Transfer Your Nursing License to Oregon: Reciprocity & Endorsement (2026)
Does my nursing license transfer to Oregon?
Oregon is not in the Nurse Licensure Compact, so no out-of-state license — multistate or single-state — authorizes practice there. Every incoming RN applies to the Oregon State Board of Nursing for licensure by endorsement: $295 (RN License by Endorsement fee per OAR 851-002-0010 (amended effective 2026-08-22); + $9 Oregon Nursing Advancement Fund surcharge on endorsement applications; + $61 fingerprinting fee (OAR 851-002-0055 temporary rule text in effect through 2026-10-31; a permanent amendment takes effect 2026-11-01, confirm the amount with OSBN)), no verified processing time, and the NCLEX is not retaken.
Moving to Oregon from a specific state?
Pick your current state — the checker returns your exact pathway.
Verdict
Licensure by endorsement
Plan the timeline first. Because Oregon recognizes no outside license, you cannot legally work a single shift there until its own license (or temporary permit, where offered) is in hand — and unlike compact states, there is no shortcut for travel or telehealth work either.
Not an NLC member — a compact multistate license does not confer practice privileges in Oregon; every out-of-state RN must obtain an Oregon license by endorsement through the OSBN Nurse Portal.
Oregon requirements at a glance
| Exam | NCLEX is not retaken; license verification is sent to OSBN from the state where you took the exam |
|---|---|
| Fees | $295 (RN License by Endorsement fee per OAR 851-002-0010 (amended effective 2026-08-22); + $9 Oregon Nursing Advancement Fund surcharge on endorsement applications; + $61 fingerprinting fee (OAR 851-002-0055 temporary rule text in effect through 2026-10-31; a permanent amendment takes effect 2026-11-01, confirm the amount with OSBN)) |
| Processing time | no processing time stated in the board's endorsement application directions |
Comparing Oregon with other states? Check RN endorsement requirements by state in the Endorsement Requirement Finder.
Step by step
- Confirm Oregon's current requirements on the Oregon State Board of Nursing website — rules change.
- Submit the endorsement application to the Oregon State Board of Nursing (application linked on this page).
- Arrange license verification from your current state via the verification system.
- Hold an active RN license in another state, or a previously held license plus required continuing education per OAR 851-031-0008.
- Complete 1 hour of pain management training from the Oregon Pain Management Commission within the last 36 months.
- Fingerprint-based state and federal criminal background check via Fieldprint, submitted only after the application.
- Have your nursing program send official transcripts directly to OSBN.
- Have license verification from your exam state sent to OSBN.
- Pay the fees listed above, and allow for the processing time shown there.
Official links
Coming from a specific state?
Direction matters — these guides cover the exact move into Oregon:
Nearby states
Nursing license transfer into the states bordering Oregon:
Oregon for other professions
- Cosmetology / Barber in Oregon
- Real Estate in Oregon
- Contractor in Oregon
- Teaching in Oregon
- CPA / Accounting in Oregon
- Electrician in Oregon
- Plumber in Oregon
- Engineering in Oregon
- Pharmacy in Oregon
- Physical Therapy in Oregon
- Psychology in Oregon
- Counseling in Oregon
- Social Work in Oregon
- Occupational Therapy in Oregon
Frequently asked questions
Do I have to retake the NCLEX to get licensed in Oregon?
No. NCLEX is not retaken; license verification is sent to OSBN from the state where you took the exam. No state requires a second NCLEX.
Is Oregon in the Nurse Licensure Compact?
No. Oregon does not participate as of 2026-10-29, so compact multistate licenses carry no practice privilege there.
Sources
Primary sources only — official boards and compact commissions. Data last verified 2026-10-29.
- OSBN — LPN or RN by Endorsement Application Steps (official directions, as of 6-30-26) ↗ (accessed 2026-10-29)
- Oregon Administrative Rules ch. 851 div. 2 — Board of Nursing agency fees (OAR 851-002-0010, 851-002-0055) ↗ (accessed 2026-10-29)
- Nursys — participating boards of nursing (Oregon listed) ↗ (accessed 2026-07-21)
Reviewed by the License Reciprocity Editorial Team · verified against primary sources 2026-10-29
How we verify · All sources · Corrections log · spot an error? hello@licensereciprocity.com