Texas Nurse Practitioner Licensure Steps - 2025
AKA: CRNP License, APRN Licensure
Licensor: Texas Licensing Body
What's Here? - Table of Contents
How to Become a Nurse Practitioner in Texas: Licensure Guide
Becoming a nurse practitioner (NP) in Texas requires a clear, step-by-step approach grounded in education, experience, and licensure. Whether you’re starting your NP journey or upgrading from an RN license, this guide outlines the key requirements, including regional considerations such as Texas’s jurisprudence exam and compact licensure rules.
Obtain Your Registered Nurse (RN) License
An active RN license is a prerequisite for NP licensure in Texas. If you’re not already licensed, you’ll need to apply via examination or endorsement.
RN by Examination
- Graduate from a state-approved ADN or BSN program.
- Apply online or submit a paper application to the Texas Board of Nursing. Fee: $139.
- Complete a criminal background check (CBC). Texas residents must use an approved vendor for electronic fingerprinting.
- Register for the NCLEX-RN exam via Pearson VUE (fee: $200).
- Receive your Authorization to Test (ATT) — valid for 75 days — and schedule your exam.
- Complete the Texas Nursing Jurisprudence Exam (free, online, required for all RN applicants).
- Retakes are allowed, but application fees apply each time.
RN by Endorsement
- Available to RNs licensed in non-compact states with nursing experience in the past 4 years.
- Apply for RN licensure by endorsement (Texas BON), fee: $150.
- Complete the Texas Jurisprudence Exam (fee: $25).
- Submit license verification via NURSYS or directly from your state board if NURSYS is not available.
- Upon receipt of your application, you may be eligible for a 120-day temporary license (issued within 15 days).
Complete Advanced Educational Requirements
To qualify as a nurse practitioner, Texas requires a post-basic advanced education program appropriate for your APRN role and population focus. A master’s degree in nursing (MSN) is the standard pathway, but DNP programs are also accepted.
Core Coursework Must Include:
- Advanced Health Assessment
- Advanced Pharmacology (pharmacodynamics, pharmacokinetics, pharmacotherapeutics)
- Advanced Physiology and Pathophysiology across the lifespan
Programs must be accredited by an agency recognized by the U.S. Secretary of Education or the Council for Higher Education Accreditation (CHEA). For out-of-state programs, accreditation must meet that state’s standards.
Find and sort all nurse practitioner degree programs in Texas.
For full APRN education requirements, see: Texas Administrative Code Rule 221.7(e).
Special Considerations:
- Nurse-midwives and nurse practitioners who graduated before Jan 1, 1996, may be exempt from the master’s degree requirement.
- Applicants who completed a BSN between Jan 1, 2003 and Dec 31, 2006 may also be eligible for a waiver. Contact the Board for details.
Earn National Certification
After graduating from your advanced practice program, you must become nationally certified in your NP specialty area. Certification is obtained through an approved national organization.
Accepted Certifying Bodies:
- American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC)
- American Association of Critical-Care Nurses (AACN)
- Pediatric Nurse Certification Board (PNCB)
- American Academy of Nurse Practitioners (AANP)
- National Certification Corporation (NCC)
Complete Required Clinical Hours
The Texas Board mandates clinical practice hours depending on your application type:
- New APRN Graduates: 500 supervised clinical hours within the last 24 months.
- Endorsement Applicants: 400 hours of practice as an NP or APRN within the past 24 months.
Apply for Your NP (APRN) License
Once you’ve met the educational and certification requirements, apply online for licensure as an Advanced Practice Registered Nurse (APRN) in Texas.
Documents Required:
- Official transcript showing conferral of your advanced nursing degree
- Verification of national certification in your specialty
- Copy of your compact RN license (if applicable)
Application Fees:
- $100 for APRN licensure
- $150 if you are also applying for prescriptive authority
Need help with the online application? View the Texas Board of Nursing APRN Licensure Tutorial.
Final Tip: Understanding Texas-Specific Requirements
Texas has several unique regulatory features that set it apart:
- The Jurisprudence Exam is mandatory for all applicants—ensure you complete it early.
- Texas is part of the Nurse Licensure Compact (NLC), allowing nurses to practice in other compact states without additional licensure.
- Due to large rural regions, Texas strongly supports NPs practicing in underserved areas—telehealth legislation continues to evolve in support of this.
By following each of these steps, you’ll be well-positioned to serve diverse communities across Texas as a fully licensed nurse practitioner.