Understanding Your 2024 Texas Nursing License Renewal

• 2024 Texas nursing license renewal guidelines stipulate that nurses cannot legally work with an expired license.
• Many nurses in Texas do not have time to keep current with each update they must understand in order to renew their license
• Nursing CE Central makes renewal easy to manage, with options for LPN, RN, and APRN continuing education in Texas.

The 2024 Texas nursing license renewal requirements exist for good reason. Our nurses must keep up as best practices evolve, so they are empowered to provide the highest level of care for their patients. 

However, we know you are facing burnout, staffing shortages and the high demands of a complex healthcare system. Nursing CE Central offers quick, effective courses that earn Texas nursing CEUs. 

1. What is the Texas nursing license renewal process? Can I still mail in a hard copy?

Nurses need to renew their license online through the Texas Nurse Portal. The Texas Board of Nursed stopped accepting paper applications and renewal forms in June 2020.

2. Is Nursing CE Central a Texas Board of Nursing-approved provider?

Yes.

3. What happens if I miss the Texas nursing license renewal date?

According to the Texas Board of Nursing, any nurse who does not renew their license on or before its expiration date will be put on a delinquent status. Nurses can not work in the state with a delinquent license. Nurses are subject to additional fees and requirements to bring a delinquent license back to active standing.

4. What do I need to have ready to renew my nursing license in Texas?

Most nurses will only need fulfilled continuing education requirements, along with a valid method of payment, to renew their license through the Texas Nurse Portal licensing platform.

5. What are the CE requirements for the 2024 nursing licensure renewal period?

LPNs and RNs must complete 20 contact hours of continuing education units from an approved provider (such as Nursing CE Central) or acquire, maintain, or renew a board-approved national nursing certification. Mandatory CE requirements include:

• Two hours on geriatric care for those working with the geriatric population
• One-time, two-hour course on medical forensic evidence collection for those working in the ER setting
• Two contact hours on nursing jurisprudence and ethics (required every third, two-year renewal period)
• A course on human trafficking prevention every two years (no contact hour requirement) that’s approved by the Health and Human Services Commission.

Nursing CE Central’s Texas Renewal Bundle includes LPN license renewal CE and RN license renewal CE.

APRNs must also complete 20 contact hours of continuing education units from an approved provider (such as Nursing CE Central) or acquire, maintain, or renew a Board-approved national nursing certification for the Texas nursing license renewal period.

Nursing CE Central’s Texas APRN Bundle includes APRN license renewal CE.

The mandatory CE requirements for APRNs include:

• Two hours on geriatric care for those working with the geriatric population
• Two hours on pain management and prescription of opioids for those with prescriptive authority (annual requirement)
• One hour on best practices, alternative treatment options, and multi-modal approaches to pain management for those whose practice includes the prescription of opioids (required annually)
• Two hours on approved procedures of prescribing and monitoring controlled substances (one-time requirement)
• Two hours  on medical forensics for those working in the ER setting (one-time requirement)
• Two hours on nursing jurisprudence and ethics (required every six years)

Additionally, a course on human trafficking prevention must be completed every two years. There isn’t a contact hour requirement for this course, but it must be approved by The Health and Human Services Commission.

APRNs with prescriptive authority must complete five hours on pharmacotherapeutics. Any APRN whose practice includes treating of tick-borne diseases is encouraged to participate in continuing education relating to the treatment of tick-borne diseases.

6. Can I renew now and complete my CEUs later?

No. The Texas BON requires that all continuing education requirements be met at the time of renewal.

7. How can I check that my renewal application is complete?

Nurses can check the status of their application through the Texas Nurse Portal.

8. How long should I keep documentation proving I completed my 2024 CEU requirements?

The Texas BON requires all licensees to keep proof of continuing education completion for each renewal period, for a minimum of six years. The documentation is needed in the event of an audit. (Nursing CE Central stores lifetime copies of all CEU certificates of completion for active members.)

Still have questions?

The board can be contacted in the following ways:

Address: George H. W. Bush State Office Building, 1801 Congress Avenue, Suite 10-200, Austin, TX 78701
Website: www.bon.texas.gov
Email: webmaster@bon.texas.gov
Phone number: (512) 305-7400

Visit our Texas nursing license renewal page for more information on requirements or to enroll for a Texas nursing license renewal bundle today! 

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