Texas Nursing CE Requirements & License Renewal

NEW! DEA MATE ACT:
Beginning with DEA initial registrations or renewals starting June 27, 2023, all DEA-registered practitioners (with the exception of DVM-only license holders) are required to complete 8 hours of one-time training on the treatment and management of patients with opioid or other substance use disorders.
 

Elective Hours:

• Must be appropriate to the advanced practice role and population focus area recognized by the Board

Mandatory Subjects:

• A course in Human Trafficking Prevention, approved by the Texas Health and Human Services Commission
• 2 hours - Ethics (every 3rd biennium) 

Human Trafficking and Exploitation: The Texas Requirement is approved by the HHSC as of October 16, 2025. 

Additional requirements for APNs with prescriptive authority (for a total of 25 contact hours):

• 5 hours - Pharmacotherapeutics
• 4 hours (2 hours annually) - Safe and effective pain management related to the prescription of opioids and other controlled substances (included in the total 25 hours)
   

One-time requirement for APRNs authorized to receive information from the Prescription Monitoring Program (PMP):

• 2 hours - Approved procedures of prescribing and monitoring controlled substances

Additional requirement for Nurses participating in Older Adult or Geriatric Care:

• 2 hours - Older adult or geriatric care
   

Additional one-time requirement for Nurses practicing forensic examinations:

• As a one-time requirement, a nurse licensed in Texas or holding a privilege to practice in Texas, including an APRN, who performs a forensic examination on a sexual assault survivor must have basic forensic evidence collection training or the equivalent education prior to performing the examination. These hours can count towards the 20 total hours required for license renewal.
  For more information, visit the Texas Administrative Code, Title 22, Part 11, Chapter 216. Rule 216.3.
   

Additional one-time requirement for Emergency Department Nurses:

• As a one-time requirement, all licensees working in an ER setting must complete 2 hours of CE relating to forensic evidence collection within 2 years of initial employment in the ER setting. These hours can count towards the 20 total hours required for license renewal.
  For more information, visit the Texas Administrative Code, Title 22, Part 11, Chapter 216. Rule 216.3.
   

Contact hours not required, but recommended:

• Tick-borne diseases, diagnosis and treatment

Mandatory Subjects:

• A course in Human Trafficking Prevention, approved by the Texas Health and Human Services Commission
• 2 hours - Ethics (every 3rd biennium)

Human Trafficking and Exploitation: The Texas Requirement is approved by the HHSC as of October 16, 2025. 

Additional requirement for Nurses participating in Older Adult or Geriatric Care:

• 2 hours - Older adult or geriatric care
   

Additional one-time requirement for Nurses practicing forensic examinations:

• As a one-time requirement, a nurse licensed in Texas or holding a privilege to practice in Texas, including an APRN, who performs a forensic examination on a sexual assault survivor must have basic forensic evidence collection training or the equivalent education prior to performing the examination. These hours can count towards the 20 total hours required for license renewal.
  For more information, visit the Texas Administrative Code, Title 22, Part 11, Chapter 216. Rule 216.3.
   

Additional one-time requirement for Emergency Department Nurses:

• As a one-time requirement, all licensees working in an ER setting must complete 2 hours of CE relating to forensic evidence collection within 2 years of initial employment in the ER setting. These hours can count towards the 20 total hours required for license renewal.
  For more information, visit the Texas Administrative Code, Title 22, Part 11, Chapter 216. Rule 216.3.

Contact hours not required, but recommended:

• Tick-borne diseases, diagnosis and treatment

Mandatory Subjects:

• A course in Human Trafficking Prevention, approved by the Texas Health and Human Services Commission
• 2 hours - Ethics (every 3rd biennium)

Human Trafficking and Exploitation: The Texas Requirement is approved by the HHSC as of October 16, 2025. 

Additional requirement for Nurses participating in Older Adult or Geriatric Care:

• 2 hours - Older adult or geriatric care
   

Additional one-time requirement for Nurses practicing forensic examinations:

• As a one-time requirement, a nurse licensed in Texas or holding a privilege to practice in Texas, including an APRN, who performs a forensic examination on a sexual assault survivor must have basic forensic evidence collection training or the equivalent education prior to performing the examination. These hours can count towards the 20 total hours required for license renewal.
  For more information, visit the Texas Administrative Code, Title 22, Part 11, Chapter 216. Rule 216.3.
   

Additional one-time requirement for Emergency Department Nurses:

• As a one-time requirement, all licensees working in an ER setting must complete 2 hours of CE relating to forensic evidence collection within 2 years of initial employment in the ER setting. These hours can count towards the 20 total hours required for license renewal.
  For more information, visit the Texas Administrative Code, Title 22, Part 11, Chapter 216. Rule 216.3.

Contact hours not required, but recommended:

• Tick-borne diseases, diagnosis and treatment