Ohio APRN License Requirements 2026
Ohio licenses Advanced Practice Registered Nurses through the Ohio Board of Nursing. APRNs must hold an active RN license, complete graduate-level education, and pass a national certification exam. The APRN license is called a Certificate of Authority. Ohio joined the Nurse Licensure Compact in 2023. The Certificate of Authority is not covered by the compact.
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Ohio’s APRNs are licensed by the Ohio Board of Nursing, which recognizes four advanced practice roles: Certified Nurse Practitioner (CNP), Certified Nurse-Midwife (CNM), Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetist (CRNA), and Clinical Nurse Specialist (CNS). An Ohio APRN holds two licenses: an active RN license and a Certificate of Authority for the relevant advanced practice role. Ohio joined the Nurse Licensure Compact on January 1, 2023, so RNs holding a valid multistate NLC license can practice in Ohio without a separate Ohio RN license by endorsement. The NLC does not cover the Certificate of Authority; it must be applied for directly from the Ohio Board, regardless of the applicant’s home state.
Use the links below to jump to education requirements, prescriptive authority, the application process, and renewal information.
- Education and certification requirements
- Prescriptive authority requirements
- How to apply for your Certificate of Authority
- Renewal and continuing education
- Ohio Board contact and resources
Education and Certification Requirements
APRNs in Ohio must complete a graduate-level nursing program, either a master’s or doctoral degree, that qualifies them to sit for a national certification exam approved by the Ohio Board. The program’s content must align with the applicant’s intended role and population focus. The Board assesses academic preparation through a verification form completed and submitted directly by the graduate program.
After completing the graduate program, the applicant must pass a national certification exam from a Board-approved certifying agency. The Board evaluates and approves third-party certifying agencies annually. Currently approved organizations include:
- American Academy of Nurse Practitioners Certification Board (AANPCB)
- American Association of Critical-Care Nurses (AACN)
- American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC)
- Hospice and Palliative Credentialing Center (HPCC)
- National Certification Corporation (NCC)
- Oncology Nursing Certification Corporation (ONCC)
- Pediatric Nursing Certification Board (PNCB)
- National Board of Certification and Recertification for Nurse Anesthetists (NBCRNA)
- American Midwifery Certification Board (AMCB)
Because the Board reviews this list annually, confirm your intended certifying agency is still approved before sitting for the exam. The Ohio Board of Nursing website publishes the current approved list.
Prescriptive Authority Requirements
Nurse practitioners, clinical nurse specialists, and certified nurse-midwives who want prescriptive authority must meet requirements beyond APRN licensure. The following applies to CNPs, CNSs, and CNMs. CRNAs have separate prescriptive authority provisions governed by Ohio statute.
The applicant must complete an advanced pharmacology course of at least 45 contact hours. The course must be specific to the applicant’s specialty and include content on pharmacokinetic principles and issues surrounding the prescription of controlled substances. Ohio requires that the course be completed within the five years preceding the application date. Online course formats are accepted.
Ohio has historically required applicants without prior prescriptive authority to complete a prescriptive authority externship before applying. The specific hour requirements for this pathway have been subject to legislative revision, and provisions that were in effect under the older certificate-to-prescribe framework may no longer apply in the same form. Editors’ note: Verify current externship requirements directly with the Ohio Board of Nursing before publishing this section. Three separate application forms correspond to different experience backgrounds:
- Standard externship application: for applicants without prior prescriptive authority
- Out-of-state application (with controlled substances): applicants who held prescriptive authority, including controlled substances,s in another jurisdiction continuously for at least one year during the three years immediately preceding application may qualify for an exemption from the externship requirement
- Out-of-state application (without controlled substances): applicants whose prior authority did not include controlled substances may qualify for reduced externship hours
Applicants claiming an out-of-state exemption must still complete a two-hour course on Ohio laws governing drugs and prescriptive authority. U.S. government employment can satisfy the out-of-state experience requirement if prescriptive authority was granted as a condition of that employment.
In most practice settings, an Ohio APRN with prescriptive authority must maintain a standard care arrangement with a collaborating physician or podiatrist. This arrangement defines the scope of the collaborative relationship. The Ohio Board of Nursing maintains current guidance on standard care arrangement requirements. Rules in this area have been updated by legislation, so confirm the current requirements directly with the Board before applying.
How to Apply for Your Certificate of Authority
Application forms are available on the Ohio Board of Nursing website. An applicant may submit before all requirements are complete, but the Board does not retain application files for more than 1 year. An incomplete file will be closed at that point, requiring a new application and a new fee.
The application packet includes an academic verification form that the graduate program completes and returns directly to the Board. Certification verification from the national certifying agency can be submitted by email to the APRN Unit or mailed to the Advanced Practice Unit in Columbus. The Board conducts primary source verification directly.
Some application questions require additional documentation. Applicants who answer “yes” to questions about prior disciplinary action, criminal history, or certain health history items must submit supporting documents. The Board reviews each case individually.
