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 –
1
Rank
Oregon Coast Community College – Newport
Type of Course:Diploma Program
OCCC is located in Newport and offers the best LPN programs in Oregon. This institute has other locations in Waldport and Lincoln City. OCCC offers associate degrees and transfer programs, as well as a variety of other career development to improve the quality of life of the students. It also encourages the economic and community development.
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NCLEX-PN Pass Rate:
100.00 %
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Address:
400 South-East College Way, Newport, Oregon 97366
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Contact Number:
(541) 867-8501
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Type of Course:
Certificate
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2
Rank
Rogue Community College – Medford
Type of Course:Certificate Program
Rogue Community College is a comprehensive two-year community college in Medford with its additional locations at Josephine and Jackson County. This college offers degrees and certificates in various academic and career technical programs. It is accredited by the Northern Commission on Colleges and Universities.
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NCLEX-PN Pass Rate:
99.33 %
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Address:
117 South Central Avenue, Medford, Oregon 97501
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Contact Number:
(541) 245-7500
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Type of Course:
Certificate Program
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3
Rank
Mt. Hood Community College – Gresham
Type of Course:Certificate
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NCLEX-PN Pass Rate:
97.44 %
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Address:
26000 South East Stark Street, Gresham, Oregon 97030
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Contact Number:
(503) 491-6422
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Type of Course:
Certificate
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4
Rank
Columbia Gorge Community College – The Dalles
Type of Course:Certificate
Columbia Gorge Community College (CGCC) is a two-year public college located in The Dalles in the Columbia River Gorge. CGCC offers flexible schedules and a variety of courses earning degrees, certification, and building basic skills to achieve personal goals and advance in the workplace. This institute aims for the success of the students in any educational activity or program that they opt.
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NCLEX-PN Pass Rate:
96.79 %
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Address:
400 East Scenic Drive, The Dalles, OR 97058-3434
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Contact Number:
(541) 506-6000
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Type of Course:
Certificate
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5
Rank
Umpqua Community College – Roseburg
Type of Course:Diploma
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NCLEX-PN Pass Rate:
96.07 %
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Address:
1140 Umpqua College Road, Roseburg, OR 97470
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Contact Number:
(541) 440-4600
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Type of Course:
Certificate Program
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6
Rank
Pioneer Pacific College – Springfield
Type of Course:Diploma Program
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NCLEX-PN Pass Rate:
89.50 %
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Address:
3800 Sports Way, Springfield, OR 97477
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Contact Number:
(541) 684-4644
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Type of Course:
Diploma Program
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7
Rank
Sumner College – Portland
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NCLEX-PN Pass Rate:
86.88 %
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Address:
15115 SW Sequoia Parkway Suite 200 Portland, Or 97224
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Contact Number:
(503) 223-5100
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8
Rank
Pioneer Pacific College – Wilsonville
Type of Course:Diploma
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NCLEX-PN Pass Rate:
82.56 %
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Address:
27501 SW Parkway Avenue, Wilsonville, Oregon 97070
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Contact Number:
(503) 682-3903
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9
Rank
Institute of Technology – Salem
Type of Course:Certificate Program
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NCLEX-PN Pass Rate:
82.04 %
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Address:
4700 Silverton Road Northeast, Salem, OR 97305
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Contact Number:
(503) 363-9001
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Type of Course:
Certificate Program
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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 –
- Submit the duly filled application form with $160.
- A passport size photo must be attached (not taken before 6 months of application)
- Undergo a criminal background check and fingerprint process.
- Register with PearsonVUE as it will manage your registration and test scheduling.
- 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.
- 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 –
- Evidence about your nursing education, preponderance, and textbooks that they were in the English Language.
- 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).
- An original report showing a score of minimum 780 marks in the Test of English for International Communication (TOEIC) exam.
- 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).
- An original certificate from the Commission on Graduates of Foreign Schools of Nursing (CGFNS).
- 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 –
- Submission of evidence regarding your English medium nursing education, preponderance, and textbooks.
- 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).
- An original report that shows of minimum 780 marks in the Test of English for International Communication (TOEIC) exam.
- 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).
- An original certificate given by the Commission on Graduates of Foreign Schools of Nursing (CGFNS).
- 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-
Various Job Titles for LPN/LVN With Average Annual Salaries
| Job Titles |
Salary |
| LPN Cma Rma |
$30,000 |
| LPN Ambulatory |
$33,000 |
| LPN Long Term Care |
$32,000 |
| Renal Dialysis Nurse |
$51,000 |
| LPN LVN |
$39,000 |
| Long Term Care LPN |
$26,000 |
| Correctional Prison Facility LPN |
$22,000 |
| Medical Assistant Family Practice |
$28,000 |
| Nurse RN LPN |
$47,000 |
| Psychiatric Nurse |
$55,000 |
| CNA Medical Surgical |
$26,000 |
| Nar Nursing Assistant Hope |
$24,000 |
| Patient Care Technician Student |
$16,000 |
| LPN Primary Care |
$45,000 |
| Clinical Nurse LPN |
$36,000 |
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 & Services, Maxim Healthcare Services, etc.
