Western Oklahoma State College

Licensure Disclosure

Western Oklahoma State College Department of Nursing is approved by the Oklahoma Board of Nursing. Graduates of this state-approved program are eligible to apply to write the National Council Licensure Examination (NCLEX) for registered nurses. Applicants for Oklahoma licensure must meet all state and federal requirements to hold an Oklahoma license to practice nursing. In addition  to completing a state-approved nursing education program that meets educational requirements and successfully passing the licensure examination, requirements  include submission of an application for licensure, a criminal history records  search, and evidence of citizenship or qualified alien status [59 O.S. §§567.5 &  567.6]. To be granted a license, an applicant must have the legal right to be in the United States (United States Code Chapter 8, Section 1621). In addition, Oklahoma law only allows a license to be issued to U.S. citizens, U.S. nationals, and legal permanent resident aliens. Other qualified aliens may be issued a temporary license that is valid until the expiration of their visa status, or if there is no expiration date, for one year. Applicants who are qualified aliens must present to the Board office, in person, valid documentary evidence of: 

1. A valid, unexpired immigrant or nonimmigrant visa status for admission into the United States;

2. A pending or approved application for asylum in the United States; 3. Admission into the United States in refugee status; 

4. A pending or approved application for temporary protected status in the United States;

5. Approved deferred action status; or

6. A pending application for adjustment of status to legal permanent resident status or conditional resident status. 

The Board has the authority to deny a license, recognition or certificate; issue a license, recognition or certificate with conditions and/or an administrative penalty; or to issue and otherwise discipline a license, recognition or certificate to an individual with a history of criminal background, disciplinary action on any professional or occupational license or certification, or judicial declaration of mental incompetence [59 O.S. §567.8]. These cases are considered on an individual basis at the time application for licensure is made. Potential applicants to state-approved education programs, with a criminal history, may obtain a determination of eligibility for licensure or certification from the Oklahoma Board of Nursing for a fee. The determination of eligibility for licensure petition can be accessed at nursing.ok.gov/initialdeterm.pdf

For any students seeking licensure outside the state of Oklahoma, licensure information can be found in the table:              Nursing Licensure by State

Oklahoma is a part of the Nurse Licensure Compact (NLC). The National Council of State Boards of Nursing (NCSBN) has a map showing current NLC states and their status on their website at https://www.ncsbn.org/nurse-licensure-compact.htm

Contact information for all nursing licensing boards can be found at the National Council of State Boards of Nursing (NCSBN) website at https://www.ncsbn.org/contact-bon.htm

Additional information can be found on the NC-SARA Professional Licensure website at https://nc-sara.org/resources/professional-licensure