Texas Board of Nursing (TBON) · NP

20 hours. Every two years. Tied to your birth month.

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

Updated April 2026Sourced from TBN(~7 min read

Compiled by Atlas CME from official board sources · Last updated July 8, 2026

Mandatory topics

For NPs, 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
All nurses (including APRNs) providing direct patient care must complete an HHSC-approved human trafficking prevention course. Effective September 1, 2020. Per 22 Tex. Admin. Code § 216.3(i).
View sourceVerbatim from source
“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
Legal & Risk Management[1]
2 hrs
Custom
2 CE hours in nursing jurisprudence and ethics required before the end of every third two-year licensing period (every 6 years), for licensing periods beginning on or after January 1, 2014. Applies to all nurses including APRNs. Per 22 Tex. Admin. Code § 216.3(g).
View sourceVerbatim from source
“Each nurse, including an APRN, is required to complete at least two contact 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.

ConditionalPharmacology[1]
5 hrs
Biennial

APRNs with prescriptive authority must complete an additional 5 CE hours in pharmacotherapeutics per renewal period, stacked on top of the base 20-hour requirement

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/Substance Use[1]
4 hrs
Biennial

APRNs who have entered into a prescriptive authority agreement authorizing the prescribing of opioids

View sourceVerbatim from source
“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”
22 Tex. Admin. Code § 216.3(c)(4)See source [1] in Primary Sources
ConditionalPharmacology[1]
2 hrs
One-time

APRNs authorized to receive Prescription Monitoring Program (PMP) information who were licensed prior to September 1, 2020

View sourceVerbatim from source
“The APRN who is licensed prior to September 1, 2020, and authorized to receive information from the prescription monitoring program (PMP) authorized by Chapter 481, Health and Safety Code, must complete two (2) hours of continuing education related to approved procedures of prescribing and monitoring controlled substances”
22 Tex. Admin. Code § 216.3(c)(6)See source [1] in Primary Sources
ConditionalSexual Assault Response[2]
2 hrs
One-time

APRNs employed in an emergency room (ER) setting

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 [2] 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
ANCC Contact Hour
ANCC-accredited CE from providers in the APRN's area of practice accepted for base and pharmacotherapeutics CE hours.Source22 Tex. Admin. Code § 216.3(b) and (c)
Board-approved credit
Board-approved national nursing certification (ANCC, AANPCB, NCC, PNCB, etc.) may satisfy the base 20-hour requirement. Pharmacotherapeutics CE still required separately for prescriptive authority holders.Source22 Tex. Admin. Code § 216.3(b)
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

First renewal after initial APRN licensure — no CE required

National nursing certification alternative — APRNs may demonstrate achievement, maintenance, or renewal of a Board-approved national nursing certification in lieu of 20 base CE hours

FAQ
Does Texas require pharmacology CE for NPs with prescriptive authority?
Yes. Under 22 Tex. Admin. Code § 216.3(c), Texas APRNs with prescriptive authority must complete at least 5 CE hours in pharmacotherapeutics within each two-year licensing period, in addition to the base 20-hour (or certification) requirement. These 5 hours cannot be satisfied by national certification renewal — they must be actual CE contact hours in pharmacotherapeutics content. APRNs whose prescriptive authority agreement includes opioids must additionally complete 2 CE hours annually (4 per licensing period) on safe opioid pain management. These pharmacotherapeutics and opioid CE requirements are established by TBON and are separate from any Texas Medical Board requirements related to the prescriptive authority agreement itself.
Is Texas in the APRN Compact?
No. Texas is a member of the Nursing Licensure Compact (NLC), which governs the underlying RN license, but Texas is not a member of the APRN Compact as of 2026. The APRN Compact is a separate multi-state agreement for advanced practice nurses, and membership is more limited. Texas NPs who wish to practice as APRNs in other states must apply for individual APRN licensure in each additional state. Texas NLC membership means the RN license layer may be a multistate license, but the APRN license is Texas-specific and does not confer practice rights in other states.
Does Texas require NPs to maintain national certification?
National certification is central to Texas APRN practice. Under § 216.3(b), APRNs may use achievement, maintenance, or renewal of a Board-approved national nursing certification to satisfy the base 20-hour CE requirement for each renewal period. Many NPs find this preferable to accumulating 20 separate CE hours. Certifications from ANCC, AANPCB, NCC, PNCB, and other recognized bodies qualify. However, national certification does not waive the prescriptive authority pharmacotherapeutics requirement (5 hours) — that must be satisfied with CE contact hours regardless of certification status.
Where can I check my Texas NP/APRN license renewal date?
Texas NPs can access their license information and renew through the Texas Nurse Portal at https://www.bon.texas.gov. The Texas Nurse Portal requires an account, which NPs use to access renewal applications, CE submission, and licensure verification. TBON's main website at https://www.bon.texas.gov provides additional contact information and regulatory resources. Texas licenses expire biennially in the nurse's birth month, and nurses can verify their specific expiration date through their Texas Nurse Portal account.

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Other roles in Texas

Nurse Practitioners CME requirements in other states

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 2026-04-23
    Show verbatim text
    “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
    “Each nurse, including an APRN, is required to complete at least two contact 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
    “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)
    “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”22 Tex. Admin. Code § 216.3(c)(4)
    “The APRN who is licensed prior to September 1, 2020, and authorized to receive information from the prescription monitoring program (PMP) authorized by Chapter 481, Health and Safety Code, must complete two (2) hours of continuing education related to approved procedures of prescribing and monitoring controlled substances”22 Tex. Admin. Code § 216.3(c)(6)
  2. https://texas-sos.appianportalsgov.com/rules-and-meetings?recordId=197071&queryAsDate=07%2F02%2F2026&interface=VIEW_TAC_SUMMARY&$locale=en_US
    Source
    Show verbatim text
    “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)

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 (TBON), 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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