How to Become a Nurse in Pennsylvania

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Pennsylvania will soon be in dire need of nurses, so now may be as good a time as any to explore a nursing career in the state.

Nursing is a great profession for people interested in helping patients in a healthcare setting but without the many years of education needed to become a doctor. Nurses are responsible for assessing their patients, taking vital signs, assisting providers, carrying out ordered tests, and administering medication.

While nurses don’t get paid as much as doctors do, nursing degrees in Pennsylvania take less time than medical school and can lead to a career that pays comfortable wages in the state.

The degree required to be a nurse in Pennsylvania depends on what type of nurse you hope to become.

Registered nurses (RNs) typically need an associate or bachelor’s degree in nursing, a passing NCLEX-RN exam score, and state certification. Licensed vocational nurses (LVNs) and licensed practical nurses (LPNs) can practice with an associate degree and a license. Advanced practice registered nurses (APRNs), such as nurse practitioners and nurse anesthetists, need a graduate degree to earn licensure and practice.

In Pennsylvania, to become a registered nurse (RN) you must finish an accredited nursing course and successfully pass the NCLEX-RN exam. Prior experience is not a requirement to obtain the initial license.

To earn your license, you’ll need to complete a three-hour child abuse recognition and reporting course approved by the Pennsylvania State Board of Nursing.

You will have to renew your license every two years if you intend to continue practicing as a nurse in Pennsylvania. The renewal process requires 30 hours of continuing education, including two hours of child abuse recognition and reporting courses.

Nursing degrees in Pennsylvania have varying costs depending on the type of nursing program you choose and the institution you get your degree from. The average cost of nursing school for a four-year degree was $17,251 annually for the 2021-22 academic year, according to the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES).

Moreover, there is an additional cost for the NCLEX-RN exam, which is $200. You must also pay a fee when applying for your nursing license: The initial licensing fee is $95 for in-state graduates and $115 for out-of-state graduates in Pennsylvania, according to the Pennsylvania Department of State.

Maintaining your nursing license in Pennsylvania requires a renewal fee of $122 every two years.

In addition, nurses may incur costs associated with various courses or programs in order to meet the 30-hour continuing education requirement for license renewal. It’s important to budget for these ongoing costs to ensure you’re able to keep your license active.

The demand for RNs in Pennsylvania is projected to grow 8.9% from 2020-2030, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS). That leaves the state near the middle of the pack in terms of states with the most anticipated demand for RNs moving forward.

Demand for RNs is projected to grow 6% across the U.S.

Pennsylvania is expected to struggle with a nursing shortage going forward. A 2021 market report from Mercer projects that Pennsylvania will have a larger gap in the number of needed RNs than any other state in the U.S. The report anticipates a 20,000 shortfall of nurses by 2026.

Registered nurses in the state had a median annual salary of $82,780 in May 2023, according to BLS. That is slightly lower than the national median salary for RNs of $86,070.

Registered nurse salaries vary by region. For example, RNs in the Philadelphia area earn a median salary about $10,640 more than the national median for RNs. Meanwhile, nurses working in the Johnstown metropolitan area earn less than the national average.

There are several nursing specialties you can pursue for your career. These specialties allow you to focus on a specific area of healthcare, and each specialty may have its own educational, certification, and licensing requirements.

Nurse practitioners (NPs) are advanced practice nurses who provide comprehensive healthcare services similar to those of a physician. They can diagnose and treat medical conditions, prescribe medications, and manage patient care. However, they cannot operate their own practice.

NPs must have a master’s degree in nursing, RN licensure, and certification in their specialty area from a recognized national certifying body.