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of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania

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    Pennsylvania Licensure Requirements

    Completion of Approved Registered Nursing Program

    RN Examination

    No Experience Requirement

    3 Hours of Child Abuse Education
     

    $95.00 Initial Fee

    $122.00 Renewal Fee

    Education Requirement:

    To become a registered nurse, an applicant must finish high school or obtain a GED and complete an approved registered nursing program (or an equivalent program approved by a State Board of Nursing), which range from a diploma, associate's degree or bachelor's degree. 

    Additional Education Requirement:

    For initial license, the applicant must complete 3 hours of approved training in how to recognize and report child abuse.

    Exam Requirement:

    Applicant must pass the NCLEX-RN® (or its predecessor SBTPE).

    Work Experience:

    No experience is required.

    Education Required for Biennial Renewal:

    To renew license every two years, licensees must complete 30 hours of continuing education, which must include 2 hours of approved training in how to recognize and report child abuse.

    Beginning May 1, 2026, all RNs must complete 2 hours of organ donation education one time within 5 years.

    Fees for Single State License 

    $95 if applicant went to nursing school in Pennsylvania

    $115 if applicant went to nursing school outside of Pennsylvania

    $120 if the applicant is applying based on having a license from another state

    $145 if the applicant is applying with a license from another state but needs to take the exam

    Licensure Renewal Fee 

    $122.00 every two years

    Other Pathways to Licensure

    Licensure By Endorsement

     A registered nurse who has graduated from an approved professional nursing education program in the United States or Canada that is equivalent to a PA RN program and who obtained RN licensure in another jurisdiction having passed an examination considered by the Board to be equivalent to the examination required for licensure in this Commonwealth but who does not hold a multistate license in another Compact state may be granted Single state licensure by endorsement.

    Licensure via Act 41

    Act 41 grants all boards and commissions within the Commonwealth the authority to endorse licensees from other states, territories or jurisdictions (with substantially equivalent licensing requirements) who are active, in good standing, have practiced under that license for no less than 3,600 hours in the five years preceding application,  and without discipline against their license and no criminal conviction that constitutes grounds for refusal of a license.  Note:  Licenses issued under Act 41 cannot be the basis for multistate licenses as applicants' specific education have not been reviewed. 

    Multistate Licensure

    Multistate license holders whose principal state of residence is not Pennsylvania may practice in the Commonwealth without a PA-issued RN license. If principal place of residence is Pennsylvania, you can apply for a multistate license here.