Verify a Texas Nurse—or Complete Renewal Without Missing a Step
People usually reach this page with an urgent question: Is this nurse licensed today? Why is the renewal button missing? Has the Board received my verification or school document? The correct answer depends on which Texas system holds that information.
This guide brings the practical Texas BON details into one place, including lookup steps, renewal timing, CNE rules, current fees, endorsement documents, school approval checks and the exact contact route when an item remains unresolved.
Use Texas License Verification to check public status and expiration. Use your existing Texas Nurse Portal account for renewal, applications, profile changes, uploaded documents and Board messages.
Verify a Texas nurse
Check status, expiration, license type, compact details and discipline.
Check application status
Review examination, endorsement, APRN or reinstatement requirements.
Renew RN, LVN or APRN
Complete CNE, open the 60-day transaction and pay the portal amount.
Verify a nursing program
Check the exact Texas campus, approval status and NCLEX results.
Apply by endorsement
Check education, examination, recent practice, verification and fingerprints.
Texas nursing license facts that change your next action
September 1, 2026 change: Texas nurses must upload all required continuing-education certificates in the Texas Nurse Portal before renewing. Certificates from previous licensing cycles do not need to be uploaded.
Keep one Nurse Portal account
Do not create a duplicate account when an old email or password stops working. Use the official password-reset or email-change process.
No wallet-sized paper license
Texas BON does not issue duplicate paper licenses. Print the live verification result or the available wall certificate.
Texas license and compact privilege differ
Use Nursys when the question concerns another compact home state, multistate authority or verification sent to another board.
Do not wait for a renewal postcard
Texas BON stopped mailing reminder postcards. Keep the portal email current and consider free Nursys e-Notify reminders.
CNA records are not handled by Texas BON
Certified Nurse Aide registration and renewal are handled through Texas Health and Human Services, not the nursing board.
Report profile changes within 10 days
Texas applicants and nurses must report legal name and address changes through the approved Board process.
How to verify a Texas nursing license
Use the live Texas License Verification system instead of an old screenshot or private directory. A license number normally produces the most precise match.
Open the official Texas lookup route
Start from the Texas BON verification page so the result comes from the regulator.
Open Official VerificationSearch by license number when available
If the number is unknown, enter the current legal name and consider a previous surname.
Match the correct credential
Confirm whether the record is LVN, RN or APRN. One nurse may hold multiple Texas credentials.
Open and read the full record
Check status, expiration, multistate information, APRN details and any available disciplinary information.
Record when verification occurred
Employers should retain the source, result and date checked under their credentialing policy.
| Status shown | What it generally means | Correct next action |
|---|---|---|
| Current / Active | The displayed license is active under the details shown. | Confirm expiration, license type, compact authority and discipline. |
| Delinquent | The Texas license was not renewed and is not active or current. | Complete the proper reactivation process before practising on it. |
| Inactive | The license is not maintained for active nursing practice. | Reactivate it through the Nurse Portal before returning to practice. |
| Retired | Ordinary retired status does not authorize nursing practice. | Do not confuse retired status with Volunteer Retired authorization. |
| Multistate | The nurse has NLC authority connected to a primary state of residence. | Confirm current home-state and privilege details through Nursys. |
| Discipline / restriction | An order, limitation or disciplinary record may apply. | Read the full official documents before making a decision. |
Delinquent is not automatically a disciplinary finding. It generally means the license was not renewed. Check the complete record separately for disciplinary orders or restrictions.
No result found? Check these first
Employer verification checklist
Renew a Texas RN, LVN or APRN license
The timely renewal application normally appears only when an active Texas license is within 60 days of expiration. Eligible users should see a pale-yellow renewal alert near the top of the Nurse Portal dashboard.
Verify expiration
Check the live public record before searching for the renewal transaction.
Finish CNE
Complete standard and targeted education before signing the attestation.
Open the portal
Use the verified Nurse Portal account connected to the license.
Submit and verify
Pay the displayed amount and later confirm the updated public record.
Confirm the official expiration date
Initial licenses may have a shorter first cycle. Use the live record rather than estimating from a birth month.
Check Expiration DateComplete continuing competency
Finish the required 20 contact hours or approved certification and every targeted requirement that applies to your practice.
Review CNE RulesSign in to the existing Nurse Portal account
Recover the original account when access is lost. Creating another account can separate you from the current license or application.
Open Nurse PortalOpen the pale-yellow renewal alert
When the license is within the eligible 60-day period, the timely-renewal option should appear near the top of the dashboard.
