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Let us help you land on your dream job here in Pennsylvania! Read on this article to know more about the licensing process in Pennsylvania, and more!
Through this article, you will be able to know the following:
Fees for the licensing
Licensing renewal process (step-by-step)
Requirements for Continuing Education in Nursing
Licensing and certification
Job and Salary Expectations of Nurses in Pennsylvania
Popular hospitals in Pennsylvania
Nursing associations in Pennsylvania
Contact details
Fees for the Licensing
The table below shows the required payments for the licensing, whether you are a first-time nurse, applying by endorsement, or renewing your license.For more details, visit the Pennsylvania licensing page.
Pennsylvania has signed legislation to enter the Nursing Licensure Compact (NLC). As soon as they announce this, nurses will be able to hold multi state licenses.
*Fees may change without any notice.
**A background check is required in most states, but prices are not usually indicated.
Licensing Renewal Process
Check when your license expires by visiting the Pennsylvania Board of Nursing website. Pennsylvania has a Verification page for you to verify your license.
Complete all your continuing education requirements BEFORE your license expires.
Apply for your renewal process by going to the Pennsylvania Board of Nursing. You may check on the Renewal Information page for more specific information. Be reminded that when Pennsylvania becomes a part of NLC, and your Primary State of Residency is not Pennsylvania, you can not apply for a licensure in Pennsylvania. You must declare that Pennsylvania is your Primary State of Residency to be able to do so.
Requirements for Continuing Education in Nursing
The following are the Continuing Education Requirements for nurses in Pennsylvania.
For RN, you must complete 30 contact hours every 2 years, that includes 2 hours of approved child abuse recognition and reporting training.
For LPN, 3 hours of approved training in child abuse recognition and reporting are reuired.
For APRN, you need to have 30 contact hours every 2 years, where:
16 must be in advanced pharmacology
2 hours must be in approved child abuse recognition and reporting training
2 hours is in pain management, identification of addiction, or the practices of prescribing or dispensing opioids
The Pennsylvania State Board of Nursing accepts courses that are ANCC accredited. Click on these links for more specific details that you need:
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Licensing and Certification
Step 1: Education
To earn an Associate Degree in Nursing (ADN), you must attend an accredited institution that offers ADN for 18-24 months. You can also take a Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) Degree in an accredited institution. These programs typically take 4 to 5 years to complete. If you have an ADN but you wanna pursue your bachelor’s, there are certain programs that let you earn your BSN in 12 to 18 months. There is also an RN to BSN program that will take one year for you to earn the degree. Said programs let you save on time and money as you work towards advancing your career.
Step 2: Licensing
Six weeks before your graduation, you can start the process of your application for the NCLEX-RN exam. This exam is composed of 75-265 items and you will be given a limit of 5 hours to finish all of it. Failing the exam does not necessarily mean that you do not have the chance anymore. After your first try, you just have to wait for 45 days and you can apply again.
The scope of NCLEX includes questions about: (1) health promotion and maintenance;
(2) safe and effective care environment; (3) physiology and integrity; and (4) psychology and integrity.
Step 3: Experience
This time, you must learn how to take the opportunities in gaining first-hand experiences in dealing with patients, with colleagues and superiors, and with the different situations that you might face. These invaluable experiences will make you more attractive to bigger employers in the future.
Step 4: Certification
Your last step is to obtain certifications for your chosen career. There are different requirements for earning a certification, depending on your preferences so it is important to check with the governing provider for information. You can attend several trainings, seminars or workshops in varied institutions for this purpose.
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Job and Salary Expectations of Nurses in Pennsylvania
Shortage of healthcare professionals, specifically nurses, has been a perennial issue in the country. This makes nurses highly in demand during this period of time. This profession will increase by about 9% from 2020 to 2030. The average annual salary is $76,000.
Let us help you check out average wages of nurses to help determine if Pennsylvania is the right place for you.
