fraudulent communications from individuals claiming to be from those licensee’s licensing boards. The communications, often by phone, may threaten arrest or license suspension, demand personal information, or require payment of fines.  Some of them have been accompanied by fraudulent letters claiming to suspend the license. Please note: 

  • Phone calls may “spoof” or appear to be from the boards’ number;
  • If you need to verify the identity of a TN board investigator, call (615) 741-8485 or email OIV.Complaints@tn.gov.
  • The health-related board investigators will never demand that you provide personally identifying information, such as a social security number, date of birth, or bank or credit card account numbers over the phone;
  • These types of licensing scams are a problem nationwide.

 If you believe you are the recipient of a fraudulent communication claiming to be from your licensing board:

  • If you believe you are the recipient of a fraudulent communication claiming to be from your licensing board:
  • Report the communication to the Internet Crime Complaint Center Internet Crime Complaint Center at using the code "TDHHPBSCAM2026".  This will allow law enforcement to link these scams for improved investigation.
  • Complainants can alternatively call the Fusion Center Tipline (800TBIFIND) or submit a tip online at TBI but the IC3 is preferred.

·         Notify the Department of Health at (615) 741-8485 or email OIV.Complaints@tn.gov

  • The Federal Trade Commission also accepts reports about “Imposter Scams” online or at 1-877-382-4357.

Contact

Contact the Board of Nursing

615-532-5166 local or 1-800-778-4123 nationwide
Nursing.Health@tn.gov
Tennessee Board of Nursing
665 Mainstream Drive, 2nd Floor
Nashville, TN 37243

Applying for Licensure

Profession

*Renewal Fee Prior to April 8, 2026

*Renewal Fee On or After April 8, 2026

*Initial Licensure On or After April 8, 2026

Registered Nurse

$100

$140

Examination

$150

Re-Exam

$ 100

Endorsement

$150

Licensed Practical Nurse

$100

$140

Examination

$150

Re-Examination

$ 100

Endorsement

$150

Advanced Practice Registered Nurse

$110

$150

$150

Registered Nurse First Assistant

$110

$150

 

  *These fees include state regulatory fee.

Pursuant to Tennessee Code Annotated 63-7-131, the Tennessee Board of Nursing is required to conduct an annual survey of Tennessee-licensed nurse practitioners with a certificate of fitness to gather information regarding the nurse-collaborating physician relationship.

This survey is to be completed by December 1, 2025. Beginning 2026, the survey will be emailed in January with a completion date of December 1 of each year. During the course of the year, licensees who have not yet completed the survey will be emailed quarterly reminders until the survey is completed.   The survey may be accessed at:  https://survey.alchemer.com/s3/8384806/Nursing-Board-Annual-APRN-Survey.

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When completing the application process below, you will be required to submit an official transcript from the institution where you completed your education. The transcript must be received directly from the educational institution.

To facilitate application processing, the Tennessee Board of Nursing requires documents in PDF format for submissions involving multiple documents or large file sizes.

To provide the best possible customer service, all in-person visits to our office will now require a prior appointment; please schedule your visit in advance to guarantee timely assistance. Please submit your request to Nursing.health@tn.gov and include your name, phone number, and briefly state your reason for visiting so that we can best meet your needs. 

Licenses may be renewed online at:  https://lars.tn.gov/datamart/mainMenu.do

Advanced Practice Registered Nurse (APRN)

Registered Nurse (RN) and Licensed Practical Nurse (LPN)

Medication Aide

 

Other Applications and Information

Portability Act for Military and Military Spouse with transfer Orders to Tennessee

Please fill out the application and email to Nursing.Health@tn.gov with a copy of the military orders attached.

Meetings, Members, & Minutes

Meeting Schedule

Click for the [Board] Calendar of Events

Public Notices will remain online until the minutes are ratified and posted on the Meeting Minutes page.

Unless otherwise noted, all events take place at 665 Mainstream Drive, MetroCenter.

Members

Board Members Position Representation Term Expires
Sheryl Wright Board Member Advanced Practice Registered Nurse 05-31-2028
Charlotte Webb Board Member Advanced Practice Registered Nurse 05-31-2028

Amber N. Wyatt

Board Member

Advanced Practice Registered Nurse

09-30-2025
Dru Malcolm Board Member Registered Nurse 03-31-2026
Martina Harris Chair Registered Nurse 05-31-2028
Sheila Bouie Board Member Registered Nurse 09-30-2025

Samuel Alston

Board Member

Licensed Practical Nurse

09-30-2025

Angela Beard

 Board Member Registered Nurse 05-31-2028
James D. McCoy Vice Chair Advanced Practice Registered Nurse 09-30-2029
Nancy L. Anness   Board Member Advanced Practice Registered Nurse  09-30-2025
Vacant Board Member Public Member  

Meeting Minutes

Minutes on file are maintained in the official record section of the administrative office.  Please contact the board administrator to make arrangements to review minutes of meetings held prior to 2014.

