This paper presents a novel single-stage high-power-factor electronic ballast for fluorescent lamps operating in critical conduction mode. The proposed topology is based on integration of boost converter as power factor corrector(PFC) and a half-bridge high frequency parallel resonant inverter into a single stage. The input stage of the boost converter is operating in critical conduction mode for positive and negative half cycle voltage respectively at line frequency(60Hz). So that a boost converter makes the line current follow naturally the sinusoidal line voltage waveform. The simulated and experimental results for 100W fluorescent lamps operating at 42kHz switching frequency and 220V line voltage have been obtained. This proposed inverter will be able to be practically used as a power supply in various fields as induction heating applications, fluorescent lamp and DC-DC converter etc.