Texas Nurse Practitioner Licensure Steps - 2022

Nurse Practitioner Licensure Requirements in Texas

Follow below to learn how to become a nurse practitioner (NP) in Texas.

Initial Registered Nurse (RN) License

Already have your RN License?Skip to the next section

Having a registered nurse (RN) license is the first prerequisite to qualifying for a nurse practitioner (NP) license. There are two ways to go about it. If you haven’t taken the National Council Licensure Examination (NCLEX) before, you’ll have to apply for the RN license by exam. If you have a license in a non-compact state, application for the license by endorsement is the route for you.

RN by Examination

• To qualify for an RN license, you must have graduated from an approved nursing program with a minimum of an  Associate Degree in Nursing (ADN) or a Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN). Check here to see some approved nursing programs in Texas.
• You can choose to apply online or print the forms and send a completed form to the board. A fee of $139 is required for the application.
• The board requires a criminal background check (CBC). If you reside in Texas, you’ll need to book an appointment with an approved vendor to capture the prints electronically.
• You’ll also need to register for the NCLEX exam. Registration for this exam is done at a fee of $200 via Pearson Vue. NCLEX candidate services will notify the board when your registration is received.
• If you qualify, you’ll be sent an authorization to test, ATT which is only valid for 75 days. The exam will need to be scheduled within that time frame.
• In Texas to become an RN, you’ll also need to pass the online jurisprudence exam. No fee is required for this exam

Applicants can take the exams as many times as possible, although application fees apply each time.

RN by Endorsement

If you have an RN license from a non-compact state, you can apply for licensure in Texas by endorsement provided you have worked in nursing within the preceding 4 years.

• Complete a criminal background check.
• Apply for RN licensure by endorsement here at a non-refundable fee of $150.
• The jurisprudence exam is compulsory for all applicants. The exam is taken at a fee of $25.
• You’ll have to verify your current license from the non-compact state at nursys.com. For states who do not use Nursys, the verification of licensure form should be filled out by your state’s board and submitted to the Texas Board of Nursing.

When you get a receipt for the application,  you can expect a 120-day temporary license within 15 days.

Advanced Education Requirements

To become an NP in Texas, you must undergo an advanced practice nursing educational program from a college or institution that is accredited to provide graduate degrees in preparation for the NP role. A master’s degree in nursing is usually the minimum degree required for NP licensure. Your chosen advanced educational program in Texas must be approved by the board, or must be accredited by a national accrediting agency recognized by the Board and the US Department of Education. Outside of Texas, all advanced educational programs must be accredited by a national accrediting body recognized by the Board or the relevant licensing body in the state where the program is situated.  The following core courses are required by the board, in line with the APRN Regulatory Model;

• Physical evaluation/assessment- advanced assessment methods and techniques.
• Pathophysiology- general principle applicable throughout the human lifespan.
• Advanced pharmacology – pharmacodynamics, pharmacokinetics, and pharmacotherapeutics.

If you graduated before January 1, 1996, you will be excluded from the master’s degree requirement. Nurse-midwives and healthcare nurse practitioners who finished their bachelor’s degrees between January 1, 2003, and December 31, 2006, may be eligible for a master’s degree waiver. For more information, please contact the Board.

To be approved for prescriptive authority, an unencumbered RN license is required. You must also be fully approved by the board to practice as an APRN in Texas.

National Certification

After acquiring your graduate degree from an NP preparatory program, you become eligible for national certification in your area of specialty through an exam. The exam is conducted by a national certifying body. In order to become an APRN-NP in Texas, this certification is required. Some of the national certifying bodies recognized by the board include:

• American Academy of Nurse Practitioners (AANP)
• American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC)
• American Association of Critical care Nurse (AACN)
• Pediatric Nursing Certification Board (PNCB)
• National Board of Certification and Recertification of Nurse Anesthetists (NBCRNA)
• National Certification Corporation (NCC)
• American Midwifery Certification Board (AMCB)

Getting Licensed to Practice as a Nurse Practitioner in Texas

After getting your national certification, you’re then eligible for NP licensure in Texas. You can complete the application and submit online or print it and mail the completed forms to the board’s office. Alongside the application, the following documentation is also required;

• An official transcript including your APRN graduate degree
• A document showing the verification of your current national certification in a given specialty
• Found in part II of the application, the “Consent to Release Information” form must be completed by the program director. The completed must then be sent directly to the board from the program director.
• For applicants who hold a compact RN license, a copy will be required by the board.
• An application fee of $100 is required for Advanced Practice licensure. If you include prescriptive authority, a fee of $150 is required.

All fees must be in money order or check payable to the board and should be sent  alongside the required documentation and completed application form to the board’s office at: