Oklahoma happens to have some of the lowest housing and rental costs in the country. The overall living costs in the state are considerably lower than many others, making it a great place to live and work. With low crime rates, beautiful weather year-round, and several other perks, Oklahoma is an excellent place to be if you are a professional in healthcare.
The average base salary for a registered nurse in Oklahoma is over $120,300, exceeding the national average. For many registered nurses, the low cost of living and lucrative employment opportunities makes Oklahoma the perfect destination.
The nationwide nursing shortage continues, but the Oklahoma Board of Nursing is taking steps to address the critical shortage in the state. While the state’s nursing boards and universities continue to tackle the staffing shortage, currently practicing registered nurses must maintain their current licenses. If you currently hold a registered nurse license in Oklahoma, you must understand the nursing board requirements in Oklahoma to renew your credentials before they expire.
There are several steps you must follow to apply for a renewed license. Fast CE For Less has created this guide to help license holders in Oklahoma understand the process of renewing their license.
How to Renew Your Registered Nurse License in Oklahoma
Nursing boards nationwide determine license renewal periods. If you hold a registered nurse license, you must fulfill the continuing competency requirements set by the nursing board in your state. From identifying the application deadline to fulfilling nursing continuing education requirements and the process to apply, each state has its own process.
This section of the guide will explore the steps you must follow to renew your registered nurse license.
Step 1: Identify the Deadline for Submitting Your Application
Determining the application deadline is a critical step to renew your nursing license. Each state sets its renewal period duration, typically lasting two to three years. In Oklahoma, the renewal period lasts two years, ending on the last day of a license holder’s birth month in the even-numbered years after they received their license.
Suppose you received your license in an odd-numbered year. In that case, your license will expire on the last day of your birth month in the next even-numbered year. By tying the license expiration date to a license holder’s birth month, the Oklahoma Board of Nursing makes it easier to remember the application deadline. To ensure that registered nurses still do not miss the deadline, the board sends renewal reminder letters approximately three months before the expiration date.
If you do not renew your license before it expires, you cannot practice as a nurse in Oklahoma. When a license lapses, you must apply to reinstate it, making the process lengthier and more expensive than it has to be. Make sure you understand the deadline and fulfill your nurse continuing education requirements with time to spare.
Step 2: Fulfill Nursing Board Requirements for License Renewal
Nursing boards nationwide set their own nursing continuing education requirements that prove license holders qualify for renewed licenses. In Oklahoma, there are several methods to become eligible for a renewed registered nurse license, including:
- Successfully acquiring a certification in a nursing specialty within the renewal period
- Successfully finishing a refresher course approved by the Oklahoma Board of Nursing
- Verifying that you have worked at least 520 hours in a position requiring your registered nurse license
- Successfully completing at least six academic semester credit hours of nursing coursework within your current licensure level or higher
Or
- Completing at least 24 contact hours of nursing continuing education courses through a provider approved by the Oklahoma Board of Nursing.
While the Oklahoma Board of Nursing does not ask you to provide evidence of completing the required contact hours when you file your renewal application, it is important to retain the certification for the time period required. The board can ask you to present proof in random audits. By having the documentation ready whenever it is required, you can make the process smoother.
Step 3: File Your Application with the Oklahoma Board of Nursing
To renew your registered nurse license in Oklahoma, you must fill out an application available on the Nurse Portal on the Oklahoma Board of Nursing’s official website. After accessing your account on the nurse portal using the credentials the board shared with you, follow the prompts for the license renewal process. Make sure you carefully fill out the form and provide clear responses.
Once you complete the form, you can submit it to the Oklahoma Board of Nursing online by paying the license renewal fee online. The application fee for a registered nurse license renewal in Oklahoma is $75.
After you submit your application, the board will begin processing it. While the board will issue your new license after it finishes processing everything, you can check on your license status. The Oklahoma Board of Nursing’s License Verification Portal is available on its official website here.
Understand the Nurse Continuing Education Requirements for License Renewal
Nursing board requirements for license renewal vary state-to-state, and as such, the nursing CEU requirements vary as well. In Oklahoma, license holders have several methods to qualify for a renewed license, including verifying the completion of 520 work hours, or completing 24 contact hours of nursing continuing education courses within the renewal period.
Of the different options, completing at least 24 hours of nursing continuing education courses can be the most manageable approach for many. To learn more about the nursing continued education requirements to renew your license in Oklahoma, visit www.fastceforless.com/nursing-ce-oklahoma.
To access convenient, affordable, and flexible course bundles tailored to help you fulfill your Nursing CEU requirements, visit www.fastceforless.com.
