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For anyone practicing or planning to practice as a nurse in the state of Texas, understanding the role and resources of the Texas Board of Nursing (BON) is essential. As the regulatory authority responsible for overseeing nursing practice, the Texas BON is tasked with ensuring that all nurses in the state meet professional standards and uphold public safety.

Nursing students planning to work in Texas, recent graduates preparing for licensure, and active nurses working in or relocating to Texas can use this guide to help them navigate the key functions and offerings of the Texas Board of Nursing. 

What Is the Texas Board of Nursing?

The Texas Board of Nursing is the regulatory agency responsible for licensing, regulating, and overseeing nurses in the state of Texas. Established to help safeguard the health and welfare of Texas residents, the BON enforces the Nursing Practice Act , sets professional standards for nurses, and issues guidance on how to provide safe and ethical nursing care across the state.

The BON’s authority spans all levels of nursing practice: licensed vocational nurses (LVNs), registered nurses (RNs), and advanced practice registered nurses (APRNs). The Texas BON oversees nursing licensure, approves nursing education programs, investigates complaints and disciplinary cases, and sets the standards that govern nurses’ scope of practice.

The Texas Board of Nursing also operates as a resource hub, providing tools and information useful to nurses at all stages of their careers. The Texas BON’s support system and knowledge base help ensure nurses provide safe, effective, and legally compliant care to patients.

By familiarizing themselves with the BON’s offerings, nurses can proactively manage their career, stay informed of regulatory changes, and make sure they are practicing within the bounds of Texas law. 

Texas Board of Nursing Resources

The Texas Board of Nursing website is a centralized platform where nurses can access a wide range of tools and information related to licensure, compliance, education, and other relevant topics. Here’s a high-level overview of the main resources available:

Application Forms

The Texas BON website provides access to a wide variety of application forms for different licensure and certification needs. Whether a nurse is applying for their initial license by examination, applying for licensure by endorsement, or renewing their existing credentials, the BON website provides the appropriate downloadable form to use with instructions.

Common applications include:

• LVN and RN licensure by exam

• LVN and RN licensure by endorsement (for out-of-state nurses)

• APRN licensure and prescriptive authority

• License renewals and reinstatements

These forms come with detailed guidance to help ensure accurate submissions and avoid unnecessary delays in processing. 

Initial Licensure and Recognition Forms

In addition to standard application forms, the BON provides initial recognition forms for advanced practice roles such as nurse practitioner, clinical nurse specialist, nurse anesthetist, and nurse midwife. Nurses applying for APRN licensure also must complete a prescriptive authority form if they intend to prescribe medications in Texas.

The BON outlines the educational, clinical, and legal requirements associated with each category, making it easier for new APRNs to understand the steps they need to take to gain full recognition and practice authority. 

Meeting Information and Calendar of Events

The Texas Board of Nursing holds regular board meetings , which are open to the public. Nurses, educators, and members of the health care community can access agendas and minutes for these meetings.

The BON also provides a calendar of events that lists important dates for licensure renewals, educational workshops, continuing education deadlines, and testing windows for nursing examinations. This calendar helps nurses plan their professional development and maintain compliance with licensure requirements.

Scope of Practice Information and Guidelines

Understanding what tasks and responsibilities fall within a nurse’s legal scope of practice is essential. The BON provides extensive resources that clarify the scope of practice for LVNs, RNs, and APRNs, all of which are found on the general nursing practice information page.

This information includes:

• Scope of practice decision-making tools

• Practice guidelines for specific procedures

• Position statements and advisory opinions

These documents are regularly updated to reflect changes in health care delivery practices and Texas law, providing nurses with current and relevant information to guide their practice. 

Education Information

The Texas Board of Nursing regulates all prelicensure nursing education programs in the state. Nurses and nursing students can use the BON website to:

• Find approved nursing schools and programs

• Access information about curriculum standards

• Review National Council Licensure Exam (NCLEX ) pass rates by program

• Explore continuing education (CE) requirements for license renewal

Nursing school educators and administrators can find tools to use to apply for program approval and maintain compliance with BON standards. 

Discipline and Complaints Information

The BON takes its public safety mandate seriously and investigates complaints against nurses for violations of the Nursing Practice Act. The discipline and complaints section of the BON website includes information about:

• How to file a complaint

• The disciplinary process

• Types of violations and possible outcomes

• Disciplinary action summaries and public records

The important information in this section helps nurses ensure they not only remain in compliance but also understand their due process rights in the event of a complaint. 

Laws and Rules Information

Nurses who want to maintain compliance and provide safe patient care need to stay informed of current rules and regulations. This section of the BON website contains the full text of the Nursing Practice Act, BON rules, and Texas Administrative Code regulations that govern nursing practice. Nurses also can find legislative updates and recent rule changes. 

Frequently Asked Questions

The Texas Board of Nursing website maintains an extensive FAQ section that covers common questions about licensure, renewals, scope of practice, continuing education, and disciplinary actions. This is a valuable first-stop resource for quick answers, especially for new nurses navigating the licensure process or current nurses preparing for licensure renewal.