Upload certificates beginning September 1, 2026
Upload proof of all required CE inside the Nurse Portal before completing renewal.
Read CE Upload UpdateSubmit, pay and monitor the portal
Review every response, pay the non-refundable amount shown and allow up to 15 business days for Board processing.
Open Renewal GuidanceWhy the renewal option may be missing
Do not practise on a delinquent Texas license. A separate valid multistate privilege issued by another NLC home state must be verified independently through Nursys.
Texas BON states that renewal, reactivation and inactivation applications can take up to 15 business days after receipt. There is no expedited review route.
Texas CNE requirements by role and practice
Most LVNs and RNs meet the standard requirement with 20 contact hours of acceptable CNE in their area of practice or a Board-approved national nursing certification. Targeted education can still apply.
| Requirement | Who needs it | Timing | How it fits the 20 hours |
|---|---|---|---|
| 20 CNE hours or approved certification | Most LVNs and RNs after the first timely renewal. | During the current licensing period. | This is the standard continuing-competency requirement. |
| Human trafficking prevention | A nurse who provides direct patient care. | Before the end of each applicable licensing period. | It counts only when the approved course also provides acceptable CNE. |
| Older adult or geriatric care | A nurse whose practice includes older adult or geriatric patients. | At least 2 contact hours every licensing period. | The hours count toward the standard requirement. |
| Nursing jurisprudence and ethics | All nurses. | At least 2 contact hours every third two-year licensing period. | The hours can count, but certification cannot replace this topic. |
| Forensic evidence collection | Nurses working in, floating to or assigned to an emergency-room setting and certain forensic roles. | The ER requirement is generally a one-time course within two years of initial ER employment. | Acceptable hours count toward the standard requirement. |
| APRN role and population focus | APRNs. | 20 hours in the APRN role and population focus or qualifying certification. | This is the APRN standard competency requirement. |
| Pharmacotherapeutics | APRNs holding prescriptive authority. | At least 5 additional contact hours each licensing period. | These hours are additional to the standard 20. |
First timely renewal
Nurses newly licensed by examination or endorsement are generally exempt from the standard 20-hour requirement for their first timely renewal. A targeted requirement may still apply.
No grace period or carryover
Complete required education before the renewal attestation. Extra hours from one licensing period do not carry into the next.
What a useful CNE certificate should show
Beginning September 1, 2026, all nurses must upload proof of required CE before renewal. Texas BON states that this happens inside the existing Nurse Portal without a separate account, subscription or tracking fee.
Texas nursing renewal, application and reactivation fees
Texas BON fees are non-refundable. Pay the exact amount generated by the current portal transaction because fingerprints, Nursys, Pearson VUE or other charges may be separate.
| Transaction | Published amount | Practical explanation |
|---|---|---|
| RN timely renewal | $68 | Standard biennial RN renewal completed on time. |
| LVN timely renewal | $45 | Standard biennial LVN renewal completed on time. |
| APRN renewal | $54 | Renewal of the APRN credential. |
| Combined APRN/RN renewal | $129 | Published combined APRN and Texas RN renewal amount. |
| Endorsement application | $150 | The quick fee summary includes the Nursing Jurisprudence Examination fee. |
| Examination application | $75 | The quick summary includes the NJE fee; Pearson VUE registration is separate. |
| Inactive under four years | $10 plus renewal fee | Reactivation from inactive status. |
| Inactive over four years | $20 plus renewal fee | Additional return-to-practice requirements may also apply. |
| Delinquent under 90 days | $60 plus renewal fee | Late reactivation charge. |
| Delinquent over 90 days | $120 plus renewal fee | Later delinquent reactivation charge. |
| Initial APRN credential | $100 | Initial APRN licensure without initial prescriptive authority. |
| Initial prescriptive authority | $50 | Added when prescriptive authority is requested. |
FBI and Texas DPS criminal-background-check fees vary. Nursys, Pearson VUE and another licensing jurisdiction can also charge separate amounts.
Check a Texas nursing application without resubmitting everything
Examination, endorsement, APRN and reinstatement status is shown inside the applicant’s Texas Nurse Portal account. The public license lookup cannot explain a pending checklist.
Log in to the account used for the application
Recover the account if necessary. Do not create another portal profile for the same applicant.
Open Portal HelpOpen the correct application
Select examination, endorsement, APRN, reinstatement or the exact transaction already submitted.
Read each incomplete task separately
Check fingerprints, education, license verification, jurisprudence examination, NCLEX and eligibility-review items.
