Texas Board of Nursing · CRNA

20 hours. Every two years. Tied to your license anniversary.

Below is exactly what Texas Board of Nursing requires: mandatory topics, exemptions, accepted credit types, and documentation rules.

Updated April 2026Sourced from TBN~6 min read

Reviewed by Doug Doehrman, MD · Last reviewed April 30, 2026

Mandatory topics

For CRNAs, 20 hours is the total CME requirement. Texas also requires a set of one-time topics that count toward the 20-hour total.

Human trafficking[1]
Hrs vary
Biennial
TX requires completion of an HHSC-approved human trafficking prevention course for nurses (including APRNs) who provide direct patient care. The rule does not specify a contact-hour count; one approved course satisfies the requirement. Applies to renewals on or after September 1, 2020.
View sourceVerbatim from source
“Human Trafficking Prevention. A nurse, including an APRN, who provides direct patient care must complete a human trafficking prevention course approved by the Health and Human Services Commission. This requirement applies to the renewal of a license on or after September 1, 2020.”
22 Tex. Admin. Code § 216.3(i)See source [1] in Primary Sources
Geriatric medicine[1]
2 hrs
Biennial
TX nurses (including APRNs) whose practice includes older adult or geriatric populations must complete at least 2 contact hours of CE relating to older adult or geriatric populations OR maintain certification in a related area. Counts toward the 20-hour APRN total. Conditional on practice setting.
View sourceVerbatim from source
“A nurse, including an APRN, whose practice includes older adult or geriatric populations is required to complete at least two contact hours of CNE relating to older adult or geriatric populations or maintain certification in an area of practice relating to older adult or geriatric populations before the end of every licensing period.”
22 Tex. Admin. Code § 216.3(h)See source [1] in Primary Sources
Professional Boundaries[1]
2 hrs
Triennial
TX APRNs must complete at least 2 contact hours of CE relating to nursing jurisprudence and nursing ethics before the end of every third 2-year licensing period (i.e. once every 6 years). Counts toward the 20-hour total in the period in which it is taken.
View sourceVerbatim from source
“A nurse including an APRN, shall complete at least two (2) hours of CNE relating to nursing jurisprudence and nursing ethics before the end of every third two-year licensing period applicable to licensing periods that began on or after January 1, 2014.”
22 Tex. Admin. Code § 216.3(g)See source [1] in Primary Sources
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Conditional requirements

These rules apply only when the trigger described under each card is met (for example, holding a state-issued controlled substance registration or treating a specific patient population). Each cites the underlying statute or rule directly.

ConditionalGeneral CME[1]
20 hrs
Biennial

TX APRNs (including CRNAs) must complete 20 contact hours of CE in their role and population focus OR achieve/maintain/renew Board-recognized national certification per biennium.

View sourceVerbatim from source
“A nurse licensed by the Board as an APRN is required to complete 20 contact hours of continuing education or achieve, maintain, or renew the national nursing certification recognized by the Board as meeting the certification requirement for the APRN's role and population focus area of licensure within the licensing period.”
22 Tex. Admin. Code § 216.3(c)See source [1] in Primary Sources
ConditionalPharmacology[1]
5 hrs
Biennial

TX APRNs (including CRNAs) holding prescriptive authority must complete at least 5 additional contact hours of pharmacotherapeutics CE per biennium beyond the 20-hour APRN total.

View sourceVerbatim from source
“The APRN who holds prescriptive authority must complete, in addition to the requirements of this subsection, at least five additional contact hours of continuing education in pharmacotherapeutics within the licensing period.”
22 Tex. Admin. Code § 216.3(c)(3)See source [1] in Primary Sources
ConditionalOpioid / controlled substances[1]
2 hrs
Annual

TX APRNs with prescriptive authority agreements authorizing opioid prescribing must complete not less than 2 hours of CE annually on safe and effective pain management related to opioid prescribing.

View sourceVerbatim from source
“The APRN who has entered into a prescriptive authority agreement authorizing the prescribing of opioids must complete not less than two (2) hours of continuing education annually regarding safe and effective pain management related to the prescription of opioids and other controlled substances. This requirement applies to renewal of licensure on or after January 1, 2021.”
22 Tex. Admin. Code § 216.3(c)(4)See source [1] in Primary Sources
ConditionalSexual Assault[1]
2 hrs
Rolling

TX nurses (including APRNs) employed in an ER setting must complete a minimum of 2 contact hours of CE on forensic evidence collection within 2 years of initial ER employment (one-time requirement).

View sourceVerbatim from source
“A nurse licensed in Texas or holding a privilege to practice in Texas, including an APRN, who is employed in an emergency room (ER) setting must complete a minimum of two contact hours of CNE relating to forensic evidence collection that meets the requirements of this subsection within two years of the initial date of the nurse's employment in an ER setting. This is a one-time requirement.”
22 Tex. Admin. Code § 216.3(d)(2)See source [1] in Primary Sources
Accepted credit

Credit must come from an organization accredited by the ACCME, AMA, Texas Medical Association, or AAFP. ACGME residency or fellowship time accrues toward the requirement. Teaching or presenting accredited CME can satisfy a portion of required hours.