 

Archives Coming Soon...

Continuing Education

Continuing Education

By signing the renewal application form, licensees affirm that they have met this requirement. The Department of Health will be auditing licensees to determine and confirm compliance.

Continued Competence Requirements (PDF)

APRN Controlled Substance Prescribing Continuing Education Requirements 2024

Continuing Education Requirements for Identified High-Prescribers

Board Approved Refresher Courses

IV Therapy Courses for LPN

Graduate Nursing Loan Forgiveness Program

The Graduate Nursing Loan-Forgiveness Program is designed to encourage Tennessee residents who are registered nurses to become teachers and administrators in Tennessee nursing education programs. Click here for more Info.

CE Broker for Tracking Competency Requirements

The board is encouraging licensees utilize CE Broker as a tool to assist in the tracking of the required continuing competency. CE Broker is the official tracking system for the Tennessee Board of Nursing. The Board has provided you with a free Basic Account, so you'll have their helpful CE tracking tools right at your fingertips.  

Free Access

Within the free Basic Account, you will have access to your Course History and CE Compliance Status. This lists all of the courses which have been reported thus far and indicates whether or not you have satisfied your renewal requirements. From here, you may easily find and report any continued competency that might be missing. CE Broker is 100% free to use and you will never have to pay to access all of the necessary tools to renew your license!

 

Comprehensive Course Search

One of the best free tools CE Broker provides is the Course Search. You can easily find every course needed to successfully complete your license renewal, with just a few clicks! After you are finished with each course, educational providers will report the credits directly into CE Broker for you - but you should always retain a copy of the certificates for your records. To find courses, visit courses.cebroker.com/search/tn and select your profession.


Helpful Support Center

CE Broker’s support center is based in Jacksonville, FL, and staffed with experts who have been thoroughly trained on the rules & regulations for the Tennessee Board of Nursing. Open 8AM- 8PM ET, Monday through Friday, you can reach them by phone at 877-434-6323, or via email and live chat. For additional information and helpful guides, please visit: https://help.cebroker.com/ 

Upgraded Account Options

You can also subscribe to the Professional or Concierge Account, which offers above-and-beyond competency tracking tools to further simplify your renewal process. With the Professional account, you can access a personalized CE Transcript which outlines exactly what requirements you have left to complete. The Concierge account even includes your own CE Broker account manager who can guide you through the reporting process, step by step.

Other Benefits of Using CE Broker

  • If you are ever selected for audit, you will automatically pass if you are current in CE Broker;
  • Track and know precisely what is needed to maintain competency; 
  • Available convenience features like a personalized transcript and a personal account manager; 
  • Bring CE compliance wherever you go with the CE Broker mobile app. Available on iPhone and Android. 

How to activate your free CE Broker account 

Activating your free Basic Account provided to you by your board is a simple 3-step process.

1 |  Visit https://cebroker.com/tn/account/basic/

2|   Next, enter your license number

3|   Then, start tracking your continuing education!

Failure to comply with continuing education requirements may result in disciplinary action against the licensee or registrant. The disciplinary action will be reported on the Department of Health license verification web site.

Requirements

Educational Programs

Educational Programs

Medication Aide Programs

*Training programs listed at the link below are approved by the Tennessee Board of Nursing.  Only those graduates of approved programs are eligible for Medication Aide Certification in Tennessee.

LPN Schools

Professional Nursing Schools

Updated Guidelines for New Nursing Programs and Additional Program Track Approval

Frequently Asked Questions

Questions

For the quickest possible processing times, follow the instructions carefully.

Advanced Practice Registered Nurse (APRN) for tips to expedite processing your application.

RN-LPN Exam Application Instructions

Please complete the application and follow instructions found at:  https://www.tn.gov/content/dam/tn/health/healthprofboards/PH-3619.pdf

Login at https://lars.tn.gov/datamart/login.do.  

If moving into or out of Tennessee, complete and submit a Declaration of Primary State of Residence Form.

Go to https://www.nursys.com/ and click on Nursys Licensure Verification. Follow the instructions. There is a $30 fee paid to Nursys.

For states not participating in Nursys Licensure Verification, go to https://www.tn.gov/content/dam/tn/health/documents/Board_of_Nursing_Tennessee_Endorsement_Verification_Request.pdf

Put your request in writing to the Board of Nursing. Include the $25 verification fee paid by check to the Tennessee Board of Nursing. Mail the request and fee to Tennessee Board of Nursing, 665 Mainstream Drive, Nashville, TN 37243.

Put your request in writing to the Board of Nursing. Include the $25 verification fee paid by check to the Tennessee Board of Nursing. Mail the request and fee to Tennessee Board of Nursing, 665 Mainstream Drive, Nashville, TN 37243.

You may verify the license of any health care practitioner Tennessee via our website at:  https://internet.health.tn.gov/Licensure/.