The application fee is non-refundable. Externship applications and out-of-state prescriptive authority applications carry separate fees. Verify all current fee amounts on the Ohio Board of Nursing website before submitting, as fees are subject to change.
Renewal and Continuing Education
Ohio APRN licenses renew biennially. Renewal requires maintaining current national certification with the relevant certifying agency, and APRNs must confirm that recertification verification is sent directly to the Ohio Board before the renewal deadline.
Ohio maintains separate continuing education requirements for the RN license and each APRN license held. RN renewal requires 24 CE hours every two years, including at least one hour directly related to the Ohio Nurse Practice Act. Under ORC 4723.24(C), effective November 1, 2019, each APRN license carries an additional 24-hour CE requirement per renewal cycle. For CNPs, CNSs, and CNMs, at least 12 of those 24 APRN-specific hours must be in advanced pharmacology. These APRN CE hours are in addition to, not a substitute for, the RN renewal hours.
In practice, CE completed to maintain national certification often counts toward the APRN renewal requirement. Whether a given set of CE hours satisfies both requirements depends on the certifying agency and the content of the coursework. Confirm the overlap with both your certifying agency and the Ohio Board before your renewal deadline.
Ohio Board of Nursing Contact and Resources
The Ohio Board of Nursing is the definitive source for current APRN licensure requirements, fee schedules, approved certifying agencies, and guidance on standard care arrangements. Requirements change periodically. Verify current details directly with the Board before submitting any application.
The Board can be reached by phone at (614) 466-3947. Licensure and certification questions can be directed to the APRN Unit by email. Current application forms and resources are available at nursing.ohio.gov.
The following state professional associations provide additional resources for Ohio APRNs. They are not involved in the licensing process:
- Ohio Association of Advanced Practice Nurses (OAAPN)
- Ohio Association of Nurse Anesthetists (OSANA)
- Ohio Chapter of the American College of Nurse-Midwives
Find nursing licensure requirements by state for RNs, LPNs, LVNs, and advanced practice nurses.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does Ohio require a collaborating physician for APRNs?
In most practice settings, yes. Ohio currently requires APRNs with prescriptive authority to maintain a standard care arrangement with a collaborating physician or podiatrist. The arrangement defines the scope of the collaborative relationship. Rules in this area have changed in recent years, so confirm current requirements with the Ohio Board of Nursing before applying or changing practice settings.
Is Ohio a Nurse Licensure Compact state?
Yes. Ohio joined the Nurse Licensure Compact on January 1, 2023. RNs holding a valid multistate NLC license from another compact state can practice in Ohio without a separate Ohio RN license by endorsement. The NLC does not cover the APRN Certificate of Authority; it must be obtained directly from the Ohio Board of Nursing, regardless of the applicant’s home state.
How many continuing education hours do Ohio APRNs need for renewal?
Ohio APRNs must meet CE requirements for both their RN license and each APRN license they hold. RN renewal requires 24 CE hours per two-year cycle, including one hour on the Ohio Nurse Practice Act. Each APRN license requires an additional 24 CE hours, with at least 12 of those in advanced pharmacology for CNPs, CNSs, and CNMs. These requirements operate independently and cannot fully substitute for one another.
What is a Certificate of Authority in Ohio?
The Certificate of Authority is Ohio’s name for the APRN license. The Ohio Board of Nursing issues it and is separate from the RN license. An APRN in Ohio must hold both an active Ohio RN license and a valid Certificate of Authority for their specific advanced practice role before practicing in that capacity.
Can I apply for an Ohio APRN license before my national certification is complete?
Yes, you can submit an application before all requirements are met. However, the Ohio Board does not retain application files for longer than one year. If your file remains incomplete at that point, the Board will close it, and you will need to reapply and pay a new fee.
Key Takeaways
- Two licenses required — Ohio APRNs must hold an active RN license and a Certificate of Authority for their specific advanced practice role. The Certificate of Authority is not covered by the Nurse Licensure Compact, which Ohio joined on January 1, 2023, and must be obtained from the Ohio Board.
- Graduate education and national certification — Licensure requires a master’s or doctoral degree in nursing and a passing score on a certification exam from a Board-approved agency.
- Prescriptive authority has additional requirements — CNPs, CNSs, and CNMs seeking prescriptive authority must complete a 45-hour advanced pharmacology course and meet prescriptive authority experience requirements. Verify the current externship requirements directly with the Ohio Board, as these provisions are subject to revision.
- APRN CE is separate from RN CE — Since November 2019, each APRN license requires 24 CE hours per renewal cycle, in addition to the 24 hours required for RN renewal.
- Verify current requirements with the Board — Ohio APRN licensing rules have been updated in recent years. The Ohio Board of Nursing website is the authoritative source for current fees, approved certifying agencies, and standard care arrangement rules.
Find approved nursing programs in Ohio and review application requirements for your APRN role.