Become a Nurse in Pennsylvania – Licensure & Requirements

Pennsylvania Nursing Salaries

^{Nurse salaries above were retrieved from the Bureau of Labor Statistics – Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025 estimates, for the Pennsylvania statewide area, the Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD metropolitan area, the Pittsburgh, PA metropolitan area, and the Allentown-Bethlehem-Easton, PA-NJ metropolitan area.}

There are many paths to become a nurse in Pennsylvania. The path you take will mostly depend upon the type of nurse you’d like to become and your current or prospective level of education. The higher your level of education, the more opportunities you’ll have to choose where and how you pursue your career in nursing.

In addition to nursing salaries in Pennsylvania, you’ll find information on acquiring and maintaining several types of Pennsylvania nursing licensure. We’re constantly making updates, but with the speed of change in the healthcare sphere it’s difficult to stay current. You can verify an active Pennsylvania nursing license through the PALS licensing portal or Nursys. If you have any comments or suggestions for our information on nursing in Pennsylvania, please email us at info@nursinglicensemap.com!

Compact State Status

Pennsylvania fully implemented the Nurse Licensure Compact (NLC) on July 7, 2025. Eligible Pennsylvania RNs and LPNs can now apply for a multistate license valid across all participating NLC states.

Source: Pennsylvania Department of State, State Board of Nursing, and the Nurse Licensure Compact Commission — PA NLC page, NLC implementation map, current as of September 2026.

Prescriptive Authority in Pennsylvania

Certified registered nurse practitioners (CRNPs) may apply for prescriptive authority for Schedule II-V controlled substances in collaboration with a physician. CRNPs must provide proof of completion of 45 hours of coursework related to pharmacology as a part of the CRNP education program or another program approved by the board. The coursework must be a part of a program that is at the advanced level and has been completed within the last five years before application. An application for prescriptive authority is $95. CRNPs who hold a current DEA registration to prescribe controlled substances must also complete at least 2 hours of Board-approved education in pain management or the identification of addiction, and 2 hours in the practices of prescribing or dispensing opioids, within 1 year of obtaining prescriptive authority approval.

Source: Pennsylvania Code, Pennsylvania State Board of Nursing — 49 Pa. Code § 21.283, current as of September 2026.

Certified Registered Nurse Practitioner (CRNP) in Pennsylvania

Education: Completed an accredited, board-approved master’s or postmaster’s nurse practitioner program.

Examination: Varies for Different Certifications

Certification: National Certification as a Nurse Practitioner

Fees:

• $100 for In-State Nursing Programs
• $140 for Out-of-State Nursing Programs

Source: Fees — Pennsylvania Code, Pennsylvania State Board of Nursing, 49 Pa. Code § 21.253, current as of September 2026.

Additional Information: An active Pennsylvania registered nurse license is required for application.

Source: Education, examination, certification and RN-license requirements above — Pennsylvania Code, Pennsylvania State Board of Nursing, 49 Pa. Code § 21.271, current as of September 2026.

Renewal: CRNP certifications are renewed biennially and require a fee of $81 for the certification and an additional $41 for prescriptive authority. CRNP certifications expire at the same time as the RN licenses. CRNPs must complete at least 30 hours of continuing education within the two years preceding renewal, including at least 2 hours in child abuse recognition and reporting. CRNPs renewing prescriptive authority must also complete at least 16 of the 30 hours in pharmacology and, if the CRNP holds or uses a DEA registration, at least 2 hours total (not two separate 2-hour blocks) in pain management, identification of addiction, or the practices of prescribing or dispensing opioids, within the 2 years preceding renewal. Effective May 1, 2026, CRNPs must also complete at least 2 of the 30 hours in Board-approved continuing education in organ and tissue donation and recovery process, one time within 5 years of certification renewal.

Source: Renewal requirements — Pennsylvania Code, Pennsylvania State Board of Nursing, 49 Pa. Code § 21.331, current as of September 2026.

Learn more on how to become a nurse practitioner.

Clinical Nurse Specialist (CNS) in Pennsylvania

Education: Completed program with a master’s, doctorate, or post-master’s certification in nursing recognized for national certification in clinical nurse specialist.

Examination: National certification examination for clinical nurse specialists.

