Indiana Nurse Practitioner License Requirements 2026
Indiana’s advanced practice nurses hold RN licenses and may practice in most APRN roles without an additional state credential unless they seek prescriptive authority. Nurse practitioners and clinical nurse specialists need only apply to the Professional Licensing Agency for a separate credential if they want to prescribe. Nurse midwives require concurrent limited midwife licensure.
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Indiana takes a lighter approach to advanced practice credentialing than most states. The Board recognizes three APRN roles: clinical nurse specialist (CNS), nurse practitioner (NP), and nurse midwife. In most cases, carrying out advanced practice duties requires only an active Indiana nursing license. A separate state credential becomes necessary only when an APN seeks prescriptive authority. Nurse midwives are the exception: they must hold concurrent limited midwife licensure regardless of whether they prescribe.
Indiana does not classify certified registered nurse anesthetists as advanced practice nurses in the state administrative code. CRNAs practice under separate authorization and are not eligible for the prescriptive authority available to other APNs.
Use the links below to jump to Indiana APRN requirements, prescriptive authority, application steps, and board resources.
- NP and CNS education requirements
- Nurse-midwife requirements
- How to apply for prescriptive authority
- Application materials and fees
- Nurse anesthetist requirements
- Indiana Board of Nursing contacts and associations
NP and CNS Education Requirements in Indiana
Both clinical nurse specialists and nurse practitioners must complete programs at accredited colleges or universities. Indiana has nurse practitioner programs at institutions that meet this standard. CNSs must hold at a minimum a master’s degree. NPs are not held to the same degree of requirement.
Under Indiana Administrative Code (848 IAC 4-1-4), NPs who completed a certificate program must be certified and maintain national certification through an organization that requires a national certifying examination. NPs with graduate-level education are not required to maintain national certification for practice purposes under Indiana’s rules, which differs from how nurse practitioner license requirements work in most states. Note, however, that for prescriptive authority applications, any NP or nurse midwife holding only a baccalaureate degree must submit proof of current national certification.
Nurse-Midwife Requirements in Indiana
Certified Nurse Midwives in Indiana face both education and certification requirements. They must complete a nationally accredited midwifery program and obtain certification through the American Midwifery Certification Board, which requires passing a national examination. Midwife licensure through the Professional Licensing Agency is separate from RN licensure and must be held concurrently.
A nurse midwife who also seeks prescriptive authority submits two separate applications to the PLA: one for limited midwife licensure and one for prescriptive authority.
Prescriptive Authority Requirements
A CNS, nurse midwife, or NP who wants to prescribe must complete at least two semester hours of graduate-level pharmacology coursework. This is a baseline requirement — not a substitute for the full application process.
Out-of-state APNs applying for prescriptive authority should check when they completed their pharmacology coursework. If it was five or more years ago, the PLA requires continuing education instead: 30 total hours with at least 8 specifically in pharmacology, all completed within the prior two years. The out-of-state applicant must also demonstrate recent prescriptive experience.
APNs who receive prescriptive authority practice under collaborative practice agreements. The PLA has a template available. Prescriptive authority renews every two years. Most APNs need 30 hours of continuing education per renewal period, with at least 8 in pharmacology. Requirements for the first renewal period depend on the original date of issuance.
Any APN who will prescribe controlled substances also needs a Controlled Substances Registration (CSR) from the state and a registration from the Federal Drug Enforcement Administration. CSR applicants must complete 2 hours of continuing education on opioid prescribing and opioid abuse within the two years before applying. DEA registrants are also required to complete a one-time 8-hour training on opioid and substance use disorder treatment (a federal requirement that took effect June 27, 2023).
Application Materials and Process
Applications for prescriptive authority are available on the Professional Licensing Agency website. The application fee is $50. Along with the completed form, you’ll need to include:
- A copy of your RN license — Indiana or any compact state license is accepted
- An official transcript sent directly from the issuing institution
- Documentation of current certification, if your education is below the graduate level
- A professional-quality head and shoulders photograph
If you’ve applied for an Indiana RN license but haven’t received it yet, you can still submit the prescriptive authority application — just note that the license is pending.
Nurse midwife applications are also on the PLA site. The application fee is $50. Limited midwife licensure renews every two years at a fee of $50.
Nurse Anesthetist Requirements in Indiana
Indiana requires CRNAs to meet specific education and certification standards, even though the state doesn’t define them as advanced practice nurses in the administrative code. CRNAs must complete a program accredited by the Council on Accreditation of Nurse Anesthesia Educational Programs (COA), which maintains a list of accredited programs on its website.
Certification must come from the National Board of Certification and Recertification for Nurse Anesthetists (NBCRNA), formerly the Council on Certification of Nurse Anesthetists. Indiana also accepts credentials from predecessor organizations. CRNA certification renews every two years.
CRNAs don’t apply to the Professional Licensing Agency. They’re authorized to administer anesthesia independently of the prescriptive authority process and are not eligible for the APN prescriptive authority credential.
Indiana Board of Nursing Contacts and Resources
The Indiana State Board of Nursing operates under the Professional Licensing Agency. You can reach staff by email at [email protected] or by phone at 317-234-2043.
Professional organizations are a good secondary source for state-specific guidance:
Find nursing licensure requirements by state for RNs, LPNs, LVNs, and advanced practice nurses.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does Indiana require advanced practice nurses to hold a separate state license?
Not always. Most APNs in Indiana can practice under their RN license alone. A separate credential from the Professional Licensing Agency is only required if a CNS or NP seeks prescriptive authority. Nurse midwives are the exception — they must hold concurrent limited midwife licensure from the PLA regardless of whether they prescribe.
What does Indiana require to get prescriptive authority?
CNSs, NPs, and nurse midwives seeking prescriptive authority need at least two semester hours of graduate-level pharmacology coursework and must submit an application to the PLA with a $50 fee. APNs who prescribe controlled substances also need a state Controlled Substances Registration and a DEA registration. Prescriptive authority renews every two years.
Do Indiana nurse practitioners need to be nationally certified?
It depends on the education level and whether prescriptive authority is involved. Under 848 IAC 4-1-4, NPs who completed a certificate program must be certified and maintain national certification through an organization that requires a national certifying examination. NPs with graduate-level education are not required to maintain certification for general practice purposes under Indiana’s rules. However, any NP or nurse midwife applying for prescriptive authority with only a baccalaureate degree must submit proof of current national certification as part of that application.
How does a nurse anesthetist get authorized to practice in Indiana?
CRNAs must complete a COA-accredited program and hold certification from the NBCRNA. They don’t apply to the Indiana Professional Licensing Agency, and they’re not subject to the APN prescriptive authority process. Their authorization to administer anesthesia is separate. Certification must be renewed every two years.
Key Takeaways
- Most APNs don’t need a separate state credential — Indiana’s CNSs and NPs can practice under their RN license unless they seek prescriptive authority.
- Prescriptive authority requires an application to the PLA — The process requires pharmacology coursework, a $50 fee, and working under a collaborative practice agreement.
- Nurse midwives follow a different path — They need concurrent limited midwife licensure from the PLA and must pursue certification through the American Midwifery Certification Board.
- CRNAs are not classified as APNs under Indiana code — They’re authorized separately, must hold NBCRNA certification, and aren’t eligible for APN prescriptive authority.
- NP certification rules differ from most states — Graduate-educated NPs in Indiana are not required to hold national certification, which goes against the national norm.
Select your state to find approved APRN programs, application requirements, and licensing information for your jurisdiction.