Oklahoma RN and LPN Continuing Competence
Oklahoma RNs and LPNs must meet one of the state’s continuing qualification options during the two years preceding license renewal. One common pathway is completion of 24 contact hours of continuing education applicable to nursing practice. Other options include recent nursing employment, national specialty certification, completion of a Board-approved refresher course, or qualifying academic nursing coursework.
C-E-U.com offers online nursing continuing education that Oklahoma RNs and LPNs may use toward the 24-contact-hour pathway when the selected courses are relevant to nursing practice. C-E-U.com is a Florida Board of Nursing continuing education provider, Provider #50-47308.
Oklahoma CE Requirements at a Glance
| RN | LPN | Home Health Aide | |
|---|---|---|---|
| CE Pathway | 24 contact hours | 24 contact hours | 12 hours of agency-provided in-service per calendar year |
| Alzheimer's / Dementia Training | Not required for license renewal | Not required for license renewal | At least 1 hour per year (63 O.S. § 1-1991) |
| Employment Pathway | 520 hours of qualifying nursing employment | 520 hours of qualifying nursing employment | Not applicable |
| Renewal Period | Every 2 years | Every 2 years | Annual (calendar year) |
| Other Accepted Pathways | National certification, Board-approved refresher course, or qualifying nursing coursework | National certification, Board-approved refresher course, or qualifying nursing coursework | Reciprocity for aides certified in another state (ODH 735) |
| Governing Body | Oklahoma Board of Nursing | Oklahoma Board of Nursing | Oklahoma State Department of Health Nurse Aide Registry |
Nursing Continuing Education — 24 Contact Hours
Oklahoma nurses using the CE pathway must complete 24 contact hours of nursing-related continuing education during the two years preceding renewal.
Oklahoma RN/LPN Continuing Education — 24 Contact Hours
C-E-U.com offers self-paced online nursing courses that Oklahoma RNs and LPNs may use toward the 24-contact-hour continuing qualification option. Courses include stated learning objectives, defined contact hours, a completion assessment, and an immediate certificate for documentation.
Alternative Continuing Qualification Options
Oklahoma also allows nurses to satisfy renewal requirements through other pathways, including qualifying nursing employment, current national specialty certification, Board-approved refresher education, or academic coursework in nursing.
Nurses should select the pathway that best matches their recent practice, education, and credentials and retain documentation supporting the option used for renewal.
Oklahoma Home Health Care Aide (HHA/HHCA) Requirements
Oklahoma regulates home health aides through the Oklahoma State Department of Health (OSDH) Nurse Aide Registry under OAC 310:677, Subchapter 9. The requirements below apply to aides working for OSDH-licensed home care agencies. They are separate from the RN/LPN continuing education requirements above, and most of them are met through the employer or an OSDH-approved training program rather than through C-E-U.com.
Initial Certification
To be placed on the Oklahoma Nurse Aide Registry as a Home Health Aide, a candidate must complete an OSDH-approved home health aide training program of at least 75 hours and pass a written and skills competency examination administered through the training program. Certification is confirmed through the OSDH Verify a Nurse Aide search. Aides already certified in another state may apply for placement on the Oklahoma registry through reciprocity using OSDH form ODH 735.
Ongoing In-Service Requirements
Once certified, Oklahoma home health aides have two recurring training requirements:
12 hours of in-service training each calendar year, provided by the employing home care agency under OAC 310:677-9-1.
At least one hour per year of Alzheimer's- and dementia-related training under 63 O.S. § 1-1991, which applies to medical and direct-care staff of OSDH-licensed home health agencies. The statute names three required topics: decoding behavior messages, common behavioral triggers, and positive communication.
The agency is responsible for selecting in-service content and keeping records of completion. Online courses may be used where the agency accepts them.
Oklahoma HHA Requirements at a Glance
| Requirement | What Is Required | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Initial training | OSDH-approved program, minimum 75 hours | OAC 310:677, Subchapter 9 |
| Competency exam | Written and skills examination through the training program | OAC 310:677, Subchapter 9 |
| Annual in-service | 12 hours each calendar year, provided by the agency | OAC 310:677-9-1 |
| Dementia training | At least 1 hour per year on the required topics | 63 O.S. § 1-1991 |
| Out-of-state aides | Reciprocity application, form ODH 735 | OSDH Nurse Aide Registry |
What C-E-U.com Does and Does Not Provide for Oklahoma Aides
C-E-U.com does not provide Oklahoma home health aide certification, the 75-hour training program, or the competency examination. For those, contact the OSDH Nurse Aide Registry or an OSDH-approved training program. C-E-U.com's online caregiver courses, including the 2-hour Alzheimer's Disease and Related Dementias course, may be used toward the annual in-service and dementia training requirements where the employing agency accepts them. C-E-U.com's curriculum is approved by the Florida Department of Elder Affairs, not by Oklahoma, so aides should ask their employer whether these courses are acceptable for their agency before enrolling.
Alzheimer's Disease and Related Dementia (ADRD) Training for Caregivers (2 Hours)
C-E-U.com's 2-hour Alzheimer's Disease and Related Dementias training covers the dementia-care topics required by Oklahoma for annual Alzheimer's and dementia in-service education and exceeds Oklahoma's minimum 1-hour duration. Florida DOEA-approved curriculum; not an Oklahoma provider approval.
Additional Caregiver In-Service Courses
Oklahoma home care agencies may use C-E-U.com's online caregiver courses as part of the 12 hours of in-service training required each calendar year. Selecting and documenting in-service content remains the agency's responsibility, so aides should confirm with their employer before enrolling.
