Tennessee Board of Nursing

The agency that licenses and disciplines nurses in Tennessee — how to reach it, what it charges, and what it requires to keep a licence active.

NLC Compact State

Contact the board

Website www.tn.gov/health/licensure/nurs.html

Phone (615) 532-5166

Email Nursing.Health@tn.gov

Verify a Tennessee licence Application portal

What this board regulates

Every nursing credential issued in Tennessee, with what it costs to get and what it takes to keep. Initial cost totals application, examination, and fingerprinting fees.

Credential	Initial cost	Renewal	CE hours
CNA Certified Nursing Assistant	$135	— every 2 yrs	—
LPN/LVN Licensed Practical/Vocational Nurse	$250	$100 every 2 yrs	None
RN Registered Nurse	$400	$140 every 2 yrs	None
NP Nurse Practitioner	—	$110 every 2 yrs	2
CNM Certified Nurse-Midwife	—	$110 every 2 yrs	2
CNS Clinical Nurse Specialist	—	$110 every 2 yrs	2
CRNA Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetist	—	$110 every 2 yrs	2

Certified nursing assistants are listed on the Tennessee nurse aide registry, run by Tennessee Department of Health - Nurse Aide Registry — a separate agency from the nursing board.

Multistate practice

Tennessee is a member of the Nurse Licensure Compact. A multistate licence issued by this board lets you practise in other NLC member states without a separate application in each one.

Tennessee is a Nurse Licensure Compact (NLC) member state. With a multistate license issued by Tennessee, you can practice in all other NLC member states without obtaining additional licenses.

How the Nurse Licensure Compact works

Frequently asked questions

How do I contact the Tennessee Board of Nursing?

Phone: (615) 532-5166. Email: Nursing.Health@tn.gov. Website: https://www.tn.gov/health/licensure/nurs.html. The board is the authoritative source for licence status, disciplinary records, and application questions. Contact it directly rather than relying on third-party summaries, including this one.

What licences does the Tennessee Board of Nursing issue?

It handles Certified Nursing Assistant, Licensed Practical/Vocational Nurse, Registered Nurse, Nurse Practitioner, Certified Nurse-Midwife, Clinical Nurse Specialist, Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetist. Certified nursing assistants are listed on the Tennessee nurse aide registry, run by Tennessee Department of Health - Nurse Aide Registry, which is a separate agency from the nursing board.

Is Tennessee a Nurse Licensure Compact state?

Yes. Tennessee is a member of the Nurse Licensure Compact, so a multistate licence issued here lets you practise in other NLC member states without applying separately in each one.

How do I verify a Tennessee nursing licence?

Use the board's public verification tool, which is free and does not require an account. It shows current status, expiration date, and any disciplinary action. Nursys also carries Tennessee data, though it can lag the board by up to two business days.

How often do Tennessee nursing licences renew?

Renewal cycles vary by credential: CNA every 2 years, LPN/LVN every 2 years, RN every 2 years, NP every 2 years, CNM every 2 years, CNS every 2 years, CRNA every 2 years. Continuing education requirements are set per credential and are listed in the table above.

Clinically reviewed by Clinical Review Team

Based on 5 official sources • Last verified: July 2026

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