Getting licensed to practice as a nurse practitioner in Tennessee means applying through the Tennessee Board of Nursing, completing primary source verification of your credentials, and then enrolling with payers so you can bill. Here's how it works — and how Rivon handles Tennessee licensing and credentialing for you.
Official TN boardApply, renew, or look up a license on the Tennessee Board of Nursing websiteHow to get licensed in Tennessee
- 01Confirm eligibility and gather documents — diploma, training verification, national APRN certification, current licenses, DEA, and a complete work history.
- 02Submit the application to the Tennessee Board of Nursing, with all fees and supporting documents.
- 03Primary source verification — the board confirms your education, training, licensure, certification, and background (including the NPDB) directly with each source.
- 04Board review and issuance — once the file is complete and verified, Tennessee issues your license.
- 05Enroll with payers and keep the license current — track the renewal cycle and CE/CME so it never lapses.
Licensing board
Tennessee Board of Nursing
The TN board sets Tennessee's application, documentation, fees, and renewal requirements.
Board websiteEstimated application fee
$210
An estimate; confirm current fees with the Tennessee Board of Nursing. Amounts vary by license type and change over time.
Typical timeline
~45 days
From a complete file to issuance — driven mostly by how fast primary sources respond. A clean, error-free application is the best way to stay near the low end.
Free TN checklist
Get the complete Tennessee nurse practitioner licensing checklist
Every document, form and fee, stage by stage, with links to the official board forms. Emailed to you now.
Renewing your Tennessee NP license
Once you're licensed, the Tennessee Board of Nursing requires you to renew on a set cycle. Here are the renewal rules as the board publishes them.
- Renewal cycle
- Every 2 years
- Deadline
- Renew by the expiration date on your certificate; renewal opens online up to 60 days before expiration and the Board mails a renewal notice 45 days before
- Renewal fee
- $150 APRN certificate renewal on or after April 8, 2026 (was $110), including the state regulatory fee; the RN license renewal ($140) is separate
- Continuing education (CE)
- Current national certification plus one item from the RN proof-of-competence list each biennium; APRNs with a Certificate of Fitness also need 2 contact hours on controlled substance prescribing
- 2 contact hours on controlled substance prescribing practices, including the Tennessee Department of Health treatment guidelines on opioids, benzodiazepines, barbiturates and carisoprodol (APRNs with a Certificate of Fitness)
- Current national certification from a recognized certifying body
- One item from the RN proof-of-competence list (e.g. 10 contact hours of CE, employer evaluation, national certification)
- How to renew
- Online through the Tennessee Department of Health LARS portalOpen the renewal portal
- NoteThe Tennessee RN license must also be renewed every 2 years (or a multistate RN license from another compact state maintained)
- NoteNational certification must be maintained during the renewal period
- NoteCompetency documentation must be kept for four years for audits; licensees attest on the renewal application
- NoteAPRNs who prescribe must keep a supervising/collaborating physician on file and update it within 30 days of a change
Last verified October 3, 2026 from the Tennessee Board of Nursing. As published by the board; confirm current requirements before renewing.
SourcesTennessee Board of NursingTenn. Comp. R. & Regs. ch. 1000-04 (APRN), rule 1000-04-.05 Renewal of CertificateTennessee BON - APRN Continuing Education RequirementsTennessee BON - Continued Competence Requirements
Renewal tracking
Never miss a Tennessee renewal
Rivon tracks your license expiration, CEhours and DEA, and reminds you before you're due.
Nurse Practitioner credentialing & payer enrollment in Tennessee
A Tennessee license lets you practice; credentialing lets you get paid. Before a health plan will reimburse you, it verifies your license, training, and history. Here's what that usually involves:
- 01Keep your NPI record (NPPES) current — your name, practice address, and taxonomy code should match your Tennessee license exactly.
- 02Complete your CAQH ProView profile: upload your Tennessee license and other documents, attest, and authorize each plan to view it. Re-attest every 120 days.
