Texas Administrative Code › Title 22 - EXAMINING BOARDS › Part 11 - TEXAS BOARD OF NURSING › Chapter 217 - LICENSURE, PEER ASSISTANCE, AND PRACTICE › Section 217.2 - Licensure by Examination for Graduates of Nursing Education Programs Within the United States, its Territories, or Possessions

Current through Reg. 49, No. 28; July 12, 2024
(a) All applicants for initial licensure by
				examination shall:
(1) file a complete
				application containing data required by the board attesting that all
				information contained in, or referenced by, the application is complete and
				accurate and is not false or misleading, and the required application
				processing fee which is not refundable;
(2) submit verification of completion of all
				requirements for graduation from an approved nursing education program, or
				certification from the nursing program director of completion of
				certificate/degree requirements. Prerequisites of an accredited master's degree
				program leading to a first degree in professional nursing must be approved by
				the board;
(3) pass the NCLEX-PN
				(LVN applicant) or NCLEX-RN (RN applicant);
(4) graduate from an approved Texas nursing
				education program or a program with substantially equivalent education
				standards to a Texas approved nursing program as defined below.
(A) A professional nursing education program
				operated in another state may be determined to have substantially equivalent
				education standards to a Texas approved nursing program if:
(i) the program is approved by a state board
				of nursing or other governmental entity to offer a pre-licensure professional
				nursing program of study that awards a nursing diploma or degree upon
				completion;
(ii) the program
				includes general education courses providing a sound foundation for nursing
				education for the level of preparation;
(iii) the program's nursing courses include
				didactic content and supervised clinical learning experiences in
				medical-surgical, maternal/child health, pediatrics, geriatrics, and mental
				health nursing that teach students to use a systematic approach to clinical
				decision-making and safe patient care across the life span; and
(iv) for baccalaureate degree nursing
				programs, nursing courses must also include didactic content and supervised
				clinical learning experiences, as appropriate, in community, research, and
				leadership.
(B) A
				vocational nursing education program operated in another state may be
				determined to have substantially equivalent education standards to a Texas
				approved nursing program if:
(i) the program
				is approved by a state board of nursing or other governmental entity to offer a
				pre-licensure vocational/practical nursing program of study that awards a
				vocational/practical nursing certificate, diploma, or degree upon
				completion;
(ii) the program's
				nursing courses include didactic and supervised clinical learning experiences
				in medical-surgical, maternal/child health, pediatrics, geriatrics, and mental
				health nursing that teach students to use a systematic approach to clinical
				decision-making and safe patient care across the life span; and
(iii) the program includes support courses
				providing a sound foundation for nursing education for the level of
				preparation.
(C) A
				clinical competency assessment program shall be deemed substantially equivalent
				to a Texas approved nursing program while compliant with Tex. Occ. Code
				§301.157(d-8) and (d-9). A clinical competency assessment program will be
				deemed to not be substantially equivalent to a Texas approved nursing program
				if the program fails to meet applicable requirements of Tex. Occ. Code
				§301.157(d-11) and (d-12).
(D)
				If an applicant does not have substantially equivalent education under
				paragraph (A) or (B), the applicant may become eligible for licensure if the
				applicant enrolls in an approved Texas program and completes the necessary
				educational requirements.
(E) If an
				applicant for licensure as a registered nurse has completed a clinical
				competency assessment program which is deemed not to be substantially
				equivalent to Board standards for Texas programs under paragraph (C), the Board
				may issue a provisional license to the applicant once the applicant has passed
				the National Council Licensure Examination for Registered Nurses (NCLEX-RN®
				Examination). The applicant will be eligible for full licensure if the
				applicant completes the requirements of clause (i) or (ii) below:
(i) The applicant completes 500 hours of
				clinical practice under the direct supervision of an approved preceptor. The
				applicant, prior to beginning practice, must submit the name and license number
				of a potential preceptor for Board approval. After completion of 500 hours of
				clinical practice under direct supervision of the approved preceptor and the
				preceptor's signature that the applicant is competent and safe to practice
				nursing, the applicant may be eligible for full licensure.
(ii) The applicant completes an educational
				program at an approved Texas program which is designed to assess and improve
				clinical skills for applicants who have not completed supervised clinical
				experiences in their prior educational program. The applicant must seek and
				receive the Board's approval prior to entering into the program to ensure that
				the program will allow the applicant may be eligible for full licensure. The
				applicant must provide the Board evidence of completion of the approved
				program;
(5)
				submit fingerprints for a complete criminal background check; and
(6) pass the jurisprudence exam approved by
				the board, effective September 1, 2008.