How to Become a Nurse in Texas

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Understand Your Nursing Career Options

If you’re just getting started on your path to becoming a nurse, you have a couple of different options to explore. You can either become a licensed vocational nurse (LVN) or a registered nurse (RN). While both types of nurses provide direct patient care, there are key differences between the two roles.

RNs complete more extensive education than LVNs. As a result, they are allowed to carry out more duties and maintain a higher level of autonomy in their work. In Texas, LVNs must work under the supervision of an RN, advanced practice registered nurse (APRN), or another qualified healthcare provider, whereas RNs have no such requirement.

Many aspiring nurses who wish to start working right away become an LVN first and then later move up to the status of an RN while others pursue the RN title from the start.

LVN vs. RN duties in Texas

Here’s a look at how the two roles compare, as outlined by Texas Board of Nursing Rule §217.11 Standards of Nursing Practice.

	LVN Duties	RN duties
Scope	Directed scope – requires specialized judgment and skill Independent scope – requires substantial specialized judgment and skill	Independent scope – requires substantial specialized judgment and skill
Supervision	Must be supervised by an RN, APRN, physician, physician assistant, podiatrist, or dentist	Supervision Must be supervised by an RN, APRN, physician, physician assistant, podiatrist, or dentist Does not require supervision for their RN duties; may delegate tasks to and supervise LVNs and unlicensed assistive personnel (UAPs)
Diagnosis & Prescriptions	Cannot perform medical diagnosis or prescription of therapeutic or corrective measures	Cannot perform medical diagnosis or prescription of therapeutic or corrective measures, unless they’re a licensed advanced practice registered nurse (APRN)
Nursing Care Plans	Has more limited role for nursing care plans: Collects data and performs focused assessments Provides support in the planning, development, and adjustment of nursing care plans Delivers care in alignment with the plan Helps evaluate patients’ response to nursing care	Has a more extensive role for nursing care plans: Performs comprehensive nursing assessments of patients Makes nursing diagnoses that guide strategy of care Develops nursing care plans Implements nursing interventions Evaluates patients’ response to nursing care
Patient Education	May help implement already-established teaching plans for patients with common health problems and their families	Teaches and counsels patients as part of the nursing process

Complete an Accredited Nursing Program

The next step is nursing school. You’ll need to choose an accredited program that is approved by the Texas Board of Nursing (BON). Here are a few types of nursing programs to explore:

Vocational nursing program: This is a diploma program that can take roughly a year to complete (possibly more or less depending on the program). This is a faster educational path that can help you qualify for a career as a licensed vocational nurse.

Associate degree of nursing (ADN) program: This is a degree program that typically takes about two years to complete. Completing an ADN program can help you meet the requirements for becoming a registered nurse.

Bachelor of science in Nursing (BSN) program: This is a degree program that typically takes about four years to complete. A BSN is a higher-level degree that can also help you qualify for RN licensure.

American Career College offers an ADN program at the Dallas-Fort Worth (DFW) campus. In this hands-on program, you can earn your degree in as little as 20 months.

Apply for a Nursing License with the Texas Board of Nursing

After completing your educational program, the next step is to apply for your nursing license by examination (the National Council Licensure Examination, or NCLEX) and complete a series of steps that are required for your application.

Here are the steps you must take in order to receive authorization to test (ATT) from the Texas BON:

Use the Texas Nurse Portal and select the exam that applies to you (the NCLEX-PN if you’re seeking an LVN license or the NCLEX-RN if you’re seeking an RN license)
Pass the Texas National Jurisprudence Examination, or the NJE (learn more in the next section)
Complete a criminal background check via fingerprinting
Register with Pearson Vue and pay the exam fee
After graduation, your program dean/director must complete an Affidavit of Graduation (AOG) and submit it to the Texas BON.
- Your program dean/director will submit the AOG electronically through the Texas AOG Portal. Your program dean/director cannot submit your AOG unless you have provided the correct NCSBN/Pearson Vue Program Code on your NCLEX Application.

Once you complete all these steps, your ATT permit will be valid for 75 days and you can take the NCLEX within that timeframe. Once the BON receives your results, your license will be issued within 15 days. Visit the BON’s website of additional application instructions if you are retaking the NCLEX or are internationally educated.

It should be noted that Texas uses the enhanced licensure compact, or eNLC, which allows LVNs and RNs to maintain a single license for practicing in multiple states (those that participate in eNLC) either in person, electronically, or by telephone. The eNLC replaced the original nurse licensure compact, or NLC. Learn more about the eNLC.

Pass Your National and State Exams (NCLEX and NJE)

To become licensed as a nurse in Texas, you will need to pass the following exams:

National Council Licensure Examination (NCLEX)
Texas Nursing Jurisprudence Examination (NJE)

The National Council Licensure Examination (NCLEX) tests your knowledge as well as your critical thinking skills to ensure that you’re able to deliver safe care as an entry-level nurse. Depending on the type of nurse you want to become, you will take either the NCLEX for licensed practical nurses (NCLEX-PN) or the NCLEX for registered nurses (NCLEX-RN).

The NCLEX uses computer adaptive testing (CAT), which means it dynamically adjusts question difficulty based on the test taker’s previous answers, helping to ensure that they are properly challenged. The exam ends once the algorithm determines that 95% confidence that the test taker has passed or failed (when the answers show a clear indication of either), or when the test taker has reached the maximum time limit – whichever occurs first.

The Texas Nursing Jurisprudence Examination (NJE) tests candidates on the state’s nursing laws, regulations, and standards. The open-book exam includes 50 questions which must be completed within two hours. You will need to answer at least 75% of the questions (at least 38 questions) correctly to pass.

Keep Your LVN or RN License Up-to-Date

To keep your LVN or RN license active, you must renew it every two years. The first renewal period may be shorter since the renewal date is based on the applicant’s birth month. You will need to apply for a renewal with the Texas Board of Nursing, pay a fee, and ensure you have met the continuing nursing education (CNE) requirements.

Learn more about the nursing license renewal process in Texas.

Pursue an Advanced Nursing Degree and/or a Specialization

After becoming an RN, you may want to continue your education so you can become an advanced practice registered nurse and/or pursue a specialization within the field of nursing. Achieving this milestone may require obtaining one or more of the following:

Master of Science in Nursing (MSN)
Post-master’s certificate
Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP)
Certification from a professional accrediting organization

A few common advanced nursing roles (both APRN and non-APRN roles) include:

Certified nurse practitioners (such as family nurse practitioners, pediatric nurse practitioners, adult-gerontology acute care nurse practitioners, etc.)
Certified registered nurse anesthetists
Certified nurse midwives
Clinical nurse specialists
Nurse educator
Nurse leader
Nurse executive

Get Started on Your Nursing Education at ACC-DFW

If you’re ready to begin your educational path for becoming a nurse in Texas, you can get started by enrolling in the ADN program at American Career College’s Dallas-Forth Worth (DFW) campus. ACC’s nursing program helps provide hands-on training and help preparing for the NCLEX. Apply today!