Oregon State Board of Nursing
Oregon Nursing CE Requirements
Oregon RNs and LPNs must complete the state-mandated topics listed below to renew; each has its own schedule.
At a glance
Oregon nursing license renewal
| Licenses covered | Registered nurse (RN), Licensed practical nurse (LPN) [1] |
|---|---|
| CE required for renewal | Yes [3] |
| CE period | Every 2 years [1] |
| Renewal deadline | A license is valid for two years from the date it is issued; the renewal application must be submitted by 11:59 p.m. on the license expiration date. [1] |
| State-mandated topics | Pain management (Oregon Pain Management Commission module); Cultural competency [4] |
| What CE counts | CE must be in nursing topics relevant to the nurse's area of practice and license type, unless the rule indicates otherwise. [1] |
State-mandated topics
- Pain management (Oregon Pain Management Commission module) — 1 hour [4]
All RNs and LPNs, every 36 months: the one-hour module from the Oregon Pain Management Commission. From 2028 it may be counted toward the 20-hour total.
- Cultural competency — 2 hours [1]
All RNs and LPNs, every other renewal cycle (every 48 months). The education does not need to be accredited; the Oregon Health Authority keeps a registry of cultural competence training. From 2028 it may be counted toward the 20-hour total.
Good to know
- Until 2028, renewal requires the one-hour pain management and two-hour cultural competency education. From January 1, 2028, RNs and LPNs will also need 20 hours of continuing education earned within the prior two years. [2]
- Since January 1, 2026, practice hours are no longer required for renewal; continuing education is used to assure competency instead. [3]
Rules change, and your own license record decides your deadline. Confirm with the Oregon State Board of Nursing ↗ before you renew.
Free continuing education
Free nursing CE
The Oregon State Board of Nursing pages we checked do not name an accreditor we track, so we do not mark individual courses as accepted here. Check a course's approval against the board's rule before relying on it.
Questions
Oregon nursing CE, answered
How many CE hours do Oregon nurses need?
Oregon RNs and LPNs must complete the state-mandated topics listed below to renew; each has its own schedule. A license is valid for two years from the date it is issued; the renewal application must be submitted by 11:59 p.m. on the license expiration date.
Does Oregon require specific CE topics for nurses?
Pain management (Oregon Pain Management Commission module) (1 hours): All RNs and LPNs, every 36 months: the one-hour module from the Oregon Pain Management Commission. From 2028 it may be counted toward the 20-hour total. Cultural competency (2 hours): All RNs and LPNs, every other renewal cycle (every 48 months). The education does not need to be accredited; the Oregon Health Authority keeps a registry of cultural competence training. From 2028 it may be counted toward the 20-hour total.
Do free online CE courses count in Oregon?
CE must be in nursing topics relevant to the nurse's area of practice and license type, unless the rule indicates otherwise. Check that a free course meets this rule before relying on it.
Sources & verification
Every fact above links to the official page it comes from. We fetched each page on the date shown and confirmed the exact wording below appears on it.
- Oregon Secretary of State — OAR Chapter 851, Division 31: License Requirements for Nurses ↗secure.sos.state.or.us · HTML · Retrieved Oct 12, 2026
Quoted wording (8)
“LPN or RN applicants, 20 hours within the prior two years;”
“A nursing license is valid for two years from the date it is issued.”
“A nursing license is valid for two years from the date it is issued. Licensees must apply for renewal by 11:59 p.m. on the date of their license expiration to be considered timely.”
“The CE listed in sections (1) and (2) of this rule may be counted toward the applicant’s required number of CE hours under section (3) or (4) of this rule.”
“All applicants must complete two hours of cultural competency continuing education (CE) every other renewal cycle.”
“The CE listed in sections (1) and (2) of this rule may be counted toward the applicant’s required number of CE hours under section (3) or (4) of this rule.”
“Unless otherwise indicated in this rule, all CE must be in nursing topics relevant to the applicant’s area of practice and license type.”
“LPN or RN applicants, 20 hours within the prior two years;”
- Oregon State Board of Nursing — Competency Requirements ↗www.oregon.gov · HTML · Retrieved Oct 12, 2026
Quoted wording (3)
“LPN, RN, or APRN Renewal Applicants One-hour pain management education in the last 36 months.”
“Beginning January 1, 2028, the following will also be required for renewal:LPN and RN applicants will need to provide evidence of 20 hours of continuing education.”
“Two hours of cultural competency education in the past 48 months.”
- Oregon State Board of Nursing — Continuing Education Requirements for Renewal (fact sheet) ↗www.oregon.gov · PDF · Retrieved Oct 12, 2026
Quoted wording (3)
“As of January 1, 2026, practice hours will no longer be required for Oregon licensed nurses or certified nursing assistants and medication aides. Going forward, continuing education hours will be used to assure competency.”
“AS OF JANUARY 1, 2026 LPN, RN, or APRN Renewal Applicants: • • One-hour pain management education in the last 36 months.”
“As of January 1, 2026, practice hours will no longer be required for Oregon licensed nurses or certified nursing assistants and medication aides. Going forward, continuing education hours will be used to assure competency.”
- Oregon State Board of Nursing — Pain Management Continuing Education (CE) ↗www.oregon.gov · HTML · Retrieved Oct 12, 2026
Quoted wording (3)
“Oregon law requires all licensed nurses and other health professionals to receive one hour of pain management continuing education upon initial licensure and every 36 months thereafter.”
“This one (1) hour must be the Oregon Pain Management Commission module.”
“You must retake the Oregon Pain Management Commission module every 36 months.”
- Oregon State Board of Nursing — Cultural Competency Continuing Education (CE) ↗www.oregon.gov · HTML · Retrieved Oct 12, 2026
Quoted wording (3)
“Do I have to take 2 hours of cultural competence CE for renewal of my license? Yes.”
“you will need to complete the cultural competency CE every 48 months thereafter.”
“This education does not need to be accredited or provide continuing education unit hours. The Oregon Health Authority (OHA) has established a registry of cultural competence training on its website.”