1. (a) General Requirements. Advanced educational programs in the State of Texas shall be accredited by the Board or by a national accrediting body recognized by the Board.

   1. (1) An educational institution located in Texas may apply for Board accreditation for advanced educational programs that prepare either nurse practitioners or clinical nurse specialists. Only that portion of the program of study that qualifies registered nurses for authorization to practice in an advanced role and specialty recognized by the Board is eligible for accreditation.
   2. (2) To be eligible to apply for state accreditation, the advanced educational program must be at a post-basic nursing education level.
   3. (3) All new advanced educational programs must be at the graduate or post-graduate level.

2. (b) These standards have been developed for use by nurse practitioner and clinical nurse specialist programs accredited by or seeking accreditation by the Board. The purpose of these standards is:

   1. (1) To promote safe and effective advanced nursing practice,
   2. (2) To serve as a guide for development of new advanced educational programs that prepare nurse practitioners and clinical nurse specialists,
   3. (3) To provide criteria for the evaluation of new and established advanced educational programs that prepare nurse practitioners and clinical nurse specialists, and
   4. (4) To foster continued improvement of established advanced educational programs.

Source Note:The provisions of this §219.1 adopted to be effective September 13, 2001, 26 TexReg 6889.