Transfer Your Nursing License to Indiana: Reciprocity & Endorsement (2026)
Does my nursing license transfer to Indiana?
Yes — Indiana participates in the Nurse Licensure Compact, so an RN with a multistate license from another member state can work in Indiana without applying for anything as long as they live in another compact state (moving here means applying by endorsement). Coming from a non-compact state, you apply to the Indiana State Board of Nursing by endorsement ($50 (non-refundable application fee paid through the PLA online portal; optional 90-day temporary permit +$10; Nurse Licensure Compact (multistate) license +$25; fingerprint background check $38.20)); the NCLEX is never repeated.
Moving to Indiana from a specific state?
Pick your current state — the checker returns your exact pathway.
Verdict
NLC member — multistate license honored
Whether you need to do anything at all depends on the license in your pocket. If you hold a multistate license and your primary residence stays in another compact state — a travel contract, a border commute, telehealth — Indiana requires nothing from you. If you are actually moving to Indiana, you are changing your primary state of residence, and that means an endorsement application to the Indiana State Board of Nursing to re-home your multistate license.
NLC member — a multistate license from another compact state is honored without an Indiana application; endorsement is the path for nurses from non-compact states or those ineligible for multistate licensure.
Indiana requirements at a glance
| Exam | NCLEX is not retaken; your license is verified through Nursys |
|---|---|
| Fees | $50 (non-refundable application fee paid through the PLA online portal; optional 90-day temporary permit +$10; Nurse Licensure Compact (multistate) license +$25; fingerprint background check $38.20) |
| Processing time | no processing range published; background-check results take about 7-10 days for out-of-state applicants, and PLA warns high-volume boards like nursing may see added delays; 90-day temporary permit available while the endorsement application is pending |
Comparing Indiana with other states? Check RN endorsement requirements by state in the Endorsement Requirement Finder.
Step by step
- Confirm Indiana's current requirements on the Indiana State Board of Nursing website — rules change.
- Submit the endorsement application to the Indiana State Board of Nursing (application linked on this page).
- Arrange license verification from your current state via the verification system.
- Hold an active RN license in at least one U.S. state or territory (renew it first if lapsed).
- Have license verification sent from every state or territory where you hold or have held a nursing license (through Nursys where the state participates), plus any other health-related licenses such as CNA or EMT.
- If your state of original licensure does not verify your education to other boards, provide an official nursing-program transcript (upload it with the application, or mail or email it to the board).
- Fingerprint-based national criminal background check through IdentoGO, done on or after the date the board receives your application.
- Pay the fees listed above, and allow for the processing time shown there.
Official links
Coming from a specific state?
Direction matters — these guides cover the exact move into Indiana:
Nearby states
Nursing license transfer into the states bordering Indiana:
Indiana for other professions
- Cosmetology / Barber in Indiana
- Real Estate in Indiana
- Contractor in Indiana
- Teaching in Indiana
- CPA / Accounting in Indiana
- Electrician in Indiana
- Plumber in Indiana
- Engineering in Indiana
- Pharmacy in Indiana
- Physical Therapy in Indiana
- Psychology in Indiana
- Counseling in Indiana
- Social Work in Indiana
- Occupational Therapy in Indiana
Frequently asked questions
Do I have to retake the NCLEX to get licensed in Indiana?
No. NCLEX is not retaken; your license is verified through Nursys. No state requires a second NCLEX.
Is Indiana in the Nurse Licensure Compact?
Yes — Indiana is an NLC member as of 2026-10-29. A multistate license from another member state is valid in Indiana without any application, as long as your primary residence stays in a member state.
Sources
Primary sources only — official boards and compact commissions. Data last verified 2026-10-29.
- Indiana PLA — Nursing Licensing Information, endorsement requirements and fee schedule (Internet Archive capture of 2026-10-13; www.in.gov refused connections on 2026-10-29) ↗ (accessed 2026-10-29)
- Indiana PLA — Criminal Background Checks (Internet Archive capture of 2026-10-16) ↗ (accessed 2026-10-29)
- Nurse Licensure Compact — official site ↗ (accessed 2026-10-29)
Reviewed by the License Reciprocity Editorial Team · verified against primary sources 2026-10-29
How we verify · All sources · Corrections log · spot an error? hello@licensereciprocity.com