It is important to understand the licensing process in order to minimize potential problems nursing graduates might experience in obtaining a nursing license. Schools of nursing do not have the power to grant licensure for the Registered Nurse (RN). The nursing program has accreditation by the Texas Board of Nursing  to provide education and training which qualifies the student to take a state licensing examination. The graduate of the program must make application to the Texas Board of Nursing to take the licensing examination.

An individual enrolled or planning to enroll in a basic nursing program who has reason to believe that he/she might be ineligible for licensure must petition the Board for a declaratory order to determine his/her eligibility. Factors affecting eligibility for licensure include :

1. arrest in any state, territory, or country, including expunged offenses and deferred adjudication (s) with or without prejudice of guilt for anything other than a minor traffic violation. (DUIs, DWIs, and PIs must be reported and are not considered minor traffic violations).
2. convicted, adjudged guilty by a court, pled guilty or pled nolo contendre to any crime (felony or misdemeanor) whether or not a sentence was imposed (excluding minor traffic violations).
3. criminal charges pending in any court.
4. diagnosed, treated, or hospitalized in the past five (5) years for schizophrenia or other psychotic disorder, bipolar disorder, paranoid personality disorder, antisocial personality disorder, or borderline personality disorder.
5. addiction to or treatment for the use of alcohol or any other drug within the past five (5) years.

Additional eligibility criteria may be present and the requirements may change. The interested applicant is urged to review the information published by the Texas Board of Nursing. The forms to petition the board are also found at this site. http://www.bon.state.tx.us/forms.htm

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