Direct answer
The responsible authority is Pennsylvania State Board of Nursing. Use the verified contact details and task-specific official links on this page.
Pennsylvania source-reviewed jurisdiction snapshot
| Item | Reviewed detail |
|---|---|
| Authority | Pennsylvania State Board of Nursing |
| Public verification | Pennsylvania Licensing System (PALS) |
| Renewal cycle | Biennial |
| Renewal deadline | Renew by the expiration date on the license; failure to receive a notice does not remove the licensee’s responsibility. |
| Continuing competence | Requirements vary by credential and include mandated topic training. |
| Fees | Confirm the current credential-specific fee in PALS before payment. |
| Compact status | Compact jurisdiction |
| Credentials | LPN, RN, CRNP, CNS, Dietitian-Nutritionist |
| Phone | 1-833-367-2762 |
| Physical location | P.O. Box 2649, Harrisburg, PA 17105-2649 |
| Mailing address | P.O. Box 2649, Harrisburg, PA 17105-2649 |
| Primary official domains | www.pa.gov, www.pals.pa.gov |
For Pennsylvania, 4 primary official source records and 8 labeled official destinations support this jurisdiction guide.
Responsible licensing authority
Pennsylvania applications, renewals and many account requests use the Pennsylvania Licensing System (PALS). Public license verification is available through PALS, and RN/LPN state-to-state verification is handled through Nursys when applicable.
P.O. Box 2649, Harrisburg, PA 17105-2649Open map ↗
Confirm current service hours and walk-in availability before visiting.
Which office or system should you use?
| Goal | Route | Why and what to prepare |
|---|---|---|
| Verify current license status | Board Resources and Documents | Use the reviewed Pennsylvania primary-source route to confirm legal name, credential, status, expiration and public restrictions. Search by license number when available and document the live Pennsylvania result date. |
| Renew or reactivate a license | Pennsylvania Licensing System | Pennsylvania renewal eligibility, declarations and payments belong in the official account or renewal system. Follow this published timing: Renew by the expiration date on the license; failure to receive a notice does not remove the licensee’s responsibility. |
| Check CE or continuing competence | Nursing License Renewal Information | Pennsylvania rules can differ by credential, first renewal, practice hours, mandatory topics or national certification. Review the exact requirement before buying coursework: Requirements vary by credential and include mandated topic training. |
| Apply by endorsement | NCSBN License Verification Guidance | The Pennsylvania destination authority decides application eligibility, documents, fingerprints, fees and any temporary authority. Nursys verification; the official Pennsylvania page states a $30 charge per license type per board receiving verification. |
| Use the account or transaction portal | Pennsylvania Licensing System | Authenticated Pennsylvania transactions and messages should occur only in the authority-named system. Confirm the browser domain is one of the reviewed official domains: www.pa.gov, www.pals.pa.gov. |
| Check complaints or public discipline | official complaint and discipline resource | License status and public discipline are separate questions in Pennsylvania. For Pennsylvania, open any public order or restriction linked by the authority; do not rely on social posts or an old screenshot. |
| Contact the licensing authority | Pennsylvania State Board of Nursing | For Pennsylvania, use the responsible office for a missing document, status discrepancy, credential routing or application message. Call 1-833-367-2762 with the credential, license or application number available; do not email sensitive documents unless given a secure route. |
| Use national verification or monitoring | Nursys QuickConfirm / e-Notify when accepted | Nursys can support participating-board national verification, endorsement verification and monitoring, but the Pennsylvania authority remains the source for local requirements. Pennsylvania is recorded as an operational Nurse Licensure Compact jurisdiction in this dataset. Verify that the individual public record is actually designated multistate and that the nurse maintains Pennsylvania or another qualifying compact state as the primary state of residence. |
Complete official task destinations
Verify a Pennsylvania Professional License ↗
Pennsylvania public service directing users to PALS for license status and disciplinary history.
Commonwealth of Pennsylvania official verification service · reviewed July 28, 2026Renewal information ↗
Primary official source reviewed for this jurisdiction.
Exact primary-source record · reviewed July 27, 2026PALS ↗
Primary official source reviewed for this jurisdiction.
Exact primary-source record · reviewed July 27, 2026Board resources ↗
Primary official source reviewed for this jurisdiction.
Exact primary-source record · reviewed July 27, 2026Pennsylvania State Board of Nursing ↗
Primary official source reviewed for this jurisdiction.
Exact primary-source record · reviewed July 27, 2026Nurse Licensure Compact ↗
National compact resource used with the Pennsylvania status recorded as Compact jurisdiction; individual eligibility depends on the actual license designation and primary state of residence.
National official source · reviewed July 28, 2026NCLEX Official Website ↗
Official NCLEX information for examination candidates applying through Pennsylvania State Board of Nursing; passing the exam does not itself create a Pennsylvania license.
National official source · reviewed July 28, 2026NCSBN License Verification Guidance ↗
National licensing guidance used to interpret verification categories; the local Pennsylvania source remains Pennsylvania Licensing System (PALS).
National official source · reviewed July 28, 2026Nursys QuickConfirm and e-Notify ↗
National participating-board service used alongside Pennsylvania Licensing System (PALS) for Pennsylvania; follow Pennsylvania State Board of Nursing instructions for endorsement or monitoring.
National official service · reviewed July 28, 2026Before contacting the authority
- Confirm which credential and authority apply, especially in split-board jurisdictions.
- Have the application type, license number or transaction reference available.
- Ask a specific question about a missing item, renewal eligibility, status or credential assignment.
- Do not email Social Security numbers, payment-card details or background documents unless the authority explicitly instructs a secure method.
- Record the date, office or unit contacted and the response.
- Verify final license status in the public lookup system.
Frequently asked questions
Which office handles nursing licenses in Pennsylvania?
Pennsylvania State Board of Nursing.
What is the published phone number?
1-833-367-2762
Is there a separate mailing address?
P.O. Box 2649, Harrisburg, PA 17105-2649
What should I prepare before contacting the authority?
Have the credential, application type, license number or transaction reference ready, but do not send sensitive records to an unverified address.
Is phone guidance proof of licensure?
No. Verify the final license status in the official public lookup system.
Should I visit the office without checking first?
No. Confirm office hours, walk-in availability and the correct unit before traveling.