Every CE requirement verified against official state nursing board sources. How RenewRN verifies the data →
Every CE requirement verified against official state nursing board sources. How RenewRN verifies the data →
Field guide · License renewal
Pennsylvania State Board of Nursing (BPOA) · 2-year renewal cycle
Verified against the Pennsylvania State Board of Nursing (BPOA) · Last reviewed · How RenewRN verifies its data
Built by Keegan, a travel RN · verified against official board sources
As of 2026, Pennsylvania RNs must complete 30 contact hours of continuing education every 2 years to renew. The RN renewal fee is $122.
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| Renewal cycle | Every 2 years |
| Renewal deadline | every 2 years on an individually assigned date rather than a single statewide deadline, with registered nurse licenses falling on either April 30 or October 31; find your exact expiration date on your license or by logging into PALS at pals.pa.gov |
| Total CE hours (RN) | 30 contact hours |
| Renewal fee (RN) | $122 |
| Compact state (NLC) | Yes, NLC member · check your eligibility |
| License types | RN, LPN, APRN |
| Typical pay | See Pennsylvania nurse salaries |
Pennsylvania requires Registered Nurses (RN) and CRNPs to complete 30 contact hours of continuing education every 2-year renewal cycle. LPNs need only a 2-hour child abuse recognition and reporting course each biennium. CRNPs must include 16 hours in pharmacology and 2 hours in pain management within their 30-hour total. Pennsylvania is a Nurse Licensure Compact (NLC) member state, enabling multistate practice for nurses with a compact license. Pennsylvania has no single statewide renewal deadline: the board assigns each nurse an individual expiration date every two years, and for registered nurses that date is always either April 30 or October 31, which you can find printed on your license or by logging into PALS at pals.pa.gov. There is no formal grace period, so once a license lapses it must be reactivated, late renewal is available within two years of expiration for a reactivation fee.
Verified against the Pennsylvania State Board of Nursing (BPOA), last checked 2026-07-24. Found something off? Let me know.
Pennsylvania CE Audit Response Guide
Response deadline, retention rules, board address, and the rejections that get nurses dinged.
Read the full Pennsylvania RN License Renewal Guide
Step-by-step walkthrough, common mistakes, and tips for a smooth renewal
Visit the Pennsylvania State Board of Nursing (BPOA) website for the official renewal portal.
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A Pennsylvania RN completes 30 hours of Board-approved CE per biennial renewal (including at least 2 hours of child abuse recognition and reporting) and ATTESTS at renewal in PALS; certificates are not submitted at renewal. Per 49 Pa. Code § 21.131(a): “A registered nurse seeking licensure renewal shall complete 30 hours of continuing education approved by the Board during the biennial renewal period immediately preceding the application for renewal.” Proof is produced only on audit; § 21.131(c): “The Board may perform audits on registered nurses to determine compliance... A registered nurse shall retain documentation of the registered nurse's completion of continuing education for at least 5 years.” The first renewal after initial licensure is exempt from the 30 hours (except mandatory child-abuse CE).
Where it happens: PALS (Pennsylvania Licensing System)
www.pals.pa.govPer § 21.131(c), the Board may audit RNs for CE compliance; the nurse retains certificates/transcripts for at least 5 years and must comply with a request for submission; failure to comply may subject the nurse to discipline.
Announced change
None currently pending. The organ/tissue-donation CE requirement (2 of the 30 hours, one-time within 5 years, 49 Pa. Code § 21.131(a.1)) took effect May 1, 2026 and is now in force; no announced change to CE submission mechanics.
Verified 2026-07-03 against pacodeandbulletin.gov. Always confirm with the board before relying on it.
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| Type | CE hours | Renewal fee |
|---|---|---|
| RN | 30 / 2 yrs | $122 |
| LPN | 0 / 2 yrs | $76 |
| APRN | 30 / 2 yrs | $122 |
APRN renewal in Pennsylvania. 16 hours of CRNP Pharmacology apply per renewal cycle (details in the requirements table below). The board is only one clock: your national certification and any DEA registration renew on their own cycles. Full Pennsylvania APRN renewal guide
| Category | Hours | Required | Types | Description |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| General CE | 30 | Required | RNAPRNFNPCRNACNMPMHNP | Total continuing education contact hours required for biennial renewal |
| Child Abuse Recognition and Reporting | 2 | Required | RNLPNAPRNFNPCRNACNMPMHNP | 2-hour approved child abuse recognition and reporting course required every biennium (included in RN 30-hour total; standalone requirement for LPNs) |
| CRNP Pharmacology | 16 | Required | APRNFNPCRNACNMPMHNP | 16 hours in advanced pharmacology required for CRNPs with prescriptive authority (included in 30-hour total) |
| CRNP Pain Management & Opioid Prescribing | 2 | Required | APRNFNPCRNACNMPMHNP | 2 hours in pain management and the identification of addiction for CRNPs with prescriptive authority (included in 30-hour total) |
| Organ and Tissue Donation | 2 | Required | RNAPRNFNPCRNACNMPMHNP | 2 hours on organ and tissue donation and recovery process required one time within 5 years (effective May 1, 2026, included in 30-hour total for RNs) |
Certified Nursing Assistants (CNAs): Pennsylvania CNA renewal is handled by the state nurse-aide registry, not the Board of Nursing, and follows a work-hours / in-service model rather than the CE above. Check your state nurse-aide registry for CNA requirements.
Find free Pennsylvania CE. Verified, accredited and state-approved courses. No upsells. Browse free Pennsylvania nursing CE courses
Missed your Pennsylvania renewal deadline?
No formal grace period; late renewal available within 2 years with reactivation fee
What to do if your Pennsylvania license lapsedApproved CE Providers
Reinstatement Fees
Already lapsed? The Pennsylvania re-entry guide covers refresher rules, costs by lapse length, and the path back.
Applies to new RN licensure by examination. Verified against the Pennsylvania State Board of Nursing (BPOA).
First-Time Licensee Exemption
First-time licensees have no CE requirement for the initial renewal period
CE Audit Information
Pennsylvania Board of Nursing may conduct random CE audits.
Pennsylvania State Board of Nursing (BPOA)
https://www.pa.gov/agencies/dos/department-and-offices/bpoa/boards-commissions/nursing/These Pennsylvania renewal figures are free to cite, quote, or republish with attribution and a link (CC BY 4.0). Suggested citation:
RenewRN, “Pennsylvania Nursing License Renewal Requirements” (July 2026), renewrn.net/states/pennsylvania, verified against the Pennsylvania State Board of Nursing (BPOA).
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