Returning to Nursing in Pennsylvania

Built by Keegan, a travel RN · verified against official board sources

Reinstatement and refresher requirements · Verified against the Pennsylvania State Board of Nursing (BPOA) · 2026-07-24

The Pennsylvania RN reinstatement fee is $130, plus any back renewal fees. What else your return takes depends on how long the license has been lapsed: short lapses are paperwork and CE, long ones can add a refresher course.

Grace period: No formal grace period; late renewal available within 2 years with reactivation fee

What your lapse length means in Pennsylvania

Lapsed	Status	Estimated cost
2 months lapsed	Reinstatement required	Reinstatement fee (Pennsylvania: $130) plus back fees for missed renewal cycles. Total typically $300–$800.
1 year lapsed	Reinstatement required	Reinstatement fee (Pennsylvania: $130) plus back fees for missed renewal cycles. Total typically $300–$800.
3 years lapsed	Reinstatement + likely refresher course	Reinstatement fee (Pennsylvania: $130) + refresher course tuition ($500–$2,500) + back fees. Total usually $1,500–$4,000.
6 years lapsed	Deep lapse: refresher course + possible re-application	If reinstatement is allowed: $1,500–$4,500 (fees + refresher). If re-application is required: $300–$800 in application fees plus NCLEX retake costs.

Size your exact situation with the reinstatement calculator, which uses the same board data.

Reinstating usually means catching up on continuing education. Earn it cheaply: free CE in Pennsylvania.

Refresher course rules in Pennsylvania

What the board publishes

Board-sourced

When a refresher applies: Lapsed or inactive for 5 or more years triggers the continued-competency requirement. Under 5 years: 30 hours of CE (including 2 hours of child abuse recognition and reporting) within the biennial period before applying.
What it takes: At 5+ years, three pathways: pass the initial licensing examination (NCLEX); complete a board-approved reactivation program and pass a nursing achievement examination; or show a current license in another jurisdiction with 3,600 practice hours in the past 5 years.
Re-examination: Re-examination is one of the 5+ year pathways, not the only one: the reactivation-program route and the out-of-state-practice route both avoid retaking the NCLEX.

Source: 49 Pa. Code 21.30a, last checked 2026-06-11. Rules change; confirm with the board before enrolling in anything.

Steps to reinstate in Pennsylvania

1Stop practicing immediately if you haven't already.
2Pull your CE records together: every certificate, every approved provider.
3Submit the reinstatement application through the board portal.
4Pay reinstatement fee + any back renewal fees.
5Expect a fingerprint background check (most states require one at reinstatement).
6Plan for 2–8 weeks of processing before you can return to work.

Start at the source: Pennsylvania State Board of Nursing (BPOA) or the online renewal portal.

Pennsylvania reinstatement FAQ

How much does it cost to reinstate a lapsed RN license in Pennsylvania?: The Pennsylvania RN reinstatement fee is $130, plus any back renewal fees the board assesses. A refresher course, where required, adds tuition on top (typically $500 to $2,500 nationally). Confirm the current total with the Pennsylvania State Board of Nursing (BPOA) before applying.
Do I need a refresher course to reinstate my Pennsylvania nursing license?: Lapsed or inactive for 5 or more years triggers the continued-competency requirement. Under 5 years: 30 hours of CE (including 2 hours of child abuse recognition and reporting) within the biennial period before applying. At 5+ years, three pathways: pass the initial licensing examination (NCLEX); complete a board-approved reactivation program and pass a nursing achievement examination; or show a current license in another jurisdiction with 3,600 practice hours in the past 5 years.
Will I have to retake the NCLEX to get my Pennsylvania license back?: Re-examination is one of the 5+ year pathways, not the only one: the reactivation-program route and the out-of-state-practice route both avoid retaking the NCLEX.
Is there a grace period after my Pennsylvania license expires?: Pennsylvania's published rule: No formal grace period; late renewal available within 2 years with reactivation fee. A grace or late window is not permission to practice; check your status with the board before working.
How long does Pennsylvania license reinstatement take?: Short lapses usually process in 2 to 8 weeks once the application is complete. If a refresher course is involved, plan around the course length, often 3 to 9 months end to end. The Pennsylvania State Board of Nursing (BPOA) publishes processing updates on its portal.