- 03Apply to each commercial health plan you want to join in Tennessee. Each runs its own credentialing review using your CAQH data.
- 04If you'll see Medicaid patients, enroll with Tennessee Medicaid (and any Medicaid managed-care plans you'll work with).
- 05If you'll bill Medicare, enroll through PECOS.
- 06If you'll work in a hospital or surgery center, apply for privileges there — each facility credentials you separately.
New to CAQH? Read our CAQH ProView guide for setup, your CAQH ID, and re-attestation.
How Rivon handles Tennessee licensing & credentialing
On the Rivon platform, your Tennessee license, DEA, and certifications live in one record with always-on monitoring that flags every renewal weeks early — so nothing lapses with the Tennessee Board of Nursing. Document AI reads each credential and fills the profile without retyping, and licensing & credentialing pipelines run primary source verification and payer enrollment in parallel.
Prefer to hand it off? Rivon's white-glove team manages the entire Tennessee application end to end — gathering documents, completing verification, and shepherding payer enrollment — while you watch progress in real time.
Tennessee nurse practitioner licensing FAQ
How long does it take to get an NP license / APRN authorization in Tennessee?
Most Tennessee nurse practitioner applications take about 45 days once the Tennessee Board of Nursing has a complete file, though timelines vary with how quickly primary sources (schools, prior boards, the NPDB) respond. Submitting a complete, error-free application is the single biggest way to avoid delays.
Which board licenses nurse practitioners in Tennessee?
Nurse practitioners in Tennessee are licensed by the Tennessee Board of Nursing, which verifies education, training, exams, and background before granting a license.
How much is the Tennessee nurse practitioner application fee?
As an estimate, the Tennessee nurse practitioner application fee is around $210. Fees change and vary by license type — always confirm the current amount directly with the Tennessee Board of Nursing before you apply.
How do I renew my Tennessee NP license / APRN authorization?
In Tennessee, renewals are filed with the Tennessee Board of Nursing. How to renew: Online through the Tennessee Department of Health LARS portal. Renewal cycle: Every 2 years. Deadline: Renew by the expiration date on your certificate; renewal opens online up to 60 days before expiration and the Board mails a renewal notice 45 days before. Renewal fee: $150 APRN certificate renewal on or after April 8, 2026 (was $110), including the state regulatory fee; the RN license renewal ($140) is separate. Continuing education: Current national certification plus one item from the RN proof-of-competence list each biennium; APRNs with a Certificate of Fitness also need 2 contact hours on controlled substance prescribing. Required topics include 2 contact hours on controlled substance prescribing practices, including the Tennessee Department of Health treatment guidelines on opioids, benzodiazepines, barbiturates and carisoprodol (APRNs with a Certificate of Fitness); Current national certification from a recognized certifying body; One item from the RN proof-of-competence list (e.g. 10 contact hours of CE, employer evaluation, national certification). This is as published by the board (last verified October 3, 2026); confirm before renewing. Rivon tracks the expiration date and flags it well before it's due.
How do I look up or verify a Tennessee nurse practitioner license?
Use the license lookup (verification) tool on the Tennessee Board of Nursing's official website. It shows whether a license is active and when it expires.
What does nurse practitioner credentialing involve in Tennessee?
Credentialing is how health plans and facilities verify your qualifications before you can bill them or practice with them. In Tennessee that usually means an up-to-date NPI record, a complete and attested CAQH ProView profile, an application to each plan you want to join, and — if you'll bill them — Tennessee Medicaid enrollment and Medicare enrollment through PECOS.
Do I need a Tennessee license to practice telehealth there?
Generally yes. Licensure follows where the patient is located, so to treat patients in Tennessee — including by telehealth — you typically need a Tennessee license unless a specific exception applies.
Can Rivon handle Tennessee nurse practitioner licensing and credentialing for me?
Yes. On the Rivon platform you can track every Tennessee license and renewal with always-on monitoring and run credentialing with primary source verification. Or hand it to Rivon's white-glove team, which manages the Tennessee application and payer enrollment end to end.