Nursing License Requirements in Texas
Texas licenses both registered nurses (RNs) and vocational nurses (LVNs) through the Texas Board of Nursing. Both credential paths require completing a BON-approved nursing program and passing the NCLEX: the NCLEX-RN for registered nurses, the NCLEX-PN for vocational nurses. Texas is a Nurse Licensure Compact state, meaning a multistate NLC license from another compact state is valid here without a separate Texas application.
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The Texas Board of Nursing (BON) oversees licensure for all nurses in the state, serving as a consolidated authority since 2004, when the separate boards for professional and vocational nursing merged. Every applicant, whether new to the field or transferring credentials from another state, goes through the same BON review process.
Use the links below to jump to requirements for your license type, endorsement steps, compact status, and renewal information.
- LVN license requirements
- RN license requirements
- Nurse Licensure Compact
- License renewal
- Nursing organizations in Texas
LVN License Requirements in Texas
Texas uses the term Licensed Vocational Nurse (LVN), not LPN. The credential is identical in scope and exam requirements, but Texas adopted its own terminology decades ago. LVNs take the NCLEX-PN, work under the supervision of RNs or physicians, and are licensed by the Texas BON. If you want more on how the two terms relate, see LVN vs. LPN.
Education Requirements
You must complete a BON-approved vocational nursing program. Required coursework covers adult, maternal, pediatric, and mental health nursing theory, as well as clinical hours. The BON maintains a public list of approved in-state programs on its website, along with a separate list of programs it has identified as unapproved. Check both before enrolling in any program.
Out-of-state programs are also acceptable if they meet Texas content requirements. In those cases, the program director must sign an affidavit confirming that all required course elements were covered. For help comparing approved programs, see LVN programs in Texas.
Applying for Licensure
Texas won’t automatically deny a license for past criminal history, but the BON will review it. If you’re unsure whether something in your background affects eligibility, file a Petition for Declaratory Order before starting school. There’s a fee, and the review can take several months, but it’s a better outcome than finishing a program only to hit an eligibility issue at the end. The petition is available on the BON’s website.
Once you’re close to graduation, submit your application online through the BON. The process includes:
- A criminal background check with fingerprints. In-state candidates use the BON’s approved Live Scan vendor. Out-of-state candidates request fingerprint cards directly from the Board
- Registration with Pearson VUE to take the NCLEX-PN, with the exam fee paid directly to Pearson
- The Texas Nursing Jurisprudence Examination, completed online through the BON. The exam has a two-hour time limit, and failing to finish within that window counts as a failed attempt.
After the BON confirms eligibility, Pearson VUE sends an Authorization to Test (ATT). You schedule the NCLEX-PN from there. Graduates can work as Graduate Vocational Nurses (GVNs) on a temporary permit while the process is underway, provided there are no open fitness or background questions. See the Texas Board of Nursing for current fees and processing timelines.
Out-of-State and Endorsement Applicants
LVNs licensed in another state can endorse into Texas if they completed an approved program and passed the NCLEX-PN. Licenses issued based on equivalency (partial RN programs, military training outside an approved LVN program, or an older state exam rather than the NCLEX-PN) don’t automatically meet Texas requirements. Contact the BON’s examination department to determine what additional steps apply.
A temporary permit can be issued before background check results and license verifications are complete, but not if eligibility is still in question. It’s valid for 120 days. All endorsement applicants must submit license verification from every state in which they’ve held a license, whether active or inactive.
For a full overview of the LVN path, see Becoming an LVN in Texas.
RN License Requirements in Texas
Texas RN applicants must complete a BON-approved nursing program, pass the NCLEX-RN, and clear a background check. The BON determines who qualifies to sit for the exam. The NCLEX-RN is administered nationally by Pearson VUE, but Texas controls eligibility.
Education Requirements
Texas requires a minimum of a two-year approved academic nursing program. Most applicants hold either an Associate Degree in Nursing (ADN) or a Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN). Both satisfy the education requirement for initial RN licensure. The BON approves numerous RN education programs across Texas.
For help comparing and selecting a program, see RN programs in Texas.
Applying for Licensure
The BON recommends submitting your application about 120 days before graduation. The process includes:
- A criminal background check with fingerprints through the BON’s approved vendor
- Registration with Pearson VUE for the NCLEX-RN, with the exam fee paid directly to Pearson
- An Affidavit of Graduation completed by your program’s dean or director. Texas BON-approved schools submit this electronically on your behalf. Out-of-state graduates submit it directly.
- The Texas Nursing Jurisprudence Examination, accessed through the BON’s website. There is no additional fee for RN applicants.
Once the BON confirms eligibility, Pearson VUE issues an Authorization to Test (ATT) valid for 75 days. Schedule and take the NCLEX-RN within that window. Graduates can practice as a Graduate Nurse (GN) in the meantime. Verify your GN status through the BON’s online portal before beginning work.
US-educated candidates must pass the NCLEX-RN within four years of graduation. Retakes are allowed, but each requires a new application and a fee to the Texas BON. The last application must be submitted at least 120 days before that four-year window closes.
See the Texas Board of Nursing for current application fees and licensing timelines.
