Indiana State Board of Nursing

In Indiana, all nurses must be licensed by the Indiana State Board of Nursing. The Board is part of the Indiana Professional Licensing Agency. To become a nurse in Indiana, an individual must first enroll in an approved RN or LPN program. Once he or she is almost done with this program, the applicant may register for the NCLEX-PN or NCLEX-RN, depending on the type of license he or she is seeking. The NCLEX is a computer-administered standardized test that all applicants must take to be eligible for a nursing license.

Indiana is not part of the Nurse Licensure Compact, which means that individuals who hold nursing licenses in other states must become licensed in Indiana if they wish to work as nurses within the state.

Obtaining a License

Licensed Practical Nurse (LPN)

An individual may apply for licensure once his or her education program is almost complete. Every program has a different point where its students become eligible to apply for licensure.

The applicant must pay a $50 application fee to the Indiana Professional Licensing Agency. This fee covers the individual's required background check. Once this step is complete, the applicant may register for the NCLEX-PN.

The fee for the NCLEX-PN is $200. The applicant receives his or her test results a few weeks later and if he or she passes, he or she is issued a nursing license number. If the applicant does not pass, he or she must apply to take the test again. If an applicant must re-take the test, he or she must pay another set of fees and submit to another criminal background check.

Registered Nurse (RN)

The process for becoming a Registered Nurse is similar to the process for becoming a Licensed Practical Nurse, but with a few differences. They are as follows:

• RN applicants must answer a series of questions about their professional and personal history. Answering “yes” for certain answers requires the applicant to further explain his or her answer through an affidavit.

• An applicant must have a 2 ½ by 3 ½ inch professional photograph taken.

• RN applicants must register for the NCLEX-RN.

Like the NCLEX-PN, the NCLEX-RN is administered by Pearson Vue and may be taken at one of the various sites the company offers. The fee for this examination is $200.

Maintaining a License

All Indiana nursing licenses must be renewed every two years. RN licenses expire October 31^st of odd-numbered years and LPN licenses expire October 31^st of even-numbered years. Both types of license cost $50 to renew.

Disciplinary Actions

Any violation of the Nurse Practice Act is subject to disciplinary action. Every state has its own version of this law. The Indiana State Board of Nursing is tasked with investigating all alleged nursing misconduct and violations within the state.

The following are examples of violations that can lead to a license suspension or revocation:

• Falsifying patients' records

• Impersonating another medical professional

• Failing to comply with the Indiana State Nurses Assistance Program if he or she becomes addicted to drugs or alcohol

• Unprofessional behavior in the workplace

In certain situations, a revoked nursing license can be reinstated. This can depend on the violation that the individual committed. Any nurse who seeks to have his or her license reinstated is advised to seek professional legal help from an employment attorney.

Recommended Links

• Indiana State Board of Nursing

• Indiana State Nurses Assistance Program

• Pearson Vue

• Nurse Practice Act