Kentucky Clinical Nurse Specialist License Requirements
Complete guide to becoming a Clinical Nurse Specialist in Kentucky
Reduced practice authority with some limitations
Prescriptive Authority: Collaborative agreement required
1 Education Requirements
Degree Required
Master of Science in Nursing (MSN) or Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP)
Program Requirements
- Complete accredited Clinical Nurse Specialist program
- Hold active RN license in the state
- Clinical hours as specified by program
2 National Certification
Certification Body
ANCC or AACN
Required
Yes
American Nurses Credentialing Center or American Association of Critical-Care Nurses
3 Fees
Initial Licensure
| Application Fee | $165 |
| Total | $165 |
Renewal
| Renewal Fee (every 1 years) | $55 |
Continuing Education Requirements
Pharmacology: 5 hours required
Annual; one-time: 2 hrs suicide prevention, 1.5 hrs pediatric abusive head trauma, 3 hrs domestic violence
Prerequisites
To become a Clinical Nurse Specialist in Kentucky, you must first hold an active RN license. Kentucky is a member of the Nurse Licensure Compact (NLC), so you may hold a multistate RN license.
State Board of Nursing
Free Tools
Other APRN Types in Kentucky
Clinically reviewed by Clinical Review Team
Based on 1 official sources • Last verified: January 2026