Verify a Tennessee Nurse—or Complete Renewal the Right Way
A Tennessee nursing-license search usually begins with one practical concern: Is this nurse legally authorized to work today? Licensees may instead be trying to find a renewal transaction, prove continued competence or understand why an endorsement document is still missing.
This guide separates those tasks and brings the useful official details together: public verification, Nursys, LARS renewal, current 2026 fees, competency evidence, compact status, reinstatement, application documents, approved schools and direct Board contacts.
Use Tennessee’s free Licensure Verification service to check a public record. Use LARS for renewal, applications, reinstatement, address changes and private account transactions.
Verify a Tennessee nurse
Check status, expiration, profession and available disciplinary information.
Check an application
Review application transactions, emails and missing-document requirements.
Renew RN, LPN or APRN
Confirm continued competence and submit the correct 2026 fee.
Verify a nursing school
Check Tennessee-approved practical or professional nursing programs.
Apply by endorsement
Complete verification, transcript, compact and background-check steps.
Tennessee nursing-license facts that affect your next action
Important correction: Tennessee does not require every RN or LPN to complete a fixed number of CE hours. RN and LPN licensees must maintain evidence of two approved competency items. Ten contact hours of nursing education is only one possible item.
Public verification is free
Use Tennessee’s public health-professional lookup for current license status and available disciplinary information.
Nursys verification is separate
Tennessee directs RN and LPN applicants to Nursys for verification from participating nursing boards. Nursys charges its own $30 fee.
Keep competency proof four years
Evidence must be retained for four years and produced within 30 days when the Board requests it in writing.
Send large document sets as PDF
The Board requests PDF format when a submission contains multiple documents or large file sizes.
Tennessee is a compact state
Eligible Tennessee residents can hold a multistate RN or LPN license. Compact status depends on primary state of residence and uniform requirements.
Board investigators do not demand payment
Tennessee warns about spoofed calls threatening arrest or suspension and demanding personal or financial information.
2026 nurse-practitioner survey: Tennessee-licensed nurse practitioners with a Certificate of Fitness receive an annual survey. The 2026 completion deadline is December 1, with quarterly reminders sent to people who have not completed it.
How to verify a Tennessee nursing license
Use Tennessee’s live Licensure Verification service rather than an old license card, screenshot or private directory. A license number usually produces the most accurate match.
Open Tennessee Licensure Verification
The public system covers Tennessee health-professional licenses, including nursing records.
Search an Official RecordSearch by license number when possible
If the number is unavailable, use the current legal name and try a former surname when appropriate.
Match the correct profession
Confirm whether the result is Registered Nurse, Licensed Practical Nurse, APRN, RNFA or Medication Aide.
Read status, expiration and discipline
Do not rely on the name alone. Review the entire official record and any linked disciplinary information.
Use Nursys for multistate details
Check Nursys when you need compact status, another state’s license information or verification sent to a nursing board.
Open Nursys| Search situation | What to verify | Correct next action |
|---|---|---|
| Active/current Tennessee license | Profession, license number, expiration, compact status and discipline. | Document the date and official source used. |
| Expired license | Exact expiration date and whether reinstatement is required. | The licensee should open LARS and use the applicable renewal or reinstatement transaction. |
| No Tennessee result | Spelling, previous name, profession and whether the person holds only another state’s license. | Check Nursys and the Tennessee application account. |
| Multistate license shown | Primary state of residence and current multistate authority. | Use Nursys QuickConfirm before relying on compact privilege. |
| Disciplinary information | Order, restriction, effective date and present compliance status. | Read the full official document before making a decision. |
Employer verification checklist
A Tennessee license card or renewal receipt is not a substitute for live primary-source verification. Employers should verify through the public state system or Nursys.
Renew a Tennessee RN, LPN, APRN or RNFA credential
Tennessee RN and LPN licenses renew every two years. Online renewal is available up to 60 days before expiration, while the Board says mailed renewal notices are sent approximately 45 days before expiration.
