Top LPN Programs in Indiana

Indiana LPN Schools, License Requirements, Job Outlook, and Salary

Indiana is located in the mid-western and great lakes region of North America. The state was admitted to the United States of America on December 11, 1816, as the 19th state. Those nurses, who want to assume the role of an LPN, have ample opportunities to grow in the state. The Indiana Practical Nurses Association supports the licensed practical nurses of the state. The majority of the LPNs choose to work under the long-term facility.

Practical nurses cannot diagnose the patients on their own; they work under the supervision of an RN or a physician. Apart from completion of the course, the candidates must pass the NCLEX-PN test to get the license and perform a minimum number of continuing education credits each year to stay licensed. The training includes theory and practical classes that strengthen the skills of the students. They are taught the basic functions of the human body and how to administer the medicines. There are 26 LPN schools in Indiana that provide practical nursing programs.

Accredited Nursing Schools in Indiana

OUR METHODOLOGY +

A nursing school ranks on the top according to the following criteria-

• Higher Passing Rate of Alumni in NCLEX
• Financial Aid that a school provides
• Higher number of students

The nursing schools were then included in the ranking on the basis of following factors-

• Well-developed Architecture
• Better Infrastructure
• Superior Technology
• Ranking in US News and World Report
• Teachings offered by world-class faculty
• Inclusion of world-class facilities
• World-class Opportunities

We hope that the list will help you to opt the best college as per your preferences in the state. The programs available in these colleges will give you an opportunity to begin your journey as a successful nurse.

Licensure Requirements

Once the candidate has completed the LPN program, s/he needs to clear a licensure test in order to gain the license. Being a part of the healthcare industry, one has to shoulder several responsibilities. So, the state has made it mandatory for the nurses to practice only after they get a license. In the U.S., NCLEX-PN exam is conducted by the Pearson VUE.

Licensure by Examination

The candidates who have graduated from a state-approved LPN program in Indiana can get the license by clearing the licensure test at the end of their course.

NCLEX Application and Registration

• The candidates need to fill the application for licensure and submit it to the Indiana Professional Licensing Agency(IPLA).
• Next, the candidates must register with the company that conducts the licensure test. The applicant can register by making a call at 1-866-496-2539 or enroll online by visiting www.nscbn.org. The fee for registration is $200 that can be paid to the National Council of State Boards of Nursing through money order, cashier's check or certified check.

State Application

• If the candidate has not completed high school, a copy of GED scores should be submitted.
• If the candidate answers "yes" to any of the questions enlisted on the second page of the application, explain all the details like location, date, and disposition in a statement.
• If the candidate has answered positively to the third question, s/he needs to submit copies of documents provided by the court, to support the statement.
• Include a photograph of white or any other professional color that has the dimensions 2�1/2 x 3�1/2 inches, with head and shoulders view. The photograph should be affixed with the signature of the candidate and Director/Dean/Designee, and school seal on the lower part of the photograph.
• Submit the application along with the information and documents mentioned above with a check or money order of $50 payable to Indiana Professional Licensing Agency to the following address:

Indiana Professional Licensing Agency
402 West Indiana Street, Room No. 72
Indianapolis, Indiana 46204

• Certificate of Completion- Request the director of your school (from where you have graduated) to send a certificate of completion directly to the board. The board will not accept the certificate from any other party.

Verification of the LPN Licensure

1. The Board is supposed to receive verification from every territory, state or country in which the candidate held a nursing license. The following states participate in the NURSYS: AL, DC, CO, DE, AR, ID, FL, IA, KY, MS, MN, MO, MT, NB, NH, NM, NJ, NC, OH, OR, TN, TX, UT, VA, WA, VT, SD, SC, RI, ND, ID, IN, ME, MD
   The candidates can register online at www.nursys.com
2. Those states and countries that are not participating in the NURSYS should send a verification of state licensure form to the original state. The original state should fill it and submit it to the Indiana Nursing Board. The verification should be sent from all the states where the candidate has ever hold an active license. Some states charge a fee for this process.

Licensure by Endorsement

Indiana is not a part of the Nurse Licensure Compact. Those nurses who hold an active LPN license in any other state and desire to get transferred in Indiana and work as a licensed practical nurse can follow the below-given steps.

All the candidates are required to mail the application with the following items to the Indiana Professional Licensing Agency:

1. The candidates must send a photograph of 2�1/2*3�1/2 inches. The board does not accept polaroid or laminated photographs. It is advised to affix the photograph through tape instead of stapling it. Also, sign in front of the photo.
2. Along with this, submit a fee of $50 (non- refundable) to the Indiana Professional Licensing Agency.
3. The candidate is also required to submit the license that is active in another state. The candidate cannot apply for licensure by endorsement if he does not hold an active license.
4. Name Change – A copy of your divorce decree or marriage decree should also be submitted along with the application whose name has been changed after filling the application.
5. Once you have submitted the application, go for a criminal background check and deposit the reports to the board. If the applicants undergo a criminal background check before their application is received by the board, they will have to undergo another criminal background check.
6. If the original state of licensure does not verify education of the students, the candidates should make sure that their nursing school submits the documentation of graduation directly to the Indiana Board of Nursing for license verification.
7. Verification of the Licensure - The board should receive verification from all the state or countries from where the candidate has obtained the license. The license should be active in at least one of the state. The candidates can verify the license by any of the two methods described above (in "Verification of the LPN Licensure" section)

The candidate would not be entitled to get the license if s/he has just passed the state examination. S/he should also clear either the State Board Test Pool Examination (SBTPE) or the National Council Licensing Examination (NCLEX).

