To work as an RN in Ohio you license with the Ohio Board of Nursing through the state's eLicense Ohio system. The licensure-by-examination fee is US$75 (US$100 if you apply for a multistate licence) plus a US$3.50 state transaction fee, every applicant completes electronic BCI and FBI fingerprint checks, and your Ohio program sends a letter of completion directly to the Board. Ohio has no graduate or temporary permit for exam applicants, so you start work once the licence issues. Ohio joined the Nurse Licensure Compact on January 1, 2023.
✓ Checked against Ohio BON's official pages on October 7, 2026
At a glance
BoardOhio Board of Nursing (OBN), via eLicense Ohio
ExamNCLEX-RN, through Pearson VUE (US$200)
FeesUS$75 single-state or US$100 multistate, + US$3.50 state transaction fee
Background checkelectronic BCI + FBI fingerprints, required of every applicant; results valid one year
Temporary permitnone for exam applicants (180-day permit is for endorsement only)
Electronic BCI and FBI fingerprint results sent to the Board
Letter of completion sent directly by your Ohio program (or official transcripts)
Pearson VUE registration (US$200)
Multistate applicants: proof of Ohio primary residence
International graduates: CGFNS CES report sent directly, TOEFL scores unless exempt, citizenship or immigration attestation
Fees
Licensure by examination, single-statenon-refundable
US$75
Licensure by examination, multistateconversion later: US$100
US$100
State of Ohio transaction feeper application
US$3.50
BCI + FBI electronic fingerprintingpaid to the fingerprint vendor; confirm locally
about US$70
NCLEX-RN registration (Pearson VUE)per attempt, non-refundable. US$350 from Feb 1, 2027.
US$200
How long it takes
Apply up to 60 days before graduation; start fingerprinting about 60 days before graduation.
Background results valid one year; must test within one year of Board eligibility.
ATT about 90 days; retake after 45 days (Pearson VUE rule).
Application void if not completed within one year.
Renewal July 1 to September 15 of odd-numbered years.
Mistakes that cost people time or money
Get the BCI/FBI fingerprints done early: Ohio says delayed results are the most common hold-up.
Decide single-state or multistate at application; the US$25 difference beats a US$100 conversion later.
Use a personal email, not your school address: the Board and Pearson VUE write to it for years.
No graduate permit in Ohio: schedule the NCLEX as soon as the ATT arrives.
Questions people ask about Ohio
How do I register for the NCLEX in Ohio?
File the RN licensure-by-examination application in eLicense Ohio (US$75 single-state or US$100 multistate plus US$3.50), complete electronic BCI and FBI fingerprinting, have your program send the letter of completion, and register with Pearson VUE (US$200). When the Board makes you eligible, Pearson VUE emails the Authorization to Test.
How much does an Ohio RN licence cost?
US$75 (single-state) or US$100 (multistate) plus a US$3.50 state transaction fee, about US$70 for fingerprinting and US$200 to Pearson VUE.
Can I work in Ohio before I pass the NCLEX-RN?
No. Ohio's 180-day temporary permit is only for nurses already licensed in another state; new graduates wait for the licence.
Is Ohio a compact state?
Yes, since January 1, 2023. Ohio residents who meet the uniform requirements can apply for a multistate licence at initial licensure (US$100) or convert later (US$100).
How many times can I take the NCLEX in Ohio?
Ohio sets no limit. Each retake needs a new Board application and fee and a new Pearson VUE registration, at least 45 days after the previous attempt.
Does Ohio accept paper fingerprint cards?
No. Fingerprints must be submitted electronically through an approved vendor, with the results sent to the Board as the direct copy receiver; an exemption request exists only for applicants who cannot be printed electronically.
Official links and sources
Rules and fees change. Everything on this page was read on Ohio BON's and NCSBN's own pages on October 7, 2026; when a detail matters to you, confirm it there:
This guide explains the process; it is not legal or immigration advice. Decisions about your eligibility are made by Ohio Board of Nursing.
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