Nurse state crossing · Pennsylvania licensing · NLC status table · LPN/LVN list
RN work list: Pennsylvania
What an RN has to do to work in Pennsylvania. Pick where you live and the page shows your route.
Pick your home state to see which route applies. Both are listed below.
Home and work in Pennsylvania
If you already hold a licence Pennsylvania issued, there is no state line to cross. Renewal and continuing-education rules are on the Pennsylvania licensing page.
Moved here from another compact state? NCSBN says “when your PSOR changes by permanently relocating to another compact state, apply for licensure by endorsement” and “You have 60 days from the time you move to apply for your license.” The endorsement steps are below.
NCSBN · nursecompact.com · checked 10 Nov 2026
Source quotation
when your PSOR changes by permanently relocating to another compact state, apply for licensure by endorsement
You have 60 days from the time you move to apply for your license.
nursecompact.com · NCSBN
Route A: practise on your multistate licence
For a nurse whose home state and Pennsylvania are both compact states in force, holding a multistate licence.
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Look yourself up on Nursys QuickConfirm. NCSBN: “If you already have a license and you are unsure if your license is single-state or multistate, use Quick Confirm at nursys.com at no cost.”
NCSBN · nursecompact.com · checked 10 Nov 2026
Source quotation
If you already have a license and you are unsure if your license is single-state or multistate, use Quick Confirm at nursys.com at no cost.
nursecompact.com · NCSBN
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Only the compact state you actually live in can issue your multistate licence. NCSBN: “If a nurse's PSOR is a compact state, that nurse may be eligible for a multistate license.”
NCSBN · nursecompact.com · checked 10 Nov 2026
Source quotation
If a nurse's PSOR is a compact state, that nurse may be eligible for a multistate license.
nursecompact.com · NCSBN
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NCSBN defines the privilege to practise as the authority “permitting the practice of nursing as either an RN or LPN/VN in a remote state”.
NCSBN · nursecompact.com · checked 10 Nov 2026
Source quotation
permitting the practice of nursing as either an RN or LPN/VN in a remote state
nursecompact.com · NCSBN
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Yes — a qualifying multistate license permits RN/LPN practice here
Conditions & source context
For an RN whose PSOR is elsewhere in the NLC, an active unencumbered MSL provides PA practice privilege. A PA resident instead needs PA-issued MSL for compact practice.
State Board of Nursing · pa.gov · checked 8 Oct 2026
Source quotation
Pennsylvania is a member of the NLC, so RNs and LPNs who hold active, unencumbered, multistate licenses may practice in Pennsylvania under their multistate license.
pa.gov · State Board of Nursing
If you move for good, not just for a contract: NCSBN says “when your PSOR changes by permanently relocating to another compact state, apply for licensure by endorsement” and “You have 60 days from the time you move to apply for your license.”
NCSBN · nursecompact.com · checked 10 Nov 2026
Source quotation
You have 60 days from the time you move to apply for your license.
nursecompact.com · NCSBN
Route B: get a Pennsylvania licence by endorsement
For everyone else. Each step comes from Pennsylvania’s own licensing sources; tick it off as you go.
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Eligible prior license and examination
- Detail
- Hold another-jurisdiction RN license obtained by passing NCLEX-RN or an equivalent examination; applicants without an equivalent examination must pass NCLEX-RN.
Education transcript
- Detail
- An official transcript must be sent directly by the school identifying the RN education used for original licensure, degree awarded and completion date.
License verification
- Detail
- Verification is required from each state/jurisdiction where licensed. Use Nursys if the original licensing authority participates; otherwise ask the authority to send verification directly.
Child-abuse education
- Detail
- Complete 3 hours of Board-approved child-abuse recognition and reporting education; provider reports completion to the Board.
Background checks
- Detail
- New applicants complete a fingerprint-based FBI check through IdentoGO and the applicable state criminal-history check.
NLC pathway distinction
- Detail
- A single-state endorsement applicant cannot hold a multistate license in another NLC state; a PA resident seeking compact privileges applies for PA multistate license.
Conditions & source context
The full current guide further requires direct school transcript and jurisdiction license verification, 3-hour child-abuse education, and fingerprint/state background checks; the quoted passage establishes the core endorsement education and examination eligibility.
