Pennsylvania State Board of Nursing (PABON) · RN

Pennsylvania CE Requirements for Registered Nurses

30 hours. Every two years. Tied to your license anniversary.

Updated April 2026Sourced from PABON

Compiled by Atlas CME from official board sources · Last updated July 4, 2026

Mandatory topics

For RNs, 30 hours is the total CE requirement. Pennsylvania also names specific topics that must be covered, and each one is listed below.

Abuse Reporting & Mandatory Reporter[1]
2 hrs
Biennial
2 of the 30 CE hours must be in Board-approved CE on child abuse recognition and reporting requirements, per Act 31 of 2014. Required at every biennial renewal. The 2 hours are part of the 30-hour total, not additive. Exception: first renewal after initial licensure requires child abuse education but the standard 30-hour CE requirement does not apply (see exemptions).
View sourceVerbatim from source
“At least 2 of the 30 hours shall be completed in approved continuing education in child abuse recognition and reporting requirements in accordance with §  21.508(b) (relating to child abuse recognition and reporting—mandatory training requirement).”
49 Pa. Code § 21.131(a) / Act 31 of 2014.See source [1] in Primary Sources
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Conditional requirements

These rules apply only when the trigger described under each card is met (for example, holding a state-issued controlled substance registration or treating a specific patient population). Each cites the underlying statute or rule directly.

ConditionalGeneral[1]
2 hrs
One-time

RNs who obtained licensure prior to May 1, 2026 (one-time organ and tissue donation education)

View sourceVerbatim from source
“a registered nurse who obtained a license prior to May 1, 2026, shall verify completion of at least 2 of the 30 hours in Board-approved continuing education in organ and tissue donation and recovery process in accordance with §  21.133(a.1) (relating to continuing education content) from the sources identified in §  21.134(a)(11) (relating to continuing education sources) one time within 5 years of licensure renewal.”
49 Pa. Code § 21.131(a.1)See source [1] in Primary Sources
Accepted credit

Pennsylvania State Board of Nursing (PABON) accepts ANCC Contact Hour toward the CE requirement for RNs, along with other credit it approves.

Credit systemNotes
ANCC Contact Hour
Board-approved CE from approved providers. Pennsylvania requires Board-approved CE from Board-approved sources.Source49 Pa. Code §§ 21.132-21.134
Board-approved credit
CE from PABON-approved providers and approved sources per 49 Pa. Code § 21.134. CE hours may not carry over from one biennial renewal period to the next per 49 Pa. Code § 21.131(f).Source49 Pa. Code § 21.134
Documentation & audit

Documentation retention: 5 years per 49 Pa. Code § 21.131(c).

Waivers & exemptions

First renewal after initial licensure: standard 30-hour CE not required; only 2-hour child abuse CE required. Per 49 Pa. Code § 21.131(b): "An applicant applying for initial licensure in this Commonwealth will not be required to meet the continuing education requirement on the first renewal immediately following licensure, except for the mandatory continuing education in child abuse recognition and reporting."

Hardship waiver available for serious illness, military service, or demonstrated hardship

FAQ
How many CE hours do Pennsylvania RNs need for license renewal?
Pennsylvania RNs must complete 30 hours of Board-approved continuing education during each biennial renewal period under 49 Pa. Code § 21.131. Within those 30 hours, at least 2 must be in Board-approved child abuse recognition and reporting CE (Act 31 of 2014), and beginning May 1, 2026, a one-time 2-hour organ and tissue donation course must be completed within 5 years of licensure. First-time renewers after initial licensure are exempt from the 30-hour requirement but must still complete the 2-hour child abuse CE. CE hours cannot be carried forward from one biennial period to the next.
What is the child abuse CE requirement for Pennsylvania RNs?
Under Act 31 of 2014 and 49 Pa. Code § 21.131(a), Pennsylvania RNs must complete at least 2 hours of Board-approved CE on child abuse recognition and reporting at every biennial renewal. These 2 hours are part of the 30-hour total — they do not add to the requirement. Pennsylvania RNs are mandatory reporters for suspected child abuse, and the CE requirement ensures ongoing awareness of recognition and reporting obligations. Board-approved Act 31 training programs are available from Pennsylvania-approved CE providers.
What is the new organ and tissue donation CE requirement for Pennsylvania RNs?
Effective May 1, 2026, 49 Pa. Code § 21.131(a.1) requires all Pennsylvania RNs who obtained licensure before May 1, 2026, to complete 2 hours of Board-approved CE in organ and tissue donation and recovery process as a one-time obligation within five years of their licensure or reactivation. These 2 hours count toward the biennial 30-hour total. RNs licensed after May 1, 2026, face the same 5-year window from their licensure date. This is a one-time requirement — it does not recur at each biennial renewal after being satisfied.
Is Pennsylvania in the Nursing Licensure Compact (NLC)?
Yes. Pennsylvania fully implemented the NLC on July 7, 2025. Eligible Pennsylvania-resident RNs and LPNs may apply for a Pennsylvania-issued multistate license through PALS, and nurses holding an active multistate license from another NLC state may practice in Pennsylvania under that license without a separate Pennsylvania single-state license. The 30-hour biennial CE requirement described here applies to Pennsylvania-resident nurses regardless of single-state or multistate status.
Where can I check my Pennsylvania RN license renewal date?
Pennsylvania RNs can access renewal information through the PABON renewal information page at https://www.pa.gov/en/agencies/dos/department-and-offices/bpoa/boards-commissions/nursing/renewal-information.html. For license verification and renewal status, PABON can be reached at 1-833-DOS-BPOA (1-833-367-2762) or ST-NURSE@pa.gov.

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Other roles in Pennsylvania

CE requirements for Registered Nurses in other states

Sources & Citations

Every mandatory topic and conditional requirement above cites the underlying statute or rule. Numbered references below correspond to the bracketed citations next to each requirement.

  1. 49 Pa. Code § 21.131 — Continuing Education (RN)
    Primary sourceAccessed 2026-04-23
    Show verbatim text
    “At least 2 of the 30 hours shall be completed in approved continuing education in child abuse recognition and reporting requirements in accordance with §  21.508(b) (relating to child abuse recognition and reporting—mandatory training requirement).”49 Pa. Code § 21.131(a) / Act 31 of 2014.
    “a registered nurse who obtained a license prior to May 1, 2026, shall verify completion of at least 2 of the 30 hours in Board-approved continuing education in organ and tissue donation and recovery process in accordance with §  21.133(a.1) (relating to continuing education content) from the sources identified in §  21.134(a)(11) (relating to continuing education sources) one time within 5 years of licensure renewal.”49 Pa. Code § 21.131(a.1) · Effective 2026-05-01

This page is provided for general educational purposes and reflects the best available information as of the last reviewed date above. CE requirements change. Atlas CME is not affiliated with the Pennsylvania State Board of Nursing (PABON), or any other state licensing board, licensing authority, or professional organization. Registered nurses are solely responsible for verifying their own current CE requirements directly with their state licensing board before relying on any information presented here.

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