A Guide to Nursing Licenses and Renewals in Ohio

Career Resources / Nursing Licensure / Ohio

Ohio has a thriving economy and low cost of living, professional and collegiate sports teams, and thriving cultural venues. With respected educational institutions and world-class hospitals, it’s a great place to live and work.

In this article, we will cover:

• How to get your Ohio nursing license by exam
• How to get your license by endorsement
• How to renew your Ohio nursing license
• Licensing fees
• Continuing education requirements
• How to contact the Ohio Board of Nursing

How to get your Ohio nursing license by examination

Step 1: Education

Your nursing degree represents hard work and an enormous investment, and it’s the foundation of your career as a registered nurse. Ohio issues licenses to qualified candidates who have completed two- and four-year nursing programs, and publishes a helpful timeline to assist nursing education students as they complete their application.

• Associate Degree in Nursing (ADN)
• Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) 
• Accelerated Bachelor of Science in Nursing for those who have achieved a bachelor’s degree and who take the additional classes necessary to become a registered nurse.

Step 2: Apply

The application process begins with setting up an account on Ohio’s eLicense portal. Once you’ve registered, you can complete and submit your Application for Licensure by Examination and pay the $75 application fee. This should be done no more than 60 days prior to completing your nursing program. The eLicense dashboard will verify when your application has been submitted. 

You also need to register with Pearson VUE to take the NCLEX exam. The registration fee is $200 and this should be submitted no later than the date you complete your nursing program. 

Step 3: Submit Transcripts

Students who have attended Ohio nursing programs should provide their application number to their program’s administration so that they can process your Program Completion Letter confirming your graduation. 

Graduates of non-Ohio nursing programs must provide a signed and sealed official transcript directly to the Board at [email protected] The diploma, certificate, or degree as well as the date of completion must be included in the transcript.

Step 4: Criminal Background Check (CBC)

Ohio requires both civilian and FBI criminal record checks for licensure. This should be completed no later than 60 days before you have completed your nursing program.  All fingerprint processing is completed by the Ohio Bureau of Criminal Investigations.

To have your fingerprints processed in Ohio, use the national Webcheck program. Approved facilities can be found here. Once you’ve chosen a site, contact them to schedule an appointment and verify their requirements. You will need a valid, government-issued photo ID. Under “Reason for Fingerprinting” enter ORC 4723.091. Submit your payment and request that the facility select Direct Copy for the Ohio Board of Nursing. Make sure that you tell the Webcheck facility that they should submit electronic copies rather than using the Board’s mailing address.

To have your fingerprints processed out of state, you will need to obtain ink fingerprints from an agency in your location that can provide this service. 

You will need a valid, government-issued photo ID and the fee required by the agency. You should also bring two copies each of the BCI fingerprint card and the FBI fingerprint card and complete the ink fingerprinting on all four cards at your location.  

Make sure that the top left-hand corner of the two FBI cards read “Applicant” and the BCI card reads “BCI.” If the site that you use requires you to use their cards, cross out the word “Applicant” and print “BCI.” 

Complete the top portion of all four cards and use code ORC 4723.091 for the reason for fingerprinting. For employer address, use: 

Ohio Board of Nursing
17 S. High Street, Suite 660
Columbus, OH 43215.

Mail two fingerprint cards (one Applicant and one BCI) to the Ohio Bureau of Criminal Investigations (BCI) with a $47.25 payment (money order, personal check, or business check made out to Treasurer, State of Ohio) for processing. Mail to:

Ohio Bureau of Criminal Investigations (BCI)
PO Box 365
London, OH 43140

Keep the other cards for your records in case your submissions were rejected. 

Step 5: Take the NCLEX

The Ohio Board of Nursing will notify Pearson VUE when you have met all of its requirements. Upon receiving this notification, Pearson will email you your Authorization to Test for the NCLEX-RN exam. The questions on the NCLEX will cover the lessons you learned during your nurse education, including:

• Safe and Effective Care Environment
• Management of Care  
• Safety and Infection Control 
• Health Promotion and Maintenance 
• Psychosocial Integrity 
• Physiological Integrity 
• Basic Care and Comfort 
• Pharmacological and Parenteral Therapies 
• Physiological Adaptation 

Once you pass the NCLEX, your Ohio nursing license will be issued. Candidates who do not pass the NCLEX must register to retake the exam and pay the $200 fee again. Though you must wait 45 days to retake the exam, Ohio does not limit the number of times that you can take the NCLEX.

Licensing by endorsement (already have RN licensure)

If you hold a current, valid nursing license in another state and you want to be licensed as a registered nurse in Ohio, you must apply for licensure by endorsement. Once you have completed your application, you can receive a temporary permit to practice, effective for 179 days until the remainder of your requirements for licensure have been met and your license has been issued.