Oklahoma Nursing Continuing Education References and Resources
Oklahoma Board of Nursing — Official source for Oklahoma RN, LPN, APRN, and Advanced Unlicensed Assistant licensure, renewal, applications, practice guidance, and Board information.
Oklahoma Continuing Qualifications for Practice Guidelines — Explains the renewal pathways for RNs and LPNs, including the 24-contact-hour CE option and the 520-hour employment option.
Oklahoma Board of Nursing Applications and Renewal Information — Provides current renewal instructions, continuing qualification guidance, Nurse Portal access, endorsement, reinstatement, and licensure applications.
Oklahoma Board of Nursing Forms and Application Instructions — Central location for RN/LPN renewal, endorsement, reinstatement, verification, and other nursing forms and instructions.
Oklahoma Board of Nursing Practice and Advanced Practice Resources — Includes practice policies, scope guidance, delegation information, and the continuing qualifications guideline for license renewal.
Oklahoma Board of Nursing Guidelines and Position Statements — Provides Board policies and guidance on continuing qualifications, refresher courses, scope of practice, delegation, and other professional-practice topics.
Oklahoma Board of Nursing Administrative Rules – Title 485 — Official Board page for Oklahoma nursing administrative rules. The current rules include renewal and continuing qualification requirements for RNs and LPNs.
Oklahoma Nursing Practice Act — Official Board resource for the Oklahoma Nursing Practice Act governing nursing licensure, renewal, practice, and Board authority.
Oklahoma Nurse Portal and Renewal Access — Provides access and instructions for current Oklahoma RN, LPN, APRN, and AUA renewal applications through the Nurse Portal.
Oklahoma Board of Nursing About and Contact Information — Describes the Board’s licensing, renewal, regulatory, disciplinary, and public-information responsibilities.
Oklahoma State Department of Health Nurse Aide Registry — Official OSDH source for Home Health Aide (HHA) certification, approved training program resources, the HHA curriculum checklist, reciprocity applications, and registry verification.
OAC 310:677 — Nurse Aide Training and Certification (OSDH) — Official rule text. Subchapter 9 (Home Health Aides) sets the 75-hour training program, competency examination, and the 12-hour annual in-service requirement.
63 O.S. § 1-1991 — Rules Requiring Dementia Training; Contents of Curricula — Official Oklahoma statute requiring at least one hour per year of Alzheimer's- and dementia-related in-service training for medical and direct-care staff of OSDH-licensed home health agencies and specified facilities, and listing the required curriculum topics.
OSDH Verify a Nurse Aide — Official registry search for confirming an Oklahoma Home Health Aide's certification status.
OSDH Reciprocity Application (ODH 735) — Application for aides certified in another state seeking placement on the Oklahoma Nurse Aide Registry.
Frequently Asked Questions: Oklahoma Nursing and Caregiver Continuing Education
Oklahoma does not require every RN or LPN to complete a fixed number of CE hours for renewal. Nurses must satisfy one of the state’s continuing qualification options during the two years before license expiration. One option is completing 24 contact hours of nursing-related continuing education.
Oklahoma allows RNs and LPNs to qualify for renewal through several pathways, including 24 contact hours of continuing education, at least 520 hours of nursing employment, current national specialty certification, completion of a Board-approved refresher course, or qualifying academic nursing coursework.
Yes. Online continuing education may be used when the course is applicable to nursing practice and comes from an accepted provider.
No. The 520-hour employment option is only one of several continuing qualification pathways. A nurse may instead use the 24-contact-hour CE option or another accepted pathway.
The employment pathway requires at least 520 hours of work in a position that requires RN or LPN licensure during the applicable two-year period.
Yes. Current national certification in a nursing specialty may be used as a continuing qualification pathway when it meets Oklahoma Board of Nursing requirements.
Nurses generally attest that they have met one of the accepted continuing qualification pathways. Documentation should be retained and provided if the Board requests evidence.
Oklahoma does not require RN or LPN continuing qualification documentation to be reported through CE Broker for routine renewal. Nurses should retain their own records and completion certificates.
The general 24-contact-hour pathway focuses on education applicable to nursing practice rather than a universal mandatory topic. Separate requirements may apply to specialty roles, disciplinary orders, or other credentials.
A nurse who has not completed one of the accepted continuing qualification options may not meet the requirements for renewal. The nurse should review the current Board renewal instructions before continuing to practice under an expired or unrenewed license.
Yes. Under OAC 310:677-9-1, the employing home care agency must provide at least 12 hours of in-service training each calendar year, and under 63 O.S. § 1-1991 medical and direct-care staff of licensed home health agencies must complete at least one hour per year of Alzheimer's- and dementia-related training. These are ongoing requirements and are separate from the initial 75-hour certification pathway.
No. Initial Oklahoma home health aide certification requires completion of an OSDH-approved training program of at least 75 hours and a written and skills competency examination administered through the training program. Contact the OSDH Nurse Aide Registry or an approved training program. Aides certified in another state can apply for reciprocity using OSDH form ODH 735.
C-E-U.com's 2-hour Alzheimer's Disease and Related Dementias course covers the three topics named in 63 O.S. § 1-1991 (decoding behavior messages, common behavioral triggers, and positive communication) and exceeds the one-hour minimum. The curriculum is approved by the Florida Department of Elder Affairs, which permits its use outside Florida. It is not Oklahoma-approved, so ask your employer whether it is acceptable for your agency before enrolling.
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