Texas Nursing Licensing Guide
Everything CNAs, LPNs & RNs Need to Get Licensed in Texas
Texas is a compact state and one of the largest nursing labor markets in the country. If you hold a multistate NLC license from another compact state, you can work in Texas without applying for a separate license. That covers a lot of travel nurses, but not all of them.
What makes Texas different from every other state on this list is the Texas Board of Nursing’s character review process. Texas BON is one of the most thorough licensing boards in the country. If you have any criminal history, prior disciplinary action, or substance abuse history, Texas has a formal process, the Declaratory Order, that you need to know about before you apply. Going through endorsement without understanding this first is the most common mistake nurses make when coming to Texas.
The other thing worth flagging upfront: Texas processes one of the highest volumes of nursing license applications in the country. Processing times can run longer than smaller states even when your application is complete.
Who’s in Charge of Your License in Texas?
Two agencies. Split by role.
| Your Role | Regulated By | Portal |
|---|---|---|
| RN, LPN | Texas Board of Nursing (BON) | bon.texas.gov |
| CNA | Texas Health and Human Services (HHS) via Nurse Aide Registry | hhs.texas.gov |
Texas Board of Nursing (BON), RNs and LPNs
The Texas Board of Nursing is a standalone licensing board that handles all RN and LPN licensing in Texas, initial applications, endorsements, renewals, verifications, and disciplinary actions. Texas BON is one of the most active nursing regulatory boards in the country, processing tens of thousands of applications annually.
- License lookup: Texas BON License Verification
- Online licensing portal: bon.texas.gov
How long does Texas BON take?
| Application Type | Typical Timeline |
|---|---|
| Endorsement (out-of-state transfer) | 4–8 weeks |
| Initial licensure post-NCLEX | 2–4 weeks |
| Online renewal | 2–3 weeks |
Texas processes a high volume of applications year-round. Even a complete application can sit in queue longer than equivalent applications in smaller states. Submit your Nursys verification request the same day you file, and if you have any criminal history or prior disciplinary action, read Section 8 on the Declaratory Order process before you apply.
Texas Health and Human Services (HHS) and the Nurse Aide Registry
Texas Health and Human Services (HHS) administers the Texas Nurse Aide Registry (NAR), which serves as the official registry for Certified Nursing Assistants working in Medicare- and Medicaid-certified healthcare facilities throughout the state.
Healthcare employers use the registry to verify CNA certification before employment. Maintaining an active listing on the registry is required for eligible employment in regulated healthcare settings.
A Note on CMT in Texas
Texas does not have a standalone Certified Medication Technician (CMT) credential. Medication administration in Texas long-term care settings is handled by licensed nurses under the Texas Nursing Practice Act or through specific facility delegation protocols. If you hold a CMT from Illinois or another state, contact Texas BON directly to understand how your credential applies in Texas.
What Does Your Role Actually Require in Texas?
| Role | Licensing Body | Exam | Renewal Cycle | CE Required | Registry |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| CNA | Texas HHS / NAR | NNAAP | 2 years | 12 hrs/year (in-service) | NAR, mandatory |
| LPN | Texas BON | NCLEX-PN | 2 years | 20 hrs/cycle | None |
| RN | Texas BON | NCLEX-RN | 2 years | 20 hrs/cycle | None |
Sources: Texas Nursing Practice Act, Occupations Code Ch. 301
Texas IS a Compact State, What That Means for You
Texas is a full member of the Nurse Licensure Compact (NLC).
Texas is one of the highest-volume compact states in the country, both as a destination for travel nurses and as a home state for nurses who work across compact state lines.
How the NLC Works in Texas
The NLC allows nurses licensed in any of the 41+ compact member states to practice across state lines on a single multistate license. Texas compact membership means:
Texas-licensed nurses with multistate licenses can practice in any other compact state without additional applications
- Nurses from compact states can start Texas assignments without applying for a separate Texas license
- Staffing agencies can place compact-state nurses in Texas as soon as an assignment is confirmed, no endorsement processing delay
Who Benefits From Texas’s Compact Membership
- Travel nurses from compact states: your multistate license covers Texas. No additional application needed before starting a Texas assignment.
