Continuing Education Requirements Resource for Oregon Nurses

Are we ever really done learning? The wise answer is “no.” In fact, “no” is the only correct answer.

Continued learning is not a concept specific to nursing; many licensing organizations mandate ongoing education to maintain licensure. That means the terminology and acronyms thrown around can vary, as can their definitions. If you type in the phrase “Oregon RN license renewal CEU requirements” or even “Nurse CE 4 less in Oregon,” you’ll find a bevy of options; however, terminology matters when it comes to your license renewal. Oregon doesn’t use the term continuing education units (CEUs). What does Oregon use? How much do you need to renew your nursing license?

The terminology used by the Oregon Administrative Rules is simply continuing education, while the Oregon State Board of Nursing (OSBN) refers to continuing education also by the acronym CE.

Oregon LPN License Renewal Requirements

Oregon LPNs must renew their licenses every two years. The following renewal requirements apply:

You must complete two hours of cultural competency continuing education. (Required for every renewal)
You must complete the Oregon Pain Management Commission module, which is one continuing education hour. (Required for every renewal)
You must have 400 nursing practice hours within the two years before renewal.

If you do not have 400 nursing practice hours in the required timeframe but meet one of the following alternative renewal requirements, you are still eligible for renewal:

You have 600 nursing practice hours within the previous three years and 20 documented continuing education hours. (Employer-required continuing education does not apply.)
You have 800 nursing practice hours and 30 documented continuing education hours within the previous four years. (Employer-required continuing education does not apply.)

Source: Oregon Administrative Rule 851-031-0048 (Most recent data as of October 2023)

Oregon RN License Renewal Requirements

RN license renewal in Oregon is obligatory every two years. The requirements for renewal are the following:

You must complete two hours of cultural competency continuing education. (Required for every renewal)
You must complete the Oregon Pain Management Commission module, which is one continuing education hour. (Required for every renewal)
You must have 400 nursing practice hours within the two years before renewal.

If you do not have 400 nursing practice hours in the required timeframe but meet one of the following alternative renewal requirements, you are still eligible for renewal:

You have 600 nursing practice hours within the previous three years and 20 documented continuing education hours. (Employer-required continuing education does not apply.)
You have 800 nursing practice hours and 30 documented continuing education hours within the previous four years. (Employer-required continuing education does not apply.)

Source: Oregon Administrative Rule 851-031-0048 (Most recent information as of October 2023)

Oregon APRN License Renewal Requirements

The license renewal requirements for advanced practice registered nurses (APRNs) in Oregon are as follows:

You must complete two hours of cultural competency continuing education. (Required for every renewal)
You must complete the Oregon Pain Management Commission module, which is one continuing education hour. (Required for every renewal)
You must maintain an active RN license. (The OSBN does not issue an APRN-titled license.)
You must meet one of the following conditions:

Have 400 APRN-level practice hours within the two years before renewal.
Be at most two years out of your APRN program graduation.
Be within two years of a re-entry program approved by the OSBN.
Be within two years of completing a post-master certificate in the renewal specialty.

You must maintain a national certification compatible with the specialty and license type for nurse practitioners and certified registered nurse anesthetists.

To renew your prescriptive authority, you must do the following:

Submit documentation that you have completed the online Prescriptive and Dispensing Authority in Oregon interactive video.
Complete 150 hours of pharmacological management within the two years before renewal. Pharmacological hours are defined as follows:

You issue prescriptions or orders for individual patients or populations.
You establish protocols and orders for drug therapy.
You are a participating member of a committee (state, facility, or professional formulary) that makes recommendations for drug selection.
You act as an investigator for drug studies.
You teach APRN-level pharmacology courses.
You conduct and publish drug therapy patient management research.
You are an expert consultant for prescription standards.
You graduated from your APRN program within the two years before renewal.

Source: Oregon Administrative Rule 851-053-0015 (Most recent information as of October 2023)

Additional Nurse License Renewal Information

The Oregon Board of Nursing website explicitly states that the cultural competency continuing education (CCCE) and pain management continuing education requirements are obligatory at every renewal period. These two CE requirements are not unique only to nurses. As such, the Oregon Health Authority maintains a list of approved CCCE training courses. Moreover, nurses must take the identified pain management course since it is the only training that meets this continuing education requirement.

The Oregon Board of Nurses has transitioned most functions to its online portal. Therefore, check out the Nurse Portal to look up your Oregon RN license, make changes to your information, apply for your initial license, or renew your current nursing license. Click here for more information on working in Oregon as a nurse.