First Regular Session of the 124th General Assembly (2025)
PRINTING CODE. Amendments: Whenever an existing statute (or a section of the Indiana
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a new provision to the Indiana Code or the Indiana Constitution.
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between statutes enacted by the 2024 Regular Session of the General Assembly.
SENATE ENROLLED ACT No. 176
AN ACT to amend the Indiana Code concerning professions and
occupations.
Be it enacted by the General Assembly of the State of Indiana:
SECTION 1. IC 25-23-1-2, AS AMENDED BY P.L.131-2020,
SECTION 8, IS AMENDED TO READ AS FOLLOWS [EFFECTIVE
JULY 1, 2025]: Sec. 2. (a) There is established the Indiana state board
of nursing consisting of nine (9) eleven (11) members appointed by the
governor as follows, each to serve a term under IC 25-1-6.5:
(1) Subject to IC 25-1-6.5-3, six (6) eight (8) of the board
members must be registered nurses who are committed to
advancing and safeguarding the nursing profession as a whole.
One (1) Two (2) of the members appointed under this subdivision
must be an advanced practice registered nurse with at least one
(1) member who has, or has had, prescriptive authority. One (1)
of the members appointed under this subdivision must be a
current faculty member of a prelicensure nursing program
who has:
(A) administrative leadership responsibilities; and
(B) at least one (1) year of experience as a faculty member
with the responsibilities described in clause (A).
(2) Two (2) of the board's members must be licensed practical
nurses.
(3) One (1) member of the board, to represent the general public,
must be a resident of this state and not be associated with nursing
SEA 176 — Concur 2
in any way other than as a consumer.
(b) A member of the board may be removed under IC 25-1-6.5-4.
SECTION 2. IC 25-23-1-5 IS AMENDED TO READ AS
FOLLOWS [EFFECTIVE JULY 1, 2025]: Sec. 5. (a) The board shall
meet annually. At its first meeting of the calendar year, it shall elect
from the membership a president, a vice president, and a secretary. It
shall hold such other meetings during the year as may be necessary for
the transaction of its business.
(b) Five (5) Six (6) members of the board constitute a quorum. An
affirmative vote of a majority of the members appointed to the board
is required for action of the board.
SECTION 3. IC 25-23-1-12, AS AMENDED BY P.L.17-2024,
SECTION 18, IS AMENDED TO READ AS FOLLOWS [EFFECTIVE
JULY 1, 2025]: Sec. 12. (a) A person who applies to the board for a
license to practice as a licensed practical nurse must:
(1) not have been convicted of:
(A) an act which would constitute a ground for disciplinary
sanction under IC 25-1-9; or
(B) a crime that has a direct bearing on the person's ability to
practice competently;
(2) have completed:
(A) the prescribed curriculum and:
(i) met the graduation requirements of a state accredited
program of practical nursing; that only accepts students who
have a high school diploma or its equivalent, and
(ii) provided proof of having earned a high school
diploma or its equivalent to the state accredited
program;
as determined by the board; or
(B) the prescribed curriculum and graduation requirements of
a nursing education program in a foreign country that is
substantially equivalent to a board approved program as
determined by the board. The board may by rule adopted under
IC 4-22-2 require an applicant under this subsection to
successfully complete an examination approved by the board
to measure the applicant's qualifications and background in the
practice of nursing and proficiency in the English language;
and
(3) be physically and mentally capable of, and professionally
competent to, safely engage in the practice of practical nursing as
determined by the board.
An applicant meets the English proficiency requirement under
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subdivision (2) if the applicant passes an English course as certified in
the transcript from the board's approved nursing education program or
submits proof of passing the National Council Licensure Examination
(NCLEX) that was taken in only the English language.
(b) The applicant must pass an examination in such subjects as the
board may determine.
(c) The board may issue a temporary licensed practical nurse permit
to practice as a licensed practical nurse applicant to a person who has
initially applied for license by examination, after the board receives the
necessary materials to determine compliance with subsection (a). The
temporary licensed practical nurse permit is valid until the earlier of six
(6) months after issuance or the licensed practical nurse applicant's
examination results under subsection (b) are received. If the licensed
practical nurse applicant does not receive a passing score on the first
examination under subsection (b), the temporary licensed practical
nurse permit is no longer valid.
(d) A licensed practical nurse applicant must:
(1) practice under the supervision of a licensed practical nurse or
registered nurse; and
(2) use the abbreviation "LPNG" after the licensed practical nurse
graduate's name.
(e) The board may issue by endorsement a license to practice as a
licensed practical nurse to an applicant who has been licensed as a
licensed practical nurse, by examination, under the laws of another
state if the applicant presents proof satisfactory to the board that, at the
time of application for an Indiana license by endorsement, the applicant
possesses credentials and qualifications that are substantially
equivalent to requirements in Indiana for licensure by examination. The
board may specify by rule what shall constitute substantial equivalence
under this subsection.
(f) The board shall issue by endorsement or examination a license
to practice as a licensed practical nurse to an applicant who:
(1) is a graduate of a foreign nursing school;
(2) has successfully passed the National Council Licensure
Examination (NCLEX);
(3) provides:
(A) documentation that the applicant has:
(i) taken an examination prepared by the Commission on
Graduates of Foreign Nursing Schools International, Inc.
(CGFNS); and
(ii) achieved the passing score required on the examination
at the time the examination was taken;
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(B) a satisfactory Credentials Evaluation Service Professional
Report issued by CGFNS;
(C) a VisaScreen Certificate verification letter issued by
CGFNS; or
(D) a satisfactory credential verification assessment from an
organization that is a member of the National Association of
Credential Evaluation Services or any other organization
approved by the board; and
(4) meets the other requirements of this section.
(g) Each applicant for examination and registration to practice as a
practical nurse shall pay:
(1) a fee set by the board; and
(2) if the applicant is applying for a multistate license (as defined
in IC 25-42-1-11) under IC 25-42 (Nurse Licensure Compact), a
fee of twenty-five dollars ($25) in addition to the fee under
subdivision (1);
a part of which must be used for the rehabilitation of impaired
registered nurses and impaired licensed practical nurses. Payment of
the fees shall be made by the applicant before the date of examination.
(h) The lesser of the following amounts from fees collected under
subsection (g) shall be deposited in the impaired nurses account of the
state general fund established by section 34 of this chapter:
(1) Twenty-five percent (25%) of the license application fee per
license applied for under this section.
(2) The cost per license to operate the impaired nurses program,
as determined by the Indiana professional licensing agency.
(i) Any person who holds a license to practice as a licensed practical
nurse in Indiana or under IC 25-42 may use the title "Licensed Practical
Nurse" and the abbreviation "L.P.N.". No other person shall practice or
advertise as or assume the title of licensed practical nurse or use the
abbreviation of "L.P.N." or any other words, letters, signs, or figures to
indicate that the person using them is a licensed practical nurse.
SECTION 4. IC 25-23-1-12.5 IS ADDED TO THE INDIANA
CODE AS A NEW SECTION TO READ AS FOLLOWS
[EFFECTIVE JULY 1, 2025]: Sec. 12.5. An applicant for a state
accredited program of practical nursing is not required to have a
high school diploma or its equivalent. However, a student of a state
accredited program of practical nursing shall obtain a high school
diploma or its equivalent before completing the program.
SEA 176 — Concur President of the Senate
President Pro Tempore
Speaker of the House of Representatives
Governor of the State of Indiana
Date: Time:
SEA 176 — Concur