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of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania

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    Pennsylvania Licensure Requirements

    Completion of Approved Nursing Program

    1 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, you must finish high school or obtain a GED and complete an approved nursing program (or an equivalent program approved by a State Board of Nursing), which could range from a diploma to a bachelor’s degree in nursing.

    You also must take 3 hours of approved training in how to recognize and report child abuse. 

    Exam Requirement

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

    Work Experience

    No additional in-the-field experience is required.

    Continuing Education

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

    Fees for Getting Your Single State License 

    $95 if you went to nursing school in Pennsylvania

    $115 if you went to nursing school outside of Pennsylvania

    $120 if you're applying based on having a license from another state

    $145 if you're applying with a license from another state but need 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 and who obtained 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 and without discipline against their license or criminal conviction but do not hold a multistate license in another Compact state. 

    Multistate Licensure

    Multistate license holders whose principal state of residence is not Pennsylvania may practice in the Commonwealth without additional licensure. If your principal place of residence is Pennsylvania, you can apply for a multistate license.