Understanding Your 2024 Pennsylvania Nursing License Renewal

• For busy Pennsylvania nurses juggling incredible strains on the overall healthcare system, little time is left for sifting through new rules and requirements for their 2024 Pennsylvania nursing license renewal.
• A lapse in licensure means you are no longer legally allowed to work in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania as a nurse.
• Nursing CE Central has a full breakdown of top questions, deadlines, requirements, and consequences of missing your renewal deadline for the 2024 Pennsylvania nursing license renewal period.

As nurses across the country battle against staffing shortages, burnout, and an all-time high of demands and strains on the overall healthcare system, little time is left for sifting through new rules and requirements for their Pennsylvania nursing license renewal!

For Pennsylvania nurses whose licenses expire during a chaotic 2024, a lapse in licensure not only means a potentially big headache dealing with the Pennsylvania Board of Registered Nursing, but also the inability to continue working.

That’s why our Nursing CE Central team has a full breakdown of top questions, deadlines, requirements, and consequences of missing your renewal deadline for the 2024 Pennsylvania nursing license renewal period.

1. How can I renew my Pennsylvania license for the 2024 renewal period?

To renew your license, visit the Pennsylvania renewal portal at www.pals.pa.gov. You will be allowed to complete your renewal process once applications open between 30 and 60 days prior to expiration.

Once logged in, you will need to review the application checklist, upload required documents, follow prompts, and pay the $122 renewal fee, to complete the renewal process.

*fees subject to change

3. What are the continuing education requirements for the 2024 renewal period?

All Pennsylvania RNs must complete 30 hours of continuing education for their biennial license renewal. Of those 30 hours, 2 must meet the Child Abuse Recognition and Reporting requirements. Nursing CE Central guides its users to a free, Board-approved source to obtain these specific, required hours, and includes all 28 remaining hours in its 2024 Pennsylvania Renewal CEU bundle.

4. What happens if I don’t renew my license before the 2024 deadline?

If your license expires due to missing your renewal deadline, you will not be able to practice in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania until you have been issued an active license.

Nurses must submit a reactivation application through the Pennsylvania license portal at www.pals.pa.gov. Once logged-in, you can access the reactivation application by clicking on the pencil icon located beside the license number you need to reactivate. For more information on the reactivation process, visit https://www.dos.pa.gov/ProfessionalLicensing/BoardsCommissions/Nursing/Pages/Reactivation-Forms.aspx.

5. How can I check that my renewal application is complete?

It takes, on average, three days for the Pennsylvania Board of Nursing to renew an existing, registered license. However, it may take 10-14 business days to receive your renewed license in the mail.

Once you have completed and submitted your renewal application through the Pennsylvania renewal portal (www.pals.pa.gov) you will receive a confirmation email. For real-time updates on the status of your license and renewal application, you can visit www.pals.pa.gov.

6. Do I have to keep documentation proving I completed my 2024 continuing education requirements for renewal?

All nurses are responsible for keeping individual records of continuing education completion, should the Pennsylvania Board of Nursing ever request them. Nursing CE Central suggests keeping these records for a minimum of three renewal cycles, or six years, should a nurse be selected for an audit.

Still have questions?

For more information on Pennsylvania nursing license renewal requirements, or to start your Pennsylvania required CEUs, click here!

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