How to become a nurse in Texas
Texas licenses nurses through the Texas Board of Nursing. The route is the same for every state: finish an approved program, apply to the board, pass the NCLEX, then renew on schedule. This page covers what is specific to Texas.
The steps
Finish a board-approved nursing program
Choose the level you want to start at: a practical nursing certificate (about a year), an associate degree (about two years) or a bachelor's degree (about four). Texas has 55 bachelor's, 61 associate degree and 76 practical nursing programs in our data. Compare BSN programs in Texas.
Apply to the board for a license by examination
You apply to the Texas Board of Nursing before you can test. The board's fee for registered nurses is $75. Expect a fingerprint background check. You must also pass Nursing Jurisprudence Exam (NJE).
Register for and pass the NCLEX
The NCLEX-RN (or NCLEX-PN for practical nursing) is the national licensing exam. Registration costs $200 through Pearson VUE, rising to $350 for registrations from February 1, 2027. The exam asks between 85 and 150 questions and allows 5 hours. 88.6% of Texas graduates passed the NCLEX-RN on their first try in 2025, against 86.7% nationally in 2025. NCLEX pass rates in Texas.
Receive your license, then keep it current
Texas offers a temporary permit while you wait to test. Licenses renew every 2 years, with continuing education required (details in the table below).
Working in more than one state
Texas is a full member of the Nurse Licensure Compact, in effect since January 19, 2018. A nurse whose home state is Texas can hold one multistate license and practice in other compact states.
Source: Nurse Licensure Compact
Texas licensing at a glance
| Licensing board | Texas Board of Nursing | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Board application fee, RN by exam | $75Board fee for licensure by examination; the Board's fee summary lists 'Examination (NJE fee Included)' at $75 (Rule 223.1: $50 examination fee plus a Nursing Jurisprudence Exam fee of not more than $25). The FBI/DPS fingerprint background check fee is separate and varies. The $200 Pearson VUE NCLEX registration is also separate. | Source |
| Board application fee, LVN by exam | $75The Board publishes a single 'Examination (NJE fee Included)' fee of $75 that covers both the NCLEX-RN and NCLEX-PN applications. Fingerprinting and Pearson VUE fees are separate. | Source |
| Fingerprint background check | YesSince 2004, all applicants for Texas licensure have had to submit fingerprints for a Texas DPS and FBI criminal background check. Results go directly to the Board. Applicants who already completed a check for the Board, for example as students, do not resubmit unless staff ask them to. | Source |
| State law exam (jurisprudence) | Nursing Jurisprudence Exam (NJE)Since September 2008, all NCLEX applicants must complete the NJE before they receive an Authorization to Test (ATT). The 2-hour exam covers the Texas Nursing Practice Act and the Board's Rules and Regulations. | Source |
| Temporary permit while you wait for the exam | YesEligible new graduates receive a Graduate Nurse (GN) or Graduate Vocational Nurse (GVN) permit. It is posted to the Nurse Portal within 5 business days of the ATT email. The ATT and the GN/GVN permit are valid for 75 days and cannot be extended. | Source |
| License renewal | Every 2 years20 contact hours of CNE in the nurse's area of practice, or a Board-approved national certification, each two-year licensing period. Targeted requirements also apply: an HHSC-approved human trafficking prevention course every period for nurses in direct patient care; 2 hours on nursing jurisprudence and ethics every third period; 2 hours on older adult/geriatric care for nurses who care for those populations; and a one-time 2 hours on forensic evidence collection for ER nurses. CE is waived for the first renewal if it is filed on time or within 90 days after expiration. | Source |
Board fees are separate from the NCLEX registration fee paid to Pearson VUE. Fees and rules change; confirm with the board before you apply.
Good to know in Texas
- Texas NCLEX applicants must finish the NCLEX application, fingerprints, Pearson VUE registration, the NJE and an Affidavit of Graduation from their program before the Board reviews them for an ATT. The Board recommends registering with Pearson VUE at least 30 days before graduation. Source
- Graduates must retest within four years of their graduation date. After that, they have to complete a new nursing program; a refresher course does not count. Source
- From September 1, 2026, nurses renewing or reactivating a Texas license must enter their continuing competency compliance in the CE Module of the Texas Nurse Portal before they submit the application. This does not apply to a first renewal that qualifies for the CE waiver. Source
- Renewal fees for each two-year period are $68 for an RN and $45 for an LVN. Source
What nurses earn in Texas
| Role | Median yearly pay | Employed in Texas |
|---|---|---|
| Registered nurse | $95,970 | 271,380 |
| LPN or LVN | $62,240 | 57,560 |
| Nurse practitioner | $131,670 | 25,970 |
BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. The median registered nurse in Texas earns $1,580 less than the national median of $97,550.