Become Nurse in Oklahoma: Requirements & Licensing

Oklahoma’s demand for nurses has never been greater. Healthcare and social assistance has reigned as the state’s largest industry since 2008, after manufacturing and retail trade declined. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, Oklahoma’s manufacturing job losses mirror events in 33 other states in 2015. Today, nursing schools in Oklahoma offer graduates access to a robust job market.

Since 2018, the Sooner State has employed some 56,000 registered nurses (RNs), 18,000 licensed practical nurses (LPNs), and 3,572 advanced practice registered nurses (APRNs). Data from the governor’s Council for Workforce and Economic Development show that the state expects a nursing shortage, with a ratio of 700 RNs per 100,000 people. This figure falls far below the national average.

Keep reading to learn how to become an RN in Oklahoma and what nurses in the state can expect to earn.

Nurses work in a variety of settings, holding both entry-level and advanced positions. Different points of entry prepare individuals for nursing careers. While a two-year associate degree prepares nurses to work in Oklahoma for certain entry-level jobs, employers often prefer candidates with at least a bachelor’s degree.

Regardless of the job and industry, all prospective nurses must complete state-approved programs from nursing schools in Oklahoma or beyond.

A total of 82 Oklahoma nursing schools offer online training programs at all degree levels, including several highly rated colleges and universities. ADN programs require two years of study, BSN candidates typically finish in 2-4 years, and graduate degrees take a minimum of two years to complete.

While online nursing programs in Oklahoma typically offer coursework entirely online, clinical training requires in-person attendance. Online nursing students already working in a healthcare setting can often complete clinical hours at their places of employment.

Students without jobs might jumpstart their nursing careers with accelerated online programs. For example, candidates may earn an ADN in two years and become a licensed RN, then earn an RN-to-BSN in just two years while working, taking a total of four years to earn both degrees.

Virtually all top online nursing schools in Oklahoma maintain the same admission requirements for online and on-campus students.

The Oklahoma Board of Nursing licenses LPNs, RNs, and NPs, and prescribes educational standards for nurse training programs. The Oklahoma State Department of Health manages CNA certification and training.

Oklahoma CNAs hold at least one specialized license in developmentally disabled care, home healthcare, long-term care, adult day care, residential care, and/or medication. Each specialty area imposes its own in-class and clinical training requirements.

The nursing board offers programs to increase and retain its nursing workforce, such as a streamlined licensing process for active military and their spouses. The board also supports nurses struggling with alcohol and/or drug dependence through its Peer Assistance Program.

State licensing criteria varies according to the level of license sought. The following section describes the requirements for each type of Oklahoma nursing licensure.

As the following table indicates, each licensure level imposes its own requirements for minimum degrees, clinical hours, licensing exams, renewal, and continuing education.

A nurse’s career ambitions determine “the best” nursing specialty to pursue. Many specialize in high demand areas like pediatrics, oncology, or emergency room care. Those who want to work in slower-paced environments may choose to become nurse educators or researchers.

That depends on an individual’s interests, and what matters most to them. Students in nursing programs in Oklahoma choose certain fields for many reasons, including pay, stability, work setting, and compatibility. Nurses may choose a field where they can work directly with patients, such as pain management, or work independently analyzing data as a nurse researcher.

An RN in Oklahoma spends 2-3 years earning an associate degree, the minimum requirement for entry-level nursing jobs. While employers accept associate degree-holders, nurses with a four-year bachelor degree hold a better advantage in the hiring process. Both degrees require clinical experience. Future RNs must also take the NCLEX within 1-2 months of graduation.

Oklahoma offers promise for nurses at all levels, particularly RNs. The state is home to a diverse group of nurses who work primarily in hospitals. About 11,722 out of 56,000 RNs in Oklahoma are employed in hospitals, most as staff nurses. Annual mean wages for RNs reached $64,800 in 2019.

Oklahoma enacted the enhanced Nurse Licensure Compact (eNLC) in 2017 for RNs and LPNs. The eNLC allows RNs and LPNs with Oklahoma multi-state licenses to practice in other member states without applying for another license. Visit this page to find member states.

Due to the diverse makeup of Oklahoma’s nursing workforce, salaries differ dramatically by industry, job, and educational experience. Entry-level nursing professionals, such as nursing assistants earn a mean annual salary of $26,030, according to BLS data. Mean annual salaries for LPNs reached $42,090 in 2019.

Salaries increase as nurses earn a higher education. RNs enjoy a mean annual wage of $64,800, and NPs take home $113,200 a year.

Projected employment increases also vary by occupation. Nationwide, the BLS projects jobs for all healthcare diagnosing or treating practitioners to increase by 10% from 2019-29. Employment of RNs nationally should increase by 7% and CNAs by 8%. Outpacing all other nursing positions, jobs for NPs should grow by 45%.