Pennsylvania RN Continuing Education Requirements, Explained
Last reviewed June 2026 against the official sources linked below. Requirements change — always confirm with your board before relying on them.
Total hours
30 contact hours
Renewal cycle
Every 2 years
Child abuse
2 hrs each cycle
Issued by
Pennsylvania State Board of Nursing
Pennsylvania is a straightforward 30-hours-every-two-years state, but with a couple of embedded mandatory topics that have to come out of those 30 hours - not on top of them. The one nurses miss most often is the child abuse course, because it is easy to forget it is baked into the total.
Here is exactly what counts, in plain English.
The base requirement: 30 hours every 2 years
Under 49 Pa. Code 21.131, a registered nurse seeking renewal must complete 30 hours of Board-approved continuing education during the biennial renewal period immediately preceding the application. Hours cannot be carried over from one renewal period to the next, so banking extra credits early does not help you later. A waiver may be requested for serious illness, military service, or other demonstrated hardship.
Mandatory topics inside the 30 hours
- Child abuse recognition and reporting - at least 2 of the 30 hours must be an approved child abuse course. This is included in the 30, not in addition to it, and it is the requirement most commonly overlooked.
- Organ and tissue donation and recovery - under Pennsylvania Act 90, nurses are required to complete a two-hour course on organ and tissue donation and recovery as a condition of renewal, phasing in with renewals on or after May 1, 2026. Check whether your upcoming renewal falls under this requirement.
- If you are a CRNP with prescriptive authority, additional pharmacology and opioid or pain-management hours apply on top of the RN base - confirm the CRNP rules separately.
Stop tracking this in a spreadsheet
Progress rings per requirement, private certificate storage, deadline reminders, and a one-click audit packet. Set up in two minutes — free for your first license.
Start tracking — freeWhen is your deadline?
Pennsylvania RN licenses renew on a two-year biennial cycle. Your renewal date and status are in the PALS (Pennsylvania Licensing System) portal. All 30 hours, including the embedded child abuse hours, must be completed before you renew - and because hours do not carry over, the clock resets cleanly each period.
How CredTally keeps this on autopilot
- Enter the 30-hour target once, then add sub-requirements like 2 hrs child abuse and 2 hrs organ and tissue donation - the dashboard shows exactly what is still owed in each bucket.
- Snap a photo of each certificate as you finish a course; it is stored privately with the credit it proves.
- Reminder emails at 90, 60, 30, and 7 days before your renewal date, with your remaining hours in the subject line.
- If the Board asks for proof, export a dated PDF packet of your whole cycle - summary plus every certificate - in one click.
Frequently asked questions
How many CE hours does a Pennsylvania RN need to renew?
Thirty hours of Board-approved continuing education every two-year biennial renewal period, including at least 2 hours of approved child abuse recognition and reporting training that count toward the 30.
Does Pennsylvania require child abuse training for nurses?
Yes. At least 2 of your 30 continuing education hours must be in approved child abuse recognition and reporting. It is included within the 30-hour total, not added on top, which is why it is so often missed.
What is the new organ and tissue donation requirement?
Under Pennsylvania Act 90, nurses are required to complete a two-hour course on organ and tissue donation and recovery as a renewal condition, phasing in with renewals on or after May 1, 2026. Check whether your renewal falls under it.
Can I carry over extra CE hours in Pennsylvania?
No. Continuing education hours cannot be carried over from one biennial renewal period to the next, so completing more than 30 in one cycle does not reduce what you owe in the following cycle.
Official sources
CredTally is a record-keeping tool and is not affiliated with any licensing board. This guide is general information, not legal or compliance advice.
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