Pennsylvania Nurse Practitioner Licensure Steps - 2025

Nurse Practitioner Licensure Requirements in Pennsylvania

There’s a tidal wave coming. By 2030, Pennsylvania is projected to be short 20,000+ nurses. Hospitals smell it. Lawmakers see it. Patients will feel it—unless highly trained nurse practitioners step in. That’s where you come in. Below is the definitive, plain‑English playbook for moving from RN to Certified Registered Nurse Practitioner (CRNP) in the Keystone State.

Secure (or Verify) Your Pennsylvania RN License

Why this step matters: The Pennsylvania Board of Nursing can’t even open your NP application until your RN license is active and unencumbered. Think of your RN license as the passport; the NP license is the visa. No passport, no travel.

1A — RN Licensure by Examination

• Apply online via the PALS portal (fee: $95 in‑state | $115 out‑of‑state) and select “RN Examination.”
• Child‑Abuse Course: Complete the 3‑hour DHS module (link). Providers report completion directly to the Board—no screenshots needed.
• Background Check: In‑state grads receive an email with instructions to finish the PATCH background check (state police portal). Out‑of‑state grads upload an FBI Identity History Summary (link).
• NCLEX Registration: Pay Pearson VUE $200 at NCLEX.com. When the Board flags you as eligible, you’ll get your Authorization‑to‑Test (ATT)—a 90‑day window, no extensions. Tip: Book your test the minute the ATT lands to snag your ideal time slot.
• If the unthinkable happens and you fail, you can retest in 45 days. Re‑register, repay, redo.

Pro‑Tip: Bullet‑proof your first attempt by taking a two‑week NCLEX “live review.” It costs less than a retake and soothes exam‑day nerves.

1B — RN Licensure by Endorsement

• Submit the online endorsement application (fee: $120) and, if you want to work while waiting, add a $70 temporary permit.
• Upload your transcripts if you graduated outside Pennsylvania.
• License Verification: Use Nursys ($30) or contact your state board if it’s not a NURSYS member.
• Same child‑abuse course + background check as above.

Pro‑Tip: Endorsement files stall most often because the applicant forgets that “verification” and “transcript” must come directly from the source. No email forwards, no PDFs.

Earn a Board‑Approved Graduate Degree

Why this step matters: Pennsylvania statutes require every CRNP to hold at least a master’s in nursing; it’s the academic bridge between bedside care and advanced clinical decision‑making.

• Choose a program accredited by an agency recognized by the U.S. Department of Education and approved by the PA Board of Nursing.
• Clock a minimum of 500 supervised clinical hours.
• Build in a standalone 45‑hour advanced pharmacology course (you’ll need it for prescriptive authority).

Pro-Tip: Ask every prospective program, “Will you file my Verification of Nurse Practitioner Program form with the Board?” Secure a “yes” in writing—it shaves weeks off processing.

Nail Your National Certification

Why this step matters: National certification is Pennsylvania’s quality‑control gatekeeper. It proves you can diagnose, treat, and manage patients at the advanced level – before the state grants you independent credentials.

Approved certifying bodies include:

• American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC)
• American Academy of Nurse Practitioners (AANP)
• American Association of Critical‑Care Nurses (AACN)
• National Certification Corporation (NCC)
• Pediatric Nursing Certification Board (PNCB)
• Oncology Nursing Certification Corporation (ONCC)

Pro‑Tip: Schedule your certification exam to land after graduation but before your program mails final transcripts. That way, both documents hit the Board at nearly the same time—accelerating license approval.

Apply for Your CRNP License (and Optional Prescriptive Authority)

Why this step matters: This is the final handshake. Without the Board’s CRNP certificate, you can’t legally put “NP” on your badge or bill insurers for advanced services.

• Log into PALS and select Certified Registered Nurse Practitioner – Initial. Upload:
  • Official graduate transcripts (sent directly by school)
  • Verification of NP program form (school completes)
  • Verification of national certification (agency sends)
  • Opioid education attestation (if required for your population focus)
• Fees: $95 application + $95 initial license (prices may adjust; PALS shows current).
• Processing Time: Averaging 14‑30 business days if every document hits the portal on day 1.

Add Prescriptive Authority

• Complete 45 advanced pharmacology hours (rule).
• Submit the CRNP Prescriptive Authority Collaborative Agreement in PALS ($50 fee).
• Once approved, register for a state Controlled Substance Registration and DEA number.

Pro‑Tip: Upload your Collaborative Agreement after your CRNP license number posts—otherwise the system can’t match the records and you’ll spin in error loops.

Keep It Current

Why this step matters: License maintenance is patient safety in action. Lapses can trigger fines or, worse, career‑stalling suspensions.

• Renew RN and CRNP licenses biennially via PALS.
• Complete 30 CE hours for RN renewal plus 16 pharmacology hours if you hold prescriptive authority.
• Maintain national certification and keep child‑abuse CE current (2 hours every renewal cycle).

Pro‑Tip: Set calendar reminders for March 31 of every even‑numbered year—Pennsylvania’s standard RN/CRNP renewal deadline.