- Nurses relocating to Texas from a compact state: once Texas becomes your primary state of residence, you’ll apply for a Texas multistate license through Texas BON. Your prior state’s multistate license is surrendered at that point.
- Staffing agencies: verify the nurse holds a multistate license from a compact home state and you’re covered for Texas placements without waiting on endorsement.
Who Still Needs a Separate Texas License
You still need a standalone Texas license if:
- Your home state is not a compact member: Illinois, Michigan, California, and New York are among the non-compact states
- You hold a single-state license rather than a multistate license, even if your home state is compact
- Texas is becoming your primary state of residence: you’ll need to convert to a Texas multistate license through Texas BON
The primary residence rule. Your NLC multistate license is tied to your primary state of residence, not where you work. If Texas becomes your primary residence, you must hold a Texas multistate license even if you also work across other compact states.
Can an Illinois or Michigan Nurse Practice in Texas Without Endorsement?
No. Both Illinois and Michigan are non-compact states. Nurses licensed in either state hold single-state licenses only and must apply for Texas endorsement through Texas BON before working in Texas. The same applies to nurses from any other non-compact state.
Source: Texas BON Licensure
How to Transfer Your License to Texas
Texas does not have reciprocity. Every out-of-state applicant from a non-compact state goes through endorsement regardless of which state they’re coming from.
RN and LPN Endorsement (Texas BON)
- Create an account at Texas BON online portal
- Complete the endorsement application and pay the fee, RN: $186 · LPN: $150 (verify current fees at Texas BON, fees are among the higher end nationally)
- Request license verification from your current state via Nursys, most states transmit this directly to Texas BON electronically
- Complete the Texas jurisprudence exam, see below
- Submit official nursing school transcripts if requested
- Disclose any criminal history, disciplinary actions, or substance abuse history, Texas BON reviews all disclosures thoroughly. If you have anything to disclose, read Section 8 on the Declaratory Order process before proceeding
- Complete a Texas fingerprint-based background check through the Texas Department of Public Safety (DPS)
- Track your application through the Texas BON portal, expect 4–8 weeks for a complete application, longer during high-volume periods
Texas endorsement fees are among the highest nationally. Budget $186 for RN and $150 for LPN, plus background check fees. Verify current fee schedules at bon.texas.gov before applying.
Texas’s Jurisprudence Exam
Texas requires all new licensees, including endorsement applicants, to pass the Texas Nursing Jurisprudence Exam (NJE) before their license is issued. Unlike Tennessee and Ohio where the jurisprudence component is a module, Texas administers a formal exam.
What the exam covers:
- Texas Nursing Practice Act (Texas Occupations Code Chapter 301)
- Texas Administrative Code Title 22 Part 11
- Scope of practice for RNs and LPNs in Texas
- Standards of nursing practice specific to Texas
- Reporting obligations and documentation requirements
- Grounds for disciplinary action under Texas law
Exam specifics:
- Administered online through the Texas BON portal
- 50 questions, multiple choice
- Passing score: 75% or higher
- Can be retaken if failed, a waiting period applies between attempts
- One-time requirement, does not need to be repeated at renewal
Source: Texas Occupations Code 301.164
CNA Endorsement / Reciprocity (Texas HHS)
To transfer a CNA certification from another state to Texas’s Nurse Aide Registry:
- Your out-of-state certification must be current and in good standing
- No substantiated findings of abuse, neglect, or misappropriation on your record
- Training must meet the federal 75-hour minimum under 42 CFR 483.35
Steps:
- Submit the Texas NAR Reciprocity Application to Texas HHS
- Provide proof of out-of-state certification and training completion
- Complete a Texas fingerprint-based background check
- Texas HHS verifies your status with your prior state before adding you to the Texas NAR
Source: 42 CFR Part 483
CE Rules in Texas, What You’re Required to Complete
Texas requires 20 CE hours per 2-year renewal cycle for both RNs and LPNs. That puts Texas in line with Illinois (20 hours), lower than Florida (24) and Michigan (25), and well above Indiana and Tennessee (both zero).
