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To be licensed as an LPN in Oregon, you will need to complete an Oregon State Board of Nursing-approved program at the certificate level or higher. Whatever program you choose, it should cover theory and practice in core areas like medical, surgical, pediatric, and obstetric nursing.

Be sure to plan ahead, as many programs require a candidate to have a background check and even a physical before beginning his or her studies. There may also be an aptitude or basic skills test.

After program completion, you will need an attestation form of successful program completion from the director. A fingerprint background criminal check is also required.

You will need to take the identity verification form as well as the fingerprint card to your selected facility (Oregon does not require use of a particular agency, but notes that some require appointments).

In Oregon, only after application and registration are both complete will you be sent an Authorization to Test, giving you the green light to take the national NCLEX-PN exam. Upon passing it, you are free to pursue employment as an LPN. If you don’t pass, you must wait 45 days to retake it. You may retake the exam multiple times.

Whether you earn an associate’s degree, a bachelor’s degree or a nursing diploma, this is your first step. Associate programs typically take two years to complete, while bachelor’s degree programs take four years. Both prepare you for the next step – to take the NCLEX-RN exam – but keep in mind that many institutions require a baccalaureate degree (BSN) for hire.

Associate programs often cover many of the same topics taught at the BSN level, but a four-year program provides a more in-depth set of knowledge and skills. If you get your associate’s degree you should plan on continuing your training in an RN to BSN program. In addition to giving you a leg up with many employers, earning a BSN gives you more options, allowing you to move into administration, advanced nursing, nursing consulting, teaching, or research roles.

The third option, a nursing diploma – obtained through hospital-based programs that provide hands-on training alongside nursing course work – typically takes three years to complete but does not give you a degree upon completion, making it the path that gives you the fewest options professionally. There are no diploma programs in Oregon.

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In Oregon, only after application and registration are both complete will you be sent an Authorization to Test, giving you the green light to take the national NCLEX-RN exam. Upon passing it, you are free to pursue employment as an RN. If you don’t pass, you must wait 45 days to retake it. You may retake the exam multiple times.

The OSBN requires submission of an application and payment of a fee for licensure. Once the application and payment are received, the OSBN will go through a series of steps – including doing a fingerprint-based criminal background check and obtaining an attestation from the dean or director of their nursing program indicating the student has successfully completed requirements for the degree – before issuing your license to practice.

Once you have your license in hand, you are free to pursue the many employment opportunities that await. One thing to keep in mind: Your education won’t end when you enter the job field. In fact, much of what you’ll learn about the profession will happen on the job with hands-on experience, which leads us to our next step …

If you have aspirations of moving up to advanced practice, you will need to earn a master’s or doctoral degree. It will take you two or three years, but it will be worth the time if you wish to apply for more specialized roles, whether that be as a certified nurse specialist, a nurse anesthetist, a nurse practitioner or a nurse midwife.

These advanced practice nurses (APNs) are independent practitioners often with prescriptive privileges. For those who wish to pursue positions as scientific researchers or university professors, a doctor of nursing practice (DNP) or PhD program is your best course.

You will need to have an active RN license in good standing to begin an advanced training (MSN or DNP) program. Follow the course outlined above to reach the RN level.

The MSN is the minimum degree you will need to be an NP in Oregon (although most NP programs are now at the doctoral level). If you have a BSN, you can apply to a standard MSN program. Those with an associate’s degree can apply to BN-to-MSN bridge programs that allow you to earn a BSN alongside an MSN.

Oregon requires applicants for a nurse practitioner license to qualify, apply for, and be issued prescriptive authority. The application form is available on the Oregon State Board of Nursing website.

As NPs are specialists, Oregon requires they pass a national certification exam in their area of focus. The certification organizations for NPs include the American Association of Nurse Practitioners Certification Program, the American Nurses Credentialing Center, the National Certification Corporation, and the Pediatric Nursing Certification Board.

The OSBN requires a national fingerprint-based criminal background check to apply for and obtain licensure/certification in Oregon.

Once you’ve taken your exam, you will need to submit your results, transcripts and fingerprints to the Oregon State Board of Nursing to obtain your nurse practitioner license.

As part of the application process, applicants must submit their practice history. The practice requirement must be met in one of the following ways:

• Completion of qualifying NP program within the past one year; OR
• Completion of qualifying NP program within the past two years and a minimum of 192 hours of NP practice; OR
• 960 NP practice hours completed in the last five years from the date of application