Oklahoma § 59-567.5 - Registered nurses, licensing - Applications Qualifications - Examinations - Licensure without examination - Use

§ 59-567.5. Registered nurses, licensing - Applications Qualifications - Examinations - Licensure without examination - Use

of titles and abbreviations - Violations – Definitions.

A. All applicants for a license to practice as a Registered

Nurse shall be subject to Section 567.8 of this title.

B. An applicant for a license to practice as a Registered Nurse

shall submit to the Oklahoma Board of Nursing certified written

evidence that the applicant:

1. Has completed the basic professional curricula of a school

of nursing approved by a state board of nursing, and holds or is

entitled to hold a diploma or degree therefrom;

2. Has never been convicted of a felony crime that

substantially relates to the occupation of nursing and poses a

reasonable threat to public safety;

3. Has submitted a criminal history records search that

complies with Section 567.18 of this title;

4. Is a minimum of eighteen (18) years of age; and

5. Has met such other qualifications as the Board may prescribe

in its rules.

C. An applicant for a license shall be required to pass a

written examination in such subjects as the Board may determine.

Upon an applicant successfully passing such an examination, the

Board may issue to the applicant a license to practice as a

Registered Nurse. An applicant who fails such examination shall be

subject to reexamination according to the rules of the Board. The

passing criteria shall be established by the Board in its rules.

D. The Board may issue a license to practice nursing as a

registered nurse without examination to an applicant who has been

duly licensed as a Registered Nurse under the laws of another state,

territory, the District of Columbia or a foreign country, if such

applicant meets the qualifications required for licensing as a

Registered Nurse in this state.

E. Any person who holds a license to practice as a registered

nurse in this state shall have the right to use both the title

"Registered Nurse" and the abbreviation "R.N." No other person

shall assume such title or use such abbreviation, or any other

words, letters, signs or figures to indicate that the person using

the same is a registered nurse. Any individual doing so shall be

guilty of a misdemeanor, which shall be punishable, upon conviction,

by imprisonment in the county jail for not more than one (1) year or

by a fine of not less than One Hundred Dollars ($100.00) nor more

Oklahoma Statutes - Title 59. Professions and Occupations

than One Thousand Dollars ($1,000.00), or by both such imprisonment

and fine for each offense.

F. As used in this section:

1. "Substantially relates" means the nature of criminal conduct

for which the person was convicted has a direct bearing on the

fitness or ability to perform one or more of the duties or

responsibilities necessarily related to the occupation; and

2. "Poses a reasonable threat" means the nature of criminal

conduct for which the person was convicted involved an act or threat

of harm against another and has a bearing on the fitness or ability

to serve the public or work with others in the occupation.

Added by Laws 1953, p. 267, § 5, emerg. eff. April 13, 1953.

Amended by Laws 1981, c. 314, § 3, eff. July 1, 1981; Laws 1991, c.

104, § 4, eff. Sept. 1, 1991; Laws 2001, c. 254, § 4, eff. Nov. 1,

2001; Laws 2003, c. 190, § 2, eff. Nov. 1, 2003; Laws 2011, c. 101,

§ 2, eff. Nov. 1, 2011; Laws 2019, c. 363, § 25, eff. Nov. 1, 2019.

§59-567.5a. Advanced Practice Registered Nurse - License Application.

A. All applicants for a license to practice as an Advanced

Practice Registered Nurse shall be subject to Section 567.8 of this

title.

B. An applicant for an initial license to practice as an

Advanced Practice Registered Nurse shall:

1. Submit a completed written application and appropriate fees

as established by the Oklahoma Board of Nursing;

2. Submit a criminal history records check that complies with

Section 567.18 of this title;

3. Hold a current Registered Nurse license in this state;

4. Have completed an advanced practice registered nursing

education program in one of the four Advanced Practice Registered

Nurse roles and a specialty area recognized by the Board. Effective

January 1, 2016, the applicant shall have completed an accredited

graduate level advanced practice registered nursing education

program in at least one of the following population foci:

family/individual across the lifespan, adult-gerontology, neonatal,

pediatrics, women’s health/gender-related, or psychiatric/mental

health;

5. Be currently certified in an advanced practice specialty

certification consistent with educational preparation and by a

national certifying body recognized by the Board; and

6. Provide any and all other evidence as required by the Board

in its rules.