Popular Hospitals in Pennsylvania
Still not decided on whether to work as a nurse in Pennsylvania or not? This list of the best hospitals in the state will surely help you make that decision to go in the right direction. U.S. News and World Report made a list of the best and popular hospitals in Pennsylvania. Here are some of them:
Hospitals of the University of Pennsylvania-Penn Presbyterian – (Philadelphia, PA):
Regionally ranked #1 in Pennsylvania and in Philadelphia
Ranked No. 13 on the Best Hospitals Honor Roll
Nationally ranked in 12 adult specialties
Rated high performing in 2 adult specialties and 16 procedures and conditions
General medical and surgical facility and a teaching hospital
Part of the Magnet Recognition Program®
Specialties include Ear, Nose & Throat (#6 in the nation), Pulmonology & Lung Surgery (#8 in the nation), Cancer (#10 in the nation), Diabetes & Endocrinology (#15 in the nation), and Cardiology & Heart Surgery (#18 in the nation)
UPMC Presbyterian Shadyside – (Pittsburgh, PA):
Nationally ranked in 10 adult specialties
Rated high performing in 2 adult specialties and 14 procedures and conditions
General medical and surgical facility and a teaching hospital
Part of the Magnet Recognition Program®
Specialties include Gastroenterology & GI Surgery (#17 in the nation), Cancer (#18 in the nation), and Geriatrics (#19 in the nation)
Jefferson Health-Thomas Jefferson University Hospitals – (Philadelphia, PA):
Nationally ranked in 6 adult specialties
Rated high performing in 3 adult specialties and 14 procedures and conditions
General medical and surgical facility and a teaching hospital
Part of the Magnet Recognition Program®
Specialties include Ophthalmology (#2 in the nation), Orthopedics (#10 in the nation), Gastroenterology & GI Surgery (#26 in the nation), and Cancer (#32 in the nation)
Lancaster General Hospital – (Lancaster, PA):
Nationally ranked in 2 adult specialties
Rated high performing in 5 adult specialties and 16 procedures and conditions
General medical and surgical facility
Specialties of the hospital include Cancer, Cardiology & Heart Surgery, Diabetes, Gastroenterology & GI Surgery, Gynecology, Nephrology, Neurology & Neurosurgery, Orthopedics, and Pulmonology & Lung Surgery.
Lehigh Valley Hospital-Cedar Crest – (Allentown, PA):
Rated high performing in 6 adult specialties and 14 procedures and conditions
General medical and surgical facility and a teaching hospital
Specialties of the hospital include Cancer, Cardiology & Heart Surgery, Diabetes, Gastroenterology & GI Surgery, Nephrology, Neurology & Neurosurgery, Orthopedics, and Pulmonology & Lung Surgery.
*The American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC) awards Magnet Status to Hospitals that apply and meet certain criteria. This award is also considered as the “gold standard” for excellence in nursing practice and care.
Nursing Associations in Pennsylvania
Becoming a member of a nursing association opens a lot of opportunities to your career growth. It gives you the advantages of varied job offers and networking, and a bunch of information and experiences shared between you and your fellow nurses. Through these organizations, learning and professional growth never stop. Listed below are just a few of the nursing organizations that you can find and join once you are in Pennsylvania.
Pennsylvania Association of School Nurses and Practitioners “This institution of nurses is an advocate for school health. They always see to it that students are ready, safe and healthy. Their core values include ethics, diversity, excellence, innovation, integrity and leadership.”
Southeastern Pennsylvania Area Black Nurses Association, Inc. “Its main goal is to promote unity and a sense of pride among African-American Nurses and their culture, regardless of their age and level of education and practice.”
Pennsylvania State Nurses Association “This association aims to lead, advocate, educate and connect registered nurses throughout the Commonwealth.”
For more information about the nursing associations, you may visit the comprehensive list of national organizations as well.
Contact Details
Pennsylvania State Board of Nursing
Phone: (717) 783-7142 or (833) 367-2762
Fax: (717) 783-0822
Email: ST-NURSE@pa.gov
Mailing address:
State Board of Nursing
PO Box 2649
Harrisburg, PA 17105-2649
Physical address:
One Penn Center
2601 N. 3rd Street
Harrisburg, PA 17110
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