Overview
The State Board of Nursing protects the health, safety and welfare of the citizens of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania through the licensure/certification and regulation of the practice of professional and practical nursing and dietetics-nutrition by registered nurses, practical nurses, certified registered nurse practitioners, clinical nurse specialists, dietitian-nutritionists, and graduate nurses. The Board issues licenses and certifications to qualified applicants, approves nursing education programs, establishes standards of practice, and disciplines licensees and unlicensed persons for violations of the Acts and the regulations
Registered Nursing (RN) & Licensed Practical Nurse (LPN) License by Examination
Applicants Must Meet the Following Requirements:
- Complete online application by registering on the Board website.
- Pay applicable fees.
- Register with the testing agency before or just after submitting the licensure application to take the licensure test, NCLEX (National Council Licensure Examination). You may use any of the following ways to complete the registration:
- Register online. The registration fee of $200 can be paid via American Express, Visa, or MasterCard. OR
- By mail: You may request the Board of Nursing office to send an NCLEX registration form. Provide essential details in the form and include an appropriate fee of $200.00 in the form of a money order or cashier’s check made payable to the NCSBN (National Council of State Boards of Nursing). Mail it to the following address:
NCLEX Operations
Post Office Box 64950
St. Paul, Minnesota- 55164-0950
- When all your essential documents are approved, the Board will inform the testing agency, Pearson VUE, making you eligible to take the licensure exam.
- Pearson VUE will send you an ATT (Authorization to Test) via email or on the address provided by you during the registration process.
- Upon receiving the ATT, schedule the license exam.
Registered Nursing (RN) & Licensed Practical Nurse (LPN) Licensure by Endorsement
Applicants Must Meet the Following Requirements:
- Complete online application by registering on the Board website.
- Pay applicable fees.
- Submit an official transcript which must designate the certificate, degree or diploma received indicating the month, day and year of program completion. This transcript must be sent directly from your nursing school to the Board office.
- Provide verification of your original nursing licensure obtained in the U.S. state, territory by examination by using any of the following ways:
- If the state(s) in which you are licensed participate in the NURSYS database, complete the NURSYS verification application (via the NURSYS website and pay the required fees).
- For states that do not participate with the NURSYS database or for verifications of non- nursing licensure, you will need to request verification directly from the board that issued your license.
- If you do not hold an active nursing license from the last 5 years, you are required to complete continued competency requirements.
- International graduates: If you have completed your graduation outside the United States or Canada, you must contact the CGFNS (Commission on Graduates of Foreign Nursing Schools) and request the CES (Credentials Evaluation Service) Professional Report, which must be sent directly to the Pennsylvania Board of Nursing.
For more information contact the Pennsylvania Board of Nursing or visit their official website.