Ohio Nursing License

The job of a nurse includes caring for patients, communicating with doctors, administering medicine and checking essential signs. To practice these things as a nurse in Ohio, you must obtain your Ohio nursing license.

This article will walk you through the steps necessary to obtain a nursing license in the state of Ohio.

How do I get a nursing license in Ohio?

Step 1: Get nursing education

Before you appear on the Ohio Board of Nursing license lookup, there is a long way to go. The very first step is getting professional nursing education. There are lots of good programs to attend in Ohio.

Those, who want to become either a licensed practical nurse (LPN) or a registered nurse (RN) must finish a nursing program. The programs should be approved by the Board as other programs are not authorized and may not be suitable to get a nursing license. For this purpose, choosing an authorized program is the best choice.

By completing these programs, you may earn an Associate’s or Bachelor’s degree. If you choose AND, it will take you two years. On the other hand, BSN takes four years.

As a rule, LPN programs are shorter than those of RNs. The reason for this is that the demand for LPNs is not that high. Moreover, LPNs make less money than RNs every year. Thus, most students choose to attend a RN program to become a registered nurse.

Given these points, it would be wrong to say that becoming an LPN will be a mistake.

License application process

Upon the day of graduation, the nursing program provider should send a verification letter to the Ohio Board of Nursing. You must submit your application to the same body. The application fee is $75.

Pass the licensing exam

At the same time you file the application for a nurse license, you should also take appropriate steps for taking and passing the National Council Licensure Examination (NCLEX).

If you are a future LPN, then you must take the NCLEX-PN. Therefore, you should take the NCLEX-RN, if you are a future RN.

To take the exam, in the first place, you must create a new account online. Then, you should register here and schedule a day for the exam. You should pay $200 for each examination attempt.

Another part of the licensing process is to receive an acknowledgement of receipt of registration
and eligibility from the Board of Nursing.

Please note that you will not be allowed to schedule the exam until the Board communicates eligibility.

Background check and fingerprinting

Once the application has been accepted, you will receive information on state-mandated fingerprinting and background check. In particular, the reason for this is to gain information on the applicant’s past to check whether he/she has previous felonies or crimes.

As one may guess, a criminal history will undoubtedly affect one’s licensing process and career. There are cases, when an application may be rejected due to past felonies and criminal history. Nonetheless, the Board always pays detailed attention to such cases and takes into account the nature of the crime.

Is Ohio a nurse compact state?

No, the state of Ohio does not participate in the Nurse Licensure Compact.

Although NLC has established some huge goals, Ohio still does not want to become a member of the agreement. The thing is that the state of Ohio has different approach to many core issues related to nurse licensure. Ohio, for instance, demonstrates quite a strict approach to felony background, while many states do not take the issue that seriously and adopt a softer posture towards criminal history.

There are other minor issues as well, on which the states do not share the same opinion.

How do I verify a nursing license in Ohio?

In general, most patients prefer to check some information and verify a nurse before turning to them. In such cases, patients want to know whether their nurse is licensed or not.

If you, too, want to verify a nurse, then follow these steps. First of all, click here and go to the Ohio license lookup page. Then select the given Board and fill in the blank spaces (name, surname, state, city, license type, license number).

After you complete these steps and fill in the necessary information, the license lookup will provide you with the information you need.

The time it will take you to get your Ohio nursing license

Generally, from the day of your application, the Board will issue your nursing license in about two weeks. There will not be any delays providing that you present required documents, paperwork.

On the whole, it will take you from two to four years, including earning your nursing degree.

The cost of obtaining an Ohio nursing license

To get a nursing license in Ohio, you will need to pay some fees. In the first place, you should pay $75 for application. Then comes the $200 fee for each examination attempt. Then you should pay $65 for license renewal (plus $50 if late).

Getting nursing education is also expensive and will cost you a considerable amount of money.

When can I renew my Ohio nursing license?

In the state of Ohio, nursing licenses expire every two years. Thus, you will need to renew your license every two year.

To keep your nursing license up-to-date, you must renew it from July 1st to October 31 in odd-numbered years (2021, 2023, 2025…).

You can renew your nursing license through the Ohio online licensing portal. You should pay $65 for renewal.

If you fail to renew the nursing license on time, there will be an additional $50 fee.

Another important fact, which is worth paying attention to, is that you must complete at least 24 hours of continuing education to renew an Ohio nursing license. The purpose of continuing education is to refresh your mind on professional nursing knowledge, as well as to keep up with new methods in the medical world.

Contact information

Ohio Board of Nursing
17 South High Street, Suite 400
Columbus, OH 43215
TEL: 614-466-3947
FAX: 614-466-0388