You can get the application for licensure by endorsement at:
http://www.in.gov/pla/2506.htm

International LPNs

All those candidates who have completed their nursing education from a foreign country can also get a license in the state.
If the original state of licensure does not get the verification done, then the candidates must submit the above-mentioned documents along with the following.

• Official nursing school transcripts provided by a credential evaluation service like CGFNS that includes the details like clinical experience and theoretical studies in all areas.
• Original copy of high school diploma or a notarized copy provided directly from another state board of nursing.

If the initial state of licensure contains the official copy of your nursing school transcripts, the candidate must request the state to forward the copy to the office.
There must be an official translation along with the document. Translations should be done by the embassy of the country where the nursing school is situated or those provided as a part of credentials evaluation service like CGFNS.

Canadian Nurses

Those candidates who have graduated in nursing in Canada are required to fulfill the following conditions in addition to those mentioned above, in order to gain licensure by examination.

• The students must furnish the board with official nursing school transcripts which include theory and clinical experience in all areas.
• Next, the original state of licensure should confirm that the applicant has cleared any one of the following examinations.
  • National Council Licensing Examination (NCLEX)
  • State Board Test Pool Examination (SBTPE)
  • The English version of the Canadian Nurse Examination (CNATS)

Temporary Permit

The board may take some time to review the application and issue the license. Till then, the board issues a temporary work permit. For this, you will have to submit the following documents.

• A complete application for licensure by endorsement
• A proof of current licensure in another state
• Application fee ($50) and fee for temporary work permit ($10)
• A passport size photograph
• A complete report on criminal background check

Indiana Nursing License Renewal

The practical nurse license expires on 31st October of every odd-numbered year. The renewal fee in Indiana is $50. If you fail to renew it before the expiry date, an extra amount of $50 would be charged as the late fee.

If it has been more than 3 years since the license expired, the candidate would be required to submit –

• A renewal form
• A fee of $100 through check or money order payable to IPLA
• A copy of current license
• The candidate must also complete continuing education requirement by providing an evidence of 24 contact hours from an accredited provider, consisting of six contact hours on each of the following subject- documentation, assessment, legal/ethics, and pharmacology.
• Lastly, the nurses should complete a refresher course with a clinical component.

The nurses should send a copy of CEs with the renewal form. After the submission of renewal form, the candidates would get 30 days to submit the documentation of CEs. On exceeding the time limit, you will have to appear before the board.

For renewal of your license, click here.

License Reinstatement

If the license has been expired for more than three years, the candidate has to reinstate the license. For that, following documents need to be submitted:

• An application for reinstatement
• A reinstatement fee of $120
• Completion of 36 hours of continuing education in the last three years
• The candidates are also required to clear the licensing examination

Indiana Nursing License Verification

The professional license holders can know the status of their license by visiting the following link:
https://mylicense.in.gov/everification/Search.aspx

Provide the below-given information to get the license verified.

• The type of profession
• First and last name
• Type of license
• License number
• Country, city, state, and zip code

Indiana nurse aide registry also contains the information of all the nurses holding an active license in the state.

Salary of a Licensed Practical Nurse in Indiana

The average salary of practical nurses in Indiana was $49,000, as per the information provided by indeed.com (as of Nov 14, 2016). According to the reports of the Bureau of Labour Statistics, the annual mean earning of an LPN was $40,730, and the mean hourly wage was $19.58 (as of May 2015).

Information Source: indeed.com

According to the table given above, the Psychiatric Nurses earned the maximum salary, i.e., $55,000. On the other hand, the Patient Care Technician Students made $16,000 per annum, which was the least.

Average Annual Salaries of LPNs in Different Cities of Indiana

Name of the City	Salary
Anderson	$41,786
Bloomington	$41,656
Carmel	$43,986
Elkhart	$42,534
Evansville	$42,888
Fishers	$41,143
Fort Wayne	$42,048
Gary	$43,823
Greenwood	$44,207
Hammond	$43,823
Indianapolis	$44,386
Lafayette	$42,577
Mishawaka	$41,822
Muncie	$40,760
South Bend	$41,822
Terre Haute	$41,596
Vincennes	$40,958

Information Source: salary.com

As per the information provided by salary.com, LPNs received the highest salary in the city of Indianapolis, i.e., $44,386. Their wages were lowest in Muncie with $40,760.

Job Outlook for Licensed Practical Nurses

Practical nurses have fantastic job opportunities, which are expected to grow in the future. They are offered the lucrative salary. If they want a higher income, they can continue their education and pursue bachelor’s degree or do specialization. Many LPNs today are at the retirement age which further increases the demand for these professionals, to take care of the aging population. The reports of the Bureau of Labor Statistics states that approximately 5.731 LPNs were employed per 1000 jobs (as of May 2015).