The state board determines the requirements for renewing your license. If you’re currently licensed, you can renew by submitting a completed application (including payment of the fee), proof of current CPR certification, proof of completion of continuing education (CE) credits and notarized copy of your original license.

pennsylvania nursing license renewal

1. Nursing License Requirements in Pennsylvania

Nursing License Requirements in Pennsylvania

To practice as a nurse in Pennsylvania, you must be licensed by the state. To renew your license, you must meet certain criteria every two years.

• You must have a current CPR certification from the American Heart Association or the American Red Cross.
• You must have completed continuing education credits (CEs).
• You must provide proof of completion of CEs to the board prior to renewal if your license was issued prior to January 1, 2016; otherwise you may submit proof at any time during your renewal cycle.[1]

2. Completed application for renewal.

The renewal application is a paper document that allows you to apply for your license renewal. You can get the application at any time, but if you’re thinking about getting one right now, it’s best to do so before the deadline (see below).

This document allows you to update personal information and renew your license. It also has space where you can indicate whether or not there have been any changes in your health status or criminal record since last year’s renewal. If there have been changes, be sure to fill these in!

The renewal application fee is $20 per year—about what you’d pay for a nice dinner out with friends.

3. Payment for the renewal fee.

The renewal fee must be paid at the time of renewal. Payment may be made by credit card, debit card, or check. The Division does not accept cash for payments. If payment is not received by the expiration date, your license will lapse and you must re-take the NCLEX-RN or NCLEX-PN examinations to renew your license. A lapsed license can be reinstated if you meet all criteria necessary under 65 P.S. §302(d).

4. Proof of completion of continuing education (CE) credits.

You must complete a total of 30 contact hours (or 15 contact hours for RNs) of CE courses in order to renew your license. In Pennsylvania, the Board does not provide a list of approved CE courses; however, you can find information about approved providers on the National Association of State Boards of Nursing website.

You will receive confirmation that you have met the requirement when you apply for renewal. If it has been more than three years since you completed your last course, an additional 15 hours must be taken before submitting an application for renewal.

5. Proof of current CPR certification.

To renew your Pennsylvania nursing license, you are required to submit proof of current CPR certification. In most cases, this means that you must have received your certification within the last three years. The cost for CPR training varies depending on where you take the course and what type of provider offers it.

If you do not have current CPR certification, or if it is more than three years old at the time of renewal, then contact an institution that offers both an online and in-person option (many universities now offer such programs).

6. Notarized copy of license to be renewed, if applicable.

If you are renewing a nursing license in Pennsylvania, it is required that you submit a notarized copy of your renewed license with the application. A notary public is a licensed public official who can authenticate documents by stamping them with his or her seal. The notary public confirms that he or she has seen the person signing and knows them personally, then stamps the signature on the document in order to verify its authenticity. It’s important to note that notarization is optional for this part of the process; however, we recommend getting it done because it helps ensure that your renewal will be processed successfully without any hiccups along the way—and saves time when sending in your documentation!

7.

pennsylvania nursing license renewal

The fee to renew a registered nurse (RN) or licensed practical nurse (LPN) license is $50.

The fee to renew a registered nurse (RN) or licensed practical nurse (LPN) license is $50.

• The renewal fee is not refundable. You must pay the entire amount before we can begin processing your application for renewal.
• The renewal fee must be paid in full before any other action may be taken on your application for renewal, including the mailing of materials to you and sending notifications related to this process.
• You will need to provide payment with your current address listed as it appears on file or through our online portal when completing your application for renewal; this includes both physical and mailings sent by our office at various points throughout the year. If no address exists at which we can reach you, then there may be delays in receiving important notices from us regarding this process until after they are sent out by mail through USPS/UPS/FedEx Ground/Air Delivery Services or expedited delivery services such as FedEx Express Overnight Service (FO), FedEx First Overnight Service (FO), UPS Next Day Air Early AM Delivery Service (NKX), UPS 2nd Day Early Morning Delivery Service (KDX), UPS 2nd Day Economy Delivery Service 5:00PM – 8:30AM EST / 12:00PM – 4:30PM CST / 9AM – 1:00 PM PST Monday thru Thursday Only ($4-$14 depending on weight & distance combination). It is possible that this could cause further delays than normal due to carrier service limitations during peak season holiday periods when additional staff members are needed due to increased volume of packages being delivered.* Our office cannot take responsibility if these deadlines are missed due to service limitations related solely

Closing

All of the above items are required to renew your license. If you have any questions about the process, please contact the Pennsylvania Department of Health at (800) 922-7454 or visit their website for more information.