The Nurse Licensure Compact, adopted in about forty states, makes it easier for a nurse to gain a new nursing license to move your nursing practice from state to state. Unfortunately, Pennsylvania is not a Nurse Licensure Compact state. You may face greater challenges gaining a Pennsylvania nursing license than you would in another state, even if you have already qualified for a nursing license in another state. If you are a nurse licensed in another state but seeking Pennsylvania licensure, or you are a Pennsylvania nurse seeking licensure in another state, the LLF Law Firm's premier Professional License Defense Team can help you address and resolve your nursing license issues. Call 888.535.3686 or complete this contact form now for our highly qualified nursing license representation. Protect your nursing employment and career. Don't lose your nursing employment and career to multistate licensing issues.
Advantages of the Nurse Licensure Compact
You'd likely be better off in your effort to gain a second or subsequent nursing license if Pennsylvania were a Nurse Licensure Compact state. That's the point of the Nurse Licensure Compact: to expand access to nursing care by increasing nurse mobility from state to state. Holding a license from a Nurse Licensure Compact state while seeking a license in another Nurse Licensure Compact state is about the closest thing you can get to a multistate license. Indeed, Nurse Licensure Compact participation streamlines the state-to-state licensing requirement, which is what the Nurse Licensure Compact calls a multistate license. You must still have a license in each state. However, licensing in a Nurse Licensure Compact state effectively guarantees that you'll meet the education and examination requirements of other Nurse Licensure Compact states. But again, that's not so in Pennsylvania. You must jump through all the hoops of nursing licensure if you're coming into Pennsylvania for a nursing license, even if you've already licensed in another state. You must do the same if you are trying to take your Pennsylvania nursing license to another state to qualify for its state nursing license.
Pennsylvania Nurse Licensure Compact Participation
As indicated above, about forty states currently participate in the Nurse Licensure Compact. We say “about” because some states participate only partially or are implementing or considering implementing participation. That means that Pennsylvania is one of only about ten states that do not participate in the Nurse Licensure Compact. Of those ten states not participating, seven states have bills pending in the state legislature for Nurse Licensure Compact participation, meaning that those states may soon participate, if the bills gain the needed committee approvals, vote, and executive signature. Unfortunately, Pennsylvania is not among those seven states. Pennsylvania does not have a pending bill, suggesting that the state has no particular movement afoot toward joining the Nurse Licensure Compact. Let us help you if you face issues gaining licensure in Pennsylvania or in another state based on your Pennsylvania nursing license.
Pennsylvania Nurse Licensure
The Pennsylvania Professional Nursing Law regulates the practice of nursing in the state. The Nursing Law's Section 21.2 creates the State Board of Nursing in the Commonwealth to enforce the Nursing Law through administrative rules and procedures. The Professional Nursing Law sets forth the requirements for gaining a Pennsylvania nursing license, whether as a licensed practical nurse (LPN), registered nurse (RN), or certified registered nurse practitioner (CRNP). The requirements for each type of nurse, of course, differ. Section 21.20 of the Professional Nursing Law, for instance, sets forth the RN licensing requirements by examination, which include obtaining the nursing education necessary to qualify for the licensing exam (the NCLEX), passing the exam, and completing child abuse reporting training. Section 21.150 sets forth the LPN licensing requirements by examination, which include qualifying for the licensing exam by education, passing the licensing exam, and completing training in child abuse reporting. You must also not have disqualifying criminal convictions. Let us help if you face issues obtaining a Pennsylvania nursing license. You can't practice in the state without a Pennsylvania license.
Licensure in Other States
You may already hold a Pennsylvania nursing license but need or desire to move your nursing practice to another state in which you do not yet hold a license. Expect to face similar licensing requirements in that other state, even though you already hold your Pennsylvania nursing license. And expect that other states have similar laws prohibiting you from practicing nursing in the state without that state's nursing license. Your Pennsylvania nursing license will not automatically qualify you for nursing practice in the other state, especially given that Pennsylvania does not participate in the Nurse Licensure Compact. We can help you address your nursing license issues in other states if you already have a Pennsylvania nursing license.
Licensure in Pennsylvania Based on Endorsement
Pennsylvania's unwillingness to participate in the National Nurse Licensure Compact means you won't have the advantage of streamlined multistate licensing procedures. But don't lose all hope. Pennsylvania's Professional Nursing Law includes procedures for licensing as a nurse in Pennsylvania by endorsement. Licensure by endorsement means that you still have significant advantages in obtaining a Pennsylvania nursing license if you already hold a nursing license in another state, even though Pennsylvania does not participate in the Nurse Licensure Compact. Pennsylvania's legislature has recognized your interest in moving your nursing practice into the state and the interest of Pennsylvania residents in your skilled and experienced nursing services. The following sections outline Pennsylvania's requirements for LPN and RN licensure by endorsement. Let us help you prove to State Board of Nursing officials that you meet the following requirements if you face issues.
