Pennsylvania Nursing CE Requirements

Everything you need to know about completing continuing education for Pennsylvania nursing license renewal — required hours, mandatory topics, deadlines, and where to take your CEUs online.

30 hrs
RN CE hours
per 2 years
2 years
Renewal cycle
Per state board
1
Mandatory topics
every renewal
No
CE Broker reporting
Self-document

Check Your Nursing CE Compliance

Find out exactly how many continuing education hours you need to renew your license — including any state-mandated topics like opioids, domestic violence, or implicit bias.

Showing CE requirements for Pennsylvania.

Mandatory CE Topics in Pennsylvania

In addition to the total contact-hour requirement, Pennsylvania requires every renewing nurse to complete coursework on these specific topics. Most ANCC-accredited bundles cover them as part of a state-specific package.

Child abuse recognition & reporting

2 hours · every cycle

Organ & tissue donation and recovery process

2 hours · one-time requirement

Effective May 1, 2026: one-time, completed within 5 years of a renewal. The pain-management/opioid CE applies only to CRNPs with prescriptive authority, not general RNs.

When Is My Pennsylvania Renewal Deadline?

Pennsylvania renewal deadlines follow this pattern: Apr 30. Use the calculator above to estimate your specific deadline based on your last renewal date. The state board issues a courtesy renewal notice, but the legal responsibility for renewing on time is yours.

Practicing nursing on an expired license is a violation of state law. If your renewal lapses, contact the Pennsylvania Board of Nursing immediately to learn about late-renewal or reinstatement options.

Take Your Pennsylvania CEUs at CE Ready

CE Ready is an ANCC-accredited continuing education provider (Provider P0986) with course bundles built specifically for Pennsylvania nurses. Their packages cover both the total contact-hour requirement and every mandatory topic listed above.

Get your Pennsylvania CEUs at CE Ready →

MyNursingSchools may earn a commission when you enroll with CE Ready — at no extra cost to you. Read our affiliate disclosure.

Looking for the full Pennsylvania licensure picture?

Pennsylvania Nursing License Requirements →

CE Requirements in Other States

OklahomaNo fixed hrs · 2 yearsOregonNo fixed hrs · 2 yearsRhode Island10 hrs · 2 yearsSouth Carolina30 hrs · 2 years

Frequently Asked Questions

How many CE hours do I need to renew my nursing license in Pennsylvania?
Pennsylvania requires 30 contact hours per 2 years renewal cycle for RNs.
What are the mandatory CE topics for Pennsylvania nurses?
Pennsylvania requires 2 mandatory topics: Child abuse recognition & reporting (2 hrs, each cycle); Organ & tissue donation and recovery process (2 hrs, one-time).
Does Pennsylvania use CE Broker?
No. Pennsylvania does not use CE Broker. Keep your certificates of completion for at least 2 years in case your board audits your renewal.
When is the nursing license renewal deadline in Pennsylvania?
Pennsylvania licenses expire on April 30 on a 2 years renewal cycle.

Sources

  • Pennsylvania Board of Nursing, CE rules, accessed 2026.
  • American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC), accreditation criteria, 2026.
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