(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).