Indiana Nursing License Renewal Guide
Whether you are an experienced Registered Nurse or a recent graduate, staying well-informed about the Indiana nursing license renewal process, its requirements, and deadlines, is paramount to safeguarding your professional standing. In this comprehensive guide, our Indiana Board of Nursing attorneys will walk you through the ins and outs of nursing license renewal in Indiana, covering essential eligibility criteria, the step-by-step renewal process, and valuable insights on the disclosure of criminal convictions. Ultimately, our goal is to equip you with the knowledge required to confidently renew your Indiana nursing license, and continue practicing your profession, even if mistakes have been made in the past.
If you’re concerned that renewing your nursing license in Indiana may lead to disciplinary action, do not hesitate to contact the nursing license defense attorneys at Keffer Hirschauer LLP today. Our attorneys understand the profound importance of maintaining an active and valid nursing license and have extensive experience defending nurses before the Indiana State Board of Nursing. We work diligently to protect our clients, promoting a robust investigation of the claims made against them and a fair process in front of the Board. To speak with a professional license defense attorney today call 317-857-0160 or complete our online contact form to schedule a free consultation.
The Ins and Outs of Nursing License Renewal in Indiana
Nursing license renewal in Indiana is a mandatory process that occurs every two years. This process allows licensed nurses to continue practicing within the state legally and making a positive impact on the healthcare field. During the renewal process, nurses must provide up-to-date information, including employment verification if applicable, and answer a handful of questions regarding their compliance with the Indiana Standards of Practice for nursing.
Application Deadlines for Nursing License Renewal in Indiana
As stated in Indiana Code 25-23-1-16.1, a license to practice as a registered nurse will expire on October 31st of each year ending with an odd number (i.e. October 31st, 2023, or October 31st, 2025); while a license to practice as a licensed practical nurse will expire on October 31st of each year ending with an even number (i.e. October 31st, 2024, or October 31st, 2026).
Given this, the first step to take when choosing to renew your Indiana nursing license is to submit your application, prior to its expiration. This may be done by completing the application on Indiana’s MyLicense website or by submitting an application renewal form via mail. It’s important to note that there is a $50 application fee required upon submission.
If you fail to renew a nursing license in Indiana, your license will automatically be rendered invalid. However, if your license expired less than 3 years ago, you may still submit an Indiana nursing license renewal application to seek reinstatement, provided you pay an additional late fee of $50. If your license expired more than 3 years ago, the reinstatement process is a bit more complicated. You’ll need to pay an additional reinstatement fee of $100 and submit both positive response documentation and proof of one active license from another State or Territory of the United States.
Continuing Education Units and Positive Response Questionnaire
Unlike other states, the State Board of Nursing does not require nurses to obtain continuing education units as a condition of the Indiana nursing license renewal process. However, they do require nurses to answer six questions called the “positive response questions,” which pertain to the license holder’s compliance with the Indiana Health Professionals Standards of Practice and the Indiana Standards of Practice for Nursing, set forth in the Indiana Nurse Practice Act.
When answering these questions, it’s important to note failure to answer correctly (or truthfully) could result in an investigation into your answers. If that investigation demonstrates that a question was answered incorrectly, the Board could find that you’ve committed a fraudulent act and material misrepresentation. Given this, it’s crucial that any nurse who seeks to seeks to renew an Indiana nursing license be honest and upfront when answering these questions and seek legal representation prior to submitting the questions.
Positive Response Questionnaire
- “Since you last renewed, has any professional license, certificate, registration, or permit you hold or have held, been disciplined or are formal charges pending in any state?”
- “Since you last renewed, have you been denied a license, certificate, registration, or permit in any state?”
- “Since you last renewed, and except for minor violations of traffic laws resulting in fines and arrests or convictions that have been expunged by a court, have you been arrested, entered into a diversion agreement, been convicted of, pled guilty to, or pled nolo contendere to any offense, misdemeanor, or felony in any state?”
- “Since you last renewed, have you had a malpractice judgment against you or settled any malpractice action?”
- “Since you last renewed, have you ever been terminated, reprimanded, disciplined, or demoted in the scope of your practice as a Nurse or as another health care professional?”
- “Since you last renewed, have you been excluded from being a Medicare or Medicaid provider?”
Legal Issues and Nursing License Renewal in Indiana
As stated above, when you choose to renew your Indiana nursing license, you’ll need to answer the six positive questions in the negative or be required to provide an adequate explanation to the Board regarding your negative answer. In situations where you answered in the affirmative to one of the six questions, and the Board is not satisfied with your explanation, you may be called in front of the Board for a personal appearance. When this occurs, you’ll most likely want to hire an experienced Indiana professional license defense attorney to help you navigate the appearance and craft an explanation that limit the potential negative outcomes that may arise as a result of the affirmative answer.
For reference, Indiana Code 25-1-9-9, allows the Board to impose the following penalties upon nurses found in violation of the Indiana Standards of Practice:
- Permanent revocation of license
- Suspension of license
- Censure of the licensee
- Written reprimand of licensee
- Placement of the licensee on probation
- Required participation in the Indiana State Nurses Assistance Program (ISNAP)
- Assessment of a civil penalty of not more than $1,000 per violation
As an experienced healthcare practitioner, you’re likely well acquainted with many of the questions posted during this part of the Indiana nursing license renewal process. However, you may be a bit unsure of how to handle some matters related to question three, which reads, “Since you last renewed, and except for minor violations of traffic laws resulting in fines and arrests or convictions that have been expunged by a court, have you been arrested, entered into a diversion agreement, been convicted of, pled guilty to, or pled nolo contendere to any offense, misdemeanor, or felony in any state?”
Basically, this question is asking you to disclose any criminal arrests or convictions, that have not been expunged, that may have taken place in the last two years since you previously chose to renew your nursing license in Indiana. Furthermore, it’s important to understand that this question includes dismissals and diversion programs, which often may lead people to believe that they do not have any offense on their criminal record. Given this, if you have been charged with any crime – like a DUI in Indiana, public intoxication, or a simple violation of Indiana’s marijuana laws – you should certainly speak with a nursing license defense attorney prior to submitting your application for your nursing license renewal in Indiana. This will allow your attorney ample time to prepare an adequate explanation for your affirmative answer and prepare for a personal appearance, if one is ultimately called by the Board.
Need to Speak with a Nursing License Defense Attorney?
If you feel that your career is in jeopardy or need help disclosing a legal issue while working through the nursing license renewal process in Indiana, the professional licensure defense team at Keffer Hirschauer LLP is here to help you. Given our exceptional litigation skills acquired through decades of work as trial lawyers, we understand what’s at stake and what it takes to successfully defend you in front of the Indiana State Board of Nursing. If you’d like to speak with an attorney today, call Keffer Hirschauer LLP at 317-751-7186 or complete our online contact form to schedule a free consultation with our team. We are more than willing to help you understand your situation and discuss the best steps moving forward.
