For RN and LPN licensure:
Registered Nurse (RN) and Licensed Practical Nurse (LPN) licensure requirements for graduates of out of state programs:
Education:
- Program must be approved through the State Authorization Reciprocity Agreement (SARA).
- ORS 678.040 (1)(2): The applicant must have graduated from a nursing program that is accredited or approved by the licensing Board for nurses in a particular state or United States territory and approved by the Oregon Board of Nursing*; or
- If the licensing Board is not the accrediting or approval authority in that state or United States territory, is accredited or approved by the appropriate agency for that state or United States territory and approved by the Oregon Board of Nursing*.
- LPN or RN education programs do not require accreditation by an agency specifically accrediting nursing programs. (CCNE, ACEN)
- The Board has introduced legislation for the 2021 Oregon legislative session to require all nursing education programs to have a clinical component regardless of state or territory approval. This will affect the ability for applicant graduating from “bridge” programs not offering a clinical component to apply for initial license or endorse their license into Oregon. The outcome of this legislation will be posted to this NCSBN website if it is passed and becomes effective. Target date for implementation would be no sooner than January 2022.
- The Board has also changed its rules for accelerated Master’s Program applicants. Any initial licensure applicant or endorsement candidate must be awarded a Bachelor of Science Degree in Nursing to qualify for licensure as an RN for any student who enrolls in a program after July 1, 2021. The Board will no longer accept letters of equivalency in lieu of a degree.
- Programs offering clinical experiences in Oregon for any licensure level require approval from the Board. Approval requirements are found in “education”, “Nursing Programs Outside of Oregon”.
*Although written in statute, the Oregon Board of Nursing lacks the jurisdictional authority to approve any out of state program. This language intent is to allow the Board to investigate issues regarding an out of state school and, if needed, deny the ability of the programs applicants to apply for an Oregon license. A program will be notified officially of any Board investigation prior to any action. The Board expects that out of state program standards are equivalent to those found in OAR 851-021.
Other qualifications:
• Completed application including payment of all fees. Applications here, under “applicants”.
• Primary Source verification of graduation via transcript sent directly from the program to the Board.
• Verification of having passed the NCLEX-PN® or NCLEX-RN®.
• Fingerprint based background check. This must be done at the time of application, previous fingerprint results, no matter how recent, will not be accepted.
• The Board is the final authority for issuing a license to practice nursing in Oregon.
For APRN licensure:
Nurse Practitioner (includes CNM):
Oregon NP’s must also maintain an Oregon Registered Nurse (RN) license and Prescriptive Authority. The nurse receives an RN license number and a separate NP license number; both will follow the same expiration lifecycle. Oregon recognizes the following NP specialties:
- Acute Care (ACNP)
- Adult (ANP)
- Adult-Gerontology Acute Care (AGACNP)
- Adult-Gerontology Primary Care (AGPCNP)
- Family (FNP)
- Geriatric (GNP)
- Neonatal (NNP)
- Nurse Midwife (NMNP)
- Pediatric-Acute Care (PNP-AC)
- Pediatric-Primary Care (PNP-PC)
- Psychiatric/Mental Health (PMHNP)
- Women’s Health Care (WHCNP)
National certification is required: Proof of active, unencumbered national certification from an accredited national certifying body is required for Oregon NP licensure. The NP specialty of the national certification must match the NP population focus for which you are applying for licensure per OAR 851-050-0002(1)(d).
Education: NP applicants must hold a minimum of a Master’s Degree in Nursing from an accredited graduate-level program if completed after January 1, 1986. The nurse practitioner program must match the role and population focus of practice for which you are applying. Qualifying NP education program must include evidence of completion of graduate level stand-alone nursing courses in physical assessment, pathophysiology, and pharmacology, as verified upon receipt of your official transcript. Per OAR 851-056-0006(6), integrated courses in pathophysiology and physical assessment completed prior to January 1, 1996, may be acceptable towards the requirement if content otherwise is equivalent.
Practice Requirement (Applicants must fulfill one of the options below):
- Completion of a qualifying NP program within the past one year; OR
- Completion of a qualifying NP program within the past two years and a minimum of 192 hours of practice as a nurse practitioner; OR
- 960 hours of NP practice in your population focus within the last five years from the date of application.
Clinical Nurse Specialist:
CNSs in Oregon must also maintain an Oregon Registered Nurse (RN) license. They may also apply for Prescriptive Authority if desired. The nurse receives an RN license number and a separate CNS license number; both will follow the same expiration lifecycle.
Education:
- All applicants for CNS licensure must hold a graduate degree in nursing from an accredited graduate-level nursing program that included CNS theory and clinical concentration.
- If you are applying for a CNS license with prescriptive authority, your program must include evidence of completion of graduate level stand-alone nursing courses in physical assessment, pathophysiology, and pharmacology, as verified upon receipt of your official transcript. Per OAR 851-056-0006(6), integrated courses in pathophysiology and physical assessment completed prior to January 1, 1996, may be acceptable towards the requirement if content otherwise is equivalent.
Practice (Fulfill One of the Options Below):
- Completion of a qualifying CNS program within one year from date of application; OR
- Completion of a qualifying CNS program within the past two years and a minimum of 192 hours of CNS practice, OR
- 960 hours of CNS practice within the last five years from the date of application.
Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetist:
CRNAs in Oregon must also maintain an Oregon Registered Nurse (RN) license. They may also apply for Prescriptive Authority if desired. The nurse receives an RN license number and a separate CRNA license number; both will follow the same expiration lifecycle.
National certification required: Active unencumbered national certification from the National Board of Certification and Re-Certification for Nurse Anesthetists (NBCRNA) is required for CRNA licensure in Oregon. OSBN will validate your active national certification via the accrediting body’s verification website during the application process.
Education:
- All nursing program graduates after December 31, 2000, must hold a minimum of a Master’s Degree from an accredited CRNA education program.
- If you are applying for a CRNA license with prescriptive authority, your program must include evidence of completion of graduate level stand-alone nursing courses in physical assessment, pathophysiology, and pharmacology, as verified upon receipt of your official transcript. Per OAR 851-056-0006(6), integrated courses in pathophysiology and physical assessment completed prior to January 1, 1996, may be acceptable towards the requirement if content otherwise is equivalent.
Certified Nurse Midwife:
- Complete an Approved Nurse-Midwife Graduate Program
- Become Nationally Certified in Nurse-Midwifery
- Apply for APRN Licensure as an NMNP with the Oregon State Board of Nursing
- Begin a New Career in Nurse-Midwifery and Maintain Credentials
For more information: