Returning to Nursing in Indiana

Size your exact situation with the reinstatement calculator, which uses the same board data.

Reinstating usually means catching up on continuing education. Earn it cheaply: free CE in Indiana.

1. 1Stop practicing immediately if you haven't already.
2. 2Pull your CE records together: every certificate, every approved provider.
3. 3Submit the reinstatement application through the board portal.
4. 4Pay reinstatement fee + any back renewal fees.
5. 5Expect a fingerprint background check (most states require one at reinstatement).
6. 6Plan for 2–8 weeks of processing before you can return to work.

Start at the source: Indiana State Board of Nursing or the online renewal portal.

How much does it cost to reinstate a lapsed RN license in Indiana?

The Indiana RN reinstatement fee is $100, plus any back renewal fees the board assesses. A refresher course, where required, adds tuition on top (typically $500 to $2,500 nationally). Confirm the current total with the Indiana State Board of Nursing before applying.

Do I need a refresher course to reinstate my Indiana nursing license?

License expired less than 3 years: renew online with a late fee; Indiana has no CE requirement for RN renewal and no refresher requirement. License expired 3 years or more: you must hold at least one active RN license from another US state or territory; if you do not, you will be scheduled for a personal appearance before the board, which may require remediation or additional training it deems appropriate given the lapse of time. No mandatory refresher course is published. There is no refresher course pathway. Reinstatement after 3 or more years costs 100 dollars total per the PLA fee schedule (the 50 dollar renewal fee plus a reinstatement fee equal to the 50 dollar initial application fee, IC 25-1-8-6(d)(2) and (d)(3)); the board may impose case by case remediation or additional training after a personal appearance. Confirm current fees with the board.

Will I have to retake the NCLEX to get my Indiana license back?

The board publishes no NCLEX retake requirement for reinstatement at any lapse length; the published consequence of a long lapse without an out of state license is a personal appearance before the board, which may order remediation or training. Confirm your case with the board.

Is there a grace period after my Indiana license expires?

Indiana's published rule: No grace period. RN licenses expire October 31 of odd-numbered years and LPN licenses October 31 of even-numbered years, regardless of when the license was issued. The Board’s renewal page says a license expired for LESS than three years can still be renewed online, with a late fee charged on top of the $50 renewal fee; it does not publish the late fee amount, so ask the Board what yours will be. Once a license has been expired three years or more you cannot renew it at all, you have to file for reinstatement, and that route requires an active license from another state or territory. Without one you will be scheduled to appear before the Board in person. Practicing on an expired Indiana license is not permitted.. A grace or late window is not permission to practice; check your status with the board before working.

How long does Indiana license reinstatement take?

Short lapses usually process in 2 to 8 weeks once the application is complete. If a refresher course is involved, plan around the course length, often 3 to 9 months end to end. The Indiana State Board of Nursing publishes processing updates on its portal.