Getting licensed to practice as a nurse practitioner in Pennsylvania means applying through the Pennsylvania State Board of Nursing, completing primary source verification of your credentials, and then enrolling with payers so you can bill. Here's how it works — and how Rivon handles Pennsylvania licensing and credentialing for you.
Official PA boardApply, renew, or look up a license on the Pennsylvania State Board of Nursing websiteHow to get licensed in Pennsylvania
- 01Confirm eligibility and gather documents — diploma, training verification, national APRN certification, current licenses, DEA, and a complete work history.
- 02Submit the application to the Pennsylvania State Board of Nursing, with all fees and supporting documents.
- 03Primary source verification — the board confirms your education, training, licensure, certification, and background (including the NPDB) directly with each source.
- 04Board review and issuance — once the file is complete and verified, Pennsylvania issues your license.
- 05Enroll with payers and keep the license current — track the renewal cycle and CE/CME so it never lapses.
Licensing board
Pennsylvania State Board of Nursing
The PA board sets Pennsylvania's application, documentation, fees, and renewal requirements.
Board websiteEstimated application fee
$100
An estimate; confirm current fees with the Pennsylvania State Board of Nursing. Amounts vary by license type and change over time.
Typical timeline
~60 days
From a complete file to issuance — driven mostly by how fast primary sources respond. A clean, error-free application is the best way to stay near the low end.
Free PA checklist
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Renewing your Pennsylvania NP license
Once you're licensed, the Pennsylvania State Board of Nursing requires you to renew on a set cycle. Here are the renewal rules as the board publishes them.
- Renewal cycle
- Every 2 years
- Deadline
- CRNP certification and prescriptive authority expire with your RN license, which the Board assigns to April 30 or October 31 of even- or odd-numbered years; the Board sends a renewal notice before expiration
- Renewal fee
- $81 biennial CRNP certification renewal plus $41 biennial prescriptive authority renewal (the RN license renewal fee is separate)
- Continuing education (CE)
- 30 hours of Board-approved CE every 2 years, including 2 hours of child abuse recognition and reporting; prescribers also need 16 hours of pharmacology and 2 hours on pain management, addiction or opioid prescribing
- 16 hours of Board-approved pharmacology CE (to renew prescriptive authority)
- 2 hours on pain management, identification of addiction or opioid prescribing/dispensing (renewing prescriptive authority with a DEA registration)
- 2 hours of approved child abuse recognition and reporting training
- How to renew
- Online through PALS (Pennsylvania Licensing System), renewing the RN license and the CRNP certification together and verifying CE completionOpen the renewal portal
- NoteRenewing the Pennsylvania RN license is a condition of CRNP renewal
- NoteCurrent national certification must be shown at renewal for CRNPs certified after February 7, 2005
- NotePrescriptive authority approval expires with the RN license and is renewed with the CRNP certification
- NoteA CRNP who misses CE faces discipline; hardship waivers must be requested at least 90 days before the renewal period ends
Last verified October 3, 2026 from the Pennsylvania State Board of Nursing. As published by the board; confirm current requirements before renewing.
Sources49 Pa. Code § 21.331 - Biennial renewal of CRNP certification49 Pa. Code § 21.332 - Requirement of continuing education49 Pa. Code § 21.253 - CRNP fees49 Pa. Code § 21.29 - Expiration and renewal of RN licensePennsylvania State Board of Nursing
Renewal tracking
Never miss a Pennsylvania renewal
Rivon tracks your license expiration, CEhours and DEA, and reminds you before you're due.
Nurse Practitioner credentialing & payer enrollment in Pennsylvania
A Pennsylvania license lets you practice; credentialing lets you get paid. Before a health plan will reimburse you, it verifies your license, training, and history. Here's what that usually involves:
- 01Keep your NPI record (NPPES) current — your name, practice address, and taxonomy code should match your Pennsylvania license exactly.
- 02Complete your CAQH ProView profile: upload your Pennsylvania license and other documents, attest, and authorize each plan to view it. Re-attest every 120 days.
- 03Apply to each commercial health plan you want to join in Pennsylvania. Each runs its own credentialing review using your CAQH data.
- 04If you'll see Medicaid patients, enroll with Pennsylvania Medicaid (and any Medicaid managed-care plans you'll work with).
- 05If you'll bill Medicare, enroll through PECOS.
- 06If you'll work in a hospital or surgery center, apply for privileges there — each facility credentials you separately.
New to CAQH? Read our CAQH ProView guide for setup, your CAQH ID, and re-attestation.