To get your license by endorsement:

• Register for an account and apply for licensure by endorsement online via the Ohio eLicense portal. The application fee is $75.
• If your current license is from a state that participates with the NURSYS system, request that verification be sent directly to the Board electronically. If your license is from a non-participating state, request verification of your license be sent directly to the Board at [email protected]
• Provide evidence of completion of a RN pre-licensure nursing education program. This is generally included in the NURSYS report or board verification report, but if not then a transcript or other documentation is required.
• Provide documentation of completion of two contact hours of “Category A continuing education.”
• Ohio requires both civilian and FBI criminal record checks for licensure. This should be completed no later than 60 days before you have completed your nursing program.  All fingerprint processing is completed by the Ohio Bureau of Criminal Investigations.
  • To have your fingerprints processed in Ohio, use the national Webcheck program. Approved facilities can be found here. Once you’ve chosen a site, contact them to schedule an appointment and verify their requirements. You will need a valid, government-issued photo ID. Under “Reason for Fingerprinting” enter ORC 4723.091. Submit your payment and request that the facility select Direct Copy for the Ohio Board of Nursing. Make sure that you tell the Webcheck facility that they should submit electronic copies rather than using the Board’s mailing address.
  • To have your fingerprints processed out of state, you will need to obtain ink fingerprints from an agency in your location that can provide this service. 
  • You will need a valid, government-issued photo ID and the fee required by the agency. You should also bring two copies each of the BCI fingerprint card and the FBI fingerprint card and complete the ink fingerprinting on all four cards at your location.  
  • Make sure that the top left-hand corner of the two FBI cards read “Applicant” and the BCI card reads “BCI.” If the site that you use requires you to use their cards, cross out the word “Applicant” and print “BCI.”
  • Complete the top portion of all four cards and use code ORC 4723.091 for the reason for fingerprinting. For employer address, use:
    
    Ohio Board of Nursing
    17 S. High Street, Suite 660
    Columbus, OH 43215
    
  • Mail two fingerprint cards (one Applicant and one BCI) to the Ohio Bureau of Criminal Investigations (BCI) with a $47.25 payment (money order, personal check, or business check made out to Treasurer, State of Ohio) for processing. Mail to:

Ohio Bureau of Criminal Investigations (BCI)
PO Box 365
London, OH 43140

Retain the other cards for your records in case your submissions were rejected.

How to renew your Ohio nursing license

Step 1: When to submit your renewal application

Ohio nurses must renew their license every two years, with renewal starting July 1. The Board of Nursing emails renewal notifications from late May through June. The fee is $65 plus a $3.50 transaction fee. Renewals that are not received by September 15 will be subject to a late processing fee of $50.

Step 2: Fulfill continuing competency requirements

There are no continuing education requirements for the license renewal period after getting your Ohio nursing license by examination, but after your first renewal you will be required to complete at least 24 contact hours of Continuing Education, including at least one contact hour of Category A for each renewal.  

If you are in your first renewal period of licensure by endorsement and you have only been licensed in Ohio for a year or less, you are only required to fulfill 12 contact hours.

Ohio does not require submission of documentation of continuing education units.

To help you meet your continuing education requirements, Incredible Health offers free Ohio CEU classes. Once completed, you can immediately access a certificate of completion. 

Step 3: Submit your renewal application

Renewal applications should be submitted via the Ohio eLicense portal.

Ohio nursing licensing fees

Below are the fees for becoming a nurse in Ohio whether you are a first-time nurse or are moving to Ohio from another state. For more information visit the Ohio licensing page.

Licensing fees by examination (first-time nurses):

• NCLEX fee: $200
• Applicaiton fee: $75 (RN/LPN)

Licensing fees by endorsement (already have RN licensure):

• Application fee: $75 (RN/LPN); $150 (APRN initial licensure)

License renewal fees:

• Application fees: $65 7/1-9/15 odd years, $115 09/16-10/31 odd years (RN/LPN); $135 07/1-09/15 odd years, $185 9/16-10/31 odd years (APRN)

Additionally, Ohio will become a nursing compact state on January 1, 2023, which allows nurses to hold multi-state licenses.

*Fees are subject to change.
**Most states require a background check, but prices are not always listed.

Continuing education requirements

RN/LPN: 24 contact hours every 2 years (one of which must be directly related to the laws and rules of the Ohio Nurse Practice Act)

APRN: 24 contact hours every 2 years for each APRN license (varies by certification)

For an APRN-CNP, APRN-CNS, or APRN-CNM, at least 12 of those hours must include CE in advanced pharmacology. The 24 hours of CE required to renew each APRN license are in addition to the 24 hours of CE required to renew the RN license. Refer to the APRN CE page for more information.

Incredible Health offers ANCC-accredited continuing education courses for nurses in all 50 states, 100% free and online. The Ohio Board of Nursing accepts courses that are ANCC accredited. 

How to contact the Ohio Board of Nursing

Ohio Board of Nursing
Phone: (614) 466-3947
Fax: (614) 466-0388

Website: https://nursing.ohio.gov/

17 S. High Street
Suite 660
Columbus, OH 43215

More Ohio Resources

• Best hospitals in the state
• Best nursing schools in the state
• Average salary for RNs in the state