Healthcare providers in Texas are facing a shortage of nurses, with organizations across the state expected to have 16,900 job openings for registered nurses (RNs) each year through 2032, according to the U.S. Department of Labor.
Anyone who is interested in obtaining a Texas nursing license could be in a good position to find employment. For those at the beginning of the process who are considering enrolling in a nursing degree program, it is important to know the requirements for licensure as an RN in the state and how to obtain a Texas nursing license.
Texas Registered Nurse Job Description
The Texas Nursing Practice Act defines the scope of practice for registered nurses working in the state. Examples of the responsibilities of a registered nurse within that scope include:
Observing, assessing, evaluating, and caring for patients
Helping patients maintain their health and prevent illness
Administering patients’ medications and treatment plans
Developing nursing care plans
Many registered nurses work in hospitals, but they also work in a variety of other environments, such as ambulatory care facilities, nursing homes, correctional facilities, schools, and public health agencies.
Registered Nurse Licensure Requirements in Texas
To get a Texas nursing license, individuals need to meet requirements in a variety of areas, each of which is outlined below.
Educational Requirement
Aspiring registered nurses need to complete a nursing education program, such as a Bachelor of Science in Nursing degree program, through a nursing school or an educational program that meets one of the following criteria:
The school or program has been approved by the Texas Board of Nursing (BON).
The school or program has been accredited by an agency whose standards the Texas BON has deemed acceptable.
The school or program has been approved by the nursing board of another state. In these cases, the Texas BON must have determined that the standards of the other state’s nursing board are substantially equivalent to the standards of the Texas BON.
Texas Nursing Jurisprudence Exam Requirement
To obtain registered nurse licensure in Texas, individuals need to pass the state’s Nurse Jurisprudence Exam (NJE). This exam tests knowledge regarding Texas nursing licensure and regulation, nursing practice, nursing ethics, nursing peer review, and disciplinary action.
Criminal Background Check Requirement
Applicants for Texas registered nurse licensure must submit to a criminal background check that is conducted through the Texas Department of Public Safety and the Federal Bureau of Investigation.
National Exam Requirement
As in other states, an individual who wants to become licensed in Texas as a registered nurse must pass a national licensure exam. Specifically, individuals need to pass the National Council Licensure Examination for Registered Nurses (NCLEX-RN), which the National Council of State Boards of Nursing administers.
Many nursing education programs offer coursework that prepares students to take the certification exam, as well as tips for taking the exam. Individuals also can participate in a test-preparation program.
How to Apply for a Texas Nursing License
Individuals should learn how to apply for a Texas nursing license to ensure they satisfy all the requirements. To apply for registered nursing licensure in Texas, an individual who is new to registered nursing needs to complete the following steps and pay any related fees:
Complete and submit an application to the Texas BON.
Comply with the Texas BON’s criminal background check requirement.
Register with a vendor to take the NCLEX-RN.
Register for, take, and pass the NJE.
Ensure that the individual’s nursing school or educational program submits an affidavit of graduation to the Texas BON.
After the Texas BON determines that an individual meets the requirements and is eligible to take the NCLEX-RN, the testing vendor sends the individual an authorization to test (ATT) and instructions for scheduling the NCLEX-RN. The individual will then take the NCLEX-RN.
The Texas BON will receive a notification from the exam vendor once the individual passes the NCLEX-RN. After the Texas BON receives that notification, the individual can access the board’s website to complete a verification process and obtain their license.
Process for Registered Nurses Who Are Licensed in Another State
Texas participates in the Nurse Licensure Compact (NLC). Registered nurses who are licensed in another NLC-member state who want to work in Texas can apply for a multistate license in their home state that enables them to work as a nurse in any other NLC-member state including Texas without obtaining a nursing license from that state.
All other individuals licensed as an RN in another state who want to obtain a Texas license as a registered nurse need to obtain licensure by endorsement from the Texas BON. To do that, individuals need to complete the following steps and pay any related fees:
Complete and submit an endorsement application to the Texas BON.
Comply with the criminal background check requirement.
Register for, take, and pass the NJE.
Request that all of the boards of nursing from which the individual holds licenses provide verification of licensure to the Texas BON.
Provide the Texas BON with any other information it requires.
Individuals who have not practiced as an RN or passed the NCLEX-RN within the last four years must comply with additional requirements to complete refresher courses, registered nurse orientation, or academic nursing courses.
How to Renew a Nursing License in Texas
Registered nurses also need to know how to renew a nursing license in Texas.
RNs who hold an active Texas license can apply for license renewal starting 60 days before their license expiration date. To do that, they need to complete the following steps and pay any related fees:
Comply with the Texas BON’s continuing nursing education (CNE) requirements. Registered nurses need to complete 20 hours of CNE in their area of practice or demonstrate that they have achieved, maintained, or renewed national nursing certification in their area of practice. The types of CNE and nursing certifications must meet the Texas BON’s requirements.
Submit a license renewal application to the Texas BON.
Getting a Texas Nursing License Can Be the Beginning of a Meaningful Career
Obtaining a Texas nursing license can lead to a fulfilling and satisfying career as a registered nurse. Texas needs nurses, and helping to fill that need provides a rewarding opportunity to help patients improve their lives.
People who are interested in working in registered nursing in Texas can explore the Bachelor of Science in Nursing degree program that Denver College of Nursing offers on its Houston campus. Focused exclusively on nursing, Denver College of Nursing prepares students with the skills and expertise they need to enter the field of registered nursing.
For individuals outside of the Houston area, Denver College of Nursing offers nursing programs in Denver; it also offers online nursing programs that can help aspiring nurses in other locations reach their goals. Now is a great time to take the first step on the nursing career path.
Recommended Readings
Educational Requirements for a Registered Nurse
How to Become a Nurse
Nursing Degrees in Order: Types of Nursing Degrees