How Rivon handles Pennsylvania licensing & credentialing
On the Rivon platform, your Pennsylvania license, DEA, and certifications live in one record with always-on monitoring that flags every renewal weeks early — so nothing lapses with the Pennsylvania State Board of Nursing. Document AI reads each credential and fills the profile without retyping, and licensing & credentialing pipelines run primary source verification and payer enrollment in parallel.
Prefer to hand it off? Rivon's white-glove team manages the entire Pennsylvania application end to end — gathering documents, completing verification, and shepherding payer enrollment — while you watch progress in real time.
Pennsylvania nurse practitioner licensing FAQ
How long does it take to get an NP license / APRN authorization in Pennsylvania?
Most Pennsylvania nurse practitioner applications take about 60 days once the Pennsylvania State Board of Nursing has a complete file, though timelines vary with how quickly primary sources (schools, prior boards, the NPDB) respond. Submitting a complete, error-free application is the single biggest way to avoid delays.
Which board licenses nurse practitioners in Pennsylvania?
Nurse practitioners in Pennsylvania are licensed by the Pennsylvania State Board of Nursing, which verifies education, training, exams, and background before granting a license.
How much is the Pennsylvania nurse practitioner application fee?
As an estimate, the Pennsylvania nurse practitioner application fee is around $100. Fees change and vary by license type — always confirm the current amount directly with the Pennsylvania State Board of Nursing before you apply.
How do I renew my Pennsylvania NP license / APRN authorization?
In Pennsylvania, renewals are filed with the Pennsylvania State Board of Nursing. How to renew: Online through PALS (Pennsylvania Licensing System), renewing the RN license and the CRNP certification together and verifying CE completion. Renewal cycle: Every 2 years. Deadline: CRNP certification and prescriptive authority expire with your RN license, which the Board assigns to April 30 or October 31 of even- or odd-numbered years; the Board sends a renewal notice before expiration. Renewal fee: $81 biennial CRNP certification renewal plus $41 biennial prescriptive authority renewal (the RN license renewal fee is separate). Continuing education: 30 hours of Board-approved CE every 2 years, including 2 hours of child abuse recognition and reporting; prescribers also need 16 hours of pharmacology and 2 hours on pain management, addiction or opioid prescribing. Required topics include 16 hours of Board-approved pharmacology CE (to renew prescriptive authority); 2 hours on pain management, identification of addiction or opioid prescribing/dispensing (renewing prescriptive authority with a DEA registration); 2 hours of approved child abuse recognition and reporting training. This is as published by the board (last verified October 3, 2026); confirm before renewing. Rivon tracks the expiration date and flags it well before it's due.
How many CE hours do I need to renew an NP license in Pennsylvania?
30 CE hours. The Pennsylvania State Board of Nursing publishes the requirement as: 30 hours of Board-approved CE every 2 years, including 2 hours of child abuse recognition and reporting; prescribers also need 16 hours of pharmacology and 2 hours on pain management, addiction or opioid prescribing. Required topics include 16 hours of Board-approved pharmacology CE (to renew prescriptive authority); 2 hours on pain management, identification of addiction or opioid prescribing/dispensing (renewing prescriptive authority with a DEA registration); 2 hours of approved child abuse recognition and reporting training. Last verified October 3, 2026; confirm with the board before renewing. Rivon tracks your CE hours against the requirement so you're not caught short.
How do I look up or verify a Pennsylvania nurse practitioner license?
Use the license lookup (verification) tool on the Pennsylvania State Board of Nursing's official website. It shows whether a license is active and when it expires.
What does nurse practitioner credentialing involve in Pennsylvania?
Credentialing is how health plans and facilities verify your qualifications before you can bill them or practice with them. In Pennsylvania that usually means an up-to-date NPI record, a complete and attested CAQH ProView profile, an application to each plan you want to join, and — if you'll bill them — Pennsylvania Medicaid enrollment and Medicare enrollment through PECOS.
Do I need a Pennsylvania license to practice telehealth there?
Generally yes. Licensure follows where the patient is located, so to treat patients in Pennsylvania — including by telehealth — you typically need a Pennsylvania license unless a specific exception applies.
Can Rivon handle Pennsylvania nurse practitioner licensing and credentialing for me?
Yes. On the Rivon platform you can track every Pennsylvania license and renewal with always-on monitoring and run credentialing with primary source verification. Or hand it to Rivon's white-glove team, which manages the Pennsylvania application and payer enrollment end to end.