Skip to content

Massachusetts vs Pennsylvania for RN Licensing

Total Fees
$465
MA
vs
$345
PA
Timeline
8-12 wks
MA
vs
4-8 wks
PA
Renewal Fee
$120
MA
vs
$122
PA

Side-by-Side Comparison

Category Massachusetts Pennsylvania
Total Fees $465 $345
Application Fee $230 $95
Exam Fee $200 $200
Processing Time 8-12 weeks 4-8 weeks
Renewal Cycle 2 years 2 years
Renewal Fee $120 $122
CE Hours 15 hrs 30 hrs
NLC Compact Member Pending Yes

Key Differences

Cost

Pennsylvania is $120 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

Massachusetts has lower renewal fees at $120 per cycle.

Winner: Massachusetts

Category Winners

Lower Cost
Pennsylvania $345
vs Massachusetts ($465)
Faster Processing
Pennsylvania 4-8 wks
vs Massachusetts (8-12 wks)
Cheaper Renewal
Massachusetts $120
vs Pennsylvania ($122)

Massachusetts Board

Massachusetts Board of Registration in Nursing

Official Website →

Pennsylvania Board

Pennsylvania State Board of Nursing

Official Website →

Compare More States

Browse all RN state-to-state comparisons or use our interactive tool.

Compare Massachusetts RN License

Compare Pennsylvania RN License