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Returning to Nursing in Pennsylvania

Reinstatement and refresher requirements · Verified against the Pennsylvania State Board of Nursing (BPOA) · 2026-07-24

Grace period: No formal grace period; late renewal available within 2 years with reactivation fee

What your lapse length means in Pennsylvania

Lapsed	Status	Estimated cost
2 months lapsed	Reinstatement required	Reinstatement fee (Pennsylvania: $130) plus back fees for missed renewal cycles. Total typically $300–$800.
1 year lapsed	Reinstatement required	Reinstatement fee (Pennsylvania: $130) plus back fees for missed renewal cycles. Total typically $300–$800.
3 years lapsed	Reinstatement + likely refresher course	Reinstatement fee (Pennsylvania: $130) + refresher course tuition ($500–$2,500) + back fees. Total usually $1,500–$4,000.
6 years lapsed	Deep lapse: refresher course + possible re-application	If reinstatement is allowed: $1,500–$4,500 (fees + refresher). If re-application is required: $300–$800 in application fees plus NCLEX retake costs.

Size your exact situation with the reinstatement calculator, which uses the same board data.

Reinstating usually means catching up on continuing education. Earn it cheaply: free CE in Pennsylvania.

Refresher course rules in Pennsylvania

What the board publishes

Board-sourced

When a refresher applies: Lapsed or inactive for 5 or more years triggers the continued-competency requirement. Under 5 years: 30 hours of CE (including 2 hours of child abuse recognition and reporting) within the biennial period before applying.
What it takes: At 5+ years, three pathways: pass the initial licensing examination (NCLEX); complete a board-approved reactivation program and pass a nursing achievement examination; or show a current license in another jurisdiction with 3,600 practice hours in the past 5 years.
Re-examination: Re-examination is one of the 5+ year pathways, not the only one: the reactivation-program route and the out-of-state-practice route both avoid retaking the NCLEX.

Source: 49 Pa. Code 21.30a, last checked 2026-06-11. Rules change; confirm with the board before enrolling in anything.

Steps to reinstate in Pennsylvania

1Stop practicing immediately if you haven't already.

2Pull your CE records together: every certificate, every approved provider.

3Submit the reinstatement application through the board portal.

4Pay reinstatement fee + any back renewal fees.

5Expect a fingerprint background check (most states require one at reinstatement).

6Plan for 2–8 weeks of processing before you can return to work.

Pennsylvania reinstatement FAQ

How much does it cost to reinstate a lapsed RN license in Pennsylvania?

The Pennsylvania RN reinstatement fee is $130, plus any back renewal fees the board assesses. A refresher course, where required, adds tuition on top (typically $500 to $2,500 nationally). Confirm the current total with the Pennsylvania State Board of Nursing (BPOA) before applying.

Do I need a refresher course to reinstate my Pennsylvania nursing license?

Lapsed or inactive for 5 or more years triggers the continued-competency requirement. Under 5 years: 30 hours of CE (including 2 hours of child abuse recognition and reporting) within the biennial period before applying. At 5+ years, three pathways: pass the initial licensing examination (NCLEX); complete a board-approved reactivation program and pass a nursing achievement examination; or show a current license in another jurisdiction with 3,600 practice hours in the past 5 years.

Will I have to retake the NCLEX to get my Pennsylvania license back?

Re-examination is one of the 5+ year pathways, not the only one: the reactivation-program route and the out-of-state-practice route both avoid retaking the NCLEX.

Is there a grace period after my Pennsylvania license expires?

Pennsylvania's published rule: No formal grace period; late renewal available within 2 years with reactivation fee. A grace or late window is not permission to practice; check your status with the board before working.

How long does Pennsylvania license reinstatement take?

Short lapses usually process in 2 to 8 weeks once the application is complete. If a refresher course is involved, plan around the course length, often 3 to 9 months end to end. The Pennsylvania State Board of Nursing (BPOA) publishes processing updates on its portal.

Returning to Nursing in Pennsylvania

What your lapse length means in Pennsylvania

Refresher course rules in Pennsylvania

Steps to reinstate in Pennsylvania

Pennsylvania reinstatement FAQ

Related guides

More for Pennsylvania nurses

Never let it lapse again

Track your path back to active practice, free

Returning to Nursing in Pennsylvania

What your lapse length means in Pennsylvania

Refresher course rules in Pennsylvania

Steps to reinstate in Pennsylvania

Pennsylvania reinstatement FAQ

Related guides

More for Pennsylvania nurses

Never let it lapse again

Track your path back to active practice, free