Continuing education (CE) for Registered Nurses in Texas is mandatory to ensure licensed professionals maintain clinical competency and stay current with healthcare advancements and state regulations. Compliance with these requirements is fundamental for maintaining an active registered nursing license and is intended to safeguard the welfare of the public. The Texas Board of Nursing (BON) oversees this process, establishing specific rules for the quantity, content, and timing of educational activities. Meeting these obligations is a prerequisite for every renewal cycle.
The Standard Continuing Education Requirement
The base requirement for RN license renewal in Texas is the completion of twenty contact hours of continuing education (CE) within the two-year licensing period. This standard applies to all RNs, regardless of their specific area of practice. A contact hour is the unit of measure for CE, typically equivalent to fifty to sixty minutes of participation in an approved learning activity. Twenty contact hours are equivalent to 2.0 Continuing Education Units (CEUs).
Nurses have an alternative option to fulfill this requirement by achieving, maintaining, or renewing an approved national nursing certification in their area of practice instead of completing the twenty contact hours. Educational activities chosen must be relevant to the nurse’s current area of practice, which is defined as any activity where the nurse utilizes nursing knowledge, judgment, or skills.
Mandatory Specialized CE Courses
The Texas Board of Nursing mandates the completion of specific content requirements within the twenty total contact hours. These specialized courses address public health and regulatory topics and must be included in the total CE hours. All nurses who provide direct patient care must complete a course on human trafficking prevention approved by the Texas Health and Human Services Commission (HHSC).
A two-hour course on Texas Nursing Jurisprudence and Ethics is required every six years (before the end of every third two-year licensing period). This course must specifically cover the Texas Nursing Practice Act, Board of Nursing rules including the Standards of Nursing Practice, BON Position Statements, principles of nursing ethics, and professional boundaries.
Nurses practicing with older adult or geriatric populations must complete two contact hours of CE related to that specific patient group during every two-year licensing period. Nurses working in an emergency room setting have a one-time requirement of two hours of CE relevant to forensic evidence collection, which must be completed within two years of beginning employment.
Understanding the License Renewal Cycle
The Texas RN license renewal process operates on a two-year cycle, and all required continuing education must be completed within this specific timeframe. A nurse’s individual renewal date is determined by their birth month and year of licensure, creating a staggered and personalized schedule. The twenty contact hours must be earned between the first day after the renewal month of the previous cycle and the last day of the subsequent renewal.
CE hours cannot be carried over or rolled into the next renewal period. Any hours completed in excess of the twenty required during a given cycle do not count toward the subsequent licensing period. This strict adherence ensures that the nurse’s knowledge is continually being updated and remains current over time. Failure to complete the required CE before the expiration date prevents license renewal, resulting in a delinquent status that prohibits practice.
Accepted Methods for Earning CE Credit
The Texas Board of Nursing accepts continuing education credit from various sources, provided the activity is approved by a credentialing agency or provider recognized by the Board. Accepted sources include accredited educational institutions, professional nursing organizations, and CE providers recognized by the American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC). The course content must be relevant to the nurse’s area of practice, patient care, or professional development.
Educational activities include online courses, live workshops, conferences, and seminars. Academic courses related to the nurse’s practice are also acceptable; one semester hour converts to fifteen contact hours, and one quarter hour converts to ten contact hours. Nurses can also earn credit through program development, presentation of a CE offering, or through the authorship and publication of a manuscript in a nursing or health-related journal or textbook. It is the nurse’s responsibility to verify that the provider is recognized by the BON.
Documentation and Reporting Requirements
Registered Nurses are responsible for maintaining accurate documentation of all completed continuing education hours. This documentation is not submitted to the Texas Board of Nursing (BON) at renewal unless the nurse is specifically selected for an audit. The required proof of completion is a certificate that must include:
The nurse’s name
The program title
The date and location of the activity
The number of contact hours awarded
The provider’s number and the name of the credentialing agency
Nurses must retain these records for a minimum of three years from the date of license renewal. The BON conducts random audits of licensees to verify compliance with the continuing competency requirements. If selected for an audit, the nurse must submit the proof of completion for review and approval. Failure to provide adequate documentation or misrepresenting CE completion can result in disciplinary action, including denial of license renewal.