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California vs Pennsylvania for RN Licensing

Total Fees
$549
CA
vs
$345
PA
Timeline
10-12 wks
CA
vs
4-8 wks
PA
Renewal Fee
$190
CA
vs
$122
PA

Side-by-Side Comparison

Category California Pennsylvania
Total Fees $549 $345
Application Fee $300 $95
Exam Fee $200 $200
Processing Time 10-12 weeks 4-8 weeks
Renewal Cycle 2 years 2 years
Renewal Fee $190 $122
CE Hours 30 hrs 30 hrs
NLC Compact Member No Yes

Key Differences

Cost

Pennsylvania is $204 cheaper for initial licensing fees.

Winner: Pennsylvania

Processing Speed

Pennsylvania processes applications in 4-8 weeks.

Winner: Pennsylvania

NLC Compact

Pennsylvania is an NLC compact state, allowing practice in 40+ states with one license.

Winner: Pennsylvania

Renewal Cost

Pennsylvania has lower renewal fees at $122 per cycle.

Winner: Pennsylvania

Category Winners

Lower Cost
Pennsylvania $345
vs California ($549)
Faster Processing
Pennsylvania 4-8 wks
vs California (10-12 wks)
Cheaper Renewal
Pennsylvania $122
vs California ($190)

California Board

California Board of Registered Nursing

Official Website →

Pennsylvania Board

Pennsylvania State Board of Nursing

Official Website →

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