Verify expiration
Check the live record instead of waiting for a mailed notice.
Complete competence
Prepare the required RN/LPN or APRN evidence before attesting.
Open LARS
Use the account associated with the Tennessee license.
Pay and recheck
Save confirmation and verify the updated public record.
Check the official expiration date
Open Tennessee Licensure Verification and match the correct nursing record.
Verify ExpirationComplete the correct competence requirement
RNs and LPNs need evidence of two approved items. Practising APRNs need current national certification plus the applicable additional evidence.
View Competence OptionsSign in to LARS
Use the existing account connected to the Tennessee license and confirm that the email and mailing address are current.
Open LARS RenewalReview every renewal answer
Read legal, disciplinary, residency and practice questions carefully. Upload supporting information when the portal requests it.
Pay the post-April 8, 2026 fee
The current renewal fee is $140 for an RN or LPN and $150 for an APRN or RNFA.
Check Fee TableSave confirmation and verify the license
Keep the payment confirmation, then check the public license record before assuming renewal is complete.
It is a violation of Tennessee law and Board rules to practise nursing on an expired license. A submitted renewal or payment should not be treated as active authority until the official record supports it.
Why the expected renewal transaction may be missing
Tennessee RN, LPN and APRN competency requirements
Tennessee uses a flexible continued-competence system. RN and LPN licensees maintain evidence of two qualifying activities for each biennial renewal rather than completing one universal CE-hour total.
Choose two qualifying RN/LPN items
Open each group to see practical examples. The two selected items do not have to come from the same group.
Employment and performance evidence
A satisfactory employer evaluation, a peer evaluation letter, a contract renewal or reappointment, or a written professional self-evaluation.
Certification and professional development
Current national certification or a documented plan identifying two nursing goals with development, implementation and evaluation.
Service and nursing education
Nursing-related volunteer service, participation in formal student education for RNs or a published professional nursing article.
Continuing education option
A certificate showing 10 contact hours of continuing or in-service education applicable to nursing practice counts as one item.
Refresher or employer orientation
Successful completion of a two-week Board-approved nursing refresher program or qualifying two-week comprehensive employer orientation.
Education or examination evidence
A qualifying transcript showing three hours of nursing credit within the past five years or evidence of successfully retaking NCLEX.
| Credential | Evidence to maintain | Additional requirement |
|---|---|---|
| Registered Nurse | Two qualifying items from Tennessee’s RN/LPN competency list. | Keep evidence for four years. |
| Licensed Practical Nurse | Two qualifying items from the same RN/LPN list. | Keep evidence for four years. |
| Practising APRN without Certificate of Fitness | Current national certification and one item from the RN/LPN list. | The national certificate is not the state APRN license. |
| Practising APRN with Certificate of Fitness | Current national certification and one item from the RN/LPN list. | At least 2 contact hours specifically addressing controlled-substance prescribing practices. |
The Board can require competency documentation within 30 days of a written request. Failing to complete the activities—or falsely certifying completion—can lead to disciplinary action.
CE Broker is encouraged, not mandatory
Tennessee identifies CE Broker as its official tracking system and provides a free Basic Account, but the nursing page currently says registration is not required.
Keep your own certificates
Even when a provider reports education to CE Broker, retain your certificates and other competency documents for the required four-year period.