Pennsylvania Licensed Practical Nurse Licensure by Endorsement
Section 21.155 of Pennsylvania's Professional Nursing Law sets forth the requirements for a licensed practical nurse to obtain a Pennsylvania LPN license by endorsement. Those requirements include that you hold an LPN license in another state and have graduated from a nursing program that the Pennsylvania State Board of Nursing approves, passed an examination that the State Board of Nursing has approved, and meet the State Board's good moral character and practical nursing requirements. You must also meet an English language proficiency requirement and complete the required child abuse reporting training. The Nursing Law also imposes a requirement that your LPN license in the other state has been current for five years, or you must complete a continuing competency requirement. While your license in another state may suggest you can easily meet the above requirements, states differ in the nursing programs and examinations they approve and other particulars. Let us help if those particulars are tripping up your application for Pennsylvania LPN licensure by endorsement.
Pennsylvania Registered Nurse Licensure by Endorsement
Section 21-28 of Pennsylvania's Professional Nursing Law sets forth the requirements for registered nurse (RN) licensure by endorsement in Pennsylvania. Those requirements include holding an RN license in another state and graduating from an approved RN program, passing an approved RN examination (the NCLEX), and meeting the English language proficiency, good moral character, and child abuse reporting training requirements. Like the LPN requirements, the RN requirements also include the requirement that you must have held your RN license for at least five years to qualify or meet the continued competency requirements. While your RN licensure in another state may make it appear that you can easily qualify for Pennsylvania RN licensure by endorsement, differences in Pennsylvania State Board of Nursing education, examination, or good moral character requirements may delay or stall your RN license application. Let us help if you face any such issues.
Pennsylvania Certified Registered Nurse Practitioner Licensure
Pennsylvania does not offer a licensure by endorsement option for certified registered nurse practitioners (CRNPs). Section 21.271 of the Pennsylvania Professional Nursing Law sets forth the CRNP requirements. Those requirements include holding registered nurse (RN) licensure and completing a national board nurse practitioner program. Your national board certification has the effect of ensuring that you can qualify for Pennsylvania CRNP licensure, provided that you face no other licensing issues. Let us help you address and resolve any such issues.
Issues Obtaining a Second or Subsequent License
You've seen above Pennsylvania's requirements for LPN, RN, or CRNP licensure by examination or endorsement. You've seen that the LPN and RN licensure by endorsement options can give you a leg up on Pennsylvania nursing licensure if you already hold a nursing license in another state. But you've also seen that the requirements for a nursing license can differ from state to state. The following sections show how issues with your multistate licensure can arise out of those state-to-state differences. We can help you invoke protective procedures in Pennsylvania or in the other state in which you seek a nursing license to resolve your issues.
Nurse Education Program Issues Interfering with Licensure
The Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing (ACEN) accredits nursing programs across the country. You may have obtained your nursing degree from an ACEN accredited program. If so, you are unlikely to face issues with the Pennsylvania State Board of Nursing not having approved your nursing program. But, if instead, you qualified for your nursing license in another state by attending an in-state or foreign nursing program that your other state nursing board specially approved, then you may face issues gaining that same special approval from the Pennsylvania State Board of Nursing. You may alternatively face school curriculum, discipline, or transcript issues with Pennsylvania State Board of Nursing officials that your other state board of nursing did not consider to be disqualifying. Let us help, whatever your education program issues are that are holding up your Pennsylvania nursing license or your license in another state after you have already qualified for a Pennsylvania nursing license.
Nurse Examination Issues Interfering with Licensure
As indicated above, Pennsylvania is among the many states generally accepting National Council Licensure Exam (NCLEX) passage as meeting LPN and RN examination requirements. If you passed the NCLEX without undue delay after your prior license application, and if you faced no challenges to your qualifications for or conduct of the NCLEX, then you should not generally expect to face licensing issues related to the examination. But for your prior nursing license, you may have taken an alternative exam your other state nursing board approved, that the Pennsylvania State Board of Nursing has not accepted. Alternatively, you may have passed the exam later after your license application than state rules permit, when some states impose a three-year limit or similar limit. You may also be facing an issue over your conduct during or around the exam or your other credentials and representations that qualify you for the exam. Whatever your examination issue may be holding up your present nursing license application, let us help you address and favorably resolve those issues.
License Disciplinary Issues Interfering with Licensure
License disciplinary issues can also interfere with a candidate's application to obtain a second or subsequent license. Your nursing record may have been entirely clear of any professionalism, impairment, incompetence, or other misconduct issues when you obtained your first license, whether in Pennsylvania or another state. But since then, you may have faced disciplinary charges against your license. Those charges may still be pending, or they may have been resolved in a manner that the Pennsylvania State Board of Nursing or other nursing board to which you are now applying will not accept. License discipline can prevent you from qualifying for a second or subsequent license. State nursing practice acts and nursing boards generally require applicants and licensees to report discipline by other state nursing boards. Section 21.29a of Pennsylvania's Professional Nursing Law is an example, providing that nurses notify the State Board of Nursing of any discipline by another state nursing board. We can help you defend disciplinary proceedings, resolve pending disciplinary issues, and obtain records of favorably resolved proceedings to help you satisfy the Pennsylvania State Board of Nursing or other nursing board to which you are applying for a second or subsequent license.
