Continuing Education Requirements for RNs in Pennsylvania
The Pennsylvania State Board of Nursing recently adopted a policy regarding continuing education for professional nurses. Registered Nurses are now required to complete 30 hours of continuing education between renewal periods. This is explained on the Board website.
If the expiration date on your license is/will be: |
You will need to obtain 30 hours of RN Board approved CE from: |
| October 31, 2010 | 11/1/08 through 10/31/10 |
| April 30, 2011 | 5/1/09 through 4/30/11 |
| April 30, 2011 | 11/1/09 through 10/31/11 |
| April 30, 2012 | 5/1/10 through 4/30/12 |
Continuing Education must be relevant to patient care or professional nursing in general or specialty areas. Academic courses, group or individual research, and publication of a textbook or article are also acceptable. Additionally, CRNPs, school nurses and nurses who are dietetics-nutrition licensees (LDNs) can fulfill the CE requirements for their respective certification or license requirements.
Non-professional course content not directly related to patient care is not acceptable: (This list is not all-inclusive.)
- Self-improvement
- Change in attitude
- Financial gain
- Courses designed for lay persons
- BLS (Basic Life Support)
- Mandatory annual education on facility specific policies
- Employment orientation programs
Nurses will report their completed hours of CE on their renewal applications. No proof needs to be submitted at that time. However, nurses are required to keep proof of CE for five years in case they are audited. The State Board will take disciplinary action if CE is not maintained.
The University of Pittsburgh School of Nursing is an accredited provider of continuing nursing education by the American Nurses Credentialing Center's Commission on Accreditation.
Pennsylvania State Board of Nursing (2008). FAQ’s on Mandatory Continuing Education (CE) for Registered Nurses. Accessed January 6, 2009 from http://www.dos.state.pa.us/bpoa/lib/bpoa/nurseboard/faq_rnce.pdf