Like most states, Texas mandates specific topics within those 20 hours. The jurisprudence CE requirement is the one most out-of-state nurses miss on their first Texas renewal.
| Role | Hours per Cycle | Cycle | Mandatory Inclusions |
|---|---|---|---|
| RN | 20 contact hours | 2 years | See mandatory topics below |
| LPN | 20 contact hours | 2 years | See mandatory topics below |
| CNA | 12 hrs in-service | Annual | Employer-provided, per 42 CFR 483.35 |
Mandatory CE Topics
| CE Topic | Hours Required | Who It Applies To | Frequency |
|---|---|---|---|
| Texas nursing jurisprudence and ethics | 2 hours | RN and LPN | Every renewal cycle |
| Texas nursing law and rules | Included in jurisprudence CE | RN and LPN | Every renewal cycle |
That accounts for 2 mandatory hours out of your 20 every cycle. The remaining 18 hours can be any approved CE topic relevant to your nursing practice area.
The jurisprudence CE is separate from the one-time jurisprudence exam. The exam is completed once when you first get your Texas license. The 2-hour jurisprudence and ethics CE is a recurring requirement every renewal cycle. Both exist, don’t confuse them.
Specialty Practice CE
Texas BON has continuing competency requirements tied to specific practice areas. Nurses practicing in certain specialty areas, including dialysis, school nursing, and others, may have additional CE requirements specific to their practice setting. Check with Texas BON directly if you practice in a specialty area.
Approved CE Providers
Texas CE must come from Texas BON-approved providers. Keep your completion certificates, Texas BON audits CE compliance at renewal.
| Provider | Website |
|---|---|
| American Nurses Association (ANA) | nursingworld.org |
| Nurse.com CE Center | nurse.com/ce |
| Relias Learning | relias.com |
| Medscape Nursing | medscape.com/nurses |
| AANP | aanp.org |
| Texas Nurses Association (TNA) | texasnurses.org |
The Registry Every Texas CNA Needs to Know About
The Texas Nurse Aide Registry (NAR), maintained by Texas Health and Human Services, is the official database used to verify Certified Nursing Assistant certifications throughout Texas.
Healthcare employers rely on the registry to confirm certification before hiring CNAs in Medicare- and Medicaid-certified healthcare facilities. Maintaining an active registry listing is required for eligible employment in regulated healthcare settings.
| Role | Registry Required? |
|---|---|
| CNA | Yes, before any employment in certified facilities |
| RN / LPN | No |
What Employers and Agencies Must Do
Under 42 CFR 483.35 and Texas state requirements, employers at Medicare and Medicaid-certified facilities must:
- Verify Nurse Aide Registry status before hiring a CNA.
- Refuse to hire any worker with a substantiated finding of abuse, neglect, or misappropriation
- Report findings of abuse or neglect to Texas HHS for registry entry
For staffing agencies: registry verification is required before every placement, not just at initial onboarding. Keep verification records on file.
Background Check Requirement
CNA applicants in Texas must complete a fingerprint-based criminal background check through the Texas Department of Public Safety (DPS). Texas uses both state-level and FBI-level checks. This applies to new certifications and may apply to reciprocity applicants depending on circumstances.
Texas DPS background check: dps.texas.gov/section/crime-records
Everything You Need to Know About Renewing Your Texas License
Texas licenses renew on a 2-year cycle with expiration tied to your birth month in either an odd or even year based on your license type. TBON sends renewal reminders but renewal is your responsibility.
| Role | Cycle | Expiry |
|---|---|---|
| RN | 2 years | Birth month, odd or even year by license type |
| LPN | 2 years | Birth month, odd or even year by license type |
| CNA (NAR) | Active employment required | Lapses after 24 months inactive, retest may be required |
To confirm your exact renewal deadline, log in to the Texas BON portal and check your license record directly.
Renewal Fees
| Role | Renewal Fee |
|---|---|
| RN | $65 |
| LPN | $65 |
Texas renewal fees are mid-range nationally. Verify current fees at bon.texas.gov before renewing.
How to Renew Online (RN, LPN)
- Log in to the Texas BON portal
- Select “Renew a License” and choose your license type
- Attest to CE completion, have your certificates ready, Texas BON audits CE compliance
- Confirm mandatory CE is covered, 2 hours of Texas nursing jurisprudence and ethics
- Disclose any changes to criminal history or disciplinary status since last renewal
- Pay the renewal fee
- Save your renewal confirmation as proof of active status
Missed Your Renewal Date?
