Top LPN Programs in Oregon

Oregon LPN Schools and License Requirements, Salary and Job Outlook

The United States is on the verge of a shortage of nursing professionals. It is because of the aging population and increment in the chronic diseases in the country. Due to this, both LPN and LVN are in huge demand in the nursing industry.

Licensed practical nursing is a profession in which professionals work for the welfare of patients and take care of their basic requirements. These nurses work under the guidance of registered nurses, physicians or doctors. They perform the routine care tasks like inserting and caring for urinary catheters, collecting specimens such as blood, urine, sputum, etc., wound dressing administering intravenous and oral medications. LPNs also care for patients on ventilators and with the tracheostomy tube. These nurses get employment at rehabilitation centers, private clinics, hospitals, nursing homes, etc. Also, they are employed by federal and state government agencies to work as consultants to resolve health-related problems in communities and cities.

Licensed practical nursing aspirants who want to pursue their degree, certificate or diploma program from Oregon can opt a suitable course for themselves out of 14 accredited nursing schools in Oregon. For facts and data about salary, schools, license requirements and job outlook of a licensed practical nurse in the state of Oregon, refer to the information given below –

LPN Schools in Oregon

OUR METHODOLOGY +

A nursing school ranks on the top according to the following criteria-

• Higher Passing Rate of Alumni in NCLEX
• Financial Aid that a school provides
• Higher number of students

The nursing schools were then included in the ranking on the basis of following factors-

• Well-developed Architecture
• Better Infrastructure
• Superior Technology
• Ranking in US News and World Report
• Teachings offered by world-class faculty
• Inclusion of world-class facilities
• World-class Opportunities

We hope that the list will help you to opt the best college as per your preferences in the state. The programs available in these colleges will give you an opportunity to begin your journey as a successful nurse.

License Requirements for an LPN/LVN in Oregon

After completing the LPN course from accredited nursing schools, university or college, a candidate has to gain a license from the state board of nursing. Processing related to the licensure is undertaken by the Nursing Board of Oregon. Every student has to fulfill the requirements as asked by the state board. The license can be obtained either via endorsement or examination. One has to follow the procedure given below, in order to become a practical nurse in Oregon.

Step 1. LPN/LVN Programs

At first, a candidate who wants to become licensed as a registered licensed practical nurse in the state of Oregon has to either become certified or obtain a degree or diploma from an approved university, college or school. The state has some schools that offer different courses related to licensed practical nursing.

Step 2. State Exam

Once you are done with LPN course, you have to apply for the state exam. Then only, you would be able to apply for the certificate to the Oregon State Board of Nursing. Also, you must pass the NCLEX-PN exam. This mode of gaining licensure is for the candidates who have graduated from approved schools or universities. They could be either new students or nurses who are getting licensed in the U.S. for the very first time. To obtain license by this method, individuals need to follow the following procedure –

1. Submit the duly filled application form with $160.
2. A passport size photo must be attached (not taken before 6 months of application)
3. Undergo a criminal background check and fingerprint process.
4. Register with PearsonVUE as it will manage your registration and test scheduling.
5. Request your school of graduation to send electronic transcripts comprising the name of the degree and date on which it was awarded directly to the Oregon nursing board.
6. If you qualify for testing accommodations, submit the form and related documents to OSBN

Step 3. Application of Licensure

After getting passing scores in the exam, you can request for a license as a licensed practical nurse. You just need to submit an application form to the Nursing Board of Oregon. With the form, you also need to prove a passport sized photograph, certification and authorization form and fee for application via check or by money order.

Step 4. Verification

Once the board gets all your documents and transcripts, they need some time to verify all the information. This may take some weeks or months. If all your data satisfies the board, you name will be included in Oregon nurse aide registry, and then, you are considered as a registered licensed practical nurse. After that, you are legally allowed to practice as an LPN in the state.

