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.
Here’s a five-step overview of how to become a nurse in Indiana:
The following sections provide more information about Indiana nursing licenses, continuing education requirements and nursing jobs in Indiana.
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:
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.
See Notes and Conditions below for important information.
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.
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.
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.
The job outlook for nurses in Indiana is bright, according to the U.S. Department of Labor:
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
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
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 advance nurses in Indiana by providing networking and professional development opportunities. Its website includes upcoming event information and a local search page for nursing jobs 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 50 health care organizations are part of ICN, which is committed to leading strategic initiatives such as the Indiana Action Coalition.
Website: https://www.ic4n.org
Email: info@ic4n.org
Phone: 317-574-1325
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://www.indiananurses.org
Email: info@indiananurses.org
Phone: 317-299-4575
Address: 2915 North High School Road, Indianapolis, Indiana 46224
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
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
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
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.
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.
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 (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.
NCLEX Exam: NCLEX is a registered trademark of the National Council of State Boards of Nursing, Inc.
Source for Job Growth Projections: U.S. Department of Labor, O*Net, Indiana Employment Trends for Registered Nurses and Occupational Outlook Handbook, Registered Nurses. and Occupational Outlook Handbook, Registered Nurses.