Open a jurisdiction to review its dated requirements and official sources. Use the compact tables to compare which states participate.
Nursing licensure · NLC status table · EMS licensure
Can I work a 13-week contract here on my multistate licence?
Yes — multistate privilege alone covers a contract here
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.
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 · verified 8 Oct 2026
Requirements include source links and review dates. Expand each source quotation for the supporting text. Unverified and incomplete information is labelled alongside the relevant requirement.
The board that issues the licence, and the practice act behind it.
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Who actually issues a nursing licence in Pennsylvania?
Pennsylvania State Board of Nursing
The State Board of Nursing protects the health and safety of the citizens of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania through the licensure/certification and regulation of the practice of professional nurses.
pa.gov · State Board of Nursing
Where is Pennsylvania's Board of Nursing online?
The State Board of Nursing protects the health and safety of the citizens of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania through the licensure/certification and regulation of the practice of professional nurses.
pa.gov · State Board of Nursing
Where do I actually submit a nursing application in Pennsylvania?
Who do I call or email about Pennsylvania nursing licensure?
The same Board page lists ST-NURSE@pa.gov and the Board mailing and physical addresses.
1-833-DOS-BPOA - Available Monday - Friday from 9:00 a.m. to 2:30 p.m.
pa.gov · State Board of Nursing
Which nurse practice act or rule governs licensure in Pennsylvania?
Professional Nursing Law, 63 P.S. §§ 211–225.5; 49 Pa. Code Chapter 21
RN, LPN, and APRN tiers, and which of them come multistate.
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What licence types does Pennsylvania issue — RN, LPN, APRN — and which come multistate?
RN
Pennsylvania fully implemented the NLC on July 7, 2025, and Pennsylvania RNs and LPNs can now apply for a multistate license.
pa.gov · State Board of Nursing
Does Pennsylvania issue multistate licences at all?
Yes
Pennsylvania fully implemented the NLC on July 7, 2025, and Pennsylvania RNs and LPNs can now apply for a multistate license.
pa.gov · State Board of Nursing
How long does a Pennsylvania nursing licence last before renewal?
The Board will assign registered nurses to one of the following license expiration dates: (1) April 30 in the even-numbered years. (2) October 31 in the even-numbered years. (3) April 30 in the odd-numbered years. (4) October 31 in the odd-numbered years.
pacodeandbulletin.gov · State administrative code
Do I need NCLEX to get licensed in Pennsylvania?
Yes
Applicant must pass the NCLEX-RN® (or its predecessor SBTPE).
pa.gov · State Board of Nursing
Does Pennsylvania make me sit a jurisprudence or ethics exam?
Not established in the cited source
The initial and endorsement requirements reviewed do not list a separate RN jurisprudence examination.
What criminal history bars me from nursing licensure in Pennsylvania?
These are NLC uniform eligibility conditions. Single-state license criminal-history decisions are not reduced to this list.
have no criminal convictions, including being found guilty or having entered into an agreed disposition (ARD) for a state or federal felony offense; have no misdemeanor convictions related to the practice of nursing (determined on a case-by-case basis); not currently be a participant in an Alternative to Discipline program in any jurisdiction
pa.gov · State Board of Nursing
The Nurse Licensure Compact. Enacted, in force, and multistate issuance are separate dated facts, plus what privilege covers.
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Has Pennsylvania passed the Nurse Licensure Compact into law?
Nothing recorded
Act of Jul. 1, 2021, P.L. 358, No. 68 Cl. 35 20210068ua An Act Making the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania a party to the Nurse Licensure Compact; and providing for the form of the compact.
legis.state.pa.us · State legislature
Is Pennsylvania's NLC law actually in effect yet?
Nothing recorded
Section 5. Effective date. This act shall take effect immediately.
legis.state.pa.us · State legislature
Is Pennsylvania actually issuing multistate licences yet?
Nothing recorded
Pennsylvania fully implemented the NLC on July 7, 2025, and Pennsylvania RNs and LPNs can now apply for a multistate license.
pa.gov · State Board of Nursing
What do I have to satisfy for multistate privilege to apply in Pennsylvania?
The Board’s current NLC eligibility page also lists education, exam, background-check and uniform disqualifier conditions; the criminal-history field captures the separately enumerated felony, misdemeanor and alternative-to-discipline criteria.
meet Pennsylvania's licensure requirements under Section 6 of the Professional Nursing Law or Section 5 of the Practical Nurse Law
pa.gov · State Board of Nursing
How does where I legally live affect my multistate privilege in Pennsylvania?
You are only eligible for a Pennsylvania multistate license if you can document that your primary state of residence is in Pennsylvania.
pa.gov · State Board of Nursing
When do I need a Pennsylvania single-state licence instead of privilege?