Background and Criminal History Issues Interfering with Licensure
When you obtained your first nursing license, whether in Pennsylvania or another jurisdiction, you likely satisfied good moral character requirements like those that Pennsylvania's Professional Nursing Law imposes for licensure by endorsement. If nothing had changed since then, you might expect little or no problem meeting good moral character requirements for a second or subsequent license. But things do change. You may have suffered a criminal charge and conviction since then, or you may have suffered malpractice liability, nursing employment termination for misconduct, or another event that raises red flags for the state nursing board officials considering your current license application. State nursing boards also differ in the criminal convictions and other events they will accept within their good moral character parameters. Even if nothing untoward has happened since you got your first license, the state nursing board to which you are presently applying for a second or subsequent license may not like your criminal history or other record. Let us help you address background issues, whatever they may be.
Pennsylvania Nurse Licensing Procedures
If you face licensing issues getting your second or subsequent license by endorsement either in Pennsylvania or in another state based on your Pennsylvania nursing license, we can help you invoke the available protective procedures to ensure your best outcome promptly and diligently resolving those issues. State nursing boards generally owe license applicants constitutional due process when failing or refusing to issue a license to a qualified candidate. Due process includes fair notice of your alleged licensing deficiency and the right to bring the question of your disqualification before an independent decision maker for us to help you present your qualification evidence.
Pennsylvania's Professional Nursing Law is an example. While Section 21.2 of the Nursing Law authorizes the Pennsylvania State Board of Nursing to license and otherwise regulate nurses, the Nursing Law's Section 21.4 requires the State Board of Nursing to comply with the state's general rules of administrative practice and procedure codified at 1 Pa. Code Part II. Chapter 35 of 1 Pa. Code Part II includes elaborate protections having to do with notice, pleading, prehearing, hearing, appeal, and judicial review. We can invoke those procedures to put your best case for licensure by endorsement forward based on the license you already hold in another jurisdiction. If, instead, you are applying for licensure by endorsement in another jurisdiction based on your Pennsylvania license, that other jurisdiction is likely to have similar procedures for us to invoke, satisfying your constitutional right to due process.
Our Help With Your Multistate Licensing Issues
You can see that protective procedures are likely to be available whether your licensing by endorsement dispute is in Pennsylvania or in another state based on your Pennsylvania license. What, though, do our highly qualified attorneys actually do in such cases? Do not retain unqualified local criminal defense counsel. Do not retain any lawyer, whether a criminal or civil court litigator or transactional attorney, who lacks the unusual administrative law knowledge, skill, and experience for your best licensing outcome. We have that experience because professional licensing disputes are our practice field. When you retain us, our attorneys can put that administrative licensing skill and experience to best strategic effect from start to finish of your licensure by endorsement matter, including representing you through the following actions:
- appearing on your behalf before your state nursing board officials, notifying them to conduct their communications with us and to respond to our requests on your behalf, putting our professional reputation and relationships to work for you;
- helping you obtain a prompt response from licensing officials detailing the alleged deficiencies in your qualifications so that we can help you evaluate, address, and resolve them to the state nursing board's satisfaction;
- gathering, organizing, and presenting your documentation and explanations to state nursing board officials informally, in meetings and at conciliation conferences, negotiating for an early voluntary resolution of the issue;
- if state nursing board officials are unwilling to resolve the issue, invoking the available formal administrative hearing at which to present your testimony and other evidence while cross-examining adverse witnesses and challenging adverse evidence;
- if you have already lost your administrative hearing, preparing, filing, and pursuing your appeal to higher administrative officials or boards, demonstrating the error in the initial administrative decision;
- if you have already exhausted all administrative hearings and appeals, seeking available judicial or other oversight review and reversal of erroneous findings or findings based on legal errors, bias, conflicts of interest, or an absence of disqualifying evidence.
Your Stakes in Pennsylvania Nursing License Issues
Keep in mind your stakes in your Pennsylvania nursing license issue. Don't underestimate the potential impact of losing your opportunity to obtain a second or subsequent nursing license by endorsement in Pennsylvania or in another state based on your Pennsylvania nursing license. Mobility may be critical to your continued nursing employment and to your nursing career. It is not unusual for nurses and other professionals to have to move their professional practice to a new state for health, family, and related reasons. Alternatively, you may have great benefits from doing so. You or your spouse or other person close to you may, for instance, have an outstanding job opportunity or opportunity for continuing or advanced education. Your nursing employment and career could be on the line. Protect your investment with our highly qualified licensed defense services.
Premier Pennsylvania Nursing License Attorneys
Your best move is to retain the LLF Law Firm's premier Professional License Defense Team now to help you resolve your nurse licensure by endorsement issues. We are available in Philadelphia, Pittsburgh, Allentown, Erie, Reading City, Upper Darby, Scranton, Lower Merion, Bensalem, Abington, Lancaster City, Bethlehem City, and across the rest of Pennsylvania, as well as nationwide. Call 888.535.3686 or complete this contact form now.
