Get an Oregon nursing license by endorsement—in the right order
If you hold or previously held an RN, LPN or vocational-nurse license outside Oregon, endorsement is generally the route for obtaining an Oregon license. The application is online, but OSBN still needs source-issued education and license records, Oregon-specific pain education, and fingerprints completed after you apply.
Submit the OSBN application before fingerprinting. OSBN warns that fingerprints taken first may not match to your application and can delay licensure.
Who should apply by endorsement?
Current Oregon rules allow an individual who holds or has held a practical, vocational or registered nurse license in another state, U.S. territory, or a country with comparable nursing education to seek Oregon licensure by endorsement.
Registered nurse applicant
Choose RN endorsement, provide RN education and NCLEX-RN evidence, arrange verification and complete the Oregon background-check route.
Practical or vocational nurse
Oregon uses the LPN title. An LVN from another jurisdiction generally selects the LPN endorsement application and supplies NCLEX-PN evidence.
Advanced-practice applicant
APRN authority is separate. Oregon requires an Oregon RN license or application before the NP or other advanced-practice application becomes available.
Read official APRN directionsEndorsement does not “transfer” or automatically activate your existing license in Oregon. Do not work solely because another state license is active, a compact license exists elsewhere, or the Oregon application shows “submitted.” Confirm issued Oregon authority or an approved statutory exception.
For public verification, renewal and discipline guidance beyond endorsement, use our Oregon Board of Nursing guide.
Oregon nursing endorsement fees in 2026
The current Oregon RN/LPN fee schedule lists separate endorsement fees and a $9 Oregon Nursing Advancement Fund surcharge. Fingerprinting, verification and transcript-provider charges are separate.
| Cost item | Published amount | What to know |
|---|---|---|
| RN endorsement | $295 | Base Oregon RN license-by-endorsement fee. |
| LPN endorsement | $230 | Base Oregon LPN license-by-endorsement fee. |
| Nursing Advancement Fund surcharge | $9 | Applies to licensure by endorsement under the current fee rule. |
| Fieldprint/background check | $73.50 total | OSBN lists this total beginning October 1, 2026; confirm at scheduling. |
| License verification | Varies | Nursys or a nonparticipating licensing authority may charge separately. |
| Official transcript | Varies | Your school or transcript service controls any delivery charge. |
Known minimum before third-party records
$377.50 combines the $295 RN fee, $9 surcharge and the $73.50 fingerprint total. Verification and transcript charges can increase the total.
Known minimum before third-party records
$312.50 combines the $230 LPN fee, $9 surcharge and the $73.50 fingerprint total. Verification and transcript charges can increase the total.
Use the live checkout total. Fees are generally paid for processing and may change. Review the itemized OSBN and Fieldprint amounts before paying.
How to apply for Oregon RN or LPN endorsement
Do these tasks in sequence. Several items come from outside organizations, so a submitted portal application is not necessarily a complete file.
Read the OSBN endorsement directions
Confirm that endorsement—not examination, reinstatement or APRN initial licensure—is the correct transaction.
Open RN/LPN directions PDFCreate or recover one OSBN account
Enter your full legal name exactly as shown on government ID. Verify the Social Security number, date of birth and email, then complete the email-validation link.
Open OSBN Licensing PortalSelect the correct RN or LPN endorsement application
Choose the license level and education source carefully. Add employment history before completing the related employment-detail questions.
Review OSBN application routesAnswer background questions completely
Report required criminal and healthcare-license history. If an answer is yes, provide an explanation and upload the supporting records requested by the application.
Read criminal-history guidanceSubmit and pay before fingerprinting
Save the application copy and receipt. The application copy contains the fingerprint instructions OSBN will use to match the results to your file.
Check fingerprint sequenceOrder your official nursing transcript
Ask the school or accepted transcript service to send the source-issued record showing the degree, diploma or certificate and graduation date to osbn.transcripts@osbn.oregon.gov.
Send exam-state license verification
Use Nursys Nurse License Verification for Endorsement when the exam-state board participates. Otherwise follow that board’s direct-verification process. Canadian exam applicants should follow OSBN’s email instruction.
Order Nursys verificationComplete pain education and monitor the checklist
Finish the one-hour Oregon Pain Management Commission module, retain proof, and use the portal Message Center to resolve each open item.
Open OSBN pain-management pageVerify the issued Oregon license
Do not rely on a payment receipt or “complete” checklist alone. Search the official OSBN record and confirm the exact credential, status and expiration before practice.