State Board of Nursing · pa.gov · checked 8 Oct 2026
Source quotation
An RN is eligible for licensure by endorsement if they graduated from an approved professional nursing education program in the United States or Canada, or a professional nursing program deemed to be equivalent to the program of study required in Pennsylvania at the time the program was completed, and they obtained licensure in another jurisdiction by passing the NCLEX-RN or another examination equivalent to the NCLEX-RN.
pa.gov · State Board of Nursing
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- Amount
- 120
- Per
- application
- Also payable
Endorsement with examination, if exam is still required
- Amount
- 145
Conditions & source context
The $120 fee is standard single-state endorsement; separate licensing charges and verification-provider fees may apply.
State Board of Nursing · pa.gov · checked 8 Oct 2026
Source quotation
$120 if the applicant is applying based on having a license from another state $145 if the applicant is applying with a license from another state but needs to take the exam
pa.gov · State Board of Nursing
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- Required
- Yes
- State check
- Yes
- FBI check
- Yes
- Fingerprints
- Yes
- Vendor
- IdentoGO
- From out of state
- Submit state check for applicable residence/history and FBI fingerprint-based check; specific current fees not stated on cited nursing pages.
Conditions & source context
The Board’s current guide also requires the applicable state criminal-history check for applicants; it does not publish the combined current background-check fee in the reviewed nursing pages.
State Board of Nursing · pa.gov · checked 8 Oct 2026
Source quotation
All new applicants must obtain a fingerprint-based FBI background check for review as part of your application.
pa.gov · State Board of Nursing
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- Required
- Yes
- Verification for endorsement
- Yes
Conditions & source context
For participating original licensing authorities; fee is charged by Nursys and not specified by PA. Nonparticipants send verification directly to the Board.
State Board of Nursing · pa.gov · checked 8 Oct 2026
Source quotation
If the applicant’s state participates in NURSYS, the applicant should pay the fee at www.nursys.com to allow the Board to access their verification of licensure.
pa.gov · State Board of Nursing
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- Available
- Yes
- Type
- Temporary Practice Permit (TPP)
- Issuance
- Apply within the endorsement application; limited eligibility applies.
Conditions & source context
Eligibility is limited; Board FAQ says TPP is available with an active single-state RN/LPN license from another state or before taking NCLEX, not for expired/inactive license or graduate who already took NCLEX.
State Board of Nursing · pa.gov · checked 8 Oct 2026
Source quotation
Yes, IF you hold an active single state registered nurse (RN) or licensed practical nurse (LPN) license in another state or you have not taken the NCLEX®.
pa.gov · State Board of Nursing
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RN
- Hours
- 30
- Mandated topics
Child abuse recognition and reporting
- Hours
- 2
- Frequency
- each biennial renewal
Organ and tissue donation/recovery education
- Hours
- 2
- Frequency
- one time within five years beginning May 1, 2026
Conditions & source context
The Board specifies 30 hours total and the 2-hour child-abuse component. A separate one-time 2-hour organ-donation requirement begins May 1, 2026; the source does not state whether those hours count within the 30-hour biennial total.
State Board of Nursing · pa.gov · checked 8 Oct 2026
Source quotation
To renew license every two years, licensees must complete 30 hours of continuing education, which must include 2 hours of approved training in how to recognize and report child abuse. Beginning May 1, 2026, all RNs must complete 2 hours of organ donation education one time within 5 years.
pa.gov · State Board of Nursing
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Renew through PALS before the assigned expiration date; maintain the biennial CE requirements; update address with the Board within 14 days of a change. PA single-state licensees may apply separately for multistate status if PA is their PSOR and uniform criteria are met.
Conditions & source context
Board guidance also instructs licensees to update their address within 14 days; renewal is completed online through PALS.
State Board of Nursing · pa.gov · checked 8 Oct 2026
Source quotation
A notice for renewal will be sent biennially prior to the expiration date of the current license or certification.
pa.gov · State Board of Nursing
Built from the Pennsylvania nursing licensing record and the compact status table. A step appears only when the record has a sourced answer for it; anything else points to the board. Informational only: confirm with the board of nursing before you apply.