Published: June 15, 2020 Updated: May 16, 2023
If you’re interested in becoming a nurse in Indiana—or if you’re looking for nursing resources in the state—keep reading. This page has everything you need to know about nursing in the Hoosier State, including the job outlook for nurses, scholarships, nursing license information, continuing education requirements and more.
Once you have completed an accredited nursing program and successfully passed the National Council Licensure Exam-RN (NCLEX-RN), you can apply for a nursing license in Indiana by completing the state’s application for nurse licensure. Your application needs to be mailed to the Indiana Professional Licensing Agency or submitted online. It must include the following:
Once your application is processed, you’ll have to complete a criminal background check, which will include fingerprinting.
Note that the nursing licensure process is slightly different for Canadian and other foreign nursing graduates. Check the Indiana Board of Nursing’s application and instructions page for more information.
See Notes and Conditions below for important information.
Yes. The benefit of being an NLC member is that you can have a single, multistate license that allows you to practice nursing in Indiana and other NLC-participating states. Multistate licensure removes the hassle of applying for licensure in multiple states and paying each state’s renewal fees.
You can use the Indiana Professional Licensing Agency’s free license search tool to look up a nursing license in Indiana. This is helpful if you want to find out when your license expires or check the disciplinary history of another license.
Registered nurses (RNs) and licensed practical nurses (LPNs) in Indiana are not required to complete continuing education for license renewal.
You are required to take a refresher course; however, if your license has been expired for three or more years and you aren’t licensed in another jurisdiction, you’ll also need to submit a renewal form, make an appearance before the Board and pay a fee. Check the Indiana Professional Licensing Agency website for up-to-date fees.
For more information about continuing education requirements for Indiana nurses, visit the Indiana State Board of Nursing’s continuing education page.
The job outlook for nurses in Indiana is bright, according to the U.S. Department of Labor:
Nursing jobs in Indiana are growing at a faster rate than for the nation as a whole; from 2021 through 2031, employment of registered nurses in the U.S. is expected to grow 6%, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS).
Website: https://www.in.gov/pla/
Phone: 317-232-2980 or 800-457-8283
Hours: 8 a.m. – 4:30 p.m. Monday – Friday
Address: 402 West Washington Street, Room W072, Indianapolis, Indiana 46204
Website: https://www.in.gov/pla/professions/nursing-home/nursing-board/
Phone: 317-234-2043
Email: pla2@pla.IN.gov
Address: Indiana Professional Licensing Agency, Attn: Indiana State Board of Nursing, 402 West Washington Street, Room W072, Indianapolis, Indiana 46204
See Notes and Conditions below for important information.
Based on the U.S. Department of Labor’s list of the state’s largest employers, below are some of the top health care employers in Indiana where nurses can look for jobs.
The goal of the Indiana Association for Nursing Professional Development (IANPD) is to help support nurses in Indiana by providing networking and professional development opportunities. Its website includes upcoming event information and local nursing job listings in Indiana.
Website: https://ianpd.nursingnetwork.com
Online contact form: https://ianpd.nursingnetwork.com/contact
The Indiana Center for Nursing (ICN) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization that unites state nursing leaders and works to assure the future of Indiana nursing. More than 60 health care organizations are part of ICN, which is committed to leading strategic initiatives.
Website: https://ic4n.org/
Email: info@ic4n.org
Phone: 317-574-1325 or 888-599-0911
Address: 9302 North Meridian Street, Suite 365, Indianapolis, IN 46260
Formerly known as the Indiana Organization of Nurse Executives (IONE), the Indiana Organization for Nursing Leadership (IONL) consists of eight districts across the state and provides nursing leadership guidance in the following areas: education and leadership, public policy and advocacy, career development, member engagement and thought leadership.
Website: https://www.inonl.org
Email: mbrowning@ihaconnect.org
Phone: 317-730-4596
Address: 500 North Meridian, Suite 250, Indianapolis, IN 46204
The Indiana State Nurses Association (ISNA) is part of the American Nurses Association (ANA) and International Council of Nurses (ICN). It promotes and protects “nurses, the nursing profession and those who receive nursing care.”
Website: https://indiananurses.nursingnetwork.com/
Online contact form: https://indiananurses.nursingnetwork.com/contact
Phone: 317-299-4575
Address: 2250 West 86th Street, Suite 110, Indianapolis, IN 46260
The Indiana Association of Nurse Anesthetists (INANA) is committed to advocating and providing professional development opportunities for certified registered nurse anesthetists in the state of Indiana.
Website: https://inana.org/
Email: lisamcgrath@frontlineco.com
Phone: 217-528-3434
Address: 100 East Washington Street, Springfield, IL 62701
The Indiana Health Care Association (IHCA) is the state’s biggest association representing assisted living, independent living and skilled-nursing communities. Together with the Indiana Center for Assisted Living (INCAL), IHCA/INCAL’s boasts over 480 member facilities that represent over 60% of the state’s long-term care (LTC) facilities.
Website: https://www.ihca.org
Email: refer to the IHCA Our Team page
Phone: 800-466-4422
Address: 1 North Capitol, Suite 100, Indianapolis, IN 46204
The IHCF offers multiple scholarships for those interested in long-term care careers in clinical care, health facility administration and related areas. Application details and due dates vary per scholarship.
Website: https://www.indianahealthcarefoundation.org/scholarships
The ICN distributes scholarship money to its member schools annually. Since Purdue University Northwest (PNW) is an ICN member school, PNW students may be eligible for these scholarships. Reach out to a faculty member for more information.
Website: https://ic4n.org/strategic-initiatives/scholarship-program/
For additional nursing scholarship and financial aid information, check out Purdue University Northwest’s scholarship listings and the Tuition and Financial Aid page.
Are you a nurse who wants to take the next step in your career? Purdue University Northwest College of Nursing offers an online RN-to-BSN program and online Master of Science in Nursing (MSN) program. Both provide class flexibility to suit your schedule. If you want to gain skills and knowledge to keep pace with Indiana nursing and advance your career, learn more about our programs. Request more information today.
For informational purposes only. Students should confirm stated information independently on their own.
Sample of employment and nursing scholarships listed above is for general reference and does not include all available sources. Purdue Northwest is not affiliated with and does not endorse any of the providers listed in the sample.
NCLEX Exam: NCLEX is a registered trademark of the National Council of State Boards of Nursing, Inc.
Job Growth Projections: Sources: U.S. Department of Labor, O*Net, Indiana Employment Trends for Registered Nurses and Occupational Outlook Handbook, Registered Nurses