Licensing authority
Oregon State Board of Nursing
Nursing licensure · NLC status table · EMS licensure
OR
Oregon
Does this state recognize my multistate license?
Full license requiredOR
No — you need a state license
Oregon is not in the Nurse Licensure Compact, so a multistate license does not cover practice here. You need a Oregon license, usually by endorsement.
Supporting evidence and conditions
Oregon is not in the Nurse Licensure Compact, so a multistate license does not cover practice here. You need a Oregon license, usually by endorsement.
NCSBN · ncsbn.org · verified 15 Oct 2026
- Law enacted
- No not enacted
- In force
- No not in force
- Issuing multistate licenses
- No not issuing multistate licenses
Each answer links to the state rule it comes from. Open “Source quotation” for the exact wording.
Licensing authority
Board contacts, official applications and governing rules.
Authority website
Licensing portal
Contact
- Phone
- 971-673-0685
- Fax
- 971-673-0684
- Address
- 17938 SW Upper Boones Ferry Rd., Portland, OR 97224
Source quotation
Phone 971.673.0685 Fax 971.673.0684 Location 17938 SW Upper Boones Ferry Rd Portland, OR 97224
ncsbn.org · NCSBN
Governing law
OAR chapter 851, division 31
Conditions & source context
Chapter 851, division 031 contains the licensing rules. The full statutory authority cross-reference is unverified.
License requirements
License types, exams, expiration dates and multistate eligibility.
Licence types
RN
- State title
- Registered Nurse
LPN
- State title
- Practical Nurse
Conditions & source context
RN and LPN license types are confirmed. Multistate-license availability is unverified.
Source quotation
Initial Licensure by Examination
secure.sos.state.or.us · State administrative code
Licence term
- Years
- 2
- Expires on
- Anniversary of the date issued
Conditions & source context
The license expires at 11:59 p.m. on its expiration date.
Source quotation
A nursing license is valid for two years from the date it is issued.
secure.sos.state.or.us · State administrative code
NCLEX required to get licensed
Yes
Conditions & source context
Applies to initial licensure by examination.
Working across state lines
Compact membership, license privileges and application requirements.
NLC law enacted
- Status
- No
Conditions & source context
NCSBN lists Oregon among the jurisdictions that have not joined the Nurse Licensure Compact.
Source quotation
Alaska, American Samoa, California, District of Columbia, Hawaii, Illinois, Michigan, Minnesota, Nevada, New York, Northern Mariana Island and Oregon have yet to join the NLC.
ncsbn.org · NCSBN
NLC law in force
- Status
- No
Conditions & source context
NCSBN lists Oregon among the jurisdictions that have not joined the Nurse Licensure Compact.
Source quotation
Alaska, American Samoa, California, District of Columbia, Hawaii, Illinois, Michigan, Minnesota, Nevada, New York, Northern Mariana Island and Oregon have yet to join the NLC.
ncsbn.org · NCSBN
Issuing multistate licences
- Status
- No
Conditions & source context
NCSBN lists Oregon among the jurisdictions that have not joined the Nurse Licensure Compact.
Source quotation
Alaska, American Samoa, California, District of Columbia, Hawaii, Illinois, Michigan, Minnesota, Nevada, New York, Northern Mariana Island and Oregon have yet to join the NLC.
ncsbn.org · NCSBN
Can I take a contract on privilege alone
No — you need a state license
Conditions & source context
Oregon is not in the Nurse Licensure Compact, so a multistate license does not cover practice here. You need a Oregon license, usually by endorsement.
Source quotation
Alaska, American Samoa, California, District of Columbia, Hawaii, Illinois, Michigan, Minnesota, Nevada, New York, Northern Mariana Island and Oregon have yet to join the NLC.
ncsbn.org · NCSBN
Apply from another state
Eligibility, application fees, background checks and temporary licenses.
Endorsement available
Yes
What it is called
LPN or RN license by endorsement
Where to apply
What you must provide
Active out-of-state LPN/RN license, or a prior license plus continuing education
- Detail
- per OAR 851-031-0008
One-hour pain management training from the Oregon Pain Management Commission within the last 36 months
National fingerprint-based criminal background check via Fieldprint
Nursing school transcripts sent to OSBN
- Detail
- osbn.transcripts@osbn.oregon.gov
License verification from the exam state sent to OSBN
Conditions & source context
Applicants with a previous out-of-state license may qualify through the continuing-education route in OAR 851-031-0008.
