| (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 nursing education program;
(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.
(I) The CES must use only original source documentation
in evaluating nursing education.
(J) The CES report must describe the comparability
of the foreign education to United States standards.
(K) The CES report must detail course clock hours for
theory and clinical components of nursing education.
(L) The CES must be able to issue an evaluation report
within a reasonable time period, not to exceed six weeks.
(M) The CES must have an efficient and accessible process
for answering customer queries.
(N) The CES must be able to provide client references/reviews
upon request.
(O) The CES must have an established record retention
policy.
(P) The CES must be able to provide testimony for Board
hearings, if required.
(2) The CES must complete the form(s) and affidavit
required by the Board, submit all required documentation, and receive
approval from the Board before providing a report for Board consideration.
The Board will maintain a list of approved CES providers.
(c) A nurse who has not practiced nursing in another
state within the four years immediately preceding a request for temporary
licensure and/or permanent licensure by endorsement will be required
to:
(1) complete a refresher course, extensive orientation
to the practice of nursing, or a nursing program of study that meets
the requirements prescribed by the Board. The nurse must submit an
Application for Six Month Temporary Permit (RN) or an Application
for Six Month Temporary Permit (LVN), as applicable, to the Board
for the limited purpose of completing a refresher course, extensive
orientation to the practice of nursing, or a nursing program of study;
(2) submit to the Board evidence of the successful
completion of the requirements of paragraph (1) of this subsection;
(3) after completing the requirements of paragraphs
(1) - (2) of this subsection, submit to the Board verification of
the completion of the requirements of subsection (a)(1) - (8) of this
section.
(d) The Board adopts by reference the following forms,
which comprise the instructions and requirements for a refresher course,
extensive orientation to the practice of nursing, and a nursing program
of study required by this section, and which are available at http://www.bon.state.tx.us/olv/forms.html:
(1) Application for Six Month Temporary Permit (RN);
and
(2) Application for Six Month Temporary Permit (LVN).
(e) A nurse who has had disciplinary action at any
time by any licensing authority is not eligible for temporary licensure
until completion of the eligibility determination.
(f) Upon initial licensure by endorsement, the license
is issued for a period ranging from six months to 29 months depending
on the birth month. Licensees born in even-numbered years shall renew
their licenses in even-numbered years; licensees born in odd-numbered
years shall renew their licenses in odd-numbered years.
(g) Should it be ascertained from the application filed,
or from other sources, that the applicant should have had an eligibility
issue determined by way of a petition for declaratory order pursuant
to the Occupations Code §301.257, then the application will be
treated and processed as a petition for declaratory order under §213.30
of this title (relating to Declaratory Order of Eligibility for Licensure),
and the applicant will be treated as a petitioner under that section
and will be required to pay the non-refundable fee required by that
section.
(h) Out-of-State Licensure of Military Spouse.
(1) Pursuant to Texas Occupations Code §55.0041,
a military spouse is eligible to practice nursing in Texas if the
military spouse:
(A) holds an active, current license to practice nursing
in another state or territory:
(i) that has licensing requirements, including education
requirements, that are determined by the Board to be substantially
equivalent to the requirements for nursing licensure in Texas; and
(ii) is not subject to any current restriction, eligibility
order, disciplinary order, probation, suspension, or other encumbrance;
(B) submits proof of the military spouse's residency
in Texas and a copy of the spouse's military identification card;
(C) notifies the Board of the military spouse's intent
to practice nursing in Texas on a form prescribed by the Board; and
(D) meets the Board's fitness to practice and eligibility
criteria set forth in §213.27 (relating to Good Professional
Character), §213.28 (relating to Licensure of Individuals with
Criminal History), and §213.29 (relating to Fitness to Practice)
of this title.
(2) If a military spouse meets the criteria set forth
in this subsection, the Board will issue a license to the military
spouse to practice nursing in Texas. A license issued under this subsection
expires no later than the third anniversary of the date of the issuance
of the license and may not be renewed. The military spouse will not
be charged a fee for the issuance of the license.
(3) A military spouse who is unable to meet the criteria
set forth in this subsection remains eligible to seek licensure in
Texas, as set forth in §217.2 (relating to Licensure by Examination
for Graduates of Nursing Education Programs Within the United States,
its Territories, or Possessions), §217.4 (relating to Requirements
for Initial Licensure by Examination for Nurses Who Graduate from
Nursing Education Programs Outside of United States' Jurisdiction), §221.3
(relating to APRN Education Requirements for Licensure), §221.4
(relating to Licensure as an APRN ), §213.30 (relating to Declaratory
Order of Eligibility for Licensure), or the other remaining subsections
of this section.
(4) While practicing nursing in Texas, the military
spouse must comply with all laws and regulations applicable to the
practice of nursing in Texas.
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| Source Note: The provisions of this §217.5 adopted to be effective September 1, 1999, 24 TexReg 4001; amended to be effective September 28, 2004, 29 TexReg 9189; amended to be effective April 16, 2006, 31 TexReg 3031; amended to be effective September 26, 2007, 32 TexReg 6519; amended to be effective July 12, 2010, 35 TexReg 6083; amended to be effective July 26, 2011, 36 TexReg 4660; amended to be effective January 27, 2020, 45 TexReg 551; amended to be effective August 24, 2020, 45 TexReg 5912 |
