StateLicensed

Licensed Practical Nurse (LPN) License Requirements in Pennsylvania

Verified · July 2026
Training hours
1500 hrs
Upfront cost
$295
Exam
NCLEX-PN
Renewal cycle
Every 2 years
Issuing board
Pennsylvania State Board of Nursing, Department of State

How to get licensed

  1. 1

    Meet the prerequisites

    Be at least 18 years old, pass a criminal background check. 49 Pa. Code § 21.158 requires applicants to be 18 years of age or older and of good moral character. New applicants must obtain a fingerprint-based FBI background check (pre-registered through IdentoGO) as part of the application process; this requirement is documented on the Board's official nursing licensure guide for RN applicants and applies under the same Board of Nursing licensing infrastructure (PALS) used for LPN applicants. Renewal applicants are not required to repeat the background check. [1]

  2. 2

    Complete approved training

    Complete 1500 hours of training at a state-approved program. 49 Pa. Code § 21.158 requires a Board-approved practical nursing program of not less than 1,500 clock hours, completed over a period of not less than 12 months, covering physical/biological sciences, social/behavioral sciences, and patient care across age groups. Programs must also maintain at least an 80% NCLEX-PN first-time pass rate (as of Oct. 1, 2010) to keep Board approval. [1]

  3. 3

    NCLEX-PN

    Pass the NCLEX-PN (fee: $200). Computer adaptive test administered at Pearson VUE test centers. National Pearson VUE registration fee, uniform across all U.S. jurisdictions; separate from the Pennsylvania Board of Nursing's own licensure fee. [2]

  4. 4

    Submit your application

    Submit your application to Pennsylvania State Board of Nursing, Department of State. [3]

  5. 5

    Receive your license

    Once your application is approved, Pennsylvania State Board of Nursing, Department of State issues your Licensed Practical Nurse (LPN) for Pennsylvania.

Fees

Fee Amount
Application fee [3] None specified
License fee [3] $95
Renewal fee [3] $76
NCLEX-PN [2] $200
Licensure by examination, out-of-state program graduates [3] $115
Licensure by endorsement [3] $120
Licensure by endorsement with examination [3] $145
Reexamination [3] $75
Temporary practice permit [3] $70

Per 49 Pa. Code § 21.147: licensure by examination for graduates of Board-approved (in-state) practical nursing programs is a single combined $95 fee (no separate application line item); out-of-state program graduates pay $115. Endorsement applicants pay $120 (or $145 if also examination is required). Biennial renewal is $76.

Renewal & continuing education

Renew every 2 years.

Biennial renewal via the PALS portal (pals.pa.gov). Pennsylvania does not set a single flat continuing-education hour total for LPN renewal; instead it mandates specific one-time/recurring modules: 3 hours of child abuse recognition and reporting training at initial licensure and 2 hours at each biennial renewal (Act 31 of 2014), organ and tissue donation awareness education, and opioid education for renewals submitted after July 1, 2017.

Reciprocity

Endorsement/reciprocity from another state is available. Participates in: Nurse Licensure Compact (NLC).

Pennsylvania implemented the Nurse Licensure Compact on July 7, 2025, per NCSBN's official NLC jurisdiction map — one of the compact's newest member states. LPNs licensed in another state may also apply for Pennsylvania licensure by endorsement ($120, or $145 if examination is also required) rather than relying solely on a multistate compact license.

41 state-approved training providers in Pennsylvania — browse programs and compare schools on tradecolleges.org.

Cost calculator

  • $95
  • $200
Total$295

Frequently asked questions

What agency licenses LPNs in Pennsylvania?

The Pennsylvania State Board of Nursing, part of the Department of State, which processes applications and renewals through the PALS online portal (pals.pa.gov).

How many hours of practical nursing training does Pennsylvania require?

At least 1,500 clock hours at a Board-approved program, completed over a minimum of 12 months.

How much does an LPN license cost in Pennsylvania?

$95 for licensure by examination (Board-approved in-state program graduates), $115 for out-of-state program graduates, or $120-$145 for licensure by endorsement — separate from the $200 national NCLEX-PN registration fee paid to Pearson VUE. Renewal is $76 every 2 years.

Is Pennsylvania a Nurse Licensure Compact state?

Yes, as of July 7, 2025 — one of the compact's newest members — so a Pennsylvania multistate license is now valid to practice in other NLC member states.

What continuing education does Pennsylvania require for LPN renewal?

There's no flat CE-hour total; instead LPNs must complete specific modules including 2 hours of child abuse recognition and reporting training each renewal cycle, organ and tissue donation awareness education, and opioid education.

Sources

  1. [1] pacodeandbulletin.gov/Display/pacode — accessed 2026-07-10
  2. [2] nclex.com/fees-payment.page — accessed 2026-07-10
  3. [3] pacodeandbulletin.gov/Display/pacode — accessed 2026-07-10
  4. [4] pa.gov/agencies/dos/department-and-offices/bpoa/boards-commissions/nursing/renewal-information — accessed 2026-07-10
  5. [5] ncsbn.org/public-files/NLC_Map.pdf — accessed 2026-07-10