The Pennsylvania State Board of Nursing incorporated a new requirement for new nurse licensure and renewals: Organ and Tissue Donation and Recovery Process Continuing Education*
*Key excerpts copied below with “…” indicating more details are in the full document (see link).
“Effective May 1, 2026, registered nurses must complete at least 2 hours of Board-approved continuing education in organ and tissue donation and recovery process (organ donation)
- one time within 5 years of initial licensure or
- within 5 years of licensure renewal,
whichever comes first.
“The State Board of Nursing approved the following six-part curriculum to satisfy this requirement (details for each content area can be found at link of title):
(1) Overview of the Organ Donation & Transplantation System…
(2) Tissue Donation Process…
(3) Organ Donation Process…
(4) Determining Death and Family Communication…
(5) Caring for Families…
(6) Organ Donor Management…
The organ donation continuing education may be obtained from organ procurement organizations, as defined in 20 Pa.C.S. 8601.
The Center for Organ Recovery and Education and Gift of Life Donor Program are the organ procurement organizations designated by the
United States Secretary of Health and Human Services for this region and are an approved source for this education.
(CORE/Gift of Life EducationLink |https://tpr.jotform.com/260343493443961)
“Licensees may also obtain organ donation continuing education from other providers approved by the Board to provide this education….
“Registered nurses are required to keep a certificate of completion evidencing completion of this education for their records in the event of audit.
“The final regulation implementing this requirement, as well as the requirement for opioid initial and biennial renewal education can be found at 55 Pa.B. 7504 (November 1, 2025).”
Additional Source: Title 49 > Chapter 21 § 21.133. Continuing education content.
It is important to note that nurses having nursing license renewals due by April 30, 2026 are not required to obtain this additional certification because it is too soon after the announcement.
The good news is that these additional credits can be factored into the overall 30 CE’s needed every two years, and it’s a one-time only certification, unlike the Child Abuse requirement which is required with every renewal.
Mary O'Connor, PhD, MSN, RN
Professor Emeritus, PennWest University, California campus
Pennsylvania Organization of Nurse Leaders (PONL), Legislative Committee