Tennessee nursing application, renewal and reinstatement fees
The current Board fee schedule became effective April 8, 2026. All listed licensure fees include the state regulatory fee, but Nursys, fingerprints, NCLEX and credential-evaluation costs can be separate.
| Transaction | Published amount | Practical explanation |
|---|---|---|
| RN renewal | $140 | Current biennial Registered Nurse renewal fee. |
| LPN renewal | $140 | Current biennial Licensed Practical Nurse renewal fee. |
| RN or LPN examination | $150 | State application fee; Pearson VUE NCLEX registration is separate. |
| RN or LPN re-examination | $100 | Tennessee re-examination application fee. |
| RN or LPN endorsement | $150 | Verification, fingerprints and foreign-education costs can be additional. |
| RN or LPN reinstatement | $110 | Reinstatement also requires the supporting documents shown in the official instructions. |
| APRN initial application | $150 | Initial Tennessee APRN certificate application fee. |
| APRN renewal | $150 | Current APRN renewal fee. |
| APRN reinstatement | $110 | Supporting reinstatement evidence is also required. |
| APRN verification | $30 | Current fee schedule amount for qualifying verification requests. |
| RNFA renewal | $150 | Registered Nurse First Assistant renewal fee. |
| Medication Aide renewal | $110 | Current Medication Aide renewal fee. |
Tennessee’s criminal-background-check page lists a $37.15 IdentoGO processing fee for in-state applicants. A person who does not complete fingerprint scanning within two weeks of registration may have to register and pay again.
Check a Tennessee nursing application without duplicating documents
Initial RN, LPN and APRN applications are completed through Tennessee’s online licensing system. Applicants should monitor the account and email used for the application.
Sign in to the original LARS account
Use the login created for the nursing application rather than opening another applicant profile.
Open Application PortalMatch the correct transaction
Open examination, endorsement, APRN, RNFA, Medication Aide or reinstatement—not an unrelated renewal record.
Review email and portal notices
Check spam or junk folders for deficiency notices, background-check instructions and requests for additional information.
Confirm who must send each document
The official transcript must be received directly from the educational institution. License verification may need to come through Nursys or another board.
Use PDF format for large submissions
Combine multiple related pages logically and use readable PDF files rather than unclear screenshots.
Contact the Board with exact details
Provide the applicant name, profession, application date, document sender and exact unresolved requirement.
| Missing item | What to confirm | Practical next action |
|---|---|---|
| Official transcript | Whether the educational institution sent it directly to the Board. | Ask the school for the sending date, method and recipient. |
| License verification | Whether the state participates in Nursys Licensure Verification. | Use Nursys or Tennessee’s form for non-participating states. |
| Background check | Whether the correct OCA instructions were used and scanning occurred within the required period. | Do not repeat fingerprints until the application instructions are reviewed. |
| Citizenship or residency | Whether the correct declaration and supporting document were submitted. | Use the official citizenship and Primary State of Residence forms. |
| Foreign-education report | Whether CGFNS sent the correct CES Professional Report and approved English result. | Track the report with the testing or evaluation provider. |
| Application has not moved | Whether every direct-source document has actually reached the Board. | Send one clear status request instead of duplicate attachments. |
Tennessee says applications are processed in the order received. Routine applications are not expedited; the published exceptions concern eligible military members and spouses.
“I am contacting the Tennessee Board of Nursing about my _____ application. I submitted it on _____. The item named _____ was sent by _____ on _____ through _____. My online account currently shows _____. Please confirm whether the item has been matched to my file and identify the exact action still required.”
Tennessee RN or LPN licensure by endorsement
Endorsement applicants must establish nursing education, license history, residency, background-check compliance and eligibility for either a Tennessee single-state or multistate license.
Order Nursys verification
Use Nursys Licensure Verification for participating states. Tennessee’s FAQ lists a $30 Nursys fee.
Arrange the transcript
The official transcript must be received directly from the nursing-education institution.
Declare primary residence
Tennessee compact eligibility depends on the applicant’s legal Primary State of Residence.
Determine whether you need endorsement
Check whether Tennessee will be your primary state of residence or whether you already hold a valid compact privilege from another home state.
Submit the online Tennessee application
Use LARS and choose RN or LPN licensure by endorsement. The current application fee is $150.
Start Endorsement ApplicationOrder verification from every required state
Use Nursys for participating boards. Use Tennessee’s endorsement-verification form when a jurisdiction does not participate.
