1. (a) All applicants for initial licensure by examination shall:

   1. (1) file a complete application containing data required by the board attesting that all information contained in, or referenced by, the application is complete and accurate and is not false or misleading, and the required application processing fee which is not refundable;
   2. (2) submit verification of completion of all requirements for graduation from an approved nursing education program, or certification from the nursing program director of completion of certificate/degree requirements. Prerequisites of an accredited master's degree program leading to a first degree in professional nursing must be approved by the board;
   3. (3) pass the NCLEX-PN (LVN applicant) or NCLEX-RN (RN applicant);

   4. (4) Licensed vocational nurse applicants:

      1. (A) must hold a high school diploma issued by an accredited secondary school or equivalent educational credentials as established by the General Education Development Equivalency Test (GED);
      2. (B) who have graduated from another U.S. jurisdiction's nursing education program must satisfactorily have completed curriculum comparable to the curriculum requirements for graduates of board-approved vocational nurse education programs.
   5. (5) submit FBI fingerprint cards provided by the Board for a complete criminal background check; and
   6. (6) pass the jurisprudence exam approved by the board, effective September 1, 2008.
2. (b) Should it be ascertained from the application filed, or from other sources, that the applicant should have had an eligibility issue determined by way of a petition for declaratory order pursuant to the Occupations Code §301.257, then the application will be treated and processed as a petition for declaratory order under §213.30 of this title (relating to Declaratory Order of Eligibility for Licensure), and the applicant will be treated as a petitioner under that section and will be required to pay the non-refundable fee required by that section.
3. (c) An applicant for initial licensure by examination shall pass the NCLEX-PN or NCLEX-RN within four years of completion of requirements for graduation.
4. (d) An applicant who has not passed the NCLEX-PN or NCLEX-RN within four years from the date of completion of requirements for graduation must complete a board approved nursing education program in order to take or retake the examination.
5. (e) Upon initial licensure by examination, the license is issued for a period ranging from six months to 29 months depending on the birth month. Licensees born in even-numbered years shall renew their license in even-numbered years; licensees born in odd-numbered years shall renew their licenses in odd-numbered years.
6. (f) The U.S. Army Practical Nurse Course (formerly the 91C Clinical Specialist Course) is the only military program acceptable for vocational nurse licensure by examination.

Source Note:The provisions of this §217.2 adopted to be effective September 1, 1999, 24 TexReg 4001; amended to be effective July 14, 2003, 28 TexReg 5532; amended to be effective September 28, 2004, 29 TexReg 9189; amended to be effective April 16, 2006, 31 TexReg 3031; amended to be effective September 26, 2007, 32 TexReg 6519; amended to be effective May 14, 2009, 34 TexReg 2767; amended to be effective July 12, 2010, 35 TexReg 6083.