Pennsylvania LPN Licensing Guide

The Pennsylvania State Board of Nursing (PA BON) operates under the Bureau of Professional and Occupational Affairs (BPOA) and consists of the Commissioner of Professional and Occupational Affairs and 12 members appointed by the Governor, with the consent of the Senate. It protects public health and safety in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania by establishing and regulating the standards of professional nursing practice. The PA BON issues Pennsylvania nursing licenses to qualified applicants, approves nursing education programs, and disciplines licensees as needed.

Applicants create an account on the Pennsylvania Licensing System (PALS) online to apply for and renew their Pennsylvania nursing licenses or check the status of their licenses. Most applications may be submitted electronically but some, such as the application for re-examination, require applicants to submit a paper application. Applicants must send documents to the BONs mailing address, not its physical address.

State Board of Nursing
PO Box 2649
Harrisburg, PA 17105-2649

Pennsylvania LPN license renewals are biennial and can be completed through the online portal or by mailing a paper application to the PA BON. All LPN licenses expire automatically on June 30 of even-numbered years. Renewal applications are usually available 30 to 60 days before expiration dates.

The BON sends Pennsylvania LPN license renewal notices to each active licensee before their expiration date. However, licensees are responsible for knowing when their license expires. Licensees who don’t complete renewal requirements before the deadline must submit an LPN license reactivation application. To apply for licensure renewal, LPNs must: 

• Disclose any other nursing licenses or allied health professions in any other state, U.S. territory or possession, and country

• Pay the biennial Pennsylvania LPN license renewal fee

• Verify they’ve completed the continuing education requirements during the current licensure period

• Disclose any discipline imposed by a state licensing board on any nursing or allied health professional license or certificate during the current licensure period

• Disclose any criminal charges or pending criminal charges that occurred during the current licensure period

Processing renewal applications and issuing LPN renewal licenses generally take three calendar days. Delays may occur if there are new disciplinary actions or criminal charges that must be evaluated.

Continuing Education Requirements

The Pennsylvania LPN license renewal process requires licensees to complete 2 hours of Board-approved CE covering child abuse recognition and reporting offered by an approved provider. No other continuing education hours are required.

Fingerprinting Requirements

All new applicants for Pennsylvania health care practitioner licenses must complete an FBI fingerprint-based criminal history background check. Applicants must schedule their IDEMIA for fingerprint-based FBI background checks. Applicants can register for fingerprinting online at IdentoGO or by calling 1-844-321-2101. A service code is required when registering. Applicants must present one acceptable form of ID at the appointment, pay the required fee at the time of service unless covered by an employer’s authorization code, and have their fingerprints digitally captured.

Pennsylvania State Board of Nursing
2525 N 7th Street
Harrisburg, PA 17110
[email protected]
(833) 367-2762

Pennsylvania fully implemented the Nurse Licensure Compact (NLC) on July 7, 2025. Nurses whose primary state of residence (PSOR) is Pennsylvania can now apply for a multistate license that allows them to practice in Pennsylvania and all other NLC states. Nurses from other NLC states have been able to practice in Pennsylvania using their active multistate licenses since partial implementation began in September 2023.

Licensed Practical Nurses (LPNs) who graduated from an approved professional nursing education program in the U.S. or Canada and obtained initial licensure in another jurisdiction by passing a licensure exam the PA BON considers equivalent to the exam required for nurse licensure in Pennsylvania may be granted a Pennsylvania LPN license by endorsement. Applicants for endorsements without an equivalent exam must complete an application for licensure by endorsement with an exam rather than standard licensure by endorsement or licensure by exam application. This allows the BON to confirm there are no outstanding reciprocal issues in other states of licensure. Endorsement applicants must:

• Have graduated from an approved professional nursing education program in the U.S. or Canada

  • The nursing school must submit an official transcript identifying the degree awarded and date of completion directly to the PA BON

• Have passed the National Council Licensure Exam for Licensed Practical Nurses (NCLEX-PN) or another exam equivalent to the NCLEX-PN

• Have an active LPN license in good standing without disciplinary action or criminal convictions

• Complete three hours of BON-approved continuing education on child abuse recognition and reporting

• Request a verification of licensure from each state or jurisdiction they hold/have held a license

  • Verification must include type and status of the license, method of obtaining the license, and if applicable, education, exam, and disciplinary information

  • Use the Nursys online verification system for states that participate in Nursys

  • Provide aVerification of Licensure form to states that don’t participate in Nursys

Graduate nurses must apply for a Pennsylvania LPN license by exam. They can reduce their license processing time by submitting their application before they graduate. However, the PA BON can’t begin processing applications for LPN licensure by exam until it receives applicants’ notice of completion from their nursing education institution. Applicants must: 

• Complete anapproved nursing education program that results in a diploma, an associate degree, or a Bachelor’s degree in nursing

  • Pennsylvania nursing programs automatically forward Education Verification to the BON for graduates

  • Graduates of nursing programs outside of Pennsylvania must request their nursing program to submit official transcripts directly to the PA BON that identifies the degree awarded and date of completion

• Register for the NCLEX-PN with PearsonVUE and pay the required fee

  • Receive a passing grade on the NCLEX-PN or the State Board Test Pool Exam (SBTPE)

• Complete three hours of BON-approved continuing education in child abuse recognition and reporting