Step 5. Maintenence of Licensure

Besides obtaining a license in any state to work as an LPN, it is also essential for every individual to maintain and renew the license after every 2 years. Candidates have to renew it before their licensure period expires, in order to continue practicing as LPN without any interruption.

License Renewal

License renewal is as important as to obtain a license to continuously practice as a registered licensed practical nurse. You can apply online to renew the license in the state of Oregon, before the expiration of licensure period. The date of expiration is decided by the board. Here are the methods for license renewal in Oregon.

LPN license renewal requirements –

• It is must for a candidate to practice nursing for at least 960 hours in the last 5 years.
• Completion of an approved re-entry program in the two years before renewal.
• Graduation from an accredited nursing program in the last 5 years.

LPN Licensure Fee

• LPN License Fee for Endorsement – $195
• LPN License Fee for Examination – $160
• Late Renewal Fee – $100
• Workforce Data Analysis Surcharge at Renewal – $4
• LPN Renewal Fee – $145
• Oregon Nursing Advancement Fund Surcharge – $9

Licensure by Endorsement

Application for licensure by endorsement is available online for the aspirants of LPN who have passed the NCLEX-PN or US SBTPE and are licensed either in any other state or US Jurisdiction. In order to obtain a license by endorsement in the state, you have to visit the Oregon State Board of Nursing website – http://www.oregon.gov/OSBN

There are some instructions that the candidates need to follow and some requirements that are to be fulfilled by the applicants. They are as follows –

• Fee for application must be paid directly by the applicant. Third-party payment will not be accepted and will be returned. This may lead to delay in application processing.
• OSBN conducts a national fingerprint-based criminal background check for those who are looking for a license or certificate in Oregon. Extra fee of $64.50 payable to Fieldprint Inc. ( an independent organization contracted by the State of Oregon to provide electronic fingerprinting services). For this, you have to visit the website of Fieldprint Inc. to fix an electronic fingerprinting appointment.
• Within 6 months after the application of licensure by endorsement, if you have been issued with some other OSBN certificate or license, you are not required to complete a fingerprint-based background while applying this time.
• All the sections of the application form must be completely and properly filled. Also, sign the authorization part properly. A copy of application forms are not accepted, individuals have to submit applications.
• Send a check or money order of correct amount to the Oregon State Board of Nursing, as a failure of submission may delay the process.
• If you want to verify your license, visit the site http://www.nursys.com/
• You have to contact your school of graduation to provide all the transcripts that are required to gain licensure. If the institute subscribes a national document transfer network, you may ask the officials to send the transcripts and document to the Nursing Board of Oregon at [email protected]
• If your legal name differs from the one on your transcripts, you need to submit a Name Change and/or Address request form and a proof of the change with the application form.

Endorsement Eligibility Criteria –

• First and foremost requirement to gain a license in the state of Oregon is to become a graduate from an accredited licensed practical nursing program.
• Secondly, it is must for every candidate to work as an LPN, for at least 960 hours in the last five years.
• Criminal background check is also a must.
• The state board demands for a written verification from the state where you have passed NCLEX-PN irrespective of the number of years since you sat for the examination. It is must for a candidate to undertake only the exams developed by the National Council of State Boards of Nursing, Inc. Any method of licensure exam other than this is not acceptable by the board.
• If the license that you are using is from some other state than the initial state of licensure, Oregon nursing board also demands verification from that state.
• Candidates whose schooling is from any United States school of nursing have to submit their academic transcript which serves as a document of English proficiency. If you are educated from a school outside of the United States of America, you are asked to give evidence of English language proficiency.

License Procedure for the Students Outside the United States

Non-Oregon Nurses Who Have Never Been Licensed in the U.S.

If you are educated from a nursing school outside the country, and also you have never obtained a nursing license in a state or jurisdiction of the United States, along with the completion of application of licensure by examination you need to go for a criminal background check too.