Verify Oregon licenseWhat should be ready—and who should send it?
A common endorsement delay occurs when the applicant uploads a personal copy of a record that OSBN expects from the school, licensing authority, Nursys or certifying body.
| Requirement | Correct source | Matching check |
|---|---|---|
| Online application | Applicant through the OSBN portal. | Use the same legal name and email throughout. |
| Official transcript | Nursing school or accepted transcript service. | Degree/diploma/certificate and graduation date must be visible. |
| Exam-state verification | Nursys or the issuing licensing authority. | Destination must be Oregon State Board of Nursing. |
| Fingerprint results | Fieldprint to Oregon State Police/FBI and OSBN. | Application must exist before printing. |
| Pain-management education | Oregon Pain Management Commission module. | Keep completion evidence for the application/record. |
| Disclosure documents | Applicant, court, licensing board or treatment provider as directed. | Explain every yes answer and label documents clearly. |
Personal preparation checklist
Checklist selections stay only in the current browser view and reset when the page is reloaded.
Complete Oregon fingerprints without creating a matching problem
Every applicant for a new Oregon nursing license must provide fingerprints for state and federal criminal-history checks. Prints submitted for an employer or another agency cannot be reused for the OSBN application.
Apply first
Pay the endorsement application and retain the PDF application copy in your portal account.
Schedule Fieldprint
Use the instructions tied to the OSBN application. The current Board direction PDF identifies Fieldprint and the OSBN code FPORBoardNursingDAS.
Prepare for clear prints
OSBN advises healthcare workers with dry hands to moisturize before the appointment because poor-quality prints can be rejected.
If you live more than 75 miles from a Fieldprint location or reside internationally, request an accommodation through the OSBN portal Message Center. Do not improvise a different fingerprint route.
Pain education is required; inactive licenses can trigger more CE
For endorsement, OAR 851-031-0039 requires the Oregon pain-management education. If the license used for endorsement is not active, additional nursing CE applies according to how long it has been expired.
| License situation | CE to prepare | Practical action |
|---|---|---|
| Active out-of-state license | One-hour Oregon pain-management module. | Keep completion proof and follow the application attestations. |
| Expired more than 90 days to 2 years | 20 total hours. | Pain education may count toward the total under the rule. |
| Expired more than 2 to 3 years | 30 total hours. | Use nursing topics relevant to the license and practice area. |
| Expired more than 3 to 4 years | 40 total hours. | Prepare dated completion records before submitting. |
| Expired more than 4 to 5 years | 50 total hours. | Confirm how OSBN wants the evidence presented. |
| Expired more than 5 years | 60 total hours. | Ask OSBN if any additional review applies to your history. |
2026 change: Oregon no longer uses practice hours to demonstrate competency for ordinary nurse licensing purposes. Do not follow an older endorsement checklist that still requires recent practice hours without checking the current rule.
Oregon’s 90-day staffing exception is not a routine temporary license
Oregon law allows an employer-requested exception for a nonresident nurse in a single staffing assignment. The nurse must already have an endorsement or reinstatement application on file before employment.
The employer files the request
The nurse does not submit the exception request. The entity needing temporary staffing makes the request to OSBN.
Initial period is 90 days
OSBN states the employer may request an additional 90 days after the initial exception.
Another license must stay active
The nurse must remain licensed in another state for the duration of employment under the exception.
Do not begin work until the employer confirms approval and the nurse appears on OSBN’s approved-exceptions list. The exception does not apply to nursing assistants.
Military spouse temporary license
A separate Oregon rule provides a temporary RN or LPN license for qualifying spouses or domestic partners of active-duty U.S. Armed Forces personnel stationed in Oregon. Current rules list a $50 fee and require an active, current and unencumbered license at the same level in another state.
Fix the exact missing item instead of resubmitting everything
OSBN does not publish one guaranteed endorsement processing time. Review the portal checklist and Message Center first, then trace each document by sender, date and legal name.
| Portal or file issue | Likely cause | Best next action |
|---|---|---|
| Transcript incomplete | Unofficial copy, unmatched surname or school delivery not posted. | Confirm the school sent it to the OSBN transcript email under the correct name. |
| License verification incomplete | Wrong destination, free lookup used instead of paid verification, or nonparticipating board. | Check the Nursys receipt or contact the issuing board’s verification unit. |
| Fingerprints not matched | Prints completed before application or identity fields differ. | Message OSBN Licensing; do not automatically buy another fingerprint appointment. |
| Background review | Court, discipline or explanation documents require staff review. | Provide the exact records requested and avoid duplicate uploads. |
| No public license yet | Application checklist completion is not the same as final issuance. | Wait for official issuance and verify in OSBN License Lookup. |
One-year limit: current Oregon rules state that incomplete endorsement applications expire 12 months from the initial submission date. Act on outstanding items before the file becomes void.