Order Nursys VerificationComplete the criminal background check
Follow the Tennessee Board instructions and use the correct OCA code associated with the application.
Open Background-Check InstructionsArrange direct education records
Ask the institution to send the official transcript directly to the Tennessee Board of Nursing.
Monitor the original application account
Watch for email notices and respond only with the exact missing document requested.
Foreign-educated applicants: Tennessee requires a CGFNS Credentials Evaluation Service Professional Report and approved English-language testing. Accepted exams listed by the Board include IELTS, TOEFL, OET and MET. Home tests are not accepted.
Tennessee multistate nursing-license rules
Tennessee is an active Nurse Licensure Compact member. An eligible Tennessee resident can hold one multistate RN or LPN license and practise in other participating jurisdictions while Tennessee remains the primary state of residence.
Primary residence controls the home license
Multistate authority is tied to the nurse’s legal Primary State of Residence, not simply an employer address or temporary assignment.
Moving between compact states
A nurse moving from one compact state to another must apply for licensure in the new primary state of residence within 60 days.
APRN authority is separate
The RN/LPN compact privilege does not automatically create Tennessee APRN authority or a Certificate of Fitness.
| Your situation | Likely license route | What to verify |
|---|---|---|
| Tennessee is your legal primary residence | Apply to Tennessee for a multistate RN or LPN license when eligible. | Residency evidence and uniform compact requirements. |
| You live in another compact state | Use the valid multistate license issued by your home state. | Current compact privilege through Nursys. |
| You live in a noncompact state | Apply for a Tennessee single-state license when Tennessee authority is required. | Endorsement and background-check requirements. |
| You move into Tennessee | Apply for Tennessee licensure and submit a Primary State of Residence declaration. | The NLC 60-day moving rule. |
| You move out of Tennessee | Apply in the new compact home state when applicable. | Address, residence declaration and new-home-state issuance. |
A compact license does not let a nurse ignore the nursing laws of the state where the patient is located. The nurse must follow the practice requirements of each remote state.
Check a Tennessee LPN or professional nursing program
Tennessee annually approves nursing programs that meet Board standards. Match the exact school and program type before paying tuition or assuming NCLEX eligibility.
Open the Board’s educational-program section
The Tennessee nursing page publishes practical nursing, associate, baccalaureate and Medication Aide program resources.
Open Nursing Program ResourcesChoose the intended license pathway
Check whether the program prepares students for LPN, associate RN or baccalaureate RN licensure.
Match the exact school and campus
Do not assume every branch, online track or extension of a school has identical approval.
Review NCLEX results by year and school
Compare multiple years rather than relying on one marketing statistic.
Check approval and accreditation separately
Board approval and national nursing accreditation serve different purposes and should both be verified.
Only graduates of approved Tennessee nursing schools are eligible to take NCLEX through the state’s program-approval pathway. Verify approval before enrolling.
Change your Tennessee record, retire or reinstate a license
Change address
Sign in to LARS and update the address. A move into or out of Tennessee can also require a Primary State of Residence form.
Change legal name
Complete Tennessee’s Health Related Boards Name Change Request and follow its supporting-document instructions.
Open Name Change FormChange primary residence
Submit the Primary State of Residence declaration when moving into or out of Tennessee and review the compact implications.
Reinstate RN or LPN
Apply through LARS and prepare citizenship, residency and criminal-background-check documentation.
Open Reinstatement InstructionsRetire a credential
Submit the official Affidavit of Retirement. Retirement becomes effective when the completed form is received and verified.
Verify suspicious communication
Call the official investigator-verification number before responding to a threat, payment demand or request for private financial information.
The currently linked RN/LPN reinstatement instructions require a Primary State of Residence declaration, notarized citizenship declaration, proof of citizenship and fingerprint criminal-background check. Positive criminal history requires additional certified documents.
