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Let us help you land on your dream job here in Ohio! Read on this article to know more about the licensing process in Ohio, and more!
Through this article, you will be able to know the following:
Fees for the licensing
Licensing renewal process (step-by-step)
Requirements for Continuing Education in Nursing
Licensing and certification
Job and Salary Expectations of Nurses in Ohio
Popular hospitals in Ohio
Nursing associations in Ohio
Contact details
Fees for the Licensing
The table below shows the required payments for the licensing, whether you are a first-time nurse, applying by endorsement, or renewing your license. For more information, visit the Ohio licensing page.
As a nursing compact state, Ohio lets nurses obtain multi-state licenses
*Fees may change without any notice.
**A background check is required in most states, but prices are not usually indicated.
Licensing Renewal Process
Check when your license expires by visiting the Ohio Board of Nursing website. Ohio has a Verification page for you to verify your license.
Complete all your continuing education requirements BEFORE your license expires.
Apply for your renewal process by going to the Ohio Board of Nursing. You may check on the Renewal Information page for more specific information.
Requirements for Continuing Education in Nursing
The following are the Continuing Education Requirements for nurses in Ohio.
For RN/LPN, you must obtain 24 contact hours every 2 years, where 1 of it is directly into the laws and rules of the Ohio Nurse Practice Act.
For APRN, you are required to complete 24 contact hours biennially for each APRN license (varies by certification)
A minimum of 12 of those hours must include CE in advanced pharmacology if you are an APRN-CNP, APRN-CNS, or APRN-CNM.
The 24 hours of CE required to renew each APRN license are additional to the 24 hours of CE required to renew the RN license. Check more details at the APRN CE page.
The Ohio Board of Nursing accepts courses that are ANCC accredited.
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Licensing and Certification
Step 1: Education
To earn an Associate Degree in Nursing (ADN), you must attend an accredited institution that offers ADN for 18-24 months. You can also take a Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) Degree in an accredited institution. These programs typically take 4 to 5 years to complete. If you have an ADN but you wanna pursue your bachelor’s, there are certain programs that let you earn your BSN in 12 to 18 months. There is also an RN to BSN program that will take one year for you to earn the degree. Said programs let you save on time and money as you work towards advancing your career.
Step 2: Licensing
Six weeks before your graduation, you can start the process of your application for the NCLEX-RN exam. This exam is composed of 75-265 items and you will be given a limit of 5 hours to finish all of it. Failing the exam does not necessarily mean that you do not have the chance anymore. After your first try, you just have to wait for 45 days and you can apply again.
The scope of NCLEX includes questions about: (1) health promotion and maintenance; (2) safe and effective care environment; (3) physiology and integrity; and (4) psychology and integrity.
Step 3: Experience
This time, you must learn how to take the opportunities in gaining first-hand experiences in dealing with patients, with colleagues and superiors, and with the different situations that you might face. These invaluable experiences will make you more attractive to bigger employers in the future.
Step 4: Certification
Your last step is to obtain certifications for your chosen career. There are different requirements for earning a certification, depending on your preferences so it is important to check with the governing provider for information. You can attend several trainings, seminars or workshops in varied institutions for this purpose.
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Job and Salary Expectations of Nurses in Ohio
Shortage of healthcare professionals, specifically nurses, has been a perennial issue in the country. This makes nurses highly in demand during this period of time. This profession will increase by about 9% from 2020 to 2030. The average annual salary is $71,640.
Let us help you check out average wages of nurses to help determine if Ohio is the right place for you.
Popular Hospitals in Ohio
Still not decided on whether to work as a nurse in Ohio or not? This list of the best hospitals in the state will surely help you make that decision to go in the right direction. U.S. News and World Report made a list of the best and popular hospitals in Ohio. Here are some of them:
Cleveland Clinic – (Cleveland, OH):
Ranked No. 2 on the Best Hospitals Honor Roll
Regionally ranked #1 in Ohio and in Cleveland
Nationally ranked in 13 adult and 10 pediatric specialties
Rated high performing in 17 adult procedures and conditions
General medical and surgical facility and a teaching hospital
Part of the Magnet Recognition Program®
Specialties include Cardiology & Heart Surgery (#1 in the nation), Geriatrics (#2 in the nation), Rheumatology (#2 in the nation), Gastroenterology & GI Surgery (#3 in the nation), and Cancer (#5 in the nation)
Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center – (Columbus, OH):
Nationally ranked in 10 adult specialties
Rated high performing in 1 adult specialty and 13 procedures and conditions
General medical and surgical facility and a teaching hospital
Part of the Magnet Recognition Program®
Specialties include Ear, Nose & Throat (#8 in the nation), Diabetes & Endocrinology (#19 in the nation), Cancer (#27 in the nation), and Neurology & Neurosurgery (#28 in the nation)
University Hospitals Cleveland Medical Center – (Cleveland, OH):
Nationally ranked in 5 adult specialties and 8 pediatric specialties
Rated high performing in 3 adult specialties and 13 procedures and conditions
General medical and surgical facility and a teaching hospital
Part of the Magnet Recognition Program®
Specialties include Pediatric Pulmonology & Lung Surgery (#13 in the nation), Pediatric Orthopedics (#19 in the nation), Cardiology & Heart Surgery (#34 in the nation), and Cancer (#38 in the nation)
Christ Hospital – (Cincinnati, OH):
Nationally ranked in 1 adult specialty
Rated high performing in 3 adult specialties and 16 procedures and conditions
General medical and surgical facility
Specialties include Cancer, Cardiology & Heart Surgery, Diabetes & Endocrinology, Gastroenterology & GI Surgery, Nephrology, Neurology & Neurosurgery, Orthopedics, and Pulmonology & Lung Surgery.
Cleveland Clinic Hillcrest Hospital – (Cleveland, OH):
Nationally ranked in 3 adult specialties
Rated high performing in 5 adult specialties and 10 procedures and conditions
General medical and surgical facility
Specialties include Cancer, Cardiology & Heart Surgery, Diabetes & Endocrinology, Gastroenterology & GI Surgery, Gynecology, Nephrology, Neurology & Neurosurgery, and Pulmonology & Lung Surgery.
*The American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC) awards Magnet Status to Hospitals that apply and meet certain criteria. This award is also considered as the “gold standard” for excellence in nursing practice and care.
Nursing Associations in Ohio
Becoming a member of a nursing association opens a lot of opportunities to your career growth. It gives you the advantages of varied job offers and networking, and a bunch of information and experiences shared between you and your fellow nurses. Through these organizations, learning and professional growth never stop. Listed below are just a few of the nursing organizations that you can find and join once you are in Ohio
Ohio Association of Advanced Practice Nurses “Being a member of this organization makes you advocate for Advanced Nursing Practice through education and leadership.”
Ohio Nurses Association “This institution has been established to become a platform of protection, promotion and advancement of the nursing profession.”
Ohio Association of School Nurses “ This nurses’ group advocates maximum well-being among students and their community through support for practice in school nursing.”
For more information about the nursing associations, you may visit the comprehensive list of national organizations as well.
Contact Details
Ohio Board of Nursing
Phone: (614) 466-3947
Fax: (614) 466-0388
Website: https://nursing.ohio.gov/
17 S. High Street
Suite 660
Columbus, OH 43215