Certification: National Certification as a Clinical Nurse Specialist

Fees:

• $115 Certification Fee

Source: Fees — Pennsylvania Code, Pennsylvania State Board of Nursing, 49 Pa. Code § 21.805, current as of September 2026.

Additional Information: An active Pennsylvania registered nurse license is required for application.

Source: Education, examination, certification and RN-license requirements above — Pennsylvania Code, Pennsylvania State Board of Nursing, 49 Pa. Code § 21.811, current as of September 2026.

Renewal: CNS certification is renewed biennially. CNSs must complete a minimum of 30 hours of continuing education within the two years preceding renewal, including at least 2 hours in child abuse recognition and reporting. Effective May 1, 2026, CNSs must also complete at least 2 of the 30 hours in Board-approved continuing education in organ and tissue donation and recovery process, one time within 5 years of certification renewal. CNS licensure expires at the same time as a CNS’s professional nursing license. Fees for renewal are $56.

Source: Renewal requirements — Pennsylvania Code, Pennsylvania State Board of Nursing, 49 Pa. Code § 21.822, current as of September 2026.

Learn more on how to become a clinical nurse specialist.

Registered Nurse (RN) in Pennsylvania

Education: Completion of an Approved Registered Nurse Program

Examination: NCLEX-RN

Source: Pennsylvania Code, Pennsylvania State Board of Nursing, 49 Pa. Code § 21.20, current as of September 2026.

Fees:

• $95 Licensure by Examination – In-State
• $115 Licensure by Examination – Out-of-State
• $120 Licensure by Endorsement
• $145 Licensure by Endorsement with Examination
• $200 Examination Fee

Source: Board fee schedule — Pennsylvania Code, Pennsylvania State Board of Nursing, 49 Pa. Code § 21.5; $200 NCLEX examination/registration fee — NCSBN NCLEX fees and payment, current as of September 2026.

Renewal: Renewal of RN licenses occurs biennially and requires a fee of $122. RNs must also complete 30 hours of continuing education during the two years preceding renewal, including at least 2 hours in child abuse recognition and reporting. Effective May 1, 2026, RNs must also complete at least 2 of the 30 hours in Board-approved continuing education in organ and tissue donation and recovery process, one time within 5 years of licensure renewal.

Source: Renewal requirements — Pennsylvania Code, Pennsylvania State Board of Nursing, 49 Pa. Code § 21.131, current as of September 2026.

Endorsement: RNs who have obtained licensure in another state as a result of application and completion of an approved professional nursing education program in the U.S. or Canada are able to apply for licensure by endorsement in Pennsylvania.

Source: Pennsylvania Code, Pennsylvania State Board of Nursing, 49 Pa. Code § 21.20, 49 Pa. Code § 21.28, current as of September 2026.

Learn more on how to become a registered nurse.

Licensed Practical Nurse (LPN) in Pennsylvania

Education: Completion of an Approved Licensed Practical Nurse Program

Examination: NCLEX-PN

Source: Pennsylvania Code, Pennsylvania State Board of Nursing, 49 Pa. Code § 21.150, current as of September 2026.

Fees:

• $95 Licensure by Examination – In-State
• $115 Licensure by Examination – Out-of-State
• $120 Licensure by Endorsement
• $145 Licensure by Endorsement with Examination

Source: Pennsylvania Code, Pennsylvania State Board of Nursing, 49 Pa. Code § 21.147, current as of September 2026.

Renewal: Renewal of LPN licenses occurs biennially and requires a fee of $76. Pennsylvania does not require general continuing education hours for LPN license renewal, but LPNs must complete at least 2 hours of Board-approved continuing education in child abuse recognition and reporting each renewal period.

Source: Renewal requirements — Pennsylvania Code, Pennsylvania State Board of Nursing, 49 Pa. Code § 21.156, current as of September 2026.

Endorsement: LPNs who have obtained licensure in another state as a result of application and completion of an approved professional nursing education program in the U.S. or Canada are able to apply for licensure by endorsement in Pennsylvania.

Source: Pennsylvania Code, Pennsylvania State Board of Nursing, 49 Pa. Code § 21.150, 49 Pa. Code § 21.155, current as of September 2026.

Learn more on how to become a licensed practical nurse.

Information Disclosure

Information on the above nursing careers in Pennsylvania was retrieved from Pennsylvania Code – State Board of Nursing (Title 49, Chapter 21) and verified current as of September 2026.