Texas RN Continuing Education Requirements, Explained
Last reviewed June 2026 against the official sources linked below. Requirements change — always confirm with your board before relying on them.
Total hours
20 contact hours
Renewal cycle
Every 2 years
Ethics requirement
2 hrs every 3rd renewal
Issued by
Texas Board of Nursing
Texas keeps it comparatively simple on the surface: 20 contact hours of continuing nursing education every two-year renewal cycle, in your current area of practice. But the surface hides the parts that trip nurses up — rotating mandatory topics that apply in some renewals and not others.
Here is the full picture, in plain English.
The base requirement: 20 hours every 2 years
The Texas Board of Nursing (BON) requires 20 contact hours of continuing nursing education within the licensing period, relevant to your current area of practice. Alternatively, achieving or maintaining an approved national nursing certification in your practice area satisfies the requirement for that cycle.
The mandatory topics most nurses forget
- Nursing jurisprudence and ethics — at least 2 contact hours, required every third renewal cycle (every six years). Because it only comes up every third renewal, this is the one that catches people off guard.
- Human trafficking prevention — a course approved by Texas HHSC is required every renewal for nurses who provide direct patient care.
- Older adult / geriatric care — at least 2 contact hours each cycle if your practice includes older adult or geriatric populations.
- Other practice-specific requirements can apply (for example, forensic evidence collection for emergency-department nurses) — check the BON list against your role.
Stop tracking this in a spreadsheet
Progress rings per requirement, private certificate storage, deadline reminders, and a one-click audit packet. Set up in two minutes — free for your first license.
Start tracking — freeWhen is your deadline?
Texas RN licenses renew every two years, with the expiration tied to your birth month. Your exact date is printed on your license and in the BON Nurse Portal. CE must be completed before you renew — and the BON audits a portion of renewals, so keep your certificates.
How CredTally keeps this on autopilot
- Enter "20 hours by your deadline" once, add sub-requirements like "2 hrs jurisprudence & ethics" — the dashboard shows exactly what is still owed in each bucket.
- Snap a photo of each certificate as you finish a course; it is stored privately with the credit it proves.
- Reminder emails at 90, 60, 30, and 7 days before your renewal date — with your remaining hours in the subject line.
- If the BON audits you, export a dated PDF packet of your whole cycle — summary plus every certificate — in one click.
Frequently asked questions
How many CE hours does a Texas RN need to renew?
Twenty contact hours of continuing nursing education in your area of practice every two-year renewal cycle — or, alternatively, achieving or maintaining an approved national nursing certification in your practice area.
Does Texas require ethics CE for nurses?
Yes — at least 2 contact hours of nursing jurisprudence and ethics, but only every third renewal cycle (roughly every six years), which is why it is so commonly missed.
Does the Texas BON audit continuing education?
Yes. The Board audits a portion of license renewals for CE compliance, and you are responsible for producing proof of completion — keep every certificate.
Can national certification replace CE hours in Texas?
Yes. Achieving, maintaining, or renewing an approved national nursing certification in your current practice area can satisfy the CE requirement for that renewal cycle.
Official sources
CredTally is a record-keeping tool and is not affiliated with any licensing board. This guide is general information, not legal or compliance advice.
CredTally tracks all of this for you
Progress rings per requirement, private certificate storage, deadline reminders, and a one-click audit packet. Set up in two minutes — free for your first license.
Start tracking — free