Check a Pennsylvania Nurse—or Complete Renewal Without Missing a Requirement
Most visitors need one practical answer immediately: Is this license active today? Why is PALS not showing the renewal? Does an LPN need the same 30 continuing-education hours as an RN? Has Pennsylvania received the background check or verification?
This guide separates public verification from private PALS account tasks and explains renewal fees, profession-specific CE, application status, endorsement, nursing-school checks and Pennsylvania’s fully implemented Nurse Licensure Compact.
Use PALS Verify to check another nurse or confirm a public expiration date. Sign in to your private PALS account for renewal, applications, address changes, duplicate licenses and Board messages.
Verify a PA nurse
Check license type, status, expiration and public disciplinary information.
Renew through PALS
Complete the correct CE, review questions, pay and monitor processing.
Check application status
Review missing items, uploads, background checks and real-time status.
Apply for multistate status
Convert a qualifying PA RN or LPN license or apply by endorsement.
Apply by endorsement
Complete PALS, Nursys verification, child-abuse training and fingerprints.
Verify a nursing program
Use Board-approved RN, PN, CRNP and CNS program lists and pass rates.
Pennsylvania nursing facts that change your next step
New RN education requirement: beginning May 1, 2026, Pennsylvania RNs must complete two hours of organ-donation and tissue-recovery education one time within five years. Keep the completion certificate and follow the current PALS renewal instructions.
Public search and private account are different
PALS Verify is for public records. Renewal, applications, address changes and duplicate-license requests require the licensee’s private PALS account.
RN and LPN CE are not the same
RNs need 30 hours every two years. Pennsylvania’s LPN snapshot lists only the two-hour child-abuse renewal requirement.
Pennsylvania fully implemented the compact
Since July 7, 2025, qualifying Pennsylvania RNs and LPNs can apply for a multistate license through PALS.
New applicants need fingerprints
New health-care practitioner applicants need a fingerprint-based FBI background check. Ordinary license renewal does not require a new background check.
Update an address within 14 days
The Board requires address changes to be reported promptly through PALS. A mailed license is not forwarded by the Postal Service.
Online changes may not appear instantly
Pennsylvania advises allowing up to 48 hours for submitted information to appear in licensing databases.
How to verify a Pennsylvania nursing license
Use the live PALS verification record rather than a photocopy or third-party directory. Employers are encouraged to rely on ongoing PALS verification because it reflects the most current state licensing information.
Open PALS Verify
Use the Pennsylvania Department of State public-search route.
Open Official VerificationSearch with the strongest identifier
Enter the complete license number when available. Otherwise use the current legal name and narrow the profession.
Match the correct credential
Confirm whether the result is RN, LPN, CRNP, CNS or CRNP prescriptive authority. One professional can have several related records.
Check status and expiration
Do not treat a license number alone as authority to practise. Read the current status and expiration date.
Review disciplinary information
Open any disciplinary record shown and read the complete order rather than relying on a short status label.
Print and date the result
The PALS result can be printed while a renewed paper license is being delivered or for an employer’s credentialing file.
| Verification situation | Correct source | What to confirm |
|---|---|---|
| Pennsylvania single-state RN or LPN | PALS Verify | Profession, status, expiration and discipline. |
| Pennsylvania multistate RN or LPN | PALS and Nursys | Pennsylvania license plus current compact status and privilege. |
| Another compact state’s multistate nurse | Nursys | Home-state multistate license, status, expiration and privilege to practise in Pennsylvania. |
| CRNP | PALS Verify | RN authority, CRNP certification and prescriptive-authority approval where relevant. |
| CRNP prescriptive authority | PALS Verify | Use the complete NPPA prefix and number when searching the separate approval. |
No record found? Remove unnecessary fields, check spelling, try a former legal name, confirm the license prefix and determine whether the person is practising under another compact state’s multistate license.
