An applicant to apply to the Texas Board of Nursing (BON) to take the NCLEX-PN® and NCLEX-RN® through the State of Texas.
- Online
Note:The Nursing Jurisprudence Examination (NJE) and Pearson Vue (PV)* registration MUST be completed BEFORE you can receive your Authorization to Test (ATT) and in turn your GN/GVN permit (if applicable).
*If youHAVEregistered with Pearson Vue, but it is not showing a date of completion, first verify with PV that you selected Texas as your testing jurisdiction. If your jurisdiction is correct, then emailwebmaster@bon.texas.govwith the subject line “PV Payment Update to File” and include your full name, DOB, and date you paid PV in the body of your email. This will be updated within ten (10) business days.
Online Procedures
Step | Action | |
Carefully review this information page and the Licensure Eligibility section.
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Complete the Online Examination Application. Print a copy of the receipt page for your records. | ||
A criminal background check (CBC) must be completed through the Department of Public Safety (DPS) and the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) based on a set of fingerprints provided to MorphoTrust. The BON cannot accept fingerprint cards or criminal background check results mailed by you, or results that were completed for another facility, even if the previous check was completed through the DPS and the FBI. Note: The BON will be updating the process in which applicants submit fingerprints to MorphoTrust. The updated process, which uses service codes instead of Fast Passes and ORI numbers, will be more streamlined and user-friendly when scheduling a fingerprinting appointment, registering fingerprints with MorphoTrust, and getting results to the Board. The updated process will also require the use of a unique identifier which will no longer be related to a U.S. issued social security number or a BON assigned number, but rather in the form of an email. Our website and applications/instructions will provide more information at the beginning of January 2016. NOTE: You do not need to complete this step if you already have a criminal background check on file with the BON. If you are a STUDENT APPLICANT, who has not undergone the CBC process, you must contact your prospective nursing program instead of following this process. Use the following link to verify a previous CBC on file with our office: http://www.bon.texas.gov/forms/applstatus.asp The following information will assist you in completing the fingerprinting process: If you are not a Texas resident follow the instructions: If you do not have a U.S. issued Social Security number, follow the instructions: The Texas Board of Nursing does not make judgments regarding the fingerprints that are submitted. Occasionally the DPS and/or the FBI will notify the BON that the fingerprints submitted were not usable and/or readable and therefore have been rejected. You will be notified if a rejection has been received and another set of fingerprints is required. The BON can only submit a request to initiate a name search on your behalf if our office has received two (2) quality rejections from the FBI. A rejection for any other reason (i.e. smudging, impressions too light, etc.) would not count toward this requirement. | ||
Thirty days prior to graduation, register with Pearson Vue (third party vendor who administers the exam) to take the National Council Licensure Examination (NCLEX®) at https://portal.ncsbn.org/. Cost is $200. | ||
Nursing Jurisprudence Examination You must pass the Texas nursing jurisprudence examination prior to being issued an authorization to test (ATT) for the NCLEX® examination. Instructions on taking the Texas nursing jurisprudence examination:
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When you graduate from an approved school of nursing, Texas schools of nursing will submit an online affidavit of graduation directly to the BON. Did you graduate outside the State of Texas? If yes, print the affidavit of graduation. (LVN or RN) from the BON website. Request that your school of nursing dean/director complete the affidavit and mail it directly to the BON. | ||
After the BON receives your:
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Take the exam. The BON will receive your results from Pearson/Vue within five working days after you take your test. Upon successfully passing the NCLEX®, you will receive a certificate. To access your license, you must go the agency website at www.bon.texas.gov and complete an online verification. You can print the verification as proof of licensure. If you are unsuccessful on the NCLEX®, you will receive a diagnostic profile providing you feedback on your performance on the exam. | ||
International Candidates - to be eligible to take the NCLEX®, you will need the following:
NOTE: An applicant may be requested to show proof of working if the BON has cause to question an applicant’s eligibility. Proof would consist of a ‘statement of practice’ including dates worked and listing of functions performed, completed on letterhead and sent directly to our office from the facility in which the practice took place. The following document and flowchart provide additional information. FENS Refresher Course, International Flowchart |
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