Getting a Oregon nursing license by endorsement

Reviewed by Keegan, RN · ER & NICU travel nurse

Endorsement timeline, fees & requirements · Verified 2026-06-18

Not published. The board states only that processing depends on receipt of the background check and all other documents; no fixed figure is given.

Oregon endorsement at a glance

What the board publishes

Board-sourced

How it works: Oregon grants licensure by endorsement to an RN actively or formerly licensed in another state, applied for through the OSBN online portal.
Processing time: Not published. The board states only that processing depends on receipt of the background check and all other documents; no fixed figure is given.
Work while waiting: No temporary permit for endorsement applicants. A narrow statutory exception lets a non-resident nurse work a single staffing assignment only if an endorsement application is already on file, but that is not a board-issued permit.
Requirements: Nursys verification, a Fieldprint state and federal background check, official transcripts, and one hour of pain-management training from the Oregon Pain Management Commission within the last 36 months. No state jurisprudence exam.
Fees: $195.
Compact rules: Oregon is not a compact state, so a multistate license from another state does not authorize Oregon practice. You must apply for an Oregon license by endorsement.

Source: Oregon State Board of Nursing, LPN/RN by endorsement application steps, last checked 2026-06-18. Fees and timelines change; confirm with the board before you rely on a date.

Steps to endorse into Oregon

1Confirm you need a Oregon license: Oregon is not a compact state, so an out-of-state license will not cover you.
2Verify every nursing license you have held through Nursys (or the board's paper verification form for non-Nursys states).
3Complete the required criminal background check and fingerprinting.
4Submit the Oregon State Board of Nursing endorsement application and fee, plus any transcripts, state coursework, or jurisprudence exam the board requires.
5Apply for a temporary or interim permit if the state offers one and you need to work before the permanent license issues.

Start at the source: Oregon State Board of Nursing or the online licensing portal. Not sure if you even need to endorse? The compact eligibility quiz sorts compact privilege from a required license in two minutes.

Oregon endorsement FAQ

How long does it take to get a Oregon nursing license by endorsement?: Not published. The board states only that processing depends on receipt of the background check and all other documents; no fixed figure is given.
Can I work in Oregon while my endorsement application is processing?: No temporary permit for endorsement applicants. A narrow statutory exception lets a non-resident nurse work a single staffing assignment only if an endorsement application is already on file, but that is not a board-issued permit.
Do I need a Oregon license if I already hold a compact multistate license?: Oregon is not a compact state, so a multistate license from another state does not authorize Oregon practice. You must apply for an Oregon license by endorsement.
How much does Oregon endorsement cost?: $195.

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Oregon endorsement at a glance

What the board publishes

Board-sourced

How it works: Oregon grants licensure by endorsement to an RN actively or formerly licensed in another state, applied for through the OSBN online portal.
Processing time: Not published. The board states only that processing depends on receipt of the background check and all other documents; no fixed figure is given.
Work while waiting: No temporary permit for endorsement applicants. A narrow statutory exception lets a non-resident nurse work a single staffing assignment only if an endorsement application is already on file, but that is not a board-issued permit.
Requirements: Nursys verification, a Fieldprint state and federal background check, official transcripts, and one hour of pain-management training from the Oregon Pain Management Commission within the last 36 months. No state jurisprudence exam.
Fees: $195.
Compact rules: Oregon is not a compact state, so a multistate license from another state does not authorize Oregon practice. You must apply for an Oregon license by endorsement.

Source: Oregon State Board of Nursing, LPN/RN by endorsement application steps, last checked 2026-06-18. Fees and timelines change; confirm with the board before you rely on a date.

Steps to endorse into Oregon

1Confirm you need a Oregon license: Oregon is not a compact state, so an out-of-state license will not cover you.

2Verify every nursing license you have held through Nursys (or the board's paper verification form for non-Nursys states).

3Complete the required criminal background check and fingerprinting.

4Submit the Oregon State Board of Nursing endorsement application and fee, plus any transcripts, state coursework, or jurisprudence exam the board requires.

5Apply for a temporary or interim permit if the state offers one and you need to work before the permanent license issues.

Oregon endorsement FAQ

How long does it take to get a Oregon nursing license by endorsement?

Not published. The board states only that processing depends on receipt of the background check and all other documents; no fixed figure is given.

Can I work in Oregon while my endorsement application is processing?

No temporary permit for endorsement applicants. A narrow statutory exception lets a non-resident nurse work a single staffing assignment only if an endorsement application is already on file, but that is not a board-issued permit.

Do I need a Oregon license if I already hold a compact multistate license?

Oregon is not a compact state, so a multistate license from another state does not authorize Oregon practice. You must apply for an Oregon license by endorsement.

How much does Oregon endorsement cost?

$195.