If you have an active multistate RN or LPN license in another state, a TPP is not necessary as you are permitted to practice in Pennsylvania on a privilege to practice based on the multistate license.
pa.gov · State Board of Nursing
Can I work a 13-week contract in Pennsylvania on my multistate licence?
Yes — multistate privilege alone covers a contract here
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.
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
I hold a single-state licence — does the NLC do anything for me in Pennsylvania?
You may continue to work as an RN or LPN In Pennsylvania on your single state license.
pa.gov · State Board of Nursing
Does Pennsylvania add anything on top of the compact?
Not established in the cited source
No additional PA-specific practice restrictions for NLC privilege holders were identified beyond uniform eligibility, PSOR, and ordinary PA practice law.
Where does an employer verify my privilege for Pennsylvania?
The route in when multistate privilege does not cover you.
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Will Pennsylvania licence me by endorsement at all?
Yes
Licensure By Endorsement A registered nurse who has graduated from an approved professional nursing education program in the United States or Canada that is equivalent to a PA RN program and who obtained RN licensure in another jurisdiction having passed an examination considered by the Board to be equivalent to the examination required for licensure in this Commonwealth but who does not hold a multistate license in another Compact state may be granted Single state licensure by endorsement.
pa.gov · State Board of Nursing
What does Pennsylvania call its out-of-state pathway?
Single-state licensure by endorsement
Where do I start an endorsement application for Pennsylvania?
Endorsement Applications are for individuals holding a Nursing License in another State/Jurisdiction or Country applying for a Pennsylvania License and/or Temporary Practice Permit. Apply online
pa.gov · State Board of Nursing
What does Pennsylvania require from an out-of-state nurse?
Eligible prior license and examination
Education transcript
License verification
Child-abuse education
Background checks
NLC pathway distinction
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.
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
What does it cost to get licensed in Pennsylvania from out of state?
Endorsement with examination, if exam is still required
The $120 fee is standard single-state endorsement; separate licensing charges and verification-provider fees may apply.
$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
How long will Pennsylvania take to process my application?
Not established in the cited source
The Board guide says it presents phase estimates, but the accessible current endorsement instructions expose no numeric time range; the board does not state a usable exact estimate in the reviewed text.
What background check does Pennsylvania require, and how do I do it from out of state?
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.
All new applicants must obtain a fingerprint-based FBI background check for review as part of your application.
pa.gov · State Board of Nursing
Can I start working in Pennsylvania before full approval?
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.
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
Do I have to route verification through Nursys for Pennsylvania?
For participating original licensing authorities; fee is charged by Nursys and not specified by PA. Nonparticipants send verification directly to the Board.
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
The renewal clock and what it costs in hours.
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How often do I renew in Pennsylvania?
2
To renew license every two years, licensees must complete 30 hours of continuing education
pa.gov · State Board of Nursing
How many CE hours does Pennsylvania want, and which topics are mandated?
RN
Child abuse recognition and reporting
Organ and tissue donation/recovery education
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.
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
What does Pennsylvania require at renewal that other states do not?
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.
Board guidance also instructs licensees to update their address within 14 days; renewal is completed online through PALS.
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
My Pennsylvania licence expired — can I still get it back?
Not yet verified
The lapsed/reactivation pathway and fees were not verified in this pass.
Where employers check status and discipline history.
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Where do I look up a Pennsylvania licence and its discipline history?
You can search for a professional or occupational licensee’s license number and status at any time through our Pennsylvania Licensing System (PALS) database.
pa.gov · State Board of Nursing
What does Pennsylvania's lookup actually disclose?
PALS also allows you to determine whether a professional or occupational licensee has ever faced disciplinary action by their licensing board, including license suspension, fines, or other penalties.
pa.gov · State Board of Nursing
Questions not yet settled from a primary source.
What current numeric application-processing range does the Board publish for RN endorsement? The guide’s accessible page does not expose the promised stage time bands.
opened 8 Oct 2026 · blocks endorsement.processing_time
What current fee, duration and detailed conditions apply to a Temporary Practice Permit issued to an RN endorsement applicant?
opened 8 Oct 2026 · blocks endorsement.temporary_license_available
What are the current total state and FBI background-check fees for an out-of-state RN endorsement applicant, including state-history lookback rules?
opened 8 Oct 2026 · blocks endorsement.background_check
What reinstatement steps, current fees and CE conditions apply to an RN license lapsed beyond the current renewal period?
opened 8 Oct 2026 · blocks renewal.lapsed_license_reinstatement
Does the one-time two-hour organ-donation and tissue-recovery requirement count toward the existing 30 biennial RN CE hours, or is it additional?
opened 8 Oct 2026 · blocks renewal.ce_hours