RN, LPN Requirement:
Acceptable proof of competence shall include two items or documentation of the following:
(one item for nurses not practicing but wishing to maintain an active license, contact hours must be ten hours which includes five for each year out of practice).

1. Copy of a satisfactory employer evaluation
2. Letter from a peer providing a satisfactory evaluation of your nursing performance
3. Letter from a patient or family member giving evidence of a satisfactory nurse/patient relationship
4. Copy of a contract of renewal or re-appointment to a nursing position
5. Written self-evaluation based on the standards of competence listed in the rules
6. Evidence of initial or continuing national certification
7. A document that identifies two nursing goals and how you met these goals
8. A letter from the agency where you volunteered as a nurse
9. Documentation from a school of nursing stating that you participated in the education of nursing students
10. Certificate/evidence of five contact hours of continuing education
11. Copy of a published article relevant to nursing written by the licensee
12. Letter of satisfactory completion of a nursing refresher course
13. Letter of satisfactory completion of a comprehensive nursing orientation program
14. Official transcript (may be student issued) demonstrating two hours of nursing credit
15. Evidence of successfully retaken NCLEX

APN Requirement:
In order to have acceptable proof of competence, advanced practice nurses must have documentation of:
1. Evidence of initial or continuing national certification.
2. One additional item from the registered nurse proof of competence.

APN Special Requirement:
APNs that are holders of a Certificate of Fitness must have documentation of:
1. Evidence of initial or continuing national certification.
2. One additional item from the registered nurse proof of competence.
3. A minimum of two (2) contact hours of continuing education designed specifically to address controlled substance prescribing practices.  The continuing education must include instruction in the Tennessee Department of Health’s treatment guidelines on opioids, benzodiazepines, barbiturates and carisoprodol, and may include such other topics as medicine addiction or risk management tools.
4. A copy of current notice and formulary (PH 3625) if prescribing.

Phone:
800-778-4123 or 615-532-5166

Website:
Tennessee Board of Nursing

Mailing Address:
Tennessee Board of Nursing
665 Mainstream Drive, 2nd Floor
Nashville, TN 37243

CNA Requirement:
Evidence of having worked at least one eight hour shift employed as a nurse aide in the 24 months prior to certification renewal.

Phone:
800-778-4504 or 615-532-5171

Mailing Address:
Tennessee Department of Health
710 James Robertson Parkway
Andrew Johnson Tower
Nashville, TN 37243

Requirements Disclaimer: Although we try to keep our links and other information as up-to-date as possible, ultimately, it is the responsibility of each individual user to understand and keep up-to-date with the requirements of the license possessed.