How many CE hours do nurses need in Pennsylvania?

Registered Nurses (RN) in Pennsylvania need 30 continuing education hours every 2 years for license renewal.

What are the mandatory CE topics in Pennsylvania?

Mandatory CE topics in Pennsylvania include: General CE, Child Abuse Recognition and Reporting, CRNP Pharmacology, CRNP Pain Management & Opioid Prescribing.

What is the renewal cycle for nursing licenses in Pennsylvania?

Nursing licenses in Pennsylvania must be renewed every 2 years. The Pennsylvania State Board of Nursing (BPOA) oversees license renewals.

What license types does Pennsylvania regulate?

Pennsylvania regulates the following nursing license types: RN, LPN, APRN, CNA.

Pennsylvania RN License Renewal Requirements

Pennsylvania State Board of Nursing (BPOA) · 2-year renewal cycle · Last verified 2026-02-05

Quick Facts

Renewal Cycle	Every 2 years
Total CE Hours (RN)	30 contact hours
Renewal Fee (RN)	$122
Compact State (NLC)	Yes — NLC member
License Types	RN, LPN, APRN, CNA

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.

This data is verified against the Pennsylvania State Board of Nursing (BPOA) — last checked 2026-02-05. If anything looks off, let me know.

Read the full Pennsylvania RN License Renewal Guide

Step-by-step walkthrough, common mistakes, and tips for a smooth renewal

How to Renew Your Pennsylvania Nursing License

1Log in to the Pennsylvania Licensing System (PALS) at pals.pa.gov
2Complete all 30 required CE hours (or 2 hours for LPNs) before your renewal date
3Certify completion of continuing education requirements including child abuse course
4Pay the renewal fee ($122 for RN, $76 for LPN, $122 for CRNP) online through PALS
5Print your renewed license from the PALS portal

Visit the Pennsylvania State Board of Nursing (BPOA) website for the official renewal portal.

CE Hours by License Type

hours / 2 years

Renewal fee: $122

LPN

hours / 2 years

Renewal fee: $76

APRN

hours / 2 years

Renewal fee: $122

CNA

hours / 2 years

Renewal fee: $0

CE Requirements

Category	Hours	Required	License Types	Description
General CE	30	Required	RNAPRNFNPCRNACNMPMHNP	Total continuing education contact hours required for biennial renewal
Child Abuse Recognition and Reporting	2	Required	RNLPNAPRNFNPCRNACNMPMHNPCNA	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)

Important Deadlines

Renewal Due: Assigned renewal date, every 2 years (varies by licensee)
Grace Period: No formal grace period; late renewal available within 2 years with reactivation fee
CE Completion Window: All CE must be completed during the 2-year period immediately preceding the renewal date
Record Retention: Keep CE certificates for at least 4 years in case of audit by the Pennsylvania State Board of Nursing (BPOA)

Important Notes

• Pennsylvania uses the term LPN (Licensed Practical Nurse) instead of LVN
• LPNs in Pennsylvania only need the 2-hour child abuse course per biennium, not the 30-hour CE requirement
• The State Board of Nursing operates under the Bureau of Professional and Occupational Affairs (BPOA)
• CE must be completed during the 2-year period immediately preceding the renewal date
• At least 50% of CE hours must be obtained through courses with a sponsoring organization approved by the Board
• CRNPs (Certified Registered Nurse Practitioners) must include 16 hours in pharmacology and 2 hours in pain management within the 30 total
• Organ and tissue donation CE (2 hrs, one-time) becomes effective May 1, 2026
• This information is for guidance only. Always verify requirements with the Pennsylvania State Board of Nursing.

CE Providers & Renewal

Approved CE Providers

ANCCPennsylvania State Nurses Association

Renew Online

Late Fees & Reinstatement

Late Renewal Fees

RN: $50
LPN: $50

Reinstatement Fees

RN: $150
LPN: $150

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. Retain certificates for 5 years.

Board Resources

Pennsylvania State Board of Nursing (BPOA)

https://www.pa.gov/agencies/dos/department-and-offices/bpoa/boards-commissions/nursing/

Sources

Last verified 2026-02-05·View official source →

Always confirm requirements directly with the Pennsylvania State Board of Nursing (BPOA) before making decisions about your license renewal.

Track your Pennsylvania license — free

CE hours, mandatory topics, renewal reminders — everything you need to stay compliant in Pennsylvania. Setup takes 60 seconds.

Start Tracking — Free View All States

How to Renew Your Pennsylvania Nursing License

1Log in to the Pennsylvania Licensing System (PALS) at pals.pa.gov

2Complete all 30 required CE hours (or 2 hours for LPNs) before your renewal date

3Certify completion of continuing education requirements including child abuse course

4Pay the renewal fee ($122 for RN, $76 for LPN, $122 for CRNP) online through PALS

5Print your renewed license from the PALS portal

CE Requirements

Category	Hours	Required	License Types	Description
General CE	30	Required	RNAPRNFNPCRNACNMPMHNP	Total continuing education contact hours required for biennial renewal
Child Abuse Recognition and Reporting	2	Required	RNLPNAPRNFNPCRNACNMPMHNPCNA	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)

Important Deadlines

Renewal Due: Assigned renewal date, every 2 years (varies by licensee)
Grace Period: No formal grace period; late renewal available within 2 years with reactivation fee
CE Completion Window: All CE must be completed during the 2-year period immediately preceding the renewal date
Record Retention: Keep CE certificates for at least 4 years in case of audit by the Pennsylvania State Board of Nursing (BPOA)

Important Notes

• Pennsylvania uses the term LPN (Licensed Practical Nurse) instead of LVN

• LPNs in Pennsylvania only need the 2-hour child abuse course per biennium, not the 30-hour CE requirement

• The State Board of Nursing operates under the Bureau of Professional and Occupational Affairs (BPOA)

• CE must be completed during the 2-year period immediately preceding the renewal date

• At least 50% of CE hours must be obtained through courses with a sponsoring organization approved by the Board

• CRNPs (Certified Registered Nurse Practitioners) must include 16 hours in pharmacology and 2 hours in pain management within the 30 total

• Organ and tissue donation CE (2 hrs, one-time) becomes effective May 1, 2026

• This information is for guidance only. Always verify requirements with the Pennsylvania State Board of Nursing.