If you hold a Pennsylvania RN license, the Pennsylvania State Board of Nursing requires 30 contact hours of Board-approved continuing education every two-year renewal cycle. Of those, 2 hours must be in child abuse recognition and reporting. Effective May 1, 2026, RNs must also complete a one-time 2-hour course in organ and tissue donation within five years of initial licensure or renewal. Below is the full breakdown of what you need, what counts, and when it is due.
30 hours / 2 years
Thirty Board-approved contact hours each biennial renewal cycle.
Child abuse (2 hrs)
2 hours in child abuse recognition and reporting each renewal.
Organ donation (one-time)
A new one-time 2-hour organ and tissue donation course, effective May 2026.
Biennial renewal
Pennsylvania RN licenses renew every two years.
How many CE hours Pennsylvania RNs need
Pennsylvania requires 30 contact hours every two years, tied to your biennial license renewal. Mandated topic hours count toward that total.
Mandated subject requirements
- Child abuse recognition and reporting: 2 hours each renewal.
- Organ and tissue donation: one-time 2-hour course within five years of initial licensure or renewal, effective May 1, 2026.
Renewal cycle and deadlines
Pennsylvania RN licenses renew every two years. Complete and document your 30 hours, including mandated topics, before your renewal date.
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View pricingPennsylvania Registered Nurses (RN) CME at a glance
- Child Abuse Recognition & Reporting2 hrs · every renewal
2 of the 30 contact hours must be Board-approved CE in child abuse recognition and reporting (counts toward the 30-hour total).
- Organ & Tissue Donation2 hrs · one time
Effective May 1, 2026, RNs must complete a one-time 2-hour course in organ and tissue donation and recovery within five years of initial licensure or renewal, whichever comes first (counts toward the 30-hour total).
Always confirm with your licensing board
Pennsylvania RN licenses renew biennially. RNs must complete 30 contact hours of Board-approved CE per cycle, including 2 hours in child abuse recognition and reporting. Effective May 1, 2026, RNs must also complete a one-time 2-hour course in organ and tissue donation and recovery within five years of initial licensure or licensure renewal.
CE requirements change. Confirm current rules with the Pennsylvania State Board of Nursing before relying on these figures.
Source: Pennsylvania State Board of Nursing. Board website · Researched as of 2026-06-01 · CME rules change; this is administrative guidance, not legal or CME-accreditation advice.
Licensed in more than one state?
Nurse Licensure Compact: active. Active. One multistate RN/LPN license from the home state authorizes practice in member states; practice-state requirements (including CE) may still overlay.
Each state license carries its own CME requirement and renewal date — if you hold more than one, you need a plan for each.
Also licensing in Pennsylvania or beyond?
Our sister teams handle the licensing side with the same concierge service.
Pennsylvania RN Continuing Education Requirements — Frequently Asked Questions
How many CE hours do Pennsylvania RNs need?
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30 contact hours every two years.
Does Pennsylvania require child abuse training?
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Yes — 2 of the 30 contact hours must be in child abuse recognition and reporting each renewal.
Is organ donation training required in Pennsylvania?
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Yes — effective May 1, 2026, RNs must complete a one-time 2-hour organ and tissue donation course within five years of initial licensure or renewal.
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