Oklahoma is one of several states throughout the US that have long felt the impact of a staffing shortage among nurses in hospitals, nursing homes, and various other settings. The pandemic showcased the severity of the nursing shortage, a shortage that has existed for decades. If you are passionate about a career in healthcare and want to become a nurse, understanding the nursing board requirements in Oklahoma can set you up for success to become a registered nurse (RN) or licensed practical nurse (LPN) in the state. At Fast CE For Less, we offer affordable online nursing CEUs to registered nurses and licensed practical nurses to help them complete their nursing continuing education requirements for license renewals. For prospective nurses, we also create guides to help them understand how to join the nursing workforce in their states. Today’s guide will discuss how to become an RN or LPN censed practical nurse in the state.
How to Become a Registered Nurse
To become a registered nurse in Oklahoma, you must complete specialized nursing education and training, apply for a license via the National Council of Licensure Examination for Registered Nurses (NCLEX-RN), and complete nursing continuing education courses to renew your license after you begin your career. This section will discuss the requirements in more detail.
Complete Pre-Licensure Nursing Education Requirements
To become eligible to apply to become a registered nurse license in Oklahoma, you must first complete pre-licensure nursing education. To become an RN, you must have an Associate’s Degree in Nursing (ADN) or a Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN). An ADN takes two years, and a BSN takes four years. While an ADN can speed up the process for you, getting a BSN may offer more Indepth learning to prepare you for supervisor and administrative roles.
Regardless of the pre-licensure degree you choose, it is essential to do it through a state nursing board-approved program. The Oklahoma Board of Nursing’s official website has published complete lists of approved ADN programs here and BSN programs here.
Apply for Your License
Once you obtain your pre-licensure nursing degree, you can apply for a state license via examination. You must register, take, and pass the NCLEX-RN. This is a nationally recognized licensing exam for registered nurses in the US. You must register with Pearson VUE to take the exam. You can find the relevant application form to register with the Oklahoma Board of Nursing through its official website here.
Obtain Your Registered Nurse License
After completing your registration, passing the NCLEX-RN, and submitting all required documents, you must wait for the Oklahoma Board of Nursing to review everything, process your application, and send you your license to become a registered nurse. While it can take longer or shorter based on individual circumstances, the board typically takes two to four weeks after receiving all necessary documents to process the application.
How to Become a Licensed Practical Nurse
To become a licensed practical nurse, the pre-licensure nursing education requirements different than for an RN license. You’ll need to complete a practical nursing program, pass the National Council of Licensure Examination for Practical Nurses (NCLEX-PN), and complete nursing continuing education courses as required by the Oklahoma Board of Nursing.
Complete Pre-Licensure Nursing Education Requirements
With a prerequisite of having a high school diploma, you can apply for the license to become an LPN in Oklahoma upon completion of a practical nursing program. The program you choose must be approved by the state’s nursing board. The Oklahoma Board of Nursing has published a complete list of approved licensed practical nursing programs on its official website here.
Apply for Your Licensure
After earning your pre-licensure nursing certificate, you must register, take, and pass the NCLEX-PN. This is the nationally recognized licensing exam for licensed practical nurses in the US. You must register with Pearson VUE to take the NCLEX-PN, and you can register with the Oklahoma Board of Nursing by finding the relevant application on its official website here.
Obtain Your License
Once you take the examination and provide all relevant documents to the Oklahoma Board of Nursing, it will begin processing your application. It usually takes the board two to four weeks from the date of submission of all documents to process applications. After your application is processed, the board will issue your credentials to become a licensed practical nurse in Oklahoma.
Renew Your RN or LPN License
Whether you become an RN or LPN, you must continue your education as your nursing career progresses. To ensure the highest standard of patient care, nursing boards throughout the US require RNs and LPNs to renew their credentials every two to three years. As part of the license renewal process, they must complete a number of contact hours through nursing continuing education courses. Each state has its own continuing education requirements.
According to the nursing board requirements in Oklahoma, the state’s board requires RNs and LPNs to renew their licenses every two years. For both nursing disciplines, nurses must complete at least 24 contact hours of nursing continuing education courses to renew their licenses. To learn more details about continuing education requirements for nurses in Oklahoma, visit www.fastceforless.com/nursing-ce-oklahoma/.
If you are an RN or LPN nearing the time to renew your credentials, online nursing CEUs like those offered by Fast CE For Less at www.fastceforless.com offer you a quick, easy, and affordable solution.