Pennsylvania requires 30 CE hours for RNs every 2 years, with specific requirements for CRNPs that include pharmacology and pain management hours. This guide walks you through everything you need for a smooth renewal.
Pennsylvania RN License Renewal Requirements Overview
The Pennsylvania State Board of Nursing (operating under BPOA) requires Registered Nurses to complete 30 contact hours of continuing education every 2-year renewal cycle. LPNs have a lighter requirement — only a 2-hour child abuse course each biennium.
Pennsylvania is a Nurse Licensure Compact (NLC) member state, enabling nurses with a multistate license to practice across compact states without obtaining additional state licenses.
What CE Hours Are Required?
- RNs: 30 total contact hours per 2-year renewal cycle
- LPNs: 2-hour child abuse course only — no general CE hour requirement
- Child Abuse Recognition and Reporting (2 hours) — required every biennium for all license types (included in the RN 30-hour total)
- CRNPs: Pharmacology (16 hours) — required for CRNPs with prescriptive authority (included in 30-hour total)
- CRNPs: Pain Management & Opioid Prescribing (2 hours) — required for CRNPs with prescriptive authority (included in 30-hour total)
- Organ and Tissue Donation (2 hours) — one-time requirement within 5 years, effective May 1, 2026 (included in 30-hour total)
- At least 50% of CE hours must come from Board-approved sponsoring organizations
Step-by-Step: How to Renew Your Pennsylvania Nursing License
- Check your renewal date. Pennsylvania assigns renewal dates that vary by licensee (not based on birth month). Check PALS for your specific date.
- Complete all CE requirements. Finish your 30 hours (RN) or 2-hour child abuse course (LPN) before your renewal date. CRNPs must ensure pharmacology and pain management hours are included.
- Log in to PALS. Visit pals.pa.gov to access the Pennsylvania Licensing System.
- Certify your CE completion. Attest to completing all required continuing education, including the child abuse course.
- Pay the renewal fee. The current fee is $122 for RNs, $76 for LPNs, and $122 for CRNPs (including prescriptive authority).
Common Mistakes to Avoid
- LPNs completing unnecessary CE. LPNs in Pennsylvania only need the 2-hour child abuse course — not 30 hours. Don't over-complete if you hold an LPN license.
- CRNPs not allocating specialty hours. If you're a CRNP with prescriptive authority, 16 of your 30 hours must be in pharmacology and 2 must be in pain management/opioid prescribing. Generic CE won't satisfy these.
- Using too many non-approved providers. At least 50% of your CE hours must come from Board-approved sponsoring organizations. Track which courses are from approved vs. non-approved sources.
- Forgetting the child abuse course. This is required every biennium for all license types, including RNs (where it counts toward the 30-hour total).
- Missing the organ donation requirement. Starting May 1, 2026, a one-time 2-hour organ and tissue donation course is required. Plan for this if you haven't completed it yet.
Tips for a Smooth Renewal
- Track approved vs. non-approved hours. Since 50% must come from approved organizations, RenewRN helps you categorize and track your hours so you meet this threshold.
- CRNPs: front-load pharmacology hours. With 16 hours needed in pharmacology, start these early so you have time for your remaining elective CE.
- Take advantage of compact state benefits. As an NLC member state, your Pennsylvania multistate license works across all compact states.
Track Your Pennsylvania CE Requirements with RenewRN
Between the 50% approved-provider rule, CRNP specialty requirements, and mandatory child abuse course, Pennsylvania CE tracking has a lot of moving parts. RenewRN keeps it all organized so you can focus on nursing, not paperwork.