Need help with Texas licensing requirements

texasfnp · Jan 23, 2012

I think it is easier to get your MO license and then apply for endorsement with Texas. After you take the NCLEX and pass it, you can complete the online endorsement application on Texas board website, which will give you a temporary license (in 10 days) that is good for 120 days. After you get the temp license, you have to do the fingerprinting, jurisprudence exam, and so forth. But you can work. They do want a Texas driver's license so you'd want to get that quickly.

Having a MO license also allows you to work for 30 days in Texas, since they are both compact states. During that time, you'd do your online application for your license.

That being said, Texas is NOT easy to get things done quickly. I came from NE and it took about 3 months to get my permanent license (and that was before fingerprinting, and so on). The application for your temp license can be submitted online, just take the NCLEX and get a TX DL first.

The Texas Board is called Texas State Board of Nurse Examiners if you want to google it.

Best of luck!

soldiermedic1 · Jan 23, 2012

Thanks for the reply. I have a few questions though.

In Missouri, the MO Board of Nursing authorizes you to take the NCLEX exam after it receives your transcripts from your university. You submit the MO license application with photo and fingerprints. Once the MO board receives your transcripts, they let the NCLEX testing center know you are allowed to take the test. You take the test, and if you pass....you receive your license in a few weeks.

From what I read in your information, anyone with a non Texas license needs to have their license "endorsed" by the Texas Board. I will actually need to take my boards in Texas, so can I apply for my Missouri license, and take the NCLEX in Texas? Then I would have to go through endorsement? What is the jurisprudence exam you speak of? For the Missouri license, the criminal background check and fingerprints are due before the exam is even taken.

I can get a TX DL when I am in Texas over spring break this March, so that isn't the issue.

Steve

kids · Jan 23, 2012

I know for a fact that you can sit boards in Tx and get your initial license from Tx, bypasing the MO BoN completely.

I'll see if I can dig up the info for you.

ETA:

The info was pretty easy to find on the TX BoN website and includes isructions on if you are attending an out of state school: http://www.bon.texas.gov/olv/examination.html

Here is the direct link to form mentioned in the instructions that needs to be filled out by your school and mailed directly to the BoN:

http://www.bon.texas.gov/olv/pdfs/RN-AOG.pdf

This page has a link (on the left, in blue) to their live help:

http://www.bon.texas.gov/olv/forms.html

soldiermedic1 · Jan 23, 2012

I look forward to seeing what you find.

kids · Jan 23, 2012

Oops, I edited my original post, if you've set the thread to notify you of new posts you won't get one with an edit.

Good luck to you.

You can do the application online via the first link above.

Here is a direct link to the paper application (it includes the graduation verification form):

http://www.bon.texas.gov/olv/pdfs/rnexam.pdf

The big thing in all this is don't over think it.

The instructions are all in the first link and it really is as simple as the website makes it look. You situation isn't unique, a huge number of grads get their first license in a different state than where they went to school, every state has a system to deal with it.

turnforthenurse, MSN, NP · Feb 1, 2012

I went to a BSN program in Ohio. I knew I was moving to Texas so I opted out of an Ohio license. No point in getting one if I wasn't going to stay there. The school got everything ready for me and sent my graduation affidavit over to the TX BON. I sent in my application and paid the fee. The BON sent me 2 cards for fingerprinting that I had to get done somewhere - I just got them done at the police station at the university I went to. I guess TX does digital prints but because I was out of state, I did the traditional ink ones. The fingerprinting is for used for a CBI. I actually had to do the fingerprints twice because the first set I sent in was deemed "unreadable." The BON would not send me my ATT until I submitted to a CBI. My second set of prints were readable, I passed my CBI and then they issued my ATT. I took my NCLEX in the state of Ohio, but because I went through the TX application process, I got licensed in TX, not OH. The NCLEX is a standardized test; it's the same in OH as it is in TX and all of the other states. What differs is the state requirements for licensure. Typically a fingerprints/CBI + submitting an application and fee will suffice. The state of Texas makes you take their Nursing Jurisprudence exam which is based on nursing law and BON regulations. The fee for the exam is included in your application fee. You can take the exam at any time, but you will not be issued a TX nursing license until you take the exam. You have 2 hours to complete it and you can use the TX BON website for reference, though sometimes you have to be creative with your search words. The test was pretty easy...most of it was common sense. Don't waste your money on the jurisprudence prep course or whatever it is they offer.