Useful portal message
“I submitted my Oregon _____ endorsement application on _____. The checklist shows _____ as incomplete. The school, board, Nursys or Fieldprint sent it on _____ under the name _____. Please confirm whether it has been matched and identify the exact remaining requirement.”
Oregon is not a Nurse Licensure Compact jurisdiction
A multistate RN or LPN license issued by another compact state does not, by itself, authorize nursing practice in Oregon. Plan on Oregon endorsement unless a specific Oregon statutory exception applies.
Travel and remote nurses
Practice authority generally follows the patient’s location. Do not schedule Oregon work on another state’s compact privilege alone.
Recheck before relying on status
Compact membership can change. Use the official NLC map and the OSBN website for any later implementation announcement.
Check the official NLC websiteFor comparison, nearby compact jurisdictions have different procedures. Review the Idaho Board of Nursing guide or Montana nursing-license guide when planning a regional move.
Oregon State Board of Nursing office and map
The OSBN office is open for visits by appointment. For application questions, the portal Message Center is usually the best place to keep the question tied to the correct file.
Oregon State Board of Nursing
- Address
- 17938 SW Upper Boones Ferry Rd.
Portland, OR 97224 - Main phone
- 971-673-0685
- Fax
- 971-673-0684
- Transcript email
- osbn.transcripts@osbn.oregon.gov
- Office access
- By appointment, 8 a.m.–4 p.m.; phone availability is more limited and posted by OSBN.
Call or message before visiting. An office appointment does not guarantee same-day document matching, background review or license issuance.
Oregon nursing license by endorsement FAQ
How do I apply for an Oregon nursing license by endorsement?
Create or sign in to the OSBN licensing portal, choose the RN or LPN endorsement application, submit and pay, arrange official transcripts and exam-state license verification, complete the Oregon pain-management module, and submit fingerprints after applying.
How much is Oregon RN endorsement in 2026?
The current base RN endorsement fee is $295. Oregon also lists a $9 Nursing Advancement Fund surcharge. Fingerprinting is separate, and OSBN lists a $73.50 total beginning October 1, 2026.
How much is Oregon LPN endorsement in 2026?
The current base LPN endorsement fee is $230, plus the $9 endorsement surcharge. Fingerprinting, license verification and transcript-provider charges are separate.
When should I get fingerprinted for Oregon endorsement?
After submitting the OSBN application. Fingerprints completed before the application may not match to your file and can delay the process.
Does Oregon require continuing education for endorsement?
All endorsement applicants must complete the one-hour Oregon pain-management education. If the license used for endorsement is inactive, additional nursing CE applies based on how long it has been expired.
Where should my nursing transcript be sent?
OSBN’s endorsement directions tell applicants to have the nursing school send the official transcript to osbn.transcripts@osbn.oregon.gov. Use the current portal instructions if they provide a different accepted delivery method.
Can I use Nursys for Oregon license verification?
Use Nursys Nurse License Verification for Endorsement when the state where you took the licensing exam participates. If it does not, request verification directly from that licensing authority.
Is Oregon a compact nursing state in 2026?
No. Oregon is not an active Nurse Licensure Compact jurisdiction, so another state’s multistate license does not replace Oregon licensure for Oregon practice.
Can I work while my Oregon endorsement application is pending?
A pending application alone is not practice authority. A limited employer-requested 90-day staffing exception may apply to a qualifying nonresident nurse in one assignment, but it must be approved and is not a routine temporary license.
How long does Oregon endorsement take?
OSBN does not publish one guaranteed endorsement timeline. Fingerprint processing varies, and disclosures or missing source-issued documents can extend review. Incomplete applications expire 12 months after initial submission.
Official sources checked for this guide
This page was reviewed on October 13, 2026. It explains official processes but does not approve applications, access a private license file or make employment-eligibility decisions.
To report a broken link or factual concern, use the site’s contact page. Corrections should be checked against the controlling OSBN page or rule before publication.