StateLicensed

Licensed Practical Nurse (LPN) License Requirements in Indiana

Verified · July 2026
Training hours
—
Upfront cost
$250
Exam
NCLEX-PN
Renewal cycle
Every 2 years
Issuing board
Indiana State Board of Nursing (Indiana Professional Licensing Agency)

How to get licensed

  1. 1

    Meet the prerequisites

    Pass a criminal background check. No official Indiana State Board of Nursing source states a fixed minimum age for LPN licensure, so left null rather than guessed. Applicants must undergo a fingerprint-based criminal background check as part of the licensure process, and the application requires disclosure of any criminal history with supporting court documentation if applicable. [3]

  2. 2

    Complete approved training

    Complete training at a state-approved program. Indiana requires graduation from a domestic nursing program with a Certificate of Completion sent directly to the Board by the Dean/Director/Designee (or, for foreign graduates, review per the Board's Graduates of Foreign Nursing Schools guidance). The Board's official Nursing Licensing Information page does not publish a fixed statewide total instructional-hour minimum for LPN programs, so left null rather than guessed. [1]

  3. 3

    NCLEX-PN

    Pass the NCLEX-PN (fee: $200). The $200 NCLEX registration fee is paid to the National Council of State Boards of Nursing, separate from the Indiana State Board of Nursing's own $50 application fee. Two separate application processes -- the Indiana state licensure application and the NCLEX registration -- must both be completed before a candidate is eligible to test. [2]

  4. 4

    Submit your application

    Submit your application to Indiana State Board of Nursing (Indiana Professional Licensing Agency) with the $50 application fee. [1]

  5. 5

    Receive your license

    Once your application is approved, Indiana State Board of Nursing (Indiana Professional Licensing Agency) issues your Licensed Practical Nurse (LPN) for Indiana.

Fees

Fee Amount
Application fee [1] $50
License fee [1] None specified
Renewal fee [1] $50
NCLEX-PN [2] $200
Nurse Licensure Compact (NLC) multistate license add-on (in addition to the $50 primary application/renewal fee) [1] $25

The $50 application fee (Indiana State Board of Nursing, official Nursing Licensing Information page) covers the initial single-state license by examination; there is no separate license-issuance fee beyond it, so license is null. Applicants who also request a Nurse Licensure Compact multistate license pay an additional $25 (bringing the multistate total to $75), and the same $50/$75 structure applies to the biennial renewal fee.

Renewal & continuing education

Renew every 2 years.

Indiana LPN licenses expire October 31 of every even-numbered year, regardless of issuance date. Per the Board's official Nursing Licensing Information page: 'There are no CEU requirements for the renewal of LPN or RN licenses in Indiana' -- ceHours is 0/none by design, not an unpublished figure, but is left null here since the schema field represents a numeric hour count and Indiana has none.

Reciprocity

Endorsement/reciprocity from another state is available. Participates in: NLC.

Indiana is a member of the Nurse Licensure Compact (NLC), implemented July 1, 2020 per the compact commission's official jurisdiction list, so an active multistate LPN license from another NLC member state is valid to practice in Indiana without separate endorsement. LPNs licensed elsewhere can apply for licensure by endorsement through the Indiana State Board of Nursing, and can request the NLC multistate designation for an additional $25 fee.

2 state-approved training providers in Indiana — browse programs and compare schools on tradecolleges.org.

Cost calculator

  • $50
  • $200
Total$250

Frequently asked questions

How do I apply for an LPN license in Indiana?

Graduate from a nursing program with a Certificate of Completion sent directly to the Board, complete the Indiana state licensure application (with a $50 fee and fingerprint-based background check), and separately register for the NCLEX-PN through the NCSBN/nclex.com.

Who administers the LPN licensing exam in Indiana?

Pearson VUE administers the NCLEX-PN under contract with the National Council of State Boards of Nursing. The $200 exam fee is paid to NCSBN, separate from the Indiana Board's $50 application fee.

How often do I need to renew my Indiana LPN license, and are CE hours required?

Every 2 years -- Indiana LPN licenses expire October 31 of every even-numbered year. The renewal fee is $50 ($75 if requesting a multistate NLC license), and Indiana has no continuing-education hour requirement for LPN renewal.

Can I transfer my out-of-state LPN license to Indiana?

If you hold an active multistate license from another Nurse Licensure Compact (NLC) state, you can practice in Indiana without additional action. Otherwise, apply for licensure by endorsement through the Indiana State Board of Nursing, optionally requesting an NLC multistate license for an additional $25.

Sources

  1. [1] in.gov/pla/professions/nursing-home/nursing-licensing-information/ — accessed 2026-07-10
  2. [2] nclex.com/fees-payment.page — accessed 2026-07-10
  3. [3] in.gov/pla/professions/criminal-background-checks/ — accessed 2026-07-10
  4. [4] nursecompact.com/files/NLC_Map.pdf — accessed 2026-07-10