Tennessee Board of Nursing has designated NURSYS as a primary source
equivalent. For additional information regarding nursing licensure
status and discipline in other states, go to Nursys.com.

Please complete and submit an Affidavit of Retirement.  This form is available on the Board website at:

https://www.tn.gov/content/dam/tn/health/documents/PH-3460.pdf

Please note your retirement will be effective the date the completed form is received and verified in our office.

Please login to your account at:  https://lars.tn.gov/datamart/mainMenu.do to complete and submit a reinstatement application along with the required fee payment and supporting documentation.

Reinstatement instructions for Registered Nurse or Licensed Practical Nurse:

https://www.tn.gov/content/dam/tn/health/healthprofboards/nursing/applications/Nursing%20RN%20LPN%20Reinstatement%20App%20Instructions.pdf

Reinstatement instructions for Advanced Practice Registered Nurse:

https://www.tn.gov/content/dam/tn/health/healthprofboards/nursing/applications/APRN-Reinstatement-App-Instructions.pdf

For instructions to obtain a criminal background check, please go to:

https://www.tn.gov/content/tn/health/health-professionals/criminal-background-check/cbc-instructions.html

For applicants living out of state, please note that results are typically received quicker if fingerprints are electronically scanned; therefore, if you are going to be in Tennessee anytime during the application process, it may be to your benefit to schedule a fingerprint scan rather than submitting a fingerprint card.

Continuing Competence, Practitioner Profiles, Collaborative Agreements and Continuing Education for Controlled Substance Prescribing & Opioid Guidelines

For a table containing continuing competence requirements for APRNs, RNs and LPNs, go to:

Competency Requirements for nurses

Audits of continuing competence are conducted each month.  Do not submit documentation unless and until requested to do so during an audit.  You must retain documentation of attendance and completion of all continuing education courses for a period of four (4) years from the end of the calendar year in which the course is completed.

APRNs who prescribe are required to have a supervisory/collaborative physician and update information within 30 days of a change.  You will find the application on the Quick Start menu at:  https://lars.tn.gov/datamart/mainMenu.do.  Be sure to notify your supervisory physician that you have submitted an APRN Supervisory Request so that he/she can login to his/her account and approve the relationship.  Instructions for approving supervisory/collaborative relationships are available for physicians at:  https://www.tn.gov/content/dam/tn/health/documents/Reviewing_a_Supervisory_Request.pdf

Alternatively,  the APRN may submit a completed and signed Notice & Formulary: 

https://www.tn.gov/content/dam/tn/health/healthprofboards/nursing/applications/Nursing%20Notice%20and%20Formulary%204-2018.pdf

You must update your Mandatory Practitioner Profile within 30 days of a change. Go to:

 https://lars.tn.gov/datamart/login.do

For information on refresher programs go to:

Tennessee Program Approved Refresher Courses

You may obtain health professional licensing reports at: https://internet.health.tn.gov/Licensure/

Complaints & Monthly Disciplinary Action Report (DAR)

Find the Board of Nursing fee schedule at:

https://www.tn.gov/content/dam/tn/health/healthprofboards/nursing/Fee%20Schedule.pdf

Law, Rules, Board Position Statements and Guidelines (including Chronic Pain Guidelines)

For Board of Nursing law and rules, go to:

 https://www.tn.gov/health/health-program-areas/health-professional-boards/nursing-board/nursing-board/statutes-and-rules.html

For position statements and guidelines, go to:

 https://www.tn.gov/health/health-program-areas/health-professional-boards/nursing-board/nursing-board/policies.html

Nursing Education (Schools, NCLEX® Pass Rates and Guidelines for New Schools)

The Board of Nursing offers a Geographic Information System (GIS) application to analyze workforce based on nursing licensure data. Approved nursing programs can also be queried and mapped on the GIS application. Go to:

https://tnmap.tn.gov/health/nursing/  

For information regarding the Nurse Licensure Compact (NLC) go to: https://www.ncsbn.org/nurse-licensure-compact.htm

Don’t ever let your license or the license of a nurse you employ or supervise expire with reminders from Nursys. For individuals and employers go to: https://www.nursys.com/

Policies, Rules, & Statutes

Policies

Rules

Click here for Rules and Regulations pertaining to the Tennessee Board of Nursing

Click here for Rules related to Drug Testing and Reporting

Nurse Licensure Compact Final Rules Effective January 2, 2024

CSMD Rules

Statutes

Statutes are proposed and made law by the Tennessee State General Assembly (Legislature). The Board, following specific notice requirements and hearings, adopts rules. Both have the force of law and may be used in the regulation of a profession. The statutes pertaining to this Board are found at T.C.A. 63-1 (Division of Health Related Boards) and T.C.A. 63-7 (Nursing).

Click here to review the Tennessee Code Annotated. (This link will take you to a website that is not maintained by the Tennessee Department of Health).

This Page Last Updated: March 30, 2026 at 1:40 PM