Credit systemNotes
NBCRNA Class A
NBCRNA Class A credits accepted toward TX APRN CE.Sourcehttps://www.nbcrna.com/continued-certification[2]
NBCRNA_CLASS_B
NBCRNA Class B credits accepted toward TX APRN CE.Sourcehttps://www.nbcrna.com/continued-certification[2]
Documentation & audit

Physicians are responsible for retaining CME documentation and producing it on request. Requirements include course title, dates, hours, sponsoring organization, and accrediting body.

Waivers & exemptions

No formal waivers or exemptions are published for Texas.

FAQ
How many state-level CE hours do Texas CRNAs need?
20 contact hours per biennium under 22 Tex. Admin. Code § 216.3(c) — or, alternatively, achieving/maintaining/renewing NBCRNA national certification within the licensing period (which CRNAs typically use to satisfy this rule). Layered on top: an HHSC-approved human trafficking prevention course (§ 216.3(i)), 2 hours of geriatric CE for nurses serving older adults (§ 216.3(h)), and 2 hours of nursing jurisprudence/ethics CE every 6 years (§ 216.3(g)). CRNAs with prescriptive authority must complete an additional 5 pharmacotherapeutics hours per biennium (§ 216.3(c)(3)), and opioid-authorized prescribers must complete 2 hours annually on safe opioid pain management (§ 216.3(c)(4)).
Does Texas require NBCRNA certification for CRNA licensure?
Yes. TX APRN-CRNA authorization requires current NBCRNA national certification, both at initial application and on a continuing basis.
Is Texas part of the APRN Compact?
No, TX has not enacted the APRN Compact as of April 2026. TX is, however, a member of the Nurse Licensure Compact (NLC) for the underlying RN license.
Where can I check my TX CRNA license renewal date?
Use the TX BON license verification tool at https://www.bon.texas.gov/licensure_verification.asp or contact the Texas Board of Nursing directly.

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Sources & Citations

Every mandatory topic and conditional requirement above cites the underlying statute or rule. Numbered references below correspond to the bracketed citations next to each requirement.

  1. 22 Tex. Admin. Code § 216.3 — Continuing Competency Requirements
    Primary sourceAccessed 2026-04-30
    Show verbatim text
    “Human Trafficking Prevention. A nurse, including an APRN, who provides direct patient care must complete a human trafficking prevention course approved by the Health and Human Services Commission. This requirement applies to the renewal of a license on or after September 1, 2020.”22 Tex. Admin. Code § 216.3(i) · Effective 2020-09-01
    “A nurse, including an APRN, whose practice includes older adult or geriatric populations is required to complete at least two contact hours of CNE relating to older adult or geriatric populations or maintain certification in an area of practice relating to older adult or geriatric populations before the end of every licensing period.”22 Tex. Admin. Code § 216.3(h) · Effective 2014-01-01
    “A nurse including an APRN, shall complete at least two (2) hours of CNE relating to nursing jurisprudence and nursing ethics before the end of every third two-year licensing period applicable to licensing periods that began on or after January 1, 2014.”22 Tex. Admin. Code § 216.3(g) · Effective 2014-01-01
    “A nurse licensed by the Board as an APRN is required to complete 20 contact hours of continuing education or achieve, maintain, or renew the national nursing certification recognized by the Board as meeting the certification requirement for the APRN's role and population focus area of licensure within the licensing period.”22 Tex. Admin. Code § 216.3(c)
    “The APRN who holds prescriptive authority must complete, in addition to the requirements of this subsection, at least five additional contact hours of continuing education in pharmacotherapeutics within the licensing period.”22 Tex. Admin. Code § 216.3(c)(3)
    “The APRN who has entered into a prescriptive authority agreement authorizing the prescribing of opioids must complete not less than two (2) hours of continuing education annually regarding safe and effective pain management related to the prescription of opioids and other controlled substances. This requirement applies to renewal of licensure on or after January 1, 2021.”22 Tex. Admin. Code § 216.3(c)(4) · Effective 2021-01-01
    “A nurse licensed in Texas or holding a privilege to practice in Texas, including an APRN, who is employed in an emergency room (ER) setting must complete a minimum of two contact hours of CNE relating to forensic evidence collection that meets the requirements of this subsection within two years of the initial date of the nurse's employment in an ER setting. This is a one-time requirement.”22 Tex. Admin. Code § 216.3(d)(2)
  2. NBCRNA — Continued Certification
    Primary sourceAccessed 2026-04-30

This page is provided for general educational purposes and reflects the best available information as of the last reviewed date above. CME requirements change. Atlas CME is not affiliated with the Texas Board of Nursing, or any other state medical board, licensing authority, or professional organization. Physicians are solely responsible for verifying their own current CME requirements directly with their state medical board before relying on any information presented here.

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