How to Become a Registered Nurse in Pennsylvania
In Pennsylvania, a RN license typically requires a state exam, and a $200 exam fee.
Provides direct patient care and coordinates care plans. Requires an ADN or BSN and the NCLEX-RN; licensing is via state boards of nursing. Requirements change — always confirm with Pennsylvania State Board of Nursing before paying.
Licensing steps in Pennsylvania
- 1Meet the basic requirements
Age and background check rules vary — confirm with the state board.
- 2Complete pre-license education
Required training hours are not published here — check with the state board for the current figure.
- 3Register and pass the exam
The exam is administered by Pearson VUE.
- 4Pay fees and get licensed
Exam fee $200 · application $95 · license $95
- 5Stay current
License renews every 2 years with 30 hours of continuing education.
RN requirements — Pennsylvania at a glance
| Education hours | — |
| Exam vendor | Pearson VUE |
| Questions (national/state) | — / — |
| Passing score | — |
| Exam fee | $200 |
| Application fee | $95 |
| License fee | $95 |
| First-attempt pass rate | not published |
| Retake rule | — |
| Renewal | every 2 years · 30 CE |
| Reciprocity | Yes — NLC member (multistate since July 7, 2025) |
Official source: Pennsylvania State Board of Nursing ↗
Transferring a RN license between states
Nurse Licensure Compact (NLC). Registered nurses transfer through the Nurse Licensure Compact. If your primary state of residence is a compact state you can hold one multistate licence and practise in every other implemented compact state without a separate endorsement application.
41 jurisdictions currently use it. Pennsylvania is one of them.
Confirm your home state is currently issuing multistate licences on the NCSBN compact map before you count on the compact. Mechanism data retrieved 2026-09-13.
Frequently asked questions
How long does it take to get a RN license in Pennsylvania?
After completing the required education, most candidates need 4-12 weeks of study before the exam. Total timeline depends on scheduling.
How hard is the RN exam in Pennsylvania?
Official first-attempt pass rates are not published by Pennsylvania; check the state board.
What does the RN license cost in Pennsylvania?
The exam fee is $200, the application fee is $95, and the license fee is $95
Can I transfer my RN license to Pennsylvania?
Nurse Licensure Compact (NLC): Registered nurses transfer through the Nurse Licensure Compact. If your primary state of residence is a compact state you can hold one multistate licence and practise in every other implemented compact state without a separate endorsement application. For Pennsylvania specifically, our dataset notes: Yes — NLC member (multistate since July 7, 2025).
Plan your RN licensing in Pennsylvania
Work the road in order — check what Pennsylvania requires, price the prep, lock a study schedule, then keep the license current.
- 1. Confirm requirements — education hours, fees and the board that issues it.
- 2. Budget the prep — exam + application + license + course costs before you pay.
- 3. Study to the exam — the RN exam blueprint and a dated study plan.
- 4. Sit the exam — what to bring, where to test, and the retake rule if you miss.
- 5. Stay licensed — renewal cycle, CE hours, and Pennsylvania reciprocity.
RN tools for Pennsylvania
Every step of the Pennsylvania RN road has a free tool — from the first requirements check to renewal and reciprocity.
This guide is informational and not legal advice. Requirements change frequently — verify all figures with Pennsylvania State Board of Nursing (retrieved 2026-08-20).