Oregon Nursing License
How to get your Oregon nursing license
- Complete an approved nursing program (RN or LPN/LVN).
- Pass the NCLEX-RN or NCLEX-PN examination.
- Apply to the Oregon State Board of Nursing for licensure by examination or endorsement.
- Complete the required criminal background check and pay licensure fees.
Oregon licensing at a glance
| Initial license fee | $160 by exam / $195 by endorsement |
|---|---|
| Renewal fee | $145 (+ surcharges) / 2 years |
| Continuing education | No fixed hours — 400 practice hours / 2 years (+ cultural-competency and pain modules) |
| Compact (NLC) member | No |
Initial $160 by examination ($195 by endorsement); biennial renewal $145 plus about $13 in surcharges. Oregon sets no fixed CE-hour count — it requires 400 practice hours per 2-year cycle in lieu of CE, plus a 2-hour cultural-competency module every 4 years and pain-management training. Not an NLC member — an individual Oregon license is required even with a multistate compact license.
Official resources
- Oregon State Board of Nursing — apply, renew, and check requirements.
- Verify a nursing license (Nursys)
- Nurse Licensure Compact (NLC) map — which states honor a multistate license.
- Directory of state boards of nursing (NCSBN)
Oregon nursing license FAQ
- Does my compact nursing license let me work in Oregon?
- No. Oregon is not a Nurse Licensure Compact (NLC) member state, so you must hold an individual Oregon nursing license even if you carry a multistate compact license.
- How much does a Oregon nursing license cost?
- The initial RN licensure fee in Oregon is $160 by exam / $195 by endorsement, and renewal is $145 (+ surcharges) / 2 years.
- How many continuing-education hours does Oregon require?
- Oregon requires No fixed hours — 400 practice hours / 2 years (+ cultural-competency and pain modules) for RN license renewal.
- How do I verify a Oregon nursing license?
- Verify any U.S. nursing license through Nursys, the national verification system operated by the state boards of nursing.