The PA BON mails exam results to applicants within 30 days of their test date. Candidates who pass the exam after completing all other licensure requirements receive their Pennsylvania LPN license. Candidates who fail the exam receive a Candidate Performance Report issued by the National Council of State Boards of Nursing. They must:

• Submit a re-examination application and fee to the PA BON

• Re-register and pay the required fee to PearsonVUE to retake the exam

  • Once the BON evaluates the applicant’s re-examination application, PearsonVUE sends an Authorization to Test (ATT)

  • Applicants can only retest 45 days from the last test date

Graduates of nursing education programs located outside the U.S. must complete additional application steps. If their nursing education programs weren't conducted in English, they must provide the PA BON with proof of a passing score on a BON-approved English proficiency exam. The testing agency administering the English proficiency exam must submit the applicant’s test score directly to the BON. Approved English language proficiency exams and minimum scores required include:

• Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL)

  • Internet-based version: a passing score of 84 or higher overall and a minimum speaking score of 26

  • Paper-based version: a passing score of 540 or higher overall

• International English Language Testing System (IELTS)

  • A passing score of 6.5 or higher overall and a minimum of 6.0 on each module

• Pearson Test of English (PTE)

  • Academic Test: a passing score of 55 or higher overall, with no Communicative Skills sub-scores lower than 50

• Michigan English Language Assessment Battery (MELAB) with Speaking Test

  • A passing score of 81 or higher overall and a minimum score of 3 on the speaking test

The MELAB stopped being offered in June 2018 but the PA BON still accepts results of MELAB exams sent directly from the examiner for tests completed before the exam’s closure. The PA BON hasn’t approved any at-home English language proficiency exams. It won’t accept a copy of the exam scores. Valid English proficiency scores must come directly from the examiner.

Foreign-educated applicants must also provide education verification through aBON-approved foreign credentials evaluator. Currently, the only approved credentials evaluation service is the Commission on Graduates of Foreign Nursing Schools (CGFNS). Applicants must request that a Credentials Evaluation Service (CES) Professional Report be sent directly to PA BON.

BON staff can’t begin to process applications for LPN licensure by exam until it receives the notice of program completion from the applicant’s educational institution. Overall, it takes approximately 7 weeks from the time the BON receives this notice to the time it issues the applicant their initial Pennsylvania nursing license. The timeframe for an initial LPN license by endorsement is between 4 weeks and 12 weeks based on whether the BON has follow-up requests.

Graduate nurses may apply for a temporary nurse license in Pennsylvania that allows them to practice professional nursing under the supervision of a licensed LPN, meaning the LPN must be physically in the area while the graduate nurse provides patient care. Temporary nurse licenses are valid for up to one year from the date of issuance but they can be extended and expire immediately if the graduate nurse fails the NCLEX-PN. Applicants must submit the: 

• Application and fee for a temporary practice permit for a graduate nurse

• Application and fee for LPN licensure by exam at least 90 days before the permit expires

• NCLEX-PN registration and fee to PearsonVUE at least 90 days before the permit expires

 Graduate nurses wanting to extend their temporary practice permit due to illness or hardship must do so at least 60 days before it expires. They must:

• Submit the application and fee for the temporary practice permit extension

• Provide a written, detailed explanation of why they requested the extension

  • If due to illness, they must include certification of the illness from their treating physician

The PA BON also may grant a temporary practice permit to LPNs currently licensed by another state, U.S. territory or possession, or Canada applying for Pennsylvania nurse licensure by endorsement. Licensed LPNs don’t require supervision while practicing under their temporary permit. These permits expire in one year or until the BON makes a decision on their application for licensure, whichever occurs first. These permits also may be extended due to illness or hardship. Applicants must: 

• Submit the application and fee for a temporary practice permit for a currently licensed LPN

• Submit an Applicant Data Sheet of the application for licensure

• Demonstrate proficiency in English by submitting proof their nursing education program was conducted in English or through a passing score on a BON-approved English proficiency exam

• Submit the Verification of Licensure Form within 45 days of the temporary practice permit issuance date

• Request verification of their nursing education program from the licensing board or appropriate educational authorities

Fees are nonrefundable and must be paid by credit card when applying online. Applicants may pay with a personal check, cashier’s check, or money order made payable to the “Commonwealth of Pennsylvania” when submitting paper applications. Current application fees and related costs of applying for a Pennsylvania LPN license include:

• In-State Educated LPN Licensure by Exam: $95

• Out-of-State Educated LPN Licensure by Exam: $115

• Re-Examination: $75

• Licensure by Endorsement Without Exam: $120

• Licensure by Endorsement With Exam: $145

• Temporary Practice Permit: $70

• Temporary Practice Permit Extension: $85

• Biennial Pennsylvania LPN License Renewal: $122

• LPN License Reactivation: $130

• Verification of License: $45

Starting May 31, 2024, you can download and print your license from your online account. Licenses mailed by the BON will be printed on plain white paper. New certificates will include a QR code that links the licensees online verification page.

Effective July 7, 2025, Pennsylvania will fully implement the Nurse Licensure Compact (NLC). Nurses whose primary state of residence (PSOR) is Pennsylvania will be able to apply for a multistate license, allowing them to practice in Pennsylvania and all other NLC states.

Effective July 7, 2025, all new applicants for healthcare practitioner licenses must complete a fingerprint-based FBI background check as part of the application process. Applicants will register through IdentoGO and use the service code provided during their application.