Employer verification checklist
Renew a Pennsylvania RN, LPN, CRNP or CNS license
Pennsylvania sends a biennial renewal notice before expiration, but receiving the notice is not required for the deadline to apply. The licensee remains responsible for renewing on time.
Verify expiration
Check PALS before relying on an old card or employer record.
Finish the correct CE
RN, LPN, CRNP and CNS requirements differ.
Renew in PALS
Review disclosures, address, status and fee before submitting.
Recheck the public record
Use PALS Verify while waiting for any mailed license.
Confirm the license and expiration date
Open the public record and identify every credential that requires renewal, including RN, CRNP, CNS or prescriptive authority.
Verify My ExpirationComplete profession-specific education
Do not assume an LPN needs the RN’s 30 hours or that renewing the RN automatically renews a CRNP certification.
Compare CE RequirementsConfirm child-abuse training was reported
The approved provider must electronically submit completion. Reporting can take up to seven days, so do not finish the course at the last minute.
Sign in to the correct PALS account
Use the account already associated with the license. Recover the User ID, registration code, email or password rather than creating a duplicate profile.
Open PALSReview every renewal answer
Disclosures, name changes or supporting documents can send the renewal for additional review and delay completion.
Pay, save proof and verify the updated record
Retain the confirmation page. Allow database processing, then confirm the new status and expiration through PALS Verify.
Multistate conversion does not extend the renewal cycle. If a Pennsylvania license expires on April 30, 2026, converting it to multistate status does not change that expiration date. It must still be renewed before the deadline.
If you hold a valid multistate RN or PN license from another compact home state and legally practise in Pennsylvania under that privilege, you do not need a Pennsylvania single-state license. Pennsylvania says a previous PA single-state license cannot be renewed while that multistate privilege is maintained.
Why renewal may not finish immediately
A renewed paper license may take approximately 10–14 business days to arrive. Employers and nurses can print the current PALS verification record while waiting.
Pennsylvania nursing CE requirements by credential
Pennsylvania does not use one identical CE rule for every nursing credential. Compare the exact license or certification being renewed before purchasing courses.
| Credential | Biennial requirement | Mandatory subjects | Practical warning |
|---|---|---|---|
| Registered Nurse | 30 hours every two years. | Includes 2 hours of approved child-abuse recognition and reporting. | Beginning May 1, 2026, complete 2 hours of organ-donation and tissue-recovery education one time within five years. |
| Licensed Practical Nurse | 2 hours of approved training. | Child-abuse recognition and reporting. | The Pennsylvania LPN snapshot does not list the RN’s general 30-hour CE requirement. |
| CRNP | 30 hours applicable to the CRNP specialty. | Includes 2 hours of child-abuse training. | CRNP renewal is separate from the underlying RN-license renewal. |
| CRNP with prescriptive authority | 30 CRNP hours. | At least 16 of the 30 hours must be pharmacology. | Prescriptive authority also has its own renewal transaction and fee. |
| Clinical Nurse Specialist | 30 hours applicable to CNS practice. | Includes 2 hours of child-abuse training. | Maintain the required RN authority as well as CNS certification. |
| Initial nursing applicant | Not a renewal requirement. | 3 hours of approved child-abuse recognition and reporting. | Tell the provider that the course is for initial Pennsylvania licensure so completion is sent correctly. |
Child-abuse results are provider-reported
The approved course provider sends completion electronically. Uploading only your personal certificate may not satisfy the PALS requirement.
Allow reporting time
Pennsylvania says electronic reporting may take up to seven days. Contact the provider before contacting the Board about a missing result.
Keep organ-donation proof
The new RN requirement is completed one time within five years. Save the certificate even after the immediate renewal is complete.
