Nursing Certification and Licensure in Pennsylvania

Nursing Certification and Licensure in Pennsylvania

As I approach the final quarter of my studies at Walden University, the anticipation of becoming a nurse practitioner in Pennsylvania fills me with excitement. Nevertheless, navigating the intricate regulations governing Advanced Practice Registered Nurses (APRNs) can be perplexing, given that each state establishes its own rules regarding NP practice authority. It’s imperative for every aspiring NP to comprehend the specific regulations in their state and have a clear roadmap for the licensure and practice process.

Certification and Licensing in Pennsylvania

To attain certification and licensure as a nurse practitioner in Pennsylvania, the initial step is to earn a master’s degree from an accredited institution (Pennsylvania Department of State, 2021). Following this, prospective NPs must successfully pass a certification examination offered by recognized organizations like the AANP or ANCC. Additionally, they are required to complete 3 hours of continuing education on child abuse and pay a licensing fee, which amounts to either $100 or $140, depending on whether their education took place within or outside Pennsylvania. Once these prerequisites are met, nurses can apply for licensure through Pennsylvania’s online licensing system, known as PALS (State Board of Nursing, 2019). PALS serves as the primary platform for licensing in Pennsylvania, enabling nurses to apply for licenses, renew them, submit complaints, and fulfill mandatory reporting.

Practice Restrictions

In Pennsylvania, nurse practitioners operate under the constraint of collaborative practice. This necessitates a formal collaborative agreement between the NP and a physician (Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, 2021). The agreement defines the NP’s authorized scope of practice and prescriptive authority for medications. The collaborating physician must be readily available for communication while the NP is practicing, an emergency care plan must be in place, and the physician must routinely review the NP’s protocols, records, and practices.

Ohio State Nursing Practice Certification and Licensure

The ambiguity surrounding the exact definitions of “communication” and “supervision” within this collaborative framework was the most surprising aspect of my research. I’ve encountered similar gray areas in my work in the aesthetics industry. The level of supervision required appears to be contingent on the physician’s comfort level and what can be justified as standard practice. For individuals who prefer clear-cut rules, more precise regulations would be appreciated.

Prescriptive Authority

Nurse practitioners seeking to prescribe controlled substances in Pennsylvania must obtain a DEA number through the DEA’s Diversion Control Division website. This registration comes at a cost of $888 and remains valid for three years (Drug Enforcement Agency, 2021a). In Pennsylvania, NPs have the authority to prescribe schedule II drugs for up to a 30-day supply and schedule III, IV, and V drugs for up to a 90-day supply, provided this is authorized in their collaborative agreement (Drug Enforcement Agency, 2021b; Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, 2021).

Nursing Organizations in Pennsylvania

Pennsylvania hosts several prominent organizations advocating for APRNs and striving to enhance their professional autonomy. These organizations include the Alliance of Advanced Practice Nurses (The Alliance), the Pennsylvania Coalition of Nurse Practitioners (PCNP), and the Pennsylvania State Nurses Association (PSN) (Carthon et al., 2016, p. 103). All three groups actively promote legislation to empower APRNs and urge their members and supporters to engage with legislators in support of such initiatives. In Pennsylvania, the PCNP, in particular, strongly endorses Senate Bill 25 (SB25), which aims to grant full practice authority to nurse practitioners (Pennsylvania Coalition of Nurse Practitioners, 2021).

References

Carthon, J., Wiltse Nicely, K., Altares Sarik, D., & Fairman, J. (2016). Effective strategies for achieving scope of practice reform in pennsylvania. Policy, Politics, & Nursing Practice, 17(2), 99–109. https://doi.org/10.1177/1527154416660700

Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. (2021). Chapter 21: Subchapter C: Certified Registered Nurse Practitioners. http://www.pacodeandbulletin.gov/Display/pacode?file=/secure/pacode/data/049/chapter21/subchapCtoc.html&d=reduce

Drug Enforcement Agency. (2021a). Application for registration under Controlled Substances Act of 1970. https://apps.deadiversion.usdoj.gov/webforms2/spring/main?execution=e1s1#

Drug Enforcement Agency. (2021b). Mid-level practitioners authorization by state. https://www.deadiversion.usdoj.gov/drugreg/practioners/mlp_by_state.pdf

Pennsylvania Coalition of Nurse Practitioners. (2021). Breaking: Senate committee passes SB25. https://www.pacnp.org/news/570100/Breaking-Senate-Committee-Passes-SB25.htm

Pennsylvania Department of State. (2021). Certified Registered Nurse Practitioner: Pennsylvania licensure requirements. https://www.dos.pa.gov/ProfessionalLicensing/BoardsCommissions/Nursing/Pages/Certified-Registered-Nurse-Practitioner-Licensure-Requirements-Snapshot.aspx

State Board of Nursing. (2019). Apply online for certified registered nurse practitioner certification. https://www.dos.pa.gov/ProfessionalLicensing/BoardsCommissions/Nursing/Documents/Applications%20and%20Forms/CRNP%20App%20Online%20Instructions.pdf