Oklahoma Nursing License: Lookup, Renewal, CE, and Fees
Oklahoma is a Nurse Licensure Compact state. RNs renew every 2 years, complete 24 hours of continuing education per cycle, and pass the NCLEX-RN.
Look up a Oklahoma nursing license
The board's search shows license status, expiry date, and any public discipline. Nursys Quick Confirm is a free national check you can use as a second source.
Oklahoma Board of Nursing · read 2026-09-02 · a dash means the board publishes no figure
Renewal and continuing education in Oklahoma
Oklahoma RN licenses renew every two years, expiring on the last day of the license holder's birth month in even-numbered years. Renewal requires 24 contact hours of continuing education, though the board does not specify particular mandatory topics. The profile does not state what happens if a license lapses without renewal.
Renewing an Oklahoma RN license costs $75, compared with the $85 fee charged for an initial license. These renewal fees do not include the cost of the NCLEX-RN examination or the fingerprint-based state and federal background check required of initial applicants, both of which are billed separately during the licensing process.
How much does a Oklahoma RN license cost?
Board fees exclude exam registration and fingerprinting · Oklahoma board fee schedule ↗ · read 2026-09-02
Moving to Oklahoma: endorsement and temporary permits
Oklahoma belongs to the Nurse Licensure Compact, so a registered nurse who holds a multistate license issued by another compact state may practice in Oklahoma without applying for a separate Oklahoma license. A nurse coming from a state that is not part of the compact, or one who wants a single-state Oklahoma license, must apply for licensure by endorsement.
Endorsement applicants pay an $85 fee and have their license verified through Nursys, or directly through the original licensing state if that state does not participate in Nursys. Applicants must show proof of continued qualification to practice, such as 520 work hours in the past five years or 24 continuing education contact hours, and must complete a fingerprint-based state and federal background check. Oklahoma does not require a separate state jurisprudence exam. The board does issue temporary permits.
Education and exam for an RN license in Oklahoma
Oklahoma requires applicants to graduate from a board-approved registered nursing program, whether a diploma, associate degree, or bachelor's degree program, with a transcript showing the degree or diploma conferred. The curriculum must cover adult, pediatric, maternal-newborn, and psychiatric-mental health nursing. After completing an approved program, candidates must pass the NCLEX-RN. The board does not require a separate state jurisprudence or nursing law examination.
What do RNs earn in Oklahoma?
BLS OES May 2025 · 38,270 RNs employed in Oklahoma · RN salary in Oklahoma by city →
Nearby states
| State | Compact | Renewal | CE per cycle | Initial fee | Lookup |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Oklahoma | Yes | Every 2 years | 24 hours | $85 | Verify |
| Arkansas | Yes | Every 2 years | 15 hours | $100 | Verify |
| Colorado | Yes | Every 2 years | None | — | Verify |
| Kansas | Yes | Every 2 years | 30 hours | $100 | Verify |
| Missouri | Yes | Every 2 years | None | $0 | Verify |
| New Mexico | Yes | Every 2 years | 30 hours | $150 | Verify |
| Texas | Yes | Every 2 years | 20 hours | $75 | Verify |
Official boards of nursing · read 2026-09-02
Sources
- Oklahoma Board of Nursing ↗licensure, renewal, CE, and fee ruleshigh confidence
- oklahoma.gov/nursing/applications.html
- oklahoma.gov/nursing/nurse-licensure-compact.html
- oklahoma.gov/content/dam/ok/en/nursing/documents/cqlicenserenewal.pdf
- oklahoma.gov/content/dam/ok/en/nursing/documents/rnlpnnclex07.pdf
- oklahoma.gov/content/dam/ok/en/nursing/documents/endorseused07.pdf
- oklahoma.gov/content/dam/ok/en/nursing/documents/485rulesunofficialage…
- Nursys ↗ national license verification
- BLS OES May 2025 Oklahoma RN wages and employment
Read 2026-09-02. Rules and fees change; confirm with the board before acting.