Tennessee health-board investigators will not demand a Social Security number, date of birth, bank account or credit-card information by phone. Investigator identity can be checked at (615) 741-8485.
Tennessee Board of Nursing phone, email and office details
Review the online record before contacting the Board. Prepare the nurse or applicant name, profession, license or application details, submission date and exact unresolved item.
Primary local telephone number for Tennessee nursing-board questions.
Toll-free Health Related Boards contact route.
Use for nursing-board questions and advance appointment requests.
OIV.Complaints@tn.gov for investigator verification and scam reporting.
Office of Investigations telephone route for complaints against a healthcare provider.
2nd Floor, Nashville, TN 37243.
“I am contacting the Tennessee Board of Nursing about my _____ license or application. My license or application reference is _____. I submitted _____ on _____. The online system currently shows _____. Please identify the exact action still required and confirm whether the document must come directly from the issuing organization.”
Appointment required: Tennessee states that in-person visits now require an advance appointment. Email Nursing.Health@tn.gov with your name, phone number and a brief reason for the visit before travelling.
Tennessee Board of Nursing FAQ
How do I verify a Tennessee nursing license?
Use Tennessee’s public Licensure Verification service. Search by license number when possible, match the correct nursing profession and review status, expiration and available disciplinary information.
How often is a Tennessee nursing license renewed?
Tennessee RN and LPN licenses renew every two years.
When can I renew online?
Online renewal is available through LARS up to 60 days before the license expiration date.
How much does Tennessee RN or LPN renewal cost?
The fee schedule effective April 8, 2026 lists a $140 renewal fee for an RN and $140 for an LPN.
How much does Tennessee APRN renewal cost?
The current fee schedule lists the APRN renewal fee as $150.
How many continuing-education hours do Tennessee nurses need?
Tennessee does not impose one fixed CE-hour total on every RN or LPN. RN and LPN licensees maintain evidence of two approved competency items. Ten contact hours of nursing education can count as one item.
What does an APRN need for continued competence?
A practising APRN maintains current national certification and one item from the RN competency list. An APRN with a Certificate of Fitness also needs at least 2 contact hours addressing controlled-substance prescribing.
How long should competency records be kept?
Keep the evidence for four years. The Board can require the records within 30 days of a written request.
Is CE Broker mandatory for Tennessee nurses?
The Board currently encourages nurses to use the free CE Broker Basic Account but states that registration is not required.
How do I check my Tennessee nursing application?
Sign in to the LARS account used for the application, review the submitted transaction and check email notices for missing-document or background-check instructions.
Can my application be expedited?
The Board processes applications in the order received. The published expedited routes are for qualifying military members and spouses.
How do I send license verification for endorsement?
Use Nursys Licensure Verification for participating nursing boards. For a state that does not participate, use Tennessee’s endorsement-verification request process.
Is Tennessee a Nurse Licensure Compact state?
Yes. Eligible Tennessee residents can receive a multistate RN or LPN license. The license is tied to Tennessee being the nurse’s legal Primary State of Residence.
Does compact authority cover APRN practice?
No. The RN/LPN Nurse Licensure Compact does not independently provide Tennessee APRN authority or a Certificate of Fitness.
How do I verify a Tennessee nursing school?
Use the Tennessee Board of Nursing educational-program section. Match the practical, associate or baccalaureate program and review the published NCLEX results.
What is the Tennessee Board of Nursing phone number?
The local Board of Nursing number is (615) 532-5166. The nationwide toll-free number is 1-800-778-4123.
Tennessee pages and documents used for this guide
Fees, licensing procedures and compact rules can change. Recheck the relevant official source before submitting an application, renewal, verification, document or payment.
For employers and public users
Use the live Tennessee record, match the exact person and profession, review status, expiration, compact authority and discipline, and document the verification date.
For applicants and licensees
Use LARS for applications, renewal, reinstatement and profile transactions. This independent guide cannot access or change private Tennessee licensing records.