Quick answer: Texas RNs and LVNs need 20 contact hours of continuing education every two-year renewal cycle. APRNs with prescriptive authority need 25 hours. All required CEUs for a Texas nursing license can be completed online, and Elite Learning offers packages starting at $38.95.
Renewal season has a way of sneaking up on you. One moment you’re deep in patient care, and the next, you’re scrambling to figure out whether you’ve logged the right number of hours or checked off the right mandatory topics. Sound familiar?
The good news: Texas nursing CE requirements are straightforward once you know them. This post breaks down exactly how many CEUs Texas nurses need, which mandatory topics apply to you, and how Elite Learning makes the whole process simple.
Explore nursing CEU courses in Texas
What are the CEU requirements for a Texas nursing license?
Texas RNs and LVNs must complete 20 contact hours of continuing education every two-year renewal cycle. APRNs with prescriptive authority need 25 contact hours per cycle.
Renewal dates are based on each nurse’s birth month, so your specific deadline may differ from a colleague’s. Whatever your date, nurses must complete all required Texas nursing license renewal hours before that deadline.
On the plus side, Texas has no online course limitations. Every required hour can be completed through an approved online provider. No in-person sessions required!
What mandatory topics does Texas require?
Meeting your Texas nursing CE requirements means more than logging hours. The Texas Board requires certain topics regardless of your specialty. Missing one can create compliance headaches come renewal time.
Here’s what you need to know:
- Human Trafficking Prevention: Nurses must complete a course approved by the Texas Health and Human Services Commission (HHSC) every renewal cycle. As of March 12, 2025, only courses listed on the HHSC website satisfy this requirement.
- Nursing Jurisprudence and Ethics: 2 hours required every third biennium (once every 6 years).
- Older Adult/Geriatric Care: 2 additional hours required for nurses who provide care to older or geriatric patients.
- Forensic Evidence Collection (ER nurses): Nurses must complete a one-time 2-hour course within 2 years of initial emergency room employment. These hours count toward your 20-hour total.
APRNs with prescriptive authority have additional requirements on top of the 25-hour total:
- 5 hours of pharmacotherapeutics
- 4 hours of safe and effective pain management (2 hours annually) related to prescribing opioids and controlled substances
- 2 hours (one-time) on Prescription Monitoring Program procedures for APRNs authorized to access PMP information
- 8 hours of MATE Act training (one-time) for DEA-registered practitioners, covering treatment and management of patients with opioid or substance use disorders
Choosing the right CE provider matters. A provider that builds your mandatory topics into a ready-made package takes the guesswork out of compliance.
View Texas nursing CEU requirements
How Elite Learning makes Texas CE simple
The Texas Board of Nursing recognizes Colibri Healthcare, parent company of Elite Learning, as an ANCC-accredited provider. That means every applicable course is clearly marked as meeting Texas BON requirements.
For RNs and LVNs, the Texas Nursing Professional CE Package delivers 20 contact hours for just $38.95. The bundle covers all mandatory requirements, including human trafficking prevention, older adult/geriatric care, and nursing jurisprudence and ethics.
APRNs can opt for the Texas Advanced Practice Nurse CE Package: 31 hours for $72.95, built to meet the elevated requirements for prescriptive authority holders.
A few features that make Elite Learning stand out:
- On-demand access, 24/7 — learn at your own pace, on any device
- Immediate certificate delivery upon course completion
- CE certificates tracked in your Elite dashboard — downloadable anytime if the board audits
- Rated 4.8/5 stars from over 80,000 reviews
Linda McMullan, a Texas RN who has used Elite Learning for eight years, put it best: “Thank you for developing a smooth, seamless, and enjoyable process for me to obtain my required 20 hrs CEU for my Texas RN renewal.”
Go beyond renewal: build your career with Elite Learning
Renewal is the floor, not the ceiling. Elite Learning’s membership options turn required CE into a genuine career development opportunity.
The Elite Nursing Passport Lite Membership ($48/year) gives you:
- 70+ courses across 25+ specialties
- Unlimited CE credit for Elite CE podcasts on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and YouTube
- Enhanced deadline tracking and multi-state CE access
- State CE requirements included
Step up to the Elite Nursing Passport CE Membership ($99.99/year) for access to:
- 300+ courses and premium specialty collections
- A full pharmacology library (satisfies APN requirements)
- DEA MATE Act training
- Specialty certification exam prep for CCRN, CEN, and CMSRN
- A career path planning tool, resume builder, and nursing interview prep simulator
Both memberships deliver the flexibility nurses need on-demand, on any device, at any hour.
Renew with confidence, grow with purpose
Here’s the short version:
- Texas RNs and LVNs need 20 CE hours every 2 years
- APRNs with prescriptive authority need 25 hours, with specific pharmacology and pain management requirements
- Mandatory topics include human trafficking prevention, nursing ethics, and geriatric care (for applicable nurses)
- Colibri Healthcare, parent company of Elite Learning, is an ANCC-accredited provider with Texas BON-approved packages starting at $38.95
Renewal is more than a checkbox. Done right, it’s an investment in your skills, your patients, and your career.
Frequently asked questions
How many CEUs do Texas nurses need to renew their license?
Texas RNs and LVNs need 20 contact hours of continuing education per two-year renewal cycle. APRNs with prescriptive authority need 25 contact hours. You must complete all your hours before your license expiration date, which ends on the last day of your birth month.
Do Texas nurses have to complete CE hours online, or is in-person training required?
Texas has no online course limitations. You can complete all your required CE hours, including mandatory topic requirements, fully online through a Texas Board of Nursing-approved provider like Elite Learning.
What CE topics are mandatory for Texas RN renewal?
All Texas RNs must complete an HHSC-approved Human Trafficking Prevention course each renewal cycle. The Texas Board requires nurses to complete a Nursing Jurisprudence and Ethics (2 hours) course every six years. Nurses providing geriatric care must also complete 2 hours of older adult/geriatric care CE. ER nurses have a one-time 2-hour forensic evidence collection requirement.
What are the Texas nursing CE requirements for APRNs with prescriptive authority?
APRNs with prescriptive authority must complete 25 total contact hours, including 5 hours of pharmacotherapeutics, 4 hours of safe pain management, and a one-time 2-hour Prescription Monitoring Program course. DEA-registered APRNs must also complete a one-time 8-hour MATE Act training.
Is Elite Learning an approved CE provider for Texas nurses?
Yes. The Texas Board of Nursing recognizes courses offered by Elite’s parent company, Colibri Healthcare, an ANCC-accredited provider. All applicable courses meet Texas BON requirements.
What is the most affordable way to complete Texas nursing CE requirements?
The Texas Nursing Professional CE Package from Elite Learning offers all 20 required contact hours—including mandatory topics—for $38.95. The Elite Nursing Passport Lite Membership ($48/year) includes state-required CE plus 70+ additional courses, making it a strong option for nurses who want to go beyond the minimum.
