Become a Nurse in Ohio – Licensure & Requirements

Steps to Get an Ohio Nursing License

1. Choose your nursing path. Decide between becoming a Licensed Practical Nurse (LPN), Registered Nurse (RN), or an Advanced Practice Registered Nurse (APRN) role such as a nurse practitioner or nurse anesthetist.
2. Complete a qualifying nursing education program. For direct Ohio licensure, this means an Ohio Board of Nursing–approved practical nursing, RN, or graduate-level APRN program; those seeking licensure by endorsement from another state may qualify with a program approved by that state's board of nursing under Ohio's endorsement rules (OAC 4723-7-05; OAC 4723-7-06).
3. Apply for licensure by examination or endorsement. Submit your application and fees to the Ohio Board of Nursing, along with required transcripts and background-check documentation (ORC § 4723.08; ORC § 4723.09).
4. Pass the required licensing examination. RNs and LPNs sit for the NCLEX-RN or NCLEX-PN, registered and paid for through Pearson VUE (NCLEX registration); APRNs must hold current national certification in their specialty.
5. Maintain your license. Renew on your assigned schedule and complete the required continuing education contact hours (ORC § 4723.24).

^{Master's or doctoral education is the standard requirement for new applicants in the four APRN designations above (CNM, CRNA, CNS, NP); Ohio Revised Code § 4723.41 defines this standard pathway along with limited legacy exceptions for nurses who held APRN authority before the requirement's effective date.}

Ohio Nursing Salaries

^{Nurse salaries above reflect the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics' May 2025 Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) estimates: Ohio statewide, Columbus, Cleveland, and Cincinnati, OH-KY-IN. BLS does not publish a May 2025 Nurse Midwife estimate for the Cleveland or Cincinnati metro areas.}

There are many paths to become a nurse in Ohio. The path you take will mostly depend upon the type of nurse you’d like to become and your current or prospective level of education. The higher your level of education, the more opportunities you’ll have to choose where and how you pursue your career in nursing.

In addition to nursing salaries in Ohio, you’ll find information on acquiring and maintaining several types of Ohio nursing licensure. We’re constantly making updates, but with the speed of change in the healthcare sphere it’s difficult to stay current.If you have any comments or suggestions for our information on nursing in Ohio, please email us at info@nursinglicensemap.com!

Compact State Status

Ohio is a fully implemented member of the Nurse Licensure Compact. Ohio enacted the Compact into law on July 1, 2021, and it took effect on January 1, 2023, under Ohio Revised Code Section 4723.11; Ohio's current implemented status is confirmed on the Nurse Licensure Compact's current member map. RNs and LPNs holding a multistate license issued by another Compact state may practice in Ohio without obtaining a separate Ohio license, and Ohio-issued multistate licenses are recognized in other Compact states, subject to each state's practice requirements.

Prescriptive Authority in Ohio

According to the Ohio Administrative Code on Prescriptive Authority, nurse practitioners, clinical nurse specialists, and certified nurse midwives in Ohio may apply for prescriptive authority for controlled substances in collaboration with a physician. Schedule II controlled substances may be prescribed with many limitations.

Advanced Practice Registered Nurse (APRN) in Ohio

APRNs in Ohio are defined as certified registered nurse anesthetists, clinical nurse specialists, certified nurse-midwives, and nurse practitioners.

Education: Completion of a master's or doctoral degree with a major in nursing specialty or related field is the standard requirement for national certification eligibility; Ohio law provides limited legacy exceptions for APRNs who held authority before this requirement took effect (ORC § 4723.41).

Examination: Varies by APRN designation (ORC § 4723.41).

Certification: Current national certification in the applicable APRN designation (CRNA, CNS, CNM, or NP), consistent with the applicant's education, from a certifying body recognized by the Ohio Board of Nursing, subject to the legacy exceptions in ORC § 4723.41.

Fees: Up to $150 application fee (ORC § 4723.08).

Additional Information: An active Ohio registered nurse license is required for application.

Renewal: APRN renewal requires renewal of your national certification as well as proof of continuing education of 24 contact hours, subject to renewal in odd-numbered years. For CNM, CNS and NP, 12 hours should be in advanced pharmacology (ORC § 4723.24; OAC 4723-8-10).

Learn more on how to become an advanced practice registered nurse.

Registered Nurse (RN) in Ohio

Education: Completion of an Approved Registered Nurse Program

Examination: NCLEX-RN

Fees:

• Up to $75 licensure application fee by examination or endorsement, paid to the Ohio Board of Nursing (ORC § 4723.08)
• $200 NCLEX-RN registration fee, paid directly to Pearson VUE, not the Ohio Board (NCLEX registration; NCLEX fees)

Endorsement: RNs licensed in another jurisdiction may apply for endorsement in Ohio by providing evidence of graduation from a nursing education program approved by an NCSBN member jurisdiction's board of nursing, verification of current licensure in good standing, a criminal records check, and completion of two contact hours on Ohio nursing law and rules (OAC 4723-7-05; ORC § 4723.09).

Renewal: RNs must renew in odd-numbered years with proof of 24 contact hours. During first license renewal periods, RNs are not required to complete contact hours. However, if a nurse has been licensed by endorsement for a year or less, they must complete 12 hours of continuing education. If an RN was licensed by endorsement for more than one year, they must complete 24 hours (ORC § 4723.24; OAC 4723-14-03).

Learn more on how to become a registered nurse.

Licensed Practical Nurse (LPN) in Ohio

Education: Completion of an Approved Licensed Practical Nurse Program

Examination: NCLEX-PN

Fees:

• Up to $75 licensure application fee by examination or endorsement, paid to the Ohio Board of Nursing (ORC § 4723.08)
• $200 NCLEX-PN registration fee, paid directly to Pearson VUE, not the Ohio Board (NCLEX registration; NCLEX fees)

Endorsement: LPNs licensed in another jurisdiction may apply for endorsement in Ohio by providing evidence of graduation from a practical-nursing education program approved by an NCSBN member jurisdiction's board of nursing (or another alternative pathway recognized by rule), verification of current licensure in good standing, a criminal records check, and completion of two contact hours on Ohio nursing law and rules (OAC 4723-7-06; ORC § 4723.09).

Renewal: LPNs must renew in even-numbered years with proof of 24 contact hours. During first license renewal periods, LPNs are not required to complete contact hours. However, if a nurse has been licensed by endorsement for a year or less, they must complete 12 hours of continuing education. If an LPN was licensed by endorsement for more than one year, they must complete 24 hours (ORC § 4723.24; OAC 4723-14-03).

Learn more on how to become a licensed practical nurse.

Information Disclosure:

Fee, education, certification, endorsement, and continuing-education requirements above are drawn from the specific Ohio Revised Code sections and Ohio Administrative Code rules cited throughout this page, current as of September 2026. See each section's inline citations for the specific statute or rule supporting that requirement.