Confirm who must submit the document
A nursing school, licensing authority or verification service may need to send the item directly.
Monitor the Message Center
Texas BON uses portal messages to identify additional information and applicant-specific action.
Check Status Instructions| Pending item | What to verify | Best next action |
|---|---|---|
| Fingerprint result | Whether fingerprints were completed through the instructed process and matched to this application. | Follow the portal instruction before repeating fingerprints. |
| Education document | Whether the program sent the affidavit, transcript or graduation record directly. | Ask the school for the exact sending date and method. |
| License verification | Whether every required jurisdiction supplied verification. | Use Nursys or the approved direct-verification form. |
| Nursing Jurisprudence Examination | Whether the NJE result was completed and attached to the correct file. | Follow the exact portal task rather than uploading unrelated documents. |
| Eligibility review | Whether a criminal, disciplinary, education or declaratory-order matter requires investigation. | Provide only the documentation requested by the Board. |
| No update | Whether 15 business days have passed since receipt of the final item. | Send a concise Message Center request with dates and document details. |
“I am contacting the Texas Board of Nursing about my _____ application. I submitted it on _____. The item named _____ was sent by _____ on _____ using _____. My portal currently shows _____. Please confirm whether it has been matched to my application and identify the exact action still required.”
Do not create another application merely because a third-party document has not yet appeared. First confirm the Board’s receipt date and allow the published processing period.
Texas licensure by endorsement: eligibility and required route
Endorsement is for a qualifying applicant who has not previously held a Texas nursing license and is licensed or eligible through another jurisdiction.
Approved nursing education
Graduate from an approved practical, vocational or registered nursing program.
U.S. licensure examination
Have taken the appropriate U.S. national nursing licensing examination.
Recent practice or NCLEX
Have practised nursing or taken the U.S. NCLEX during the four years before applying.
An applicant who previously held a Texas nursing license generally must renew or reactivate that Texas record rather than submit a new endorsement application.
Confirm that endorsement is the correct pathway
Check education, examination, recent-practice and previous-Texas-license requirements before paying.
Review EligibilitySubmit the online endorsement application
Use the Texas Nurse Portal and pay the published $150 application fee.
Open Endorsement ApplicationOrder license verification
Use Nursys for participating jurisdictions. A non-participating authority must send official verification directly.
Start Nursys VerificationComplete fingerprints and the NJE
Follow the exact portal instructions for criminal-background screening and the Nursing Jurisprudence Examination.
Monitor receipt of every item
Official verification must come from the licensing authority and can take up to 15 business days after receipt to appear.
The Nurse Licensure Compact requires a nurse who moves to a new compact primary state of residence to apply for a new home-state license within 60 days of the move.
Use Texas BON, Nursys or Texas HHS for the correct record
| Your task | Correct service | Reason |
|---|---|---|
| Check a Texas nurse for employment | Texas License Verification | Displays the current Texas public license record. |
| Send Texas RN or LVN verification to another U.S. nursing board | Nursys | Domestic boards obtain Texas verification through the national system. |
| Check multistate privilege | Nursys QuickConfirm | Compact authority depends on current home-state and NLC eligibility. |
| Send verification to an international board or non-nursing U.S. regulator | Texas BON verification form | Submit the correct request to licensing@bon.texas.gov. |
| Verify or renew a Texas CNA | Texas HHS / TULIP | Texas BON does not regulate Certified Nurse Aides. |
| Practise as an APRN in Texas | Texas APRN licensure record | An RN compact privilege does not independently create Texas APRN authority. |
A multistate RN or LVN privilege does not provide APRN authority by itself. Texas APRN practice requires the appropriate APRN credential and valid RN authority.
Check whether a Texas RN or LVN program is approved
Texas prelicensure vocational and professional nursing programs must receive Board approval before enrolling students. Match the exact campus rather than relying only on the college name.
Open the official program page
The Texas BON education page links approved LVN and RN program lists and performance information.
Open Program ListsSelect the correct license pathway
Choose the vocational/LVN list or professional/RN list that matches the intended credential.
Match the school, campus and city
A college system may operate multiple locations with different program records.
Review approval and sanctions
Check the current approval status and any Board report concerning sanctions or approval concerns.
Compare five-year NCLEX performance
Review the RN or VN/PN pass-rate information before paying tuition.
Texas BON program approval and national nursing accreditation are different. Verify both when accreditation affects employment, graduate education, transfer credit or financial aid.
