Tennessee LPN License: Lookup, Renewal, CE, and Fees
Tennessee is a Nurse Licensure Compact state. LPNs renew every 2 years, and pass the NCLEX-PN.
Look up a Tennessee LPN license
The board's search shows license status, expiry date, and any public discipline. Nursys Quick Confirm is a free national check you can use as a second source.
Tennessee Board of Nursing (Tennessee Department of Health, Division of Health Related Boards) · read 2026-09-03 · a dash means the board publishes no figure
Renewal and continuing education in Tennessee
Tennessee LPN licenses renew every 2 years, with the license due for renewal by the last day of the month in which the licensee's birth date falls, under the same biennial birth-date system used for RN licenses. Renewal is completed online through the lars.tn.gov portal. The profile does not state a specific continuing education hour requirement or what happens to a license that lapses without renewal.
Renewing an LPN license in Tennessee costs $140, compared with the $150 fee for the initial license application. Neither figure includes the NCLEX-PN exam fee or the required biometric fingerprint criminal background check, which the board treats as separate steps outside the renewal and application fees.
How much does a Tennessee LPN license cost?
Board fees exclude exam registration and fingerprinting · Tennessee board fee schedule ↗ · read 2026-09-03
Moving to Tennessee: endorsement and temporary permits
Tennessee participates in the Nurse Licensure Compact, so an LPN who holds a multistate license issued by another compact state can practice in Tennessee without going through endorsement. An LPN whose current license is not a multistate compact license, or who is moving from a non-compact state, must apply for licensure by endorsement before practicing in Tennessee.
LPNs licensed in another state who are not eligible for multistate practice apply by endorsement through the lars.tn.gov portal, for a fee of $150. The process includes verification of the original license through Nursys, a biometric fingerprint criminal background check, and documentation of citizenship or qualified-alien status. Tennessee does not require a separate state law or jurisprudence exam and does not offer a temporary permit while an application is pending. Foreign-educated applicants must also complete English language proficiency testing.
Education and exam for an LPN license in Tennessee
To become an LPN in Tennessee, a candidate must graduate from a board-approved practical nursing program, with an official transcript sent directly from the school to the board. The board publishes a list of approved practical nursing schools. After completing the program, candidates must take and pass the NCLEX-PN exam. The board does not state a specific program length in months, and no separate state jurisprudence or law exam was found.
What do LPNs earn in Tennessee?
BLS OES May 2025 · 20,830 LPNs employed in Tennessee · LPN salary in Tennessee by city →
Nearby states
| State | Compact | Renewal | CE per cycle | Initial fee | Lookup |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tennessee | Yes | Every 2 years | — | $150 | Verify |
| Alabama | Yes | Every 2 years | 24 hours | $125 | Verify |
| Arkansas | Yes | Every 2 years | 15 hours | $100 | Verify |
| Georgia | Yes | Every 2 years | 20 hours | $40 | Verify |
| Kentucky | Yes | Every year | 14 hours | $125 | Verify |
| Mississippi | Yes | Every 2 years | None | $60 | Verify |
| Missouri | Yes | Every 2 years | None | $0 | Verify |
| North Carolina | Yes | Every 2 years | — | $75 | Verify |
| Virginia | Yes | Every 2 years | 30 hours | $170 | Verify |
Official boards of nursing · read 2026-09-03
Sources
- Tennessee Board of Nursing (Tennessee Department of Health, Division of Health Related Boards) ↗licensure, renewal, CE, and fee ruleshigh confidence
- internet.health.tn.gov/Licensure
- publications.tnsosfiles.com/rules/1000/1000-01.20260408.pdf
- publications.tnsosfiles.com/rules/1000/1000-02.20241008.pdf
- tn.gov/content/dam/tn/health/healthprofboards/nursing/continuing-educa…
- tn.gov/content/dam/tn/health/healthprofboards/nursing/applications/RN%…
- ncsbn.org/public-files/NLC_Map.pdf
- Nursys ↗ national license verification
- BLS OES May 2025 Tennessee LPN wages and employment
Read 2026-09-03. Rules and fees change; confirm with the board before acting.