How To Become a Nurse in Pennsylvania 2025

Pennsylvania could always use more registered nurses (RN), practical nurses, and specialized healthcare professionals. You can enter the field as a licensed practical nurse (LPN) in just one or two years, whereas many nurses seek higher positions by getting their RN license before earning a Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) or higher in the field.

These credentials lead to professional nursing careers in areas like pediatric care, geriatric care, prenatal and neonatal care, and other areas of the state's healthcare system. Continue reading to learn how to become a nurse and the steps required in Pennsylvania.

What Does an RN Do?

A certified registered nurse has many responsibilities directly related to every aspect of caring for sick, injured, or disabled patients. These are a few nursing specializations and duties you may encounter during your career as a nurse's aide, nurse practitioner, or other important role.

• bedside care
• administering medicine
• patient education
• handling medical equipment and technology
• assisting doctors and other providers
• child abuse recognition
• health information privacy
• assessing vital signs

These patient-care roles require lots of training, education, soft skills, and attention to detail. That's why you must know the specific requirements for becoming a nurse, including the licensing steps and continuing education requirements mentioned below.

How Long Does It Take To Become a Nurse in Pennsylvania?

It can take as little as one to two years to earn entry-level nursing credentials, but it may take much longer if you wish to pursue the highest positions after earning a Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP). Most mid-to-upper-level career tracks require at least a bachelor's degree in a relevant healthcare field. You can earn some of these degrees faster by pursuing accelerated nursing programs online, which may only take 12 to 18 months to complete.

3 Steps To Become a Registered Nurse in Pennsylvania

Since there are several educational requirements for nurses, we recommend taking a step-by-step approach to earning each credential. This section breaks it into three general steps for obtaining an associate degree, BSN, and other nursing distinctions.

Step 1: Earn an Associate Degree

The first academic credential for nurses is the Associate Degree in Nursing (ADN), which you can obtain at most local community colleges. This takes about two years to complete in a traditional program.

The primary purpose of this degree is to prepare nurses to become RNs. Many degree holders stop at this credential once they've begun their career path toward jobs in oncology, pediatrics, acute care, and emergency room nursing.

Step 2: Get Nursing Licenses

If you wish to obtain an LPN or RN credential, there are specific ways to earn each license. Once a nursing student or LPN candidate has completed an accredited practical nursing program, the Pennsylvania State Board of Nursing permits them to sit for the National Council Licensure Examination for Registered Nurses (NCLEX-RN). The state board issues prospective nurses an Authorization to Test (ATT), which grants them about two months to take the NCLEX-RN exam.

RNs have a similar process but must have completed an accredited RN program and attempt the licensure exam within a year of finishing. There are also various application fees you must pay and in-state residents can apply online for their license. RNs from other states must apply through a paper application process and out-of-state LPNs must apply for licensure by endorsement from their previous jurisdiction.

Step 3: Earn a Bachelor's Degree

The BSN degree is a four-year program for those with no previous nursing experience. Upon graduation, BSN holders can take the NCLEX-RN exam and qualify for any position an RN can hold, but also several more advanced roles (e.g., Chief Nursing Officer or CNO). This includes hands-on nursing positions in direct patient care, cardiac care, forensic nursing, and nursing administration.

After you've earned this degree, some nurses may choose to pursue graduate degrees, such as the DNP or Master of Science in Nursing (MSN). Those allow an even greater chance at upper-management positions on large healthcare teams. A master's degree is not mandatory but offers a competitive advantage for competitive senior-level positions in areas such as Pittsburgh, Harrisburg, Philadelphia, and other parts of Pennsylvania.

Top Nursing Degree Programs in Pennsylvania

Now that you know which licenses and degrees you should pursue, let's explore some of the best nursing degree programs in Pennsylvania. These include online nursing programs, which are convenient, especially for completing prerequisite courses and other general education requirements.

1. Pennsylvania State University

Pennsylvania State University provides multiple ways to obtain a BSN. You can attend courses on campus in a traditional four-year program, but Penn State also offers an RN-to-BSN program you can complete 100% online.

Each option requires 120 credit hours to qualify for the bachelor's degree. Penn State also has a second-degree BSN option, which is another distinction between a BSN and MSN for nurses.