Pennsylvania nursing renewal, endorsement and compact fees
Pay the amount generated in the live PALS application. Fingerprints, NCLEX registration, Nursys and third-party documents can create separate charges.
| Transaction | Published fee | What it applies to |
|---|---|---|
| RN biennial renewal | $122 | Pennsylvania single-state or Pennsylvania-issued multistate RN renewal. |
| LPN biennial renewal | $76 | Pennsylvania single-state or Pennsylvania-issued multistate PN renewal. |
| CRNP renewal | $81 | Biennial CRNP certification renewal. |
| CRNP prescriptive-authority renewal | $41 | Separate biennial prescriptive-authority approval. |
| CNS renewal | $56 | Biennial Clinical Nurse Specialist certification renewal. |
| Single-state RN or LPN endorsement | $120 | Applicant already licensed in another jurisdiction and applying by endorsement. |
| Endorsement with examination | $145 | Endorsement applicant who also needs to take the licensing examination. |
| Convert PA single-state to multistate | $105 | Qualifying Pennsylvania resident with an existing PA RN or LPN license. |
| Multistate RN endorsement | $180 | Qualifying multistate RN application by endorsement. |
| Nursys verification | $30 | Per license type, for each nursing board receiving verification. |
Initial multistate examination fees vary according to whether the applicant attended a Pennsylvania-approved, out-of-state or foreign nursing program. Review the specific PALS application before paying.
Track a Pennsylvania nursing application in PALS
PALS displays the application checklist, required uploads and status changes. The fastest way to solve a delay is to identify the exact missing item and who must submit it.
Sign in to the original PALS account
Use the profile that submitted the application. Recover account access rather than filing a duplicate application.
Open PALSOpen the correct application record
Choose examination, endorsement, temporary permit, multistate conversion, CRNP, CNS or another submitted transaction.
Read the application checklist
Identify education, NCLEX, Nursys, child-abuse CE, fingerprints, state criminal checks or disclosure documents that remain incomplete.
Confirm the required sender
A school, Nursys, another licensing board, IdentoGO, state police or court may need to send information directly.
Allow the database to update
Submitted information may take up to 48 hours to appear. Third-party records can take longer depending on the sender.
Create a support ticket with exact details
Provide the application type, application number, document name, sender, submission date and current PALS wording.
Open Board Support RoutePhase One: initial determination
Department staff review the submitted application and can issue exam authorization, request missing information or identify unpaid fees.
Phase Two: applicant and third parties
The applicant completes exams, fingerprints or education while schools, boards and other agencies provide required records.
Phase Three: final Board review
Once every requirement is received, the Department completes the final licensing decision.
| Missing item | What to check | Common mistake |
|---|---|---|
| FBI background check | Correct IdentoGO registration and service code from the application. | Using a volunteer check or a result not routed to the Board. |
| State criminal-history check | Required for a Pennsylvania-issued multistate application based on state of residence. | Completing only the FBI check. |
| Child-abuse training | Approved provider and electronic reporting to the Board. | Uploading a certificate without provider reporting. |
| License verification | Nursys participation and each jurisdiction that must verify licensure. | Sending an unofficial online screenshot. |
| Education verification | Official transcript or program-completion notice sent directly by the school. | Uploading a student copy when direct submission is required. |
| Disclosure documents | Court records, disciplinary documents and explanations requested in PALS. | Leaving out a resolved or older matter that the application requires you to disclose. |
“I am checking my Pennsylvania _____ application submitted on _____. My PALS application number is _____. The checklist shows _____ as incomplete. The item was sent by _____ on _____ through _____. Please confirm whether it has been matched to my application and identify the exact remaining action.”
Pennsylvania nursing licensure by endorsement
An out-of-state RN or LPN should first determine whether a Pennsylvania single-state license is needed or whether an existing multistate license already authorizes practice in Pennsylvania.
A nurse whose primary state of legal residence is another compact state and who holds a valid multistate license can practise in Pennsylvania without obtaining a separate Pennsylvania single-state RN or LPN license.
Choose single-state or multistate correctly
Pennsylvania residency, current compact license status and intended practice locations determine the correct application.
Submit the endorsement application in PALS
Review the checklist before paying so transcripts, verification and background checks are ordered correctly.