Recover the Nurse Portal and update licensing details
Forgot the password
Use “Forgot your password?” on the official login page and enter the email connected to the existing portal profile.
Lost access to the old email
Follow the Board’s official email-change instructions. Do not create a second account for the same license or application.
Name or address changed
Submit the change within 10 days and upload the required supporting document when a legal-name change is involved.
Need printable proof
Texas does not issue duplicate paper licenses. Print the public verification record or available wall certificate.
Print Wall CertificateNeed a renewal reminder
Use free Nursys e-Notify and keep the email connected to the Texas Nurse Portal current.
Unexpected call or document
Confirm any payment, threat or document request using the official Board number or Nurse Portal before responding.
Name, address and account-email changes requiring staff review can take up to 15 business days after receipt. Missing proof or incomplete information can delay the update.
Texas Board of Nursing phone, email and office details
For an application or renewal, read the portal checklist first and use the Message Center where possible. Prepare the license or application number, submission date and exact task wording.
Endorsement, examination, renewal and continuing education. Business hours: 8:00 a.m.–5:00 p.m.
Use the Nurse Portal Message Center for a specific application or renewal.
aprn@bon.texas.gov for APRN and prescriptive-authority processes.
Questions concerning Texas nursing education programs.
complaints@bon.texas.gov for complaint and disciplinary inquiries.
Do not fax an application document unless the specific instructions allow fax submission.
“I am contacting the Texas Board of Nursing about my _____ license or application. My license or application reference is _____. I submitted _____ on _____. The portal currently shows _____. Please identify the exact action still required and confirm whether the document must come directly from the issuing organization.”
Physical address
Texas Board of Nursing
George H. W. Bush State Office Building
1801 Congress Avenue, Suite 10-200
Austin, TX 78701
Before travelling
Call first. An office visit does not guarantee same-day application review, renewal processing or document matching.
Texas Board of Nursing FAQ
How do I verify a Texas nursing license?
Open Texas License Verification through the Texas Board of Nursing website. Search by license number when possible, match the correct LVN, RN or APRN record and review status, expiration, compact and disciplinary information.
When can I renew a Texas nursing license?
The timely renewal application normally appears in the Texas Nurse Portal when an active license is within 60 days of expiration.
Why is my renewal option missing?
The license may be more than 60 days from expiration, connected to another portal account, selected for an incomplete CNE audit or in a status that requires reactivation.
How much does Texas RN or LVN renewal cost?
The current published timely-renewal fees are $68 for an RN and $45 for an LVN. Use the exact amount displayed in the Nurse Portal.
How many CNE hours are required?
Most LVNs and RNs need 20 contact hours in their area of practice or a Board-approved national nursing certification, plus targeted education that applies to their role or patient population.
What changes on September 1, 2026?
Texas nurses must upload proof of all required continuing education in the Texas Nurse Portal before renewing. Previous licensing-cycle certificates are not required.
Does delinquent status mean discipline?
No. Delinquent generally means the Texas license was not renewed and is no longer active or current. Read the complete record to determine whether discipline is also present.
How do I check my Texas nursing application?
Sign in to the existing Texas Nurse Portal account, open the correct application and review every checklist item and Message Center notice.
How long does Texas BON processing take?
Texas BON generally asks users to allow up to 15 business days after receipt for application, document, renewal or reactivation processing. Missing items or eligibility investigations can take longer.
Should I use Texas BON or Nursys?
Use Texas BON for the Texas public license record. Use Nursys for multistate information and verification sent to another U.S. nursing board.
How do I verify a Texas nursing school?
Use the Texas BON approved LVN or RN program lists. Match the exact campus and review approval status, sanctions and recent NCLEX performance.
Does Texas BON regulate CNAs?
No. Certified Nurse Aide registration and renewal are handled through Texas Health and Human Services.
How quickly must I report a name or address change?
Texas applicants and nurses must report a legal name or address change within 10 days using the Board’s approved process.
What is the Texas Board of Nursing phone number?
Texas BON Customer Service is (512) 305-7400. The official contact page lists business hours as 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.
Texas BON pages used for this guide
Fees, rules, portal instructions and processing information can change. Recheck the relevant official page before submitting an application, document, renewal or payment.
For employers and public users
Use the live Texas record, match the exact nurse and credential, review status, expiration, compact authority and discipline, and record the verification date.
For applicants and licensees
Use the secure Texas Nurse Portal for applications, renewal, profile changes, uploaded documents and Board messages. This independent guide cannot access private licensing records.