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 →
Pennsylvania State Board of Nursing (BPOA) · 2-year renewal cycle
Verified by 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.
Recent changes to Pennsylvania rules
Full change log →Get an alert if Pennsylvania changes a rule
We watch the Pennsylvaniaboard so you don't have to. One email, only when a CE or license rule actually changes. Not a newsletter, rare by nature, unsubscribe anytime.
Free. We only use your email for Pennsylvania rule alerts, and never sell it.
| Renewal cycle | Every 2 years |
| 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 nurse salary by state |
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.
Verified against the Pennsylvania State Board of Nursing (BPOA), last checked 2026-05-13. 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.
Free PDF
A one-page, board-verified checklist: every CE requirement, mandatory topic, fee, deadline, and renewal step for Pennsylvania. Enter your email and it downloads instantly. No account needed.
Free-CE picks every Friday + monthly digest. No spam; unsubscribe anytime.
Want it tracked against your own license with reminders before each deadline? Create a free account
| 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 | Optional | 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 ANCC-accredited and state-approved courses. No affiliate links, no upsells. Browse free courses
Approved CE Providers
Reinstatement Fees
Already lapsed? The Pennsylvania re-entry guide covers refresher rules, costs by lapse length, and the path back.
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” (May 2026), renewrn.net/states/pennsylvania, verified against the Pennsylvania State Board of Nursing (BPOA).
Embed the Pennsylvania requirements on your site
Paste this where you want the requirement summary to appear:
<iframe src="https://www.renewrn.net/embed/states/pennsylvania" width="100%" height="480" style="border:1px solid #e5e7eb;border-radius:12px" loading="lazy" title="Pennsylvania RN renewal requirements by RenewRN"></iframe>
Journalists & educators: for state-level detail, custom data cuts, or comment, contact support@renewrn.net.
Always confirm requirements directly with the Pennsylvania State Board of Nursing (BPOA) before making decisions about your license renewal.
Create a free account to track your CE and get reminders before your deadline. Setup takes 60 seconds.
Get reminders on your actual Pennsylvania renewal date
Create a free account to track this license, see a live countdown to your own deadline, and get reminders before it lapses. Free: guides and data on RenewRN are always open; reminders just need an account.
Create a free accountFree CE for Pennsylvania nurses
Verified, accredited, no-cost courses
Can an RN inject Botox in Pennsylvania?
Aesthetic injector scope & rules
Returning to nursing in Pennsylvania
Reinstatement fees, refresher rules & timelines
Pennsylvania NP & APRN renewal
APRN CE, fees, prescriptive authority & cert clocks
Moving your license to Pennsylvania
Endorsement timeline, fees, permits & compact rules
Pennsylvania renewal: step-by-step
How to renew: forms, fees & timeline