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Apply for NCLEX Nursing Exam

Which Application Do You Need?

If you are a new nursing graduate, or you're an international nurse who has never been licensed in any US state or jurisdiction, you will need to take the NCLEX (National Council Licensing Examination).  Start by choosing one of the options below.
   

​​Licensure information for US nursing graduates from non-Oregon schools.

If you graduated from a non-Oregon US school of nursing and have never been licensed as a nurse in the US, you will need to apply for the NCLEX and Oregon licensure—submit the electronic form Oregon Application for LPN/RN Licensure by Examination for US Educated Nurses and the processing fee. 

Next steps: After you submit your application and payment, you will receive an email with the next steps for you to take:

  1. Background Check: Once your application and full payment are received, you will receive either an email from OSBN (US residents) or an information packet via postal mail (non-US residents) with instructions on how to complete the fingerprinting process for your national criminal background check.  More information about Oregon’s digital fingerprint system: Frequently Asked Questions about fingerprinting.
  2. Register with PearsonVUE to take the NCLEX at www.pearsonvue.com/nclex.  PearsonVUE manages registration and test scheduling for Oregon.  You will have to pay a testing fee.  NOTE: Once OSBN verifies you have registered and application requirements are complete, our staff will release you to test, and PearsonVUE will email you with information to schedule a test date.
  3. If you graduated from a US school, you must submit official final transcripts:
    • Option A: Contact your school and request that it send official sealed final transcripts that include your graduation date and degree awarded to the OSBN office at by email or US mail: 17938 SW Upper Boones Ferry Rd., Portland, Oregon, 97224. 
    • Option B: If your school subscribes to a national document transfer network, you may request the service to send official electronic transcripts to OSBN at: osbn.transcripts@osbn.oregon.gov.​
Please Note: 

RN/LPN Licensure Fees and Refund Policy

  • RN or LPN Licensure by Examination:  $160.
  • Oregon Nursing Advancement Fund Surcharge:  $9.
  • Only credit card payments accepted.​  Fees submitted as part of the application process are not refundable, per ORS 678.410(2).  Be certain that you intend to complete the process before submitting your payment.  If you have any questions regarding your eligibility, or there is an error in your payment, please call our Customer Service Center at 971-673-0685 or e-mail oregon.bn.info@osbn.oregon.gov.

Helpful Links

​​Licensure information for non-US nursing school graduates or nurses who have never been licensed in the US

You may apply for the NCLEX exam and Oregon licensure if you meet one of the following conditions:
  • You graduated from a non-US based school of nursing within three years prior to application.
  • You graduated from a non-US based school of nursing more than three years prior to application and practiced at least 960 hours at the level of licensure sought within the five years before application.​
NOTE: Applicants for initial licensure by examination (not previously licensed in another state or country) shall be permitted to test no more than three years following graduation or program completion.
 
Be Prepared: A US-issued Social Security Number is required for licensure.​

Next steps: After you submit your application and payment, you will receive an email with the next steps for you to take:
  1. Background Check: Once your application and full payment are received, you will receive either an email from OSBN (US residents) or an information packet via postal mail (non-US residents) with instructions on how to complete the fingerprinting process for your national criminal background check.  More information about Oregon’s digital fingerprint system: Frequently Asked Questions about fingerprinting.
  2. Register with PearsonVUE to take the NCLEX at www.pearsonvue.com/nclex.  PearsonVUE manages registration and test scheduling for Oregon.  You will have to pay a testing fee.  NOTE: Once OSBN verifies you have registered and application requirements are complete, our staff will release you to test, and PearsonVUE will contact you to schedule a test date.
  3. Education Equivalency:  If you graduated from a English language Canadian nursing program with an NCLEX code after January 1, 2015, please have your official transcripts sent by the school in lieu of a credentials evaluation. All other internationally educated graduates must have your nurse education evaluated for equivalency to US standards by one of the OSBN-approved credential evaluation agencies (CGFNS, IERF, Educational Perspectives, Josef Silny & Associates, Inc., International Education Consultants, or ERES).  Ask the agency to send the completed evaluation directly to the OSBN.  If you have had a credential evaluation completed previously by one of these agencies that is still valid, you may ask the agency to send the completed evaluation directly to the OSBN.
  4. Language proficiency:  If you graduated from a English language Canadian nursing program with an NCLEX code after January 1, 2015, you have met this requirement.​  If your credentials evaluation states that you completed your qualifying nursing program using English language textbooks, with a majority of clinical instruction in English, this requirement has been satisfied.  If not, then:
    • Ask CGFNS to send your previously obtained VISA-Screen Certificate or CGFNS Certificate to be sent to the OSBN, or
    • Successfully pass one of the three OSBN-approved language proficiency examinations (TOEFL, TOEIC, or IELTS).  Have the testing service send a copy of your passing results to OSBN.
  5. Employment Verification: If you graduated from your basic nursing program more than three years prior to application and practiced nursing internationally, you must show proof of at least 960 practice hours at the level of licensure sought within the five years prior to application. Ask your previous employer(s) to send employment verification on official letterhead directly to OSBN. The verification must include all of the following: 
    • ​Nursing position held; 
    • Employment start and stop dates; 
    • Total practice hours completed during the term of employment; and,
    • The signature of the employment official.​
Note for Students: Students are not eligible to test until they’ve completed all their program requirements.  Please read the OSBN New Graduate Guide for more information.
 
RN/LPN Licensure Fees and Refund Policy
  • RN or LPN Licensure by Examination:  $160.
  • Oregon Nursing Advancement Fund Surcharge:  $9.
  • Only credit card payments accepted.​  Fees submitted as part of the application process are not refundable, per ORS 678.410(2).  Be certain that you intend to complete the process before submitting your payment.  If you have any questions regarding your eligibility, or there is an error in your payment, please call our Customer Service Center at 971-673-0685 or e-mail oregon.bn.info@osbn.oregon.gov.
Helpful Links

​Licensure information for new Oregon nursing graduates

If you graduated from an Oregon school of nursing and have never been licensed as a nurse in the US, you will need to apply for the NCLEX and Oregon licensure—submit the electronic form Oregon Application for LPN/RN Licensure by Examination for US Educated Nurses and the processing fee.  

Next steps: After you submit your application and payment, you will receive an email with the next steps for you to take:

  1. Background Check: Once your application and full payment are received, you will receive either an email from OSBN (US residents) or an information packet via postal mail (non-US residents) with instructions on how to complete the fingerprinting process for your national criminal background check.  More information about Oregon’s digital fingerprint system: Frequently Asked Questions about fingerprinting.
  2. Register with PearsonVUE to take the NCLEX at www.pearsonvue.com/nclex.  PearsonVUE manages registration and test scheduling for Oregon.  You will have to pay a testing fee.  NOTE: Once OSBN verifies you have registered and application requirements are complete, our staff will release you to test, and PearsonVUE will email you with information to schedule a test date.
Please Note: 

RN/LPN Licensure Fees and Refund Policy

  • RN or LPN Licensure by Examination:  $160.
  • Oregon Nursing Advancement Fund Surcharge:  $9.
  • Only credit card payments accepted.​  Fees submitted as part of the application process are not refundable, per ORS 678.410(2).  Be certain that you intend to complete the process before submitting your payment.  If you have any questions regarding your eligibility, or there is an error in your payment, please call our Customer Service Center at 971-673-0685 or e-mail oregon.bn.info@osbn.oregon.gov.

Helpful Links

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