• Estimated tuition cost: $632 per credit hour (in-state); $632 per credit hour (out-of-state)
• Accreditation: Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE)

2. Drexel University

Drexel University offers bachelor's, master's, and doctoral degrees in nursing. Its graduates pass the NCLEX-RN exam at a stellar 98.25% rate, and its physician's assistant program ranks #1 in the state. For a bachelor's degree, Drexel allows students to complete through a co-op program, an accelerated format, or through an RN-to-BSN track.

• Estimated tuition cost: $915 per credit hour (in-state); $915 per credit hour (out-of-state)
• Accreditation: CCNE

3. Bloomsburg Commonwealth University of Pennsylvania

Bloomsburg University offers a BSN degree at a very competitive tuition rate, if you enroll as an in-state resident. If you gain acceptance to the university, you can enroll at the Bloomsburg campus, the Mansfield campus, or through online delivery. Some graduates proceed to graduate studies in one of four MSN programs, including a joint MSN and Master of Business Administration (MBA) degree for hospital administration.

• Estimated tuition cost: $322 per credit hour (in-state); $805 per credit hour (out-of-state)
• Accreditation: CCNE

4. Cedar College Crest

Cedar College Crest offers BSN, MSN, and accelerated BSN (ABSN) opportunities to motivated nursing students. These board-approved degrees offer many flexible full-time or part-time attendance options for career nurses. BSN candidates participate in 819 clinical hours, including a 105-hour independent practicum supervised by a nurse preceptor.

• Estimated tuition cost: $26,730 per year (in-state); $26,730 per year (out-of-state)
• Accreditation: Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing (ACEN)

5. Saint Francis University

Saint Francis University offers both a BSN and second-degree BSN, which require in-person attendance. The school's MSN program is one of the few in the state that you can complete 100% online. For the traditional BSN route, students will enjoy smaller clinical groups featuring about one faculty member for every eight nursing students in the program.

• Estimated tuition cost: $485 per credit hour (in-state); $485 per credit hour (out-of-state)
• Accreditation: CCNE

Salary and Job Outlook for Nurses in Pennsylvania

According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), the job outlook has a 6% growth projection for the timeframe of 2023 to 2033. The median annual salary is just over $93,000 and the BLS projects about 194,500 new nursing jobs by 2033.

FAQs About How To Become a Nurse in Pennsylvania

The following frequently asked questions (FAQs) can help you address other concerns regarding nursing education in Pennsylvania. This section includes questions about costs, faster routes, and how to complete your education faster by enrolling in self-paced nursing prerequisites online.

How Much Does a Nursing Degree Cost in Pennsylvania?

The cost of a nursing degree will depend on which nursing school you attend, what degree you pursue (ADN vs. BSN), and whether you obtain financial aid to cover tuition costs. The BSN degree is a much more expensive investment at some institutions, which charge more than $10,000 per year on tuition.

That's why it's essential for nursing students to complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) as soon as they enter college. You can even do this for distance education programs since there are many online colleges that accept FAFSA in Pennsylvania.

What Are the Prerequisites for a Nursing Degree?

Prerequisites depend on the nursing program you enter. Nursing education programs often expect their students to have already completed courses in biology, chemistry, math, and other general education subjects � but there are more prerequisites for BSN programs than lower nursing credentials.

Many students opt to take prerequisite classes before entering a degree program, even through single-course enrollment. Since this strategy involves taking most/all of our prerequisites online, don't forget to set yourself up with the most effective tech equipment and supplies, such as the best laptop for nursing students.

What Is the Fastest Way To Become a Nurse?

The fastest way to become a nurse is to devote as much time to taking as many nursing courses as possible. This includes taking summer and winter sessions (especially prerequisites) at a low-cost institution. You can also earn your degree quickly by enrolling in an accelerated format at universities that offer it.

What Is the Easiest Nursing Degree?

The easiest nursing degree https://learn.org/articles/easiest_nursing_degree.html is the ADN, which is the quickest and most fundamental. While no nursing program is ''easy,'' since they cover detailed healthcare topics, the initial courses you take are much more basic than the more difficult practicums and clinical experience in advanced programs.

Find a Nursing Degree

Now is the best time to enter the healthcare field with one of these top credentials. We invite you to use all our informational resources for online nursing degrees, nursing licenses, and other valuable guides for nursing education.