Become a Nurse in Oklahoma – Licensure & Requirements

^{Oklahoma requires completion of an accredited graduate-level APRN education program for all four advanced practice roles above (Oklahoma Nursing Practice Act, §567.5a; Oklahoma Board of Nursing — APRN Licensure by Endorsement instructions).}

Oklahoma Nursing Salaries

^{Nursing wage figures above were retrieved from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics program — May 2025 estimates for Oklahoma statewide, Oklahoma City, Tulsa, and Lawton (see the OEWS state and metro area table index for the full release). Figures shown are the median annual wage rather than the mean.}

There are many paths to become a nurse in Oklahoma. The path you take will mostly depend upon the type of nurse you’d like to become and your current or prospective level of education. The higher your level of education, the more opportunities you’ll have to choose where and how you pursue your career in nursing.

In addition to nursing wage information in Oklahoma, you’ll find information on acquiring and maintaining several types of Oklahoma nursing licensure. We’re constantly making updates, but with the speed of change in the healthcare sphere it’s difficult to stay current. If you have any comments or suggestions for our information on nursing in Oklahoma, please email us at info@nursinglicensemap.com!

Compact State Status

Oklahoma is a Nursing Licensure Compact state. Oklahoma began issuing multistate licenses under the enhanced Nurse Licensure Compact (eNLC) when it took effect nationally on January 19, 2018, so RNs and LPNs holding an Oklahoma multistate license may practice in other compact member states without obtaining a separate license there. Nurses moving their primary state of residence to another compact state must apply for licensure in the new state within 60 days of the move (Oklahoma Board of Nursing — Multistate Nurse Licensure Compact; Nurse Licensure Compact — Interstate Commission of Nurse Licensure Compact Administrators).

Prescriptive Authority in Oklahoma

According to the Oklahoma Nursing Practice Act (effective November 1, 2025) and current Oklahoma Board of Nursing rules (effective July 11, 2026), APRN-CNPs, APRN-CNSs, and APRN-CNMs who do not hold independent prescriptive authority may apply for prescriptive authority for controlled substances under the availability of a supervising physician, with the exception of those excluded by the state formulary. This pathway does not apply to CRNAs, who instead have a separate authority to select, order, obtain, and administer drugs (see Fees, below). Initial applicants must provide proof of at least 45 contact hours or three academic credit hours of education in pharmacotherapeutics, clinical application, and use of pharmacological agents in the presence of illness and in restoration and maintenance of health, completed within the three years before application (Oklahoma Board of Nursing — current prescriptive-authority implementation guidance).

To renew prescriptive authority, an APRN-CNP, APRN-CNS, or APRN-CNM must complete at least 15 contact hours (or one academic credit hour) of pharmacotherapeutics education plus two hours of education in pain management or two hours in opioid use/addiction within the two-year renewal period; one with independent prescriptive authority must instead complete at least 40 hours of Category I continuing medical education within that same two-year period.

Advanced Practice Registered Nurses (APRN) in Oklahoma

APRNs in Oklahoma are defined as certified registered nurse anesthetist, certified nurse midwife, clinical nurse specialist, and certified nurse practitioner.

Education: Completion of a graduate level advanced practice registered nursing education program in one of the following: family/individual across the lifespan, adult-gerontology, neonatal, pediatrics, women’s health/gender-related, or psychiatric/mental health (Oklahoma Nursing Practice Act, §567.5a).

Examination: Varies for Different Certifications

Certification: National Certification in Advanced Practice Specialty

Fees:

• $70 Application Fee
• $85 Fee for CRNAs to Select, Order, Obtain, and Administer Drugs

(Oklahoma Board of Nursing — APRN Licensure by Endorsement instructions)

Additional Information: An active registered nurse license is required for application.

Renewal: APRN renewal is every two years with a $40 fee (current Oklahoma Board of Nursing fee rules, effective July 11, 2026). By statute (Oklahoma Nursing Practice Act §567.7(E)), no single Oklahoma Board of Nursing licensure fee — including renewal — may exceed $125.

Learn more on how to become an advanced practice registered nurse.

Registered Nurse (RN) in Oklahoma

Education: Completion of an Approved Registered Nurse Program (Oklahoma Board of Nursing — RN/LPN Licensure by Examination instructions)

Examination: NCLEX-RN

Fees:

• $85 Licensure by Examination or Endorsement
• $150 Licensure by Examination or Endorsement with Multistate License
• $200 NCLEX Registration Fee (paid to the national examination vendor, not the Oklahoma Board of Nursing)

(Oklahoma Board of Nursing Rules, effective July 11, 2026; NCLEX Fees & Payment)

Endorsement: Individuals with equivalent licensure in another state may apply for licensure through endorsement.

Renewal: Every 2 years at end of birth month, $75 Renewal Fee (current Oklahoma Board of Nursing fee rules, effective July 11, 2026). The multistate biennial renewal fee is $125; by statute (Oklahoma Nursing Practice Act §567.7(E)), no single Oklahoma Board of Nursing licensure fee may exceed $125.

Learn more on how to become a registered nurse.

Licensed Practical Nurse (LPN) in Oklahoma

Education: Completion of an Approved Licensed Practical Nurse Program (Oklahoma Board of Nursing — RN/LPN Licensure by Examination instructions)

Examination: NCLEX-PN

Fees:

• $85 Licensure by Examination or Endorsement
• $150 Licensure by Examination or Endorsement with Multistate License
• $200 NCLEX Registration Fee (paid to the national examination vendor, not the Oklahoma Board of Nursing)

(Oklahoma Board of Nursing Rules, effective July 11, 2026; NCLEX Fees & Payment)

Endorsement: Individuals with equivalent licensure in another state may apply for licensure through endorsement.

Renewal: Every 2 years at end of birth month, $75 Renewal Fee (current Oklahoma Board of Nursing fee rules, effective July 11, 2026). The multistate biennial renewal fee is $125; by statute (Oklahoma Nursing Practice Act §567.7(E)), no single Oklahoma Board of Nursing licensure fee may exceed $125.

Learn more on how to become a licensed practical nurse.

Continuing Education Requirements in Oklahoma

RNs and LPNs must meet continuing qualifications for practice within the two years before their license expiration date, using one of several options set by the Oklahoma Board of Nursing, including completion of at least 24 contact hours of continuing education applicable to nursing practice (Oklahoma Board of Nursing — License Renewal Guidelines: Continuing Qualifications for Practice). See Prescriptive Authority in Oklahoma, above, for the separate continuing-education requirement that applies specifically to APRN-CNP, APRN-CNS, and APRN-CNM prescriptive authority renewal.

Information Disclosure:

^{Information on the above nursing careers in Oklahoma was retrieved from the Oklahoma Board of Nursing, the Oklahoma Nursing Practice Act (effective November 1, 2025), and current Oklahoma Board of Nursing Rules (effective July 11, 2026).}