- Texas allows late renewal with a late penalty fee on top of the standard renewal fee
- Practicing on an expired license violates Texas Occupations Code Chapter 301, actively enforced by Texas BON
- Contact Texas BON for current late renewal window and penalty amounts
Expired beyond the late renewal window? Formal reinstatement is required. Texas reinstatement may include additional CE documentation, background check, and Texas BON board review. Contact Texas BON directly for reinstatement requirements specific to your situation.
Once your Texas license, multistate practice privilege, or Nurse Aide Registry status is active, Explore PRN healthcare shifts in Texas to find local opportunities, supported roles, and pay information in Houston, Pasadena, The Woodlands, and other Texas cities.
Texas Peer Assistance Program for Nurses (TPAPN)
Texas operates the Texas Peer Assistance Program for Nurses (TPAPN), one of the most established nurse monitoring and support programs in the country. TPAPN provides an alternative to disciplinary action for nurses dealing with substance use disorders or mental health conditions that may affect safe practice.
If you’re a Texas nurse facing these challenges, contact TPAPN before a licensing issue develops.
The Declaratory Order Process, What Every Texas Applicant Needs to Know
This section is specific to Texas and has no direct equivalent in the other states covered in this guide. If you have any criminal history, prior disciplinary action, substance abuse history, or other potentially disqualifying background, read this before you apply.
What Is a Declaratory Order?
A Declaratory Order (DO) is a formal pre-application petition to Texas BON asking the board to determine whether your background would disqualify you from licensure, before you invest time and money in the full application process.
Texas BON reviews petitions and issues a ruling on whether the applicant is eligible for licensure given their specific history. It is not an automatic bar, many nurses with criminal histories are granted licensure in Texas. But Texas BON takes this review seriously and the process takes time.
Who Should File a Declaratory Order?
You should consider filing a Declaratory Order before your full endorsement application if you have:
- Any criminal conviction, felony or misdemeanor, regardless of how old
- A deferred adjudication, regardless of whether charges were dismissed
- Prior disciplinary action by any state nursing board
- A history of substance abuse or chemical dependency
- Any pending criminal charges
Filing a DO before your full application is optional, but strongly recommended if any of the above apply. Going through a full endorsement application only to have it denied based on undisclosed or reviewed history wastes application fees and adds months to your timeline.
How the Declaratory Order Process Works
Submit a Declaratory Order petition to Texas BON through the online portal
- Pay the DO petition fee, currently $75 (verify at bon.texas.gov)
- Provide all supporting documentation, court records, discharge papers, prior board orders, treatment records
- Texas BON staff reviews the petition and presents it to the board
- The board issues a ruling: eligible, eligible with conditions, or ineligible
- If eligible, proceed with your full endorsement application
- If eligible with conditions, those conditions become part of your Texas license
- If ineligible, you receive a written explanation and have the right to a formal hearing
Timeline: Declaratory Order review typically takes 3–6 months depending on board meeting schedules and the complexity of your history. Factor this into your planning if you need to work in Texas by a specific date
Go Deeper, Pick Your Role
This page covers Texas-wide licensing rules. Each role guide has the exact steps, exam details, fees, and renewal walkthrough for that specific credential.
| Role | What the guide covers | Regulatory body |
|---|---|---|
| CNA Texas → | NNAAP exam, 75-hour training, NAR registration, and endorsement | Texas HHS / NAR |
| LPN Texas → | NCLEX-PN, Texas BON application, jurisprudence exam, CE, and endorsement | Texas BON |
| RN Texas → | NCLEX-RN, Texas BON application, jurisprudence exam, CE, and compact rules | Texas BON |
Frequently Asked Questions
Licensing Information Disclaimer: Licensing requirements, fees, examination details, renewal standards, and Nurse Licensure Compact participation may change over time. While we strive to keep this information current and accurate, MyShyft does not guarantee the completeness or accuracy of the information provided. Always verify licensing requirements directly with the Texas Board of Nursing before making educational, licensing, employment, or relocation decisions. Reliance on information contained on this page is at the reader’s own risk.