StateLicensed

Licensed Practical Nurse (LPN) License Requirements in Ohio

Verified · July 2026
Training hours
—
Upfront cost
$275
Exam
NCLEX-PN
Renewal cycle
Every 2 years
Issuing board
Ohio Board of Nursing (OBN)

How to get licensed

  1. 1

    Meet the prerequisites

    Pass a criminal background check. OBN's licensing navigation includes a dedicated Background Check step (applicants typically submit fingerprints electronically through Ohio's Webcheck system for BCI and FBI checks) as part of the application process. No codified minimum age requirement was located on the Board's own examination page. The Board restructured its site and retired this page's previous URL; the citation above is its current licensing and certification section. [1]

  2. 2

    Complete approved training

    Complete training at a state-approved program. Ohio requires graduation from an OBN-approved practical nursing program; the Board's licensure-by-examination page does not publish a single codified total clock-hour minimum for that curriculum on the pages reviewed. The Board restructured its site and retired this page's previous URL; the citation above is its current licensing and certification section. [1]

  3. 3

    NCLEX-PN

    Pass the NCLEX-PN (fee: $200). Computer adaptive test administered at Pearson VUE test centers. National Pearson VUE registration fee, uniform across all U.S. jurisdictions; separate from the Ohio Board of Nursing's own licensure fee. [2]

  4. 4

    Submit your application

    Submit your application to Ohio Board of Nursing (OBN). [3]

  5. 5

    Receive your license

    Once your application is approved, Ohio Board of Nursing (OBN) issues your Licensed Practical Nurse (LPN) for Ohio.

Fees

Fee Amount
Application fee [3] None specified
License fee [3] $75
Renewal fee [3] $65
NCLEX-PN [2] $200
Single-state renewal, late window (Sept. 16 - Oct. 31, even years) [3] $115
Multistate License (MSL) one-time conversion fee [3] $100
MSL renewal fee (per renewal cycle) [3] $75

OBN charges a single combined $75 fee for initial LPN licensure by examination, and the same $75 for initial licensure by reciprocity/endorsement (no separate application line item). Standard single-state renewal is $65 if paid in the on-time window (July 1 - Sept. 15 of even years for LPNs); a higher $115 fee applies if paid in the late window (Sept. 16 - Oct. 31). Verified via a Wayback Machine snapshot (2025-06-06) after the live page returned no direct response to automated fetches.

Renewal & continuing education

Renew every 2 years. 24 continuing education hours required per cycle.

LPNs renew in even-numbered years. Standard requirement is 24 contact hours of continuing education (including at least 1 hour of Category A content addressing the Ohio Nurse Practice Act/OBN rules) per 2-year cycle. Nurses licensed by NCLEX examination are exempt from CE for their first renewal; nurses licensed by reciprocity who held an Ohio license 1 year or less before their first renewal need only 12 hours (including 1 hour Category A). Verified via a Wayback Machine snapshot (2025-06-25) after the live page returned no direct response to automated fetches. The Board restructured its site and retired this page's previous URL; the citation above is its current licensing and certification section.

Reciprocity

Endorsement/reciprocity from another state is available. Participates in: Nurse Licensure Compact (NLC).

Ohio implemented the Nurse Licensure Compact on Jan. 1, 2023, per NCSBN's official NLC jurisdiction map. LPNs licensed elsewhere may also apply for Ohio licensure by reciprocity/endorsement for the same $75 fee charged for licensure by examination, rather than relying solely on a multistate compact license.

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

Cost calculator

  • $75
  • $200
Total$275

Frequently asked questions

What agency licenses LPNs in Ohio?

The Ohio Board of Nursing (OBN), which processes applications and renewals through its online eLicense portal.

How much does it cost to get an LPN license in Ohio?

OBN charges a combined $75 fee for initial licensure by examination (or the same $75 for licensure by reciprocity), separate from the $200 national NCLEX-PN registration fee paid to Pearson VUE.

How often do Ohio LPNs renew their license, and how much continuing education is required?

Ohio LPNs renew every 2 years, in even-numbered years, for $65 if paid on time. Standard renewal requires 24 contact hours of continuing education, though first-time renewers licensed by NCLEX exam are exempt, and reciprocity licensees in their first year need only 12 hours.

Is Ohio a Nurse Licensure Compact state?

Yes. Ohio implemented the NLC on January 1, 2023, so an Ohio multistate license is valid to practice in other NLC member states.

Can an LPN licensed in another state transfer to Ohio?

Yes, through licensure by reciprocity/endorsement for the same $75 fee as licensure by examination.

Sources

  1. [1] nursing.ohio.gov/licensing-and-certification — accessed 2026-07-27
  2. [2] nclex.com/fees-payment.page — accessed 2026-07-10
  3. [3] nursing.ohio.gov/licensing-and-certification/fees — accessed 2026-07-10
  4. [4] ncsbn.org/public-files/NLC_Map.pdf — accessed 2026-07-10