Out-of-State, Endorsement, and International Nurses
RNs licensed in other states can endorse in Texas after meeting all Texas requirements, including passing the NCLEX-RN. The Nursing Jurisprudence Examination is required before permanent licensure is issued. Nurses without recent practice experience may need to complete refresher work first—the BON issues a special temporary permit for that purpose, separate from the standard temporary permit.
International nurses face additional requirements: a credential evaluation, NCLEX, and English proficiency testing (TOEFL, IELTS, TSE, or PTE) if the nursing program was conducted in a language other than English. Nurses who haven’t practiced as a first-level general nurse for at least two of the four years preceding their application must complete a Foreign Educated Nurse (FEN) refresher course before sitting for the NCLEX.
All out-of-state applicants must submit license verification from every jurisdiction where they’ve held a license. For a full overview of the RN path in Texas, see Becoming an RN in Texas.
Nurse Licensure Compact
Texas has been a member of the Nurse Licensure Compact (NLC) since 2000. Under the NLC, nurses licensed in another compact state hold a multistate license that’s valid in Texas, and no separate Texas license is required as long as Texas isn’t your primary state of residency.
If you relocate to Texas and it becomes your primary state of residency, you must apply for a Texas license within 60 days. Once Texas is your home state, the out-of-state compact license is no longer valid for practice here. Nurses applying for their first Texas license who already live in Texas automatically receive a multistate NLC license, provided they meet all eligibility requirements.
License Renewal
Texas nursing licenses are renewed biannually. Renewal is completed online through the BON’s Nurse Portal, and you must renew within 60 days of your expiration date. Missing that window causes your license to lapse, and reinstatement is required before you can legally practice again.
Continuing education requirements by renewal cycle:
- First renewal: generally exempt from the 20-hour CE requirement
- All subsequent renewals: 20 CE hours required, plus any Texas-mandated topic-specific continuing education that applies to the nurse’s practice and renewal cycle
In place of individual CE hours, you can demonstrate the achievement, maintenance, or renewal of a Board-approved national nursing certification in your practice area during the renewal period. Either option satisfies the CE requirement.
Nursing Organizations in Texas
Two major professional organizations serve Texas nurses. The Texas Nurses Association represents RNs across specialties and provides advocacy, educational resources, and workforce support statewide. The Licensed Vocational Nurses Association of Texas provides advocacy and professional support specifically for LVNs. Both offer continuing education opportunities that may count toward renewal requirements.
This page covers RN and LVN requirements. For other credential types in Texas, see Texas CNA requirements and Texas APRN requirements.
Find nursing licensure requirements by state for RNs, LPNs, LVNs, and advanced practice nurses.
Frequently Asked Questions
What’s the difference between an LPN and an LVN in Texas?
Texas uses the term Licensed Vocational Nurse (LVN) instead of LPN, but the credential is identical. Both complete similar BON-approved programs, take the NCLEX-PN, and practice within the same scope under RN or physician supervision. If you’re already licensed as an LPN in another state, you can apply to the Texas BON for endorsement as an LVN.
Does Texas participate in the Nurse Licensure Compact?
Yes. Texas has been an NLC member since 2000. Nurses licensed in another compact state hold a multistate license that’s valid in Texas without applying for a separate Texas license, as long as Texas isn’t their primary state of residency. If you move to Texas and establish it as your home state, you have 60 days to apply for a Texas license.
How many times can I retake the NCLEX in Texas?
Texas doesn’t cap the number of NCLEX retakes, but each attempt requires a new application and fee to the Texas BON. US-educated candidates must pass within four years of graduation. The last application must be submitted at least 120 days before that four-year window closes.
What is the Texas Nursing Jurisprudence Examination?
It’s a required online exam covering Texas nursing law and Board of Nursing rules. All RN and LVN applicants must pass it before receiving permanent licensure. The exam has a time limit, and failing to finish within the allotted time counts as a failed attempt. A seven-day waiting period applies before retaking it.
How do I renew a Texas nursing license?
Texas licenses renew every two years through the BON’s online Nurse Portal. The first renewal is generally exempt from the 20-hour CE requirement. All renewals after that require 20 CE hours plus any applicable topic-specific CE requirements mandated by the BON. CE hours can be substituted with a Board-approved national nursing certification earned during the renewal period. Renew within 60 days of your expiration date, or the license will lapse.
Key Takeaways
- Texas uses “LVN,” not “LPN.” The credential is the same as that of an LPN in other states. LVNs take the NCLEX-PN and are licensed by the Texas Board of Nursing.
- Jurisprudence Exam required for all applicants — Both RN and LVN candidates must pass Texas’s online nursing law exam before receiving a permanent license.
- NLC compact membership since 2000 — A multistate license from another NLC compact state is valid in Texas unless Texas becomes your primary state of residency.
- Biennial renewal with CE requirements — Texas licenses renew every two years. After the first renewal, 20 CE hours are required each cycle.
- Past criminal history triggers review, not automatic denial — The BON reviews backgrounds individually. Prospective students can file a Declaratory Order petition before starting school to obtain a preliminary determination of eligibility.
Select your state below to find approved nursing programs, application links, and licensing requirements for your jurisdiction.