Application Instructions

CNP INITIAL LICENSE OR RECIPROCITY

Use this application if you are applying for initial APRN licensure in Ohio OR if you are a licensed APRN in another state and are applying for reciprocity in Ohio

Eligibility for an APRN license in Ohio requires being licensed as a RN in Ohio.

Application Instructions 

• Your email address is required for maintaining your online account and payment confirmation.
• You are required by law to provide the Ohio Board of Nursing (Board) with a valid mailing address where all communication from the Board will be sent.
• It is your responsibility to provide or have all required documents sent to the Board. 
• Applications may not be submitted until after you have earned your required master’s or doctoral degree and after you have obtained your national certification from a Board approved national certifying organization.

Board Application Fee

• A $150 non-refundable fee must be paid electronically online when you submit this application, or your application will remain in “pending” or “generate fee” status which means it was not submitted to the Board.
• Fees must be paid online with your application. Use Master Card, VISA or Discover credit or debit cards. If you do not have this type of credit or debit card, you can obtain a pre-paid card at local stores to use. 
• In addition to the application fee, please note that the State of Ohio charges an eLicense System Transaction Fee.
• For details about fees, see the Fee Schedule for Licenses and Certificates posted at https://nursing.ohio.gov/licensing-and-certification/fees/fees.

Initial APRN Licensure: Education Requirements and Transcripts 

• If you are applying for initial licensure as an APRN, you must have earned a master’s or doctoral degree with a major in nursing that qualifies you to sit for a national certification examination and have completed a graduate level course in Advanced Pharmacology containing a minimum 45 contact hours of content specified in ORC 4723.482.
• The Advanced Pharmacology course must be completed no longer than 5 years prior to the date you submitted this application.
• Your education program must submit your official transcript to the Board that shows your graduation date, earned degree, and completion of the Advanced Pharmacology requirements. Request that your APRN education program email your transcript to licensureaprn@nursing.ohio.gov. Hardcopies will be accepted but receiving your transcript via email helps expedite processing. Transcripts provided by applicants will not be accepted.

Reciprocity in Ohio for APRNs Licensed in Another State

Your education program must submit your official transcript to the Board that shows your graduation date, earned degree, and completion of the Advanced Pharmacology requirements. Request that your APRN education program email your transcript to licensureaprn@nursing.ohio.gov. Hardcopies will be accepted but receiving your transcript via email helps expedite processing. Transcripts provided by applicants will not be accepted.

If you hold a current, valid, APRN license in another state/jurisdiction and are applying for your Ohio APRN license, you must meet the following requirements:
 

• Hold valid authorization by another state/jurisdiction, or through employment by the United States government, to prescribe, including at least some controlled substances, for a continuous period of at least one year during the three years immediately preceding the date of this application. For the requirements go to http://codes.ohio.gov/orc/4723.482v1. 
• Complete two hours of continuing education in Ohio law and rules governing drugs and prescriptive authority. Upload the CE documents to this application or email them to licensureaprn@nursing.ohio.gov. For CE resources see https://nursing.ohio.gov/resources-for-practice-and-prescribing/resources/online-resources-for-ohio-law-governing-drugs-and-prescriptive-authority.
• Have completed a graduate level course in Advanced Pharmacology containing a minimum 45 contact hours of content specified in ORC 4723.482. The Advanced Pharmacology course must be completed no longer than 5 years prior to the date you submitted this application, unless you have prescribed at least some controlled substances for a continuous period of at least one year out of the last three years immediately prior to this application date.

National Certification as an APRN

To be licensed, APRNs must be nationally certified and maintain national certification through the applicable national certifying organization. See the following for Board approved national certifying organizations. 

https://nursing.ohio.gov/licensing-and-certification/training-programs/01-board-approved-certifying-orgs.

The Board requires that primary source verification be submitted directly by the national certifying organization. You must request that your national certifying organization email verification of your national certification to licensureaprn@nursing.ohio.gov. 

Processing Information

• After completing your application, check the status by returning to your eLicense portal dashboard. If your application is in “pending” or “generate fee” status, the application has not yet been received by the Board because it is incomplete. Return to your application to complete the information and/or pay the fees. 
• If your license is “in submitted” or “in review” status, you can check what documents are still needed if you log into eLicense and go to the “Welcome to your eLicense Dashboard.”  To review the status of your “in submitted” or “in review” license, select “Application Status” after clicking on the upside down arrow button.
• If your application remains incomplete for one year, the application shall be considered void and the fee is forfeited.

Social Security Number

Your social security number is required by state and federal law for purposes of child support enforcement (ORC 3123.50, 42 U.S.C. Section 666), reporting to the National Practitioner Data Bank (42 U.S.C Section 11101 and 45 C.F.R. Part 60), reporting to law enforcement authorities for investigative/law enforcement purposes in compliance with ORC 4723.28, reporting to the National Council of State Boards of Nursing for state board investigative purposes, and/or as otherwise required by state and federal law.