Oklahoma Nursing License Renewal Requirements: Tips for Current RNs
Written by:
University of Tulsa
• Jan 6, 2025
Oklahoma Nursing License Renewal Requirements: Tips for Current RNs
A nursing license is essential to professional practice, ensuring nurses have the knowledge, clinical skills, and ethical standards needed to provide high-quality patient care. Maintaining an active nursing license requires regular renewal.
Each state has its own board of nursing, meaning license application and renewal requirements are not uniform throughout the U.S. After exploring what a nursing license is and why it’s important, we’ll examine Oklahoma’s nursing license renewal requirements. Current nurses and aspiring nurses pursuing a nursing degree will find this information valuable, as it can help them prevent having a lapsed license.
What Is a Registered Nursing License?
A registered nursing license is a legal credential issued by a state nursing board that grants nurses the authority to practice as a registered nurse (RN) in a specific jurisdiction. Licensure is important because it:
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Ensures competency: Licensure confirms that nurses possess the necessary skills and knowledge to provide safe and effective care.
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Protects patients: By enforcing professional standards, licensure helps prevent unqualified individuals from practicing nursing.
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Promotes accountability: Licensure requires adherence to ethical and professional guidelines, holding nurses accountable for their actions.
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Supports career opportunities: An active license is essential for employment, as health care facilities require proof of licensure to remain compliant with state laws.
What Happens When a Nurse’s License Expires?
An expired license can have serious consequences for a nurse, both professionally and legally. Failing to renew a nursing license on time can lead to:
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Inability to practice: Practicing without a valid nursing license is illegal and may result in disciplinary action from the state board of nursing.
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Fines and penalties: Nurses may face monetary fines or penalties for practicing with an expired license, even if the lapse was unintentional.
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Loss of employment: Employers require nurses to maintain active licensure. An expired license may result in suspension or termination.
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Reinstatement challenges: Reinstating a lapsed license can be time-consuming and costly, requiring additional fees and documentation, and sometimes a reexamination.
To avoid these issues, Oklahoma nurses must stay informed about Oklahoma’s nursing license renewal requirements and deadlines, and proactively address them to eliminate the risk of fines, loss of employment, and other inconveniences.
What Are the Oklahoma Nursing License Renewal Requirements?
Renewing a nursing license in Oklahoma involves meeting specific state-mandated requirements, which include completing continuing education (CE) and submitting a renewal application. Oklahoma’s nursing license renewal requirements state that, to renew their license, registered nurses in Oklahoma must have completed one or more of the following continuing qualifications for practice within the past two years before the license’s expiration date:
- At least 520 verifiable work hours
- At least 24 hours of continuing education
- A nursing specialty certification
- A refresher course that’s approved by the Oklahoma Board of Nursing
- At least six academic nursing coursework credit hours at the nurse’s current level or higher
Specific guidelines for these qualifications are as follows:
Employment Guidelines
Oklahoma’s nursing license renewal requirements include guidelines for employment. RNs must work at least 520 verifiable hours within the previous two-year period. If the nurse’s license is audited, the employer must complete an Employment Verification Form that includes the nurse’s job description.
Guidelines for Continuing Education Contact Hours
Per Oklahoma’s nursing license renewal requirements, contact hours must be obtained through an accredited approver of continuing education or through a nursing education program that the State of Oklahoma approves.
One contact hour is defined as 50 minutes; one academic semester credit hour equals 16 contact hours. Contact hours must be relevant to nursing practice. Nurses are responsible for maintaining documentation of their credit hours, as they are requested during licensure audits.
Certification Guidelines for Specialized Nursing Practice
Certification in a nursing specialty area can be used to validate a nurse’s continuing education qualification. The nursing certification must be obtained through an accredited nursing certification program, and the nurse must retain a copy of the certificate in case they are audited.
Board-Approved Refresher Course Guidelines
A board-approved refresher course completed within the two-year renewal period can be used to verify a nurse’s continuing education qualification for practice. Nurses should refer to the Oklahoma Board of Nursing’s approved list of refresher courses to confirm they will get credit. Moreover, nurses should keep a copy of their certificate of completion for audit purposes.
Academic Semester Credit Hours Guidelines
Nurses may use educational coursework to verify their continuing education qualification. Per Oklahoma’s nursing license renewal requirements, nurses must complete at least six academic semester credit hours in nursing coursework that meets or exceeds their current level of licensure. Support courses and general education courses cannot be used. If a nurse is audited, they must provide a copy of their academic transcripts as verification of their academic coursework.
How to Get a Lapsed Oklahoma Nursing License Reinstated
If the license of a nurse who wants to continue working as a nurse has expired, it’s critical that they promptly reinstate it. Reinstatement requirements in Oklahoma include additional steps compared to a standard renewal. Oklahoma nurses should refer to Form RS-02 from the Oklahoma Board of Nursing if all three of the following criteria apply:
- They have previously been licensed in Oklahoma
- Their current license is lapsed, revoked, voluntarily surrendered, suspended, or inactive
- They want to reinstate their license as a single-state license
Nurses must meet the Oklahoma Board of Nursing’s requirements for successful reinstatement. These include:
- Completion of an application
- Payment of an application fee
- Verification of citizenship
- Verification of continuing qualifications of practice
- Completion of a fingerprint-based criminal background check
Nurses are advised to read Form RS-02’s instructions carefully, as an incomplete application can delay the process, and application fees are nonrefundable.
Elevate Your Nursing Career With a BSN Degree
Maintaining an active nursing license is a fundamental responsibility for all nurses. Complying with Oklahoma’s nursing license renewal requirements ensures that nurses remain competent and legally authorized to practice, protecting both their patients and their professional reputations.
Continuing education plays a vital role in staying informed about advancements in nursing practice and meeting licensure requirements. RNs with a nursing diploma or associate degree in nursing greatly benefit from furthering their education, which they can do in the RN to Bachelor of Science in Nursing (RN to BSN) program offered at The University of Tulsa.
Designed for career-oriented nurses looking to move into leadership roles, the RN to BSN program can be completed in as little as 12 months. Graduates of this accredited nursing program qualify for higher-level roles, including nursing managers, unit managers, and nurse case managers.
Learn more about The University of Tulsa’s RN to BSN program and its curriculum to see how nursing education supports your career growth.
Recommended Readings
Clinic vs. Hospital Nursing: Which One Should You Choose?
Nursing Manager: Salary and Job Description
What Is Health Promotion in Nursing Practice?
Sources:
IntelyCare, Oklahoma Board of Nursing License Renewal: 3 Steps
National Council of State Boards of Nursing, Licensure
Oklahoma Board of Nursing, Instructions for Reinstatement or Return to Active Status for RN and
Oklahoma Board of Nursing, Review Application Types, Instructions, Information
