| (a) A nurse who has practiced nursing in another state
within the four years immediately preceding a request for temporary
licensure and/or permanent licensure by endorsement may obtain a non-renewable
temporary license, which is valid for 120 days, and/or a permanent
license for endorsement by meeting the following requirements:
(1) Graduation 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 subparagraph (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 subparagraph (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) of this subparagraph:
(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.
(F) 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 subparagraph (C), in lieu of completing the requirements of
subparagraph (E), an applicant may be eligible for full licensure
by submitting proof, for Board review and approval, of at least 500
hours of clinical practice as a nurse in a single employment setting
that is verified by a licensed nursing supervisor. The licensed nursing
supervisor's signature shall evidence that the applicant is competent
and safe to practice nursing;
(2) Satisfactory completion of the licensure examination
according to Board established minimum passing scores:
(A) Vocational Nurse Licensure Examination:
(i) Prior to April 1982--a score of 350 on the SBTPE;
(ii) Beginning October 1982 to September 1988--a score
of 350 on the NCLEX-PN; and
(iii) October 1988 and after, must have achieved a
passing report on the NCLEX-PN; and
(B) Registered Nurse Licensure Examination:
(i) Prior to July 1982--a score of 350 on each of the
five parts of the SBTPE;
(ii) Prior to February 1989--a minimum score of 1600
on the NCLEX-RN;
(iii) February 1989 and after, must have achieved a
passing report on the NCLEX-RN; and
(iv) January 2015 and after, for applicants taking
the Canadian NCLEX-RN, must have achieved a passing report on the
Canadian NCLEX-RN;
(3) Licensure by another U.S. jurisdiction or licensure
from a Canadian province by NCLEX-RN;
(4) For an applicant who has graduated from a nursing
education program outside of the United States or National Council
jurisdictions--verification of LVN licensure as required in §217.4(a)(1)
of this chapter or verification of RN licensure must be submitted
from the country of education or as evidenced in a credential evaluation
service full education course by course report from a credential evaluation
service approved by the Board, as well as meeting all other requirements
in paragraphs (2) and (3) of this subsection;
(5) Filing a completed "Application for Temporary License/Endorsement"
containing:
(A) personal identification and verification of required
information in paragraphs (1) - (3) of this subsection; and
(B) attestation that the applicant meets current Texas
licensure requirements and has never had disciplinary action taken
by any licensing authority or jurisdiction in which the applicant
holds, or has held licensure and attestation that all information
contained in, or referenced by, the application is complete and accurate
and is not false or misleading;
(6) the required application processing licensure fee,
which is not refundable;
(7) submitting fingerprints for a complete criminal
background check; and
(8) a passing score on the jurisprudence exam approved
by the Board, effective September 1, 2008.
(b) Credential evaluation service (CES).
(1) A CES wishing to be approved by the Board must
meet the following requirements:
(A) The CES must be a member of a national credentialing
organization that sets performance standards for the industry. The
CES must adhere to the prevailing standards for the industry.
(B) The CES must specialize in the evaluation of international
nursing education and licensure.
(C) The CES must be able to demonstrate its ability
to accurately analyze academic and licensure credentials for purposes
of United States comparison, with course-by-course analysis of nursing
academic records.
(D) The CES must be able to manage the translation
of original documents into English.
(E) The CES must inform the Board in the event applicant
documents are found to be fraudulent.
(F) The CES must have been in the business of evaluating
nursing education for a minimum of five years.
(G) The CES must cite all references used in its evaluation
in its credentials report.
(H) The CES report must identify the language of nursing
instruction and the language of textbooks for nursing education.
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