Topics in the FAQ section include:

• Renewal deadlines and procedures

• Name changes and address updates

• Requirements for criminal background checks

• Nursing education

• Board information 

How Nurses Can Obtain Licensure in Texas

First-time RNs, LVNs, and APRNs must obtain a license before they can legally practice in the United States. However, each state’s Board of Nursing sets its own eligibility and licensure requirements, so it’s important that nurses familiarize themselves with the requirements of the state where they plan to practice.

For aspiring Texas nurses, the Texas BON breaks down the licensure by exam process into eight steps. 

Step 1: Test Application

U.S. nursing school graduates must fill out an NCLEX testing application in the Texas Nurse Portal . There are two application options.

• LVN/LPN graduates must select the NCLEX-PN application.

• RN graduates must select the NCLEX-RN application. 

Step 2: Criminal Background Check

All nurses seeking licensure must submit their fingerprints as part of a criminal background check, which is performed by the Texas Department of Public Safety and the Federal Bureau of Investigation.

Fingerprint submission instructions vary depending on the applicant’s state of residency and whether they have a Social Security number.

• Submission instructions for Texas residents

• Submission instructions for those residing outside of Texas

• Submission instructions for applicants without a Social Security number  

Step 3: Pearson VUE Registration

Pearson VUE is the company that administers the NCLEX exam. Candidates must register with Pearson VUE and pay an exam fee to be eligible to take the test and to receive their NCSBN/Pearson VUE program code.

Step 4: Texas Nursing Jurisprudence Exam

Prior to taking the NCLEX exam, applicants must pass the Nursing Jurisprudence Exam (NJE) with a score of 75% or greater. The NJE:

• Consists of 50 questions

• Must be completed within two hours

• Permits access to the BON website and other resource materials

Applicants can register for the exam on the Texas BON’s NJE page . 

Step 5: Affidavit of Graduation

After a student graduates from a nursing program, the nursing program’s dean or director must complete an Affidavit of Graduation (AOG) for the individual and submit it to the Texas BON.

If the nursing program is located in Texas, the dean/director can electronically submit the AOG through the Texas AOG portal. If the program is located outside of Texas, the dean/director must submit the AOG via email at licensing@bon.texas.gov . 

Step 6: Authorization to Test Review and NCLEX

The Texas Board of Nursing will conduct an authorization to test review for an applicant after they have received from the applicant:

• A completed NCLEX application and the required fee

• Fingerprint submission and criminal background check

• Pearson VUE registration

• Proof of NJE completion

• Affidavit of Graduation

Once the last item is received, the Texas BON will conduct its review within 15 business days. If approved, that applicant’s status will update to “eligible” on the Nurse Portal application status page. They also will receive an email confirming their eligibility. The applicant can then schedule and take the NCLEX.

Applicants who are deemed ineligible will receive an explanation that details which items didn’t meet the BON’s approval. 

Step 7: NCLEX Results

The Texas BON receives NCLEX results within 48 hours after the exam is completed. The applicant’s pass/fail status updates directly to their Nurse Portal account.

A nursing license is issued to the applicant within 15 business days after the BON receives passing NCLEX results. 

Step 8: Retaking the NCLEX

Students who are retaking the NCLEX must:

• Complete the NCLEX retest application in the Texas Nurse Portal

• Register with Pearson VUE (if not previously registered) and pay the exam fee

The Texas Board of Nursing will review the retest application within 15 business days of receiving the final item.

Texas Board of Nursing License Renewal Requirements

Nurses must periodically renew their licenses to legally continue practicing in Texas. Active nurses can maintain their license by following the Texas Board of Nursing’s license renewal requirements, which include:

• Submitting a renewal application

• Paying the application processing fee

• Delivering all requested supporting materials

• Completing continuing education and competency requirements

Failure to meet these requirements before the license’s expiration date will result in the license falling into delinquent status, meaning the nurse can no longer legally practice. 

Nursing License Reactivation

Nurses who are inactive, are retired, or have failed to complete the Texas Board of Nursing’s license renewal requirements in a timely fashion can reactivate their license by following the BON’s reactivation process.

Specific steps and requirements depend on the type of nurse and the length of delinquency or inactivity.

• LVN/RN reactivation process

• APRN reactivation process  

Enhanced Nurse Licensure Compact

The enhanced nurse licensure compact (eNLC) is a relatively new licensure model that allows RNs and LVNs to practice physically, electronically, or by phone in nearly any state in the country. To qualify for this multistate license, nurses must:

• Meet all the eligibility requirements of their home state of practice

• Have graduated from a board-approved nursing education program

• Pass an English proficiency exam

• Pass the NCLEX-RN or NCLEX-PN

• Hold an active, unencumbered nursing license

• Have submitted a state or federal fingerprint-based criminal background check

• Have no state or federal felony convictions

• Have no misdemeanor convictions related to nursing practice

• Not be a participant in an alternative program

• Have a valid Social Security number 

Leverage the BON’s Resources to Your Advantage

Staying informed and maintaining an active license are two important components in a successful nursing career. The Texas Board of Nursing website has the tools and resources to help you accomplish both.

By taking advantage of what the Texas BON has to offer, you can stay on track, avoid compliance issues, and continue delivering high-quality care throughout your nursing career in Texas.

Whether you’re fresh out of nursing school or an established nurse looking for reliable information, make the Texas BON website your go-to option for guidance and professional support.