How to Get a Nurse (RN/LPN) License in Pennsylvania (2026)

Pennsylvania State Board of Nursing

Pennsylvania State Board of Nursing

State Board of Nursing

Last verified Oct 25, 2026

Open the official agency page

https://www.pa.gov/agencies/dos/department-and-offices/bpoa/boards-commissions/nursing/renewal-information

Log in to start your renewal process

Last verified Oct 25, 2026

2 years

2

To renew license every two years

Last verified Oct 25, 2026

LPN: high-school graduation or GED and completion of a Board-approved practical nursing program; three hours of child-abuse recognition and reporting training for initial licensure.

LPN: high-school graduation or GED and completion of a Board-approved practical nursing program; three hours of child-abuse recognition and reporting training for initial licensure.

To become a practical nurse, an applicant must finish high school or obtain a GED and satisfactorily complete a program in practical nursing prescribed and approved by the board in a school, hospital or other educational institution. For initial license, the applicant must complete 3 hours of approved training in how to recognize and report child abuse.

Last verified Oct 25, 2026

LPN: NCLEX-PN or its predecessor SBTPE.

LPN: NCLEX-PN or its predecessor SBTPE.

The applicant must pass the NCLEX-PN® (or its predecessor SBTPE).

Last verified Oct 25, 2026

RN renewal: $122 every two years and 30 CE hours, including two hours of approved child-abuse recognition and reporting training. Beginning May 1, 2026, RNs must complete two hours of organ-donation education once within five years.

RN renewal: $122 every two years and 30 CE hours, including two hours of approved child-abuse recognition and reporting training. Beginning May 1, 2026, RNs must complete two hours of organ-donation education once within five years.

$122.00 every two years 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.

Last verified Oct 25, 2026

LPN renewal: $76 every two years and two hours of Board-approved child-abuse recognition and reporting training.

LPN renewal: $76 every two years and two hours of Board-approved child-abuse recognition and reporting training.

To renew license every two years, licensees must complete 2 hours of Board-approved training in how to recognize and report child abuse. $76.00 every two years

Last verified Oct 25, 2026

An RN or PN legally practicing under another Compact state's multistate license does not need a Pennsylvania single-state license.

An RN or PN legally practicing under another Compact state's multistate license does not need a Pennsylvania single-state license.

If you hold a Multistate RN or PN license (issued by a Nurse Licensure Compact state), and you are legally practicing in Pennsylvania under that multistate privilege, then: You do not need a Pennsylvania single-state license to practice as an RN or a PN.

Last verified Oct 25, 2026