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Resource Center: The Complete Guide to Nursing in Indiana

female nurse smiles while holding medical records

Published: June 15, 2020

If you’re considering becoming a nurse in Indiana — or, if you’re looking for nursing resources in the state — keep reading. This page lists everything you need to know about nursing in the Hoosier State, including the job outlook for nurses, scholarships, licensure information and more.

female nurse smiles while holding medical records

Demand for Nurses in Indiana

The job outlook for nurses in Indiana is bright, according to the U.S. Department of Labor:

  • The agency projects that employment of registered nurses (RNs) in Indiana will grow 17% from 2016 to 2026, much faster than the average for all occupations.
  • That’s 4,610 annual projected job openings.
  • Nursing jobs in Indiana are growing at a faster rate than for the nation as a whole; from 2018 through 2028, employment of registered nurses in the U.S. is expected to grow 12%, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics.

Indiana Professional Licensing Agency

Website: https://www.in.gov/pla/
Phone: 317-232-2980
Hours: 8 a.m. - 4 p.m. Monday - Friday

Address: 402 West Washington Street, Room W072, Indianapolis, Indiana 46204

Indiana State Board of Nursing

Website: https://www.in.gov/pla/nursing.htm
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

Nursing Organizations and Scholarships

Specialty Nursing Organizations in Indiana

Black Nurses Association of Indianapolis

The Black Nurses Association of Indianapolis is an affiliate chapter of the National Black Nurses Association and “is committed to eliminating health disparities in culturally diverse communities and improving the number of nurses in the healthcare workforce.”

Website: https://www.bna-indy.org
Email: info@bna-indy.org
Phone: 317-920-4950
Address: 3737 North Meridian Street, Suite 307, Indianapolis, IN 46208

Indiana Association of Nurse Anesthetists

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.wildapricot.org/
Email: admin@inana.org
Phone: 317-396-0002 ext. 4
Address: 125 West Market Street, Suite 300, Indianapolis, IN 46204

Indiana Health Care Association

The Indiana Health Care Association (IHCA) is the state’s biggest association representing assisted living, independent living and skilled-nursing communities. According to its website, IHCA has more than 440 members that “care for more than 25,000 of Indiana's geriatric and developmentally disabled citizens, the majority of whom are low-income Medicaid recipients.”

Website: https://www.ihca.org
Email: refer to the IHCA Staff Directory page
Phone: 800-466-IHCA
Address: One North Capitol, Suite 100, Indianapolis, IN 46204

Nursing Scholarships for Indiana Residents

Indiana Health Care Foundation Scholarships

The IHCA 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.

Learn More About IHCA Scholarships

Indiana Center for Nursing Scholarship Program

The ICN distributes scholarship money to its member schools annually. Since Purdue University Northwest is an ICN member school, PNW students may be eligible for these scholarships. Reach out to a faculty member for more information.

Learn More About ICN Scholarhips

Additional Scholarship Resources

For additional nursing scholarship and financial aid information, check out Purdue University Northwest’s scholarship listings and the Tuition and Financial Aid page.

How to Become a Nurse in Indiana

Here’s a five-step overview of how to become a nurse in Indiana:

  1. Complete nursing school.
  2. Pass the NCLEX exam.
  3. Obtain an Indiana nursing license.
  4. Secure a nursing job.
  5. Once you are working as a nurse in Indiana, you can complete additional training to pursue a specialty of your choosing.

The following sections provide more information about Indiana nursing licenses, continuing education requirements and nursing jobs in Indiana.

How to Apply for an Indiana Nursing License

Once you’ve completed an accredited nursing program, 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:

  • Finished application: Complete the application for licensure as a nurse.
  • Headshot photo: A 2.5 x 3.5 inch black and white headshot photo of yourself must be taped, instead of stapled, to your application if you’re submitting it by mail.
  • Application fee: A $50 nonrefundable application fee is payable to “Indiana Professional Licensing Agency.”
  • Documentation of name change: Include a copy of your marriage or divorce decree if your documents have legal naming inconsistencies.

You can apply for an Indiana nursing license as you study for the NCLEX exam. Once your application is processed, you’ll have to complete a criminal background check.

Note that the nursing licensure process is slightly different for Canadian and other foreign nursing graduates. Check the Indiana State Board of Nursing’s application and instructions page for more information.

Continuing Education Requirements

RNs, licensed practical nurses (LPNs) and certified nurse midwives (CNMs) 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 $100 fee.

For more information about continuing education requirements for Indiana nurses, visit the Indiana State Board of Nursing’s continuing education page.

Is Indiana a Member of the Nurse Licensure Compact?

According to the Indiana State Board of Nursing, NLC membership will be effective starting July 1, 2020.

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.

Indiana nurses can apply for multistate licensure on July 1, 2020.

How to Look up an Indiana Nursing License

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.

Top Health Care Employers in Indiana

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.

Health Care Networks and Systems in Indiana

Hospitals in Indiana

Other Health Care Employers in Indiana

Earn a Nursing Degree in Indiana

Are you a nurse who wants to take the next step in your career? Purdue University Northwest (PNW) College of Nursing offers an online RN-to-BSN program and an online MSN program that provides 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.

View Notes and Conditions

Source for Job Growth Projections: U.S. Department of Labor, CareerOneStop, Registered Nurses in Indiana and Occupational Outlook Handbook, Registered Nurses.

NCLEX Exam: NCLEX is a registered trademark of the National Council of State Boards of Nursing, Inc.