Start in PALSComplete the FBI background check
All new health-care practitioner applicants must use IdentoGO and the service code supplied through the application.
Complete three hours of child-abuse training
Use an approved provider and indicate that the course is for initial Pennsylvania licensure so completion is reported to the Board.
Order primary-source verification
Use Nursys for participating RN or LPN jurisdictions. Each required license must be verified.
Order Nursys VerificationArrange official education documents
Request that the nursing school send the official transcript or education verification directly when required.
A temporary practice permit is a separate application option and is not automatic. Read the current PALS checklist before accepting a start date based on an expected permit.
Pennsylvania multistate RN and LPN licenses
Pennsylvania fully implemented the Nurse Licensure Compact on July 7, 2025. Existing Pennsylvania licenses did not automatically become multistate licenses.
Pennsylvania must be the primary residence
An existing PA licensee generally must declare Pennsylvania as the primary state of legal residence to receive a Pennsylvania-issued multistate license.
Only one multistate license
An RN or LPN may hold only one multistate license, issued by the nurse’s compact home state.
CRNP and CNS are not compact credentials
The NLC applies to RN and LPN licenses. Pennsylvania CRNP and CNS certifications remain separate state credentials.
| Your situation | Likely route | Important effect |
|---|---|---|
| Active PA single-state RN or LPN | Apply to convert through PALS. | $105 conversion fee; expiration date does not reset. |
| PA resident applying for initial licensure | Choose the appropriate multistate examination or endorsement application. | State and FBI criminal-history checks apply. |
| Resident of another compact state | Use the home-state multistate license. | A separate PA single-state RN or LPN license is not required for compact practice. |
| Moving primary residence to Pennsylvania | Apply for Pennsylvania multistate authority through PALS. | Only one multistate home-state license can be maintained. |
| CRNP practising in Pennsylvania | Maintain valid RN authority plus Pennsylvania CRNP certification. | An RN multistate privilege does not create multistate CRNP authority. |
Applying for multistate status does not replace renewal. A Pennsylvania RN or LPN must renew by the existing expiration date even when conversion was recently approved.
Verify a Pennsylvania nursing education program
Pennsylvania publishes Board-approved Registered Nursing, Practical Nursing, CRNP and CNS program lists, along with RN and PN NCLEX pass-rate reports.
Open the official nursing-program page
Use the Department of State Board of Nursing education page.
Open Approved Program ListsSelect the exact program category
Choose Registered Nursing, Practical Nursing, CRNP, CNS or another specialized program list.
Match the institution and campus
A school system may offer several campuses or nursing pathways with different approval records.
Review NCLEX pass rates
Use the official RN or PN pass-rate report and compare more than one reporting period.
Check accreditation separately
State Board approval and national nursing accreditation are different. Both may affect transfer, graduate study and employment.
Get financial terms in writing
Confirm total tuition, mandatory fees, clinical placement, graduation requirements, transfer policy and refund terms before enrolling.
Recover PALS access and correct license information
Forgot the User ID or password
Use the PALS recovery tools connected to the existing account. Do not register a new profile for the same license.
Old email address
PALS provides an email-update process using identity and license details. Update it before renewal notices are sent.
Address changed
Update the Board within 14 days. A license mailed to an old address is not forwarded by the Postal Service.
Legal name changed
Submit the change through PALS and upload the requested supporting identity document. Additional review can delay renewal.
Need a duplicate license
Duplicate-license and verification/certification requests can be started from Professional License Details in the PALS dashboard.
Unexpected payment or threat
Confirm the request through PALS or the official BPOA contact number before sending payment or personal information.
For RN or LPN verification sent to another nursing board, use Nursys. CRNP, CNS and LDN verification-with-history requests are handled through the PALS dashboard rather than paper forms.
Pennsylvania Board of Nursing phone, email and address
Use the support-ticket route for general, application and PALS technical questions. The Board email is primarily reserved for documents from schools, licensing agencies and other authorized senders.
