PRINTER'S NO. 2660
THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF PENNSYLVANIA
HOUSE BILL
No.
2278
Session of
2022
INTRODUCED BY BERNSTINE, HILL-EVANS, GUENST, ROTHMAN, ORTITAY,
GAYDOS, SAYLOR, KEEFER, WARNER, STURLA AND HEFFLEY,
JANUARY 26, 2022
REFERRED TO COMMITTEE ON PROFESSIONAL LICENSURE,
JANUARY 26, 2022
AN ACT
Amending the act of May 22, 1951 (P.L.317, No.69), entitled "An
act relating to the practice of professional nursing;
providing for the licensing of nurses and for the revocation
and suspension of such licenses, subject to appeal, and for
their reinstatement; providing for the renewal of such
licenses; regulating nursing in general; prescribing
penalties and repealing certain laws," further providing for
fees and qualifications for licensure, for education
programs, approved lists, distribution and student credits
where school removed from list and for certified registered
nurse practitioners and qualifications.
The General Assembly of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania
hereby enacts as follows:
Section 1. Sections 6(a), (b)(2) and (3), 6.2(c) and 8.1(b)
(1)(i) of the act of May 22, 1951 (P.L.317, No.69), known as The
Professional Nursing Law, are amended to read:
Section 6. Fees; Qualifications for Licensure.--(a) No
application for licensure as a registered nurse shall be
considered unless accompanied by a fee determined by the Board
by regulation. Every applicant, to be eligible for examination
for licensure as a registered nurse, shall furnish evidence
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satisfactory to the Board that he or she is of good moral
character, has completed work equal to a standard high school
course as evaluated by the Board and has satisfactorily
completed [an approved] a Board-approved program of professional
nursing accredited by an accrediting agency approved by the
United States Department of Education. Approved programs shall
include baccalaureate degree, associate degree, diploma nursing
programs and programs in transition from approved diploma- to
degree-granting programs when all other requirements of the
Board have been met.
(b) An applicant applying for licensure as a dietitian-
nutritionist shall submit a written application on forms
provided by the Board evidencing and insuring to the
satisfaction of the Board that the applicant:
* * *
(2) Has received a baccalaureate or higher degree from a
Board-approved[, regionally accredited] college or university
accredited by an accrediting agency approved by the United
States Department of Education, including a major course of
study in human nutrition, food and nutrition, dietetics or food
systems management.
(3) Has completed a planned continuous preprofessional
experience component in dietetic practice of not less than nine
hundred (900) hours under the supervision of a registered
dietitian, a dietitian-nutritionist licensed under this act or
an individual with a doctoral degree conferred by a [regionally
accredited] college or university accredited by an accrediting
agency approved by the United States Department of Education
located in the United States with a major course of study in
human nutrition, food and nutrition, nutrition education,
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dietetics or food systems management as approved by the Board.
* * *
Section 6.2. Education Programs, Approved Lists,
Distribution; Student Credits Where School Removed from List.--*
* *
(c) (1) Educational programs for the education of clinical
nurse specialists that are operated within a [regionally
accredited] college or university accredited by an accrediting
agency approved by the United States Department of Education and
where a master's degree, doctorate in nursing or a post-master's
degree is awarded, with a program concentration in the role of a
clinical nurse specialist, must be approved by [a national] an
accrediting [body] agency for nursing education programs
approved by the United States Department of Education recognized
by the board and shall be considered approved programs only for
the purposes of conferring certification to practice as a
clinical nurse specialist.
(2) Within ninety (90) days of the effective date of this
subsection, the board shall announce on its Internet website the
recognized [national] accrediting bodies for purposes of this
subsection.
(3) Within one hundred eighty (180) days of the effective
date of this subsection, education programs meeting these
requirements shall submit the name, address and telephone number
of the program; name and curriculum vitae of the program
director; and proof of accreditation to the board by [a
national] an accrediting [body] agency approved by the United
States Department of Education and recognized by the board for
inclusion on the list of approved clinical nurse specialist
education programs.
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(4) Programs created more than six (6) months after the
effective date of this subsection shall submit the information
required in this subsection to the board for inclusion on the
list of approved programs.
Section 8.1. Certified Registered Nurse Practitioners;
Qualifications.--* * *
(b) (1) Beginning on the effective date of this section, a
nurse shall not qualify for initial certification by the board
under subsection (a) unless the nurse:
(i) is a graduate of [an accredited,] a board-approved
master's or post-master's nurse practitioner program which is
accredited by an accrediting agency approved by the United
States Department of Education; and
* * *
Section 2. This act shall take effect in 60 days.
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