• Such candidates are required to submit a CGFNS Certificate or VISA-Screen®.
• Nursing college transcripts evaluated by an Oregon State Board of Nursing accredited independent credentials and language evaluation form. If your education is considered equal to the nursing education in America, you will fulfill the demands and requirements of OSBN for licensure.

Also, you need to submit the proof of your English language proficiency in any one of the following ways –

1. Evidence about your nursing education, preponderance, and textbooks that they were in the English Language.
2. An original report that shows your result of 560 marks for the written examination or 220 marks in the computer test on the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL).
3. An original report showing a score of minimum 780 marks in the Test of English for International Communication (TOEIC) exam.
4. An original report that shows a score of 6.5 with at least 6.0 on all the modules of International English Language Testing System (IELTS) (Academic Module).
5. An original certificate from the Commission on Graduates of Foreign Schools of Nursing (CGFNS).
6. A VISA-Screen® certificate.

Nurses Who Have Been Licensed in Another State or Jurisdiction and Coming to Oregon

If you were in a school of nursing outside of the United States of America and have ever been licensed in a United States jurisdiction or state other than Oregon, you need to complete the form for LPN licensure by endorsement and to undertake a criminal background check.

• Submit a VISA-Screen® or CGFNS. If you don’t have any of these two follow the following step –
• Nursing college transcripts assessed by an Oregon State Board of Nursing accredited independent credentials and language evaluation form. In case, your education is considered equal to the nursing education in America, you will meet the demands and requisites of OSBN for licensure.

Also, you need to provide a proof of your English language proficiency in any one of the following ways –

1. Submission of evidence regarding your English medium nursing education, preponderance, and textbooks.
2. An original report of your result of 560 marks for the written examination or at least 220 marks in the computer test on the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL).
3. An original report that shows of minimum 780 marks in the Test of English for International Communication (TOEIC) exam.
4. An original report showing a score of 6.5 with at least 6.0 in all the modules of International English Language Testing System (IELTS) (Academic Module).
5. An original certificate given by the Commission on Graduates of Foreign Schools of Nursing (CGFNS).
6. A VISA-Screen® certificate.

Salary of a Licensed Practical Nurse in Oregon

As per the statistics of indeed.com, an average salary of a licensed practical nurse in Oregon was 49,000, as of October 5, 2016. While data of bls.gov shows that mean hourly wage and mean annual wage of an LPN were $23.63 and $49,160 respectively. For detailed information regarding the wages of different job titles related to this profession and in all the cities, of Oregon, consider the data given below-

Information Source: indeed.com (as of October 4, 2016)

According to the data in the table above, the salary of Psychiatric Nurses was the highest with $55,000, while Patient Care Technician Students were paid the least with $15,000.

Annual Median Salaries Of LPNs In Different Cities Of Oregon

Name of the City	Annual Median Salary
Albany	$44,633
Beaverton	$46,500
Bend	$39,651
Clackamas	$46,500
Corvallis	$44,633
Eugene	$44,633
Gresham	$46,500
Hillsboro	$46,500
Lake Oswego	$46,500
Medford	$40,914
Oregon City	$46,500
Portland	$46,500
Salem	$44,633
Springfield	$42,110

Information Source: salary.com (as of August 2016)

According to this data, vocational or practical nursing professionals were paid the least, i.e., $39,651 in Bend and their highest wage i.e. $46,500 was in 7 cities out of 14.

Job Outlook of a Licensed Vocational/Practical Nurse in Oregon

It is reported that licensed practical or vocational nurses are paid quite high in all the areas of Oregon. An average salary of Oregon is 23rd among all the states of the United States. Average Practical Nursing for job postings are 4 percent lower in Oregon as compared to the average of job postings all over the country. Thus, these advantages make the aspirants of this profession to opt Oregon to become a licensed practical nurse. There are some good institutes in the state, from where you can pursue a certificate, degree or diploma program and can practice as an LPN. These professionals are offered with jobs from Correct Care Solutions, Providence Health &amp Services, Maxim Healthcare Services, etc.