§ 21.155. Licensure by endorsement.
(a) A practical nurse who has graduated from an approved practical nursing program in the United States or Canada and who obtained licensure in another jurisdiction of the United States or Canada upon having passed an examination considered by the Board to be equivalent to the examination required for licensure in this Commonwealth may be granted licensure by endorsement.
(b) An applicant for licensure by endorsement shall meet the requirements regarding age, good moral character, preliminary education and practical nursing education as outlined in the act.
(c) An applicant for licensure by endorsement whose license in the other jurisdiction is not current for 5 years or longer shall, prior to receiving a license in this Commonwealth, satisfy the requirements of § 21.156a(a)(1) or (2) (relating to continued competency).
(d) A practical nurse who has graduated from a practical nursing education program in a country or territory outside of the United States or Canada deemed equivalent to the program of study required in this Commonwealth at the time the program was completed and who obtained licensure in that country or territory upon having passed an examination considered by the Board to be equivalent to the examination required for licensure in this Commonwealth may be granted licensure by endorsement without examination. The Board will base educational equivalency upon an evaluation administered by a Board-approved foreign credentials evaluator.
(e) An applicant for licensure by endorsement shall demonstrate proficiency in English by submitting proof that the applicant’s nursing education program was conducted in English or that the applicant has received a passing score on a Board-approved English proficiency examination unless the applicant has previously met this requirement in satisfaction of § 21.149(b)(2) (relating to temporary practice permits). The Board will make available a list of Board-approved English proficiency examinations on its web site.
(f) An applicant for licensure by endorsement shall complete at least 3 hours of approved training in child abuse recognition and reporting in accordance with § 21.508(a) (relating to child abuse recognition and reporting—mandatory training requirement).
Authority The provisions of this § 21.155 amended under section 506 of The Administrative Code of 1929 (71 P.S. § 186); sections 8 and 17.6 of the Practical Nurse Law (63 P.S. § § 658 and 667.6); section 2.1(k) of The Professional Nursing Law (73 P.S. § 222.1(k)); and 23 Pa.C.S. § 6383(b)(2).
Source The provisions of this § 21.155 amended July 1, 1983, effective July 2, 1983, 13 Pa.B. 2061; amended June 18, 1993, effective June 19, 1993, 23 Pa.B. 2827; amended November 28, 1997, effective November 29, 1997, 27 Pa.B. 6210; amended December 16, 2016, effective December 17, 2016, 46 Pa.B. 7822; amended March 25, 2022, effective March 26, 2022, 52 Pa.B. 1916. Immediately preceding text appears at serial pages (385175) to (385176).
Cross References This section cited in 49 Pa. Code § 21.149 (relating to temporary practice permits).
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