1-833-367-2762. Available Monday–Friday from 9:00 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. Language interpreters are available.
Reserved for good-standing letters, exam information, disciplinary records, transcripts and outside-agency documents.
Use the Board page’s support route for application questions, licensing assistance and PALS technical problems.
“I need assistance with my Pennsylvania _____ license/application. My license or application number is _____. I completed _____ on _____. PALS currently displays _____. The supporting item was sent by _____ through _____. Please confirm the exact action still required.”
Mailing address
State Board of Nursing
P.O. Box 2649
Harrisburg, PA 17105-2649
Physical address
2525 N 7th Street
Harrisburg, PA 17110
Public office hours: Monday–Friday, 8:30 a.m.–4:00 p.m.
Courier address
PA Department of State, BPOA
Attn: State Board of Nursing
2 Technology Park
Harrisburg, PA 17110-2919
Call or submit a ticket before travelling. An in-person visit does not guarantee immediate application review, document matching or license issuance.
Pennsylvania Board of Nursing FAQ
How do I verify a Pennsylvania nursing license?
Open PALS Verify, search by license number or legal name, select the correct RN, LPN, CRNP or CNS record and check status, expiration and disciplinary information.
What is the Pennsylvania RN renewal fee?
The published Pennsylvania RN biennial renewal fee is $122.
What is the Pennsylvania LPN renewal fee?
The published Pennsylvania LPN biennial renewal fee is $76.
How many CE hours does a Pennsylvania RN need?
An RN needs 30 hours every two years, including two hours of approved child-abuse recognition and reporting training.
Does a Pennsylvania LPN need 30 CE hours?
No. Pennsylvania’s LPN licensure snapshot lists two hours of Board-approved child-abuse recognition and reporting training for biennial renewal.
What is the new 2026 RN education requirement?
Beginning May 1, 2026, Pennsylvania RNs must complete two hours of organ-donation and tissue-recovery education one time within five years.
How do I check my Pennsylvania nursing application?
Sign in to the original PALS account, open the submitted application and review its checklist, uploads, deficiencies and current status.
Do new Pennsylvania nursing applicants need fingerprints?
Yes. Since July 7, 2025, new health-care practitioner applicants must complete a fingerprint-based FBI background check through the instructed IdentoGO process. Ordinary renewal does not require a new check.
Is Pennsylvania part of the Nurse Licensure Compact?
Yes. Pennsylvania fully implemented the NLC on July 7, 2025, and qualifying Pennsylvania RNs and LPNs can apply for a multistate license.
Did my Pennsylvania license automatically become multistate?
No. Existing Pennsylvania RN and LPN licenses were identified as single-state licenses. A qualifying nurse must apply for multistate status through PALS.
Does multistate conversion change my expiration date?
No. Converting a Pennsylvania single-state license to multistate status changes the license status but does not extend or reset the renewal period.
How do I verify a Pennsylvania nursing program?
Use the Board’s Nursing Education Programs page, select the appropriate RN, PN, CRNP or CNS list, match the exact school and compare available NCLEX pass-rate reports.
How long does a renewed paper license take to arrive?
Pennsylvania advises allowing approximately 10–14 business days. Use the printable PALS verification record for current proof while waiting.
What is the Pennsylvania Board of Nursing phone number?
Call 1-833-DOS-BPOA, or 1-833-367-2762. The published phone hours are Monday through Friday from 9:00 a.m. to 2:30 p.m.
Pennsylvania sources checked for this guide
Fees, renewal instructions, application requirements and compact rules can change. Recheck the applicable official page before submitting an application, renewal, document or payment.
For employers and the public
Use PALS Verify for Pennsylvania records, use Nursys for multistate authority, match the exact credential and record the date the license was checked.
For nurses and applicants
Use the private PALS account for renewal, applications, reactivation, profile changes and support. This independent guide cannot access or change a licensing record.