C. The Board may issue a license by endorsement to an Advanced

Practice Registered Nurse licensed under the laws of another state

if the applicant meets the qualifications for licensure in this

state. An applicant by endorsement shall:

Oklahoma Statutes - Title 59. Professions and Occupations

1. Submit a completed written application and appropriate fees

as established by the Board;

2. Submit a criminal history records check that complies with

Section 567.18 of this title;

3. Hold a current Registered Nurse license in this state;

4. Hold recognition as an Advanced Practice Registered Nurse in

a state or territory;

5. Have completed an advanced practice registered nursing

education program in one of the four roles and a specialty area

recognized by the Board. Effective January 1, 2016, the applicant

shall have completed an accredited graduate level advanced practice

registered nursing education program in at least one of the

following population foci: family/individual across the lifespan,

adult-gerontology, neonatal, pediatrics, women’s health/genderrelated, or psychiatric/mental health;

6. Be currently certified in an advanced practice specialty

certification consistent with educational preparation and by a

national certifying body recognized by the Board;

7. Meet continued competency requirements as set forth in Board

rules; and

8. Provide any and all other evidence as required by the Board

in its rules.

D. The Board may issue prescriptive authority recognition by

endorsement to an Advanced Practice Registered Nurse licensed as an

Advanced Practice Registered Nurse-Certified Nurse Practitioner

(APRN-CNP), Advanced Practice Registered Nurse-Clinical Nurse

Specialist (APRN-CNS), or Advanced Practice Registered NurseCertified Nurse-Midwife (APRN-CNM) under the laws of another state

if the applicant meets the requirements set forth in this section.

An applicant for prescriptive authority recognition by endorsement

shall:

1. Submit a completed written application and appropriate fees

as established by the Board;

2. Hold current Registered Nurse and Advanced Practice

Registered Nurse licenses (APRN-CNP, APRN-CNS, or APRN-CNM) in the

state;

3. Hold current licensure or recognition as an Advanced

Practice Registered Nurse in the same role and specialty with

prescribing privileges in another state or territory;

4. Submit documentation verifying successful completion of a

graduate-level advanced practice registered nursing education

program that included an academic course in pharmacotherapeutic

management, and didactic and clinical preparation for prescribing

incorporated throughout the program;

5. Submit all supervision agreements entered into with

supervising physicians as required by Section 4 of this act, or

Oklahoma Statutes - Title 59. Professions and Occupations

submit documentation that the applicant meets the requirements for

independent prescriptive authority under Section 1 of this act;

6. Meet continued competency requirements as set forth in Board

rules; and

7. Provide any and all other evidence as required by the Board

in its rules.

E. An Advanced Practice Registered Nurse license issued under

this section shall be renewed concurrently with the Registered Nurse

license, provided that qualifying criteria continue to be met.

F. The Board may reinstate a license as set forth in Board

rules.

Added by Laws 2011, c. 101, § 3, eff. Nov. 1, 2011. Amended by Laws

2013, c. 228, § 2, eff. Nov. 1, 2013; Laws 2024, c. 94, § 1, eff.

Nov. 1, 2024; Laws 2025, c. 340, § 9, eff. Nov. 1, 2025.

§59-567.5b. Malpractice insurance requirement.

A. An Advanced Practice Registered Nurse, or the employer of

the Advanced Practice Registered Nurse on his or her behalf, shall

carry malpractice insurance or demonstrate proof of financial

responsibility in a minimum amount of One Million Dollars

($1,000,000.00) per occurrence and Three Million Dollars

($3,000,000.00) in the aggregate per year. This requirement shall

apply only to the Advanced Practice Registered Nurse and shall not

be construed as to require the Advanced Practice Registered Nurse to

provide malpractice insurance coverage to any supervising physician.

B. An Advanced Practice Registered Nurse who is employed by or

under contract with a federal agency that carries malpractice

insurance in any amount on behalf of the Advanced Practice

Registered Nurse shall be deemed in compliance with subsection A of

this section when practicing under such federal employment or

contract. However, to the extent the Advanced Practice Registered

Nurse practices outside of such federal employment or contract, the

Advanced Practice Registered Nurse, or his or her employer, shall

comply with subsection A of this section.

Added by Laws 2025, c. 340, § 2, eff. Nov. 1, 2025.

§59-567.5c. Promulgation of rules governing advertising.

A. The Oklahoma Board of Nursing shall promulgate rules

governing the advertising of health care services by Advanced

Practice Registered Nurses to include, but not be limited to, the

specialty areas or types of health care services Advanced Practice

Registered Nurses may advertise based on their training or

experience.

B. Any such advertisement shall clearly state that the person

providing such services is an Advanced Practice Registered Nurse and

shall not imply that the Advanced Practice Registered Nurse is a

physician or that he or she may perform any medical service or

Oklahoma Statutes - Title 59. Professions and Occupations

prescribe any medication beyond those authorized under state law or

in a manner otherwise inconsistent with state law.

C. An Advanced Practice Registered Nurse who violates the

provisions of this section shall be subject to disciplinary action

by the Oklahoma Board of Nursing which may include, but not be

limited to, revocation of licensure.

Added by Laws 2025, c. 340, § 3, eff. Nov. 1, 2025.