Application fee
- Per
- application
- Also payable
Fingerprint processing
- Amount
- 73.5
- Effective
1 Oct 2026
Conditions & source context
The Board publishes the mandatory fingerprint-processing charge separately. this is not a complete application-cost total.
Source quotation
Starting October 1, 2026, fingerprint fees will increase by $3 , raising the state fee to $61 and total fingerprinting cost to $73.50.
oregon.gov · State Board of Nursing
Background check
- Required
- Yes
- Fingerprints
- Yes
- Vendor
- Fieldprint Inc.
Conditions & source context
Apply before fingerprinting. Out-of-state applicants use Fieldprint by appointment with code FPORBoardNursingDAS. State and FBI screening scope is unverified. The fingerprint charge is listed under application costs.
Source quotation
The Oregon State Board of Nursing contracts with Fieldprint Inc. to collect digital fingerprint images from applicants for the background check.
oregon.gov · State Board of Nursing
Renewal and education
Renewal dates, required education and reinstatement options.
Renewal interval (years)
2
Source quotation
A nursing license is valid for two years from the date it is issued.
secure.sos.state.or.us · State administrative code
Renewal competency and CE
RN
- Mandated topics
Cultural competency
- Hours
- 2
- When required
- Every other renewal cycle
- General CE starts
1 Jan 2028
- Hours after that date
- 20
LPN
- Mandated topics
Cultural competency
- Hours
- 2
- When required
- Every other renewal cycle
- General CE starts
1 Jan 2028
- Hours after that date
- 20
Conditions & source context
Current cultural competency requirement: two hours every other renewal cycle. General renewal CE of 20 hours within the prior two years begins January 1, 2028 under OAR 851-031-0008(3); it is not the current general requirement. Pain management has its own 36-month schedule below.
Source quotation
All applicants must complete two hours of cultural competency continuing education (CE) every other renewal cycle. (3) Starting January 1, 2028, all renewal applicants must complete the required CE hours for their license type before submitting their renewal application: (a) LPN or RN applicants, 20 hours within the prior two years;
secure.sos.state.or.us · State administrative code
State-specific requirements
Pain management
- Hours
- 1
- When required
- at initial or endorsement licensure and every 36 months thereafter
- Developer
- Oregon Pain Management Commission or Board-approved nursing education program
Source quotation
one-hour pain management education program developed by the Oregon Pain Management Commission or through a Board approved nursing education program at initial
secure.sos.state.or.us · State administrative code
If your licence lapses
A license expired for more than 90 days must apply for reinstatement under OAR 851-031-0051.
Conditions & source context
A lapse exceeding 90 days requires reinstatement. The complete reinstatement checklist is unverified.
Source quotation
Any license expired for more than 90 days must apply for reinstatement as described in OAR 851-031-0051.
secure.sos.state.or.us · State administrative code
License verification
Official license-verification links and the information available from each source.
Ask the board of nursing
Oregon's published rules don't answer these. Ask before you apply — oregon.gov.
- Multistate licences issued. Does Oregon issue multistate licences?
- Jurisprudence exam. Does Oregon require a jurisprudence or ethics exam?
- Criminal-history requirements. What criminal-history requirements apply to nursing licensure in Oregon?
- Conditions for privilege. What do I have to satisfy for multistate privilege to apply in Oregon?
- How long it takes. How long will Oregon take to process my application?
- Temporary licence. Can I start working in Oregon before full approval?
- Nursys verification. Do I have to route verification through Nursys for Oregon?
- Licence lookup. Where do I look up a Oregon licence and its discipline history?
Where the sources disagree or go quiet
Worth asking about directly.
What are the current endorsement application, background-check, and renewal fees, and where are they published?
Is Oregon an NLC member, and does the board issue multistate licenses?
What are the full current requirements of OAR 851-031-0051 (reinstatement), including the CE tiers only partly seen?