Texas RN and LVN Continuing Education
Texas RNs and LVNs generally must complete 20 contact hours of continuing nursing education during each two-year licensing period. The education must be applicable to the nurse’s area of practice. Nurses may also satisfy the general competency requirement through an approved national nursing certification pathway.
C-E-U.com offers self-paced online nursing continuing education that can be used toward Texas’s general 20-hour requirement. The Texas Board of Nursing recognizes continuing education approved by other state Boards of Nursing, and C-E-U.com is a Florida Board of Nursing continuing education provider, Provider #50-47308.
Texas Nursing Continuing Education Requirements at a Glance
| Registered Nurse (RN) | Licensed Vocational Nurse (LVN) | |
|---|---|---|
| General CE Requirement | 20 contact hours | 20 contact hours |
| Renewal Period | Every 2 years | Every 2 years |
| Alternative Pathway | Approved national nursing certification | Approved national nursing certification |
| Jurisprudence & Ethics | 2 hours every third licensing period | 2 hours every third licensing period |
| Older Adult / Geriatric Care | 2 hours if practice includes older adults | 2 hours if practice includes older adults |
| Human Trafficking | Required for applicable direct-care nurses; HHSC-approved course | Required for applicable direct-care nurses; HHSC-approved course |
| Governing Body | Texas Board of Nursing | Texas Board of Nursing |
| Texas Reporting | Nurse documents CE through the Texas Nurse Portal CE Module | Nurse documents CE through the Texas Nurse Portal CE Module |
Texas RN and LVN Continuing Education — 20 Contact Hours
Texas nurses who use the continuing education pathway must complete 20 contact hours during each two-year licensing period. Courses should be relevant to the nurse’s current or anticipated area of practice.
Texas RN and LVN Continuing Education — 20 Contact Hours
C-E-U.com offers online nursing courses that can be used toward Texas’s general continuing education requirement. Courses are self-paced and include documented contact hours and completion certificates.
Texas Targeted Continuing Education Requirements
In addition to the general 20-hour requirement, Texas requires certain nurses to complete education on specific topics based on renewal cycle, area of practice, or other statutory requirements. These targeted courses may have their own content standards and should be reviewed separately from general nursing CE.
Texas Targeted Continuing Education Requirements
Texas nurses may have additional topic-specific continuing education requirements based on their practice setting or patient population. These targeted hours generally count toward the nurse’s overall 20-hour continuing education requirement rather than being added on top of it.
Nursing Jurisprudence and Ethics
Texas nurses must complete 2 hours of continuing education related to nursing jurisprudence and nursing ethics before the end of every third two-year licensing period.
Human Trafficking Prevention
Texas nurses who provide direct patient care must complete a human trafficking prevention course during each licensing period. The course must be approved by the Texas Health and Human Services Commission.
In Development
Older Adult or Geriatric Care
Texas nurses whose practice includes older adult or geriatric patients must complete at least 2 contact hours of continuing education related to older adult or geriatric care during each licensing period.
C-E-U.com’s 2-hour Alzheimer’s Disease and Related Dementias (ADRD) course is used to address this requirement. The course covers dementia-related disease processes, cognitive changes, communication, safety, and care considerations for older adults. Because the course provides 2 contact hours, it can also be applied toward the nurse’s general 20-hour continuing education requirement.
Texas Nursing Continuing Education References and Resources
Texas Board of Nursing — Official source for Texas RN and LVN licensure, renewal, continuing competency, rules, and Board guidance.
Texas License Renewal — Renewal requirements for Texas nurses, including continuing competency and targeted education requirements.
Texas Continuing Nursing Education & Competency — Overview of the 20-contact-hour requirement, accepted CE sources, national certification alternatives, and targeted CE requirements.
Texas Continuing Education & Competency FAQs — Detailed guidance on qualifying CE, provider acceptance, jurisprudence and ethics, and other continuing competency questions.
Texas Nursing Practice Act — Official statutory framework governing nursing practice in Texas.
Texas Board of Nursing Rules and Regulations — Texas Board rules governing licensure, standards of practice, continuing competency, and professional conduct.
Texas Board of Nursing Position Statements — Board guidance on common nursing practice, ethics, delegation, scope, and professional responsibility issues.
Texas Nurse Portal — Online portal for Texas nursing license renewal, applications, and related license services.
Frequently Asked Questions: Texas Nursing Continuing Education
Texas RNs and LVNs generally must complete 20 contact hours of continuing nursing education during each two-year licensing period, unless they qualify through an approved national certification pathway.
Yes. Texas recognizes continuing education approved by other state Boards of Nursing. C-E-U.com is a Florida Board of Nursing continuing education provider, Provider #50-47308.
Yes. Depending on the nurse’s renewal cycle or area of practice, targeted education may be required in subjects such as nursing jurisprudence and ethics, human trafficking prevention, and older adult or geriatric care.
Yes. C-E-U.com’s 2-hour Alzheimer’s Disease and Related Dementias course can be used to address the 2-hour older adult or geriatric care requirement when applicable.
C-E-U.com offers a Texas-specific 2-hour Nursing Jurisprudence and Ethics course that addresses the Board-required content.
Yes. Qualifying online continuing nursing education may be used toward Texas renewal requirements.
No. Texas uses its own Nurse Portal and CE tracking process rather than CE Broker for license renewal.
Not at present. Texas nurses currently document their continuing education through the CE Module in their own Texas Nurse Portal account and upload their C-E-U.com completion certificate. Texas has indicated that future system development may allow approved CE providers to submit completion information on behalf of nurses.
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