1. (a) The program of study shall be:

   1. (1) At least the equivalent of one academic year;
   2. (2) Planned, implemented, and evaluated by the faculty;
   3. (3) Based on the mission and goals (philosophy and outcomes);
   4. (4) Organized logically and sequenced appropriately; and
   5. (5) Based on educational principles acceptable to the Board.
2. (b) For clinical nurse specialist programs, the program of study must also qualify the graduate for a master's degree in nursing.

3. (c) The curriculum content shall include:

   1. (1) Didactic and clinical learning experiences necessary to meet the goals or outcomes;
   2. (2) Concepts and principles critical to advanced practice nursing;
   3. (3) Professional and legal implications of the nurse in the advanced role;
   4. (4) Knowledge and skills relevant to practice in the area of specialty; and

   5. (5) Clinical nurse specialist and nurse practitioner course requirements published by the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board in collaboration with the Board of Nurse Examiners that became effective in January 1997:

      1. (A) Separate courses in pharmacotherapeutics, advanced assessment, and pathophysiology or psychopathology. These courses must be advanced level academic courses with a minimum of 45 clock hours per course;
      2. (B) Evidence of theoretical and clinical role preparation;
      3. (C) Evidence of clinical major courses in the specialty area;
      4. (D) Evidence of a practicum/preceptorship/internship to integrate essential content and the clinical major courses.
4. (d) For clinical nurse specialist programs, the curriculum must also contain a minimum of nine semester credit hours or the equivalent in a specific clinical major. Clinical major courses must include didactic content and offer clinical experiences in a specific clinical specialty/practice area.
5. (e) If a clinical nurse specialist program has as a goal or outcome the preparation of graduates for approval for limited prescriptive authority, then the program must also include at a minimum a separate course in diagnosis and management of problems within the clinical specialty area. This course(s) must be an advanced level academic course(s) with a minimum of 45 clock hours.
6. (f) The program of study shall include a minimum of 500 clinical hours.

7. (g) Post-master's preparation may be offered as graduate level course work through certificate or master's level advanced educational programs that include the desired role and specialty and otherwise meet the standards in this chapter.

   1. (1) Post-master's students are required to complete a minimum of 500 clinical hours and the equivalent of all of the role, clinical major, and Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board curricular requirements. Courses may be waived if an individual's transcript indicates that an equivalent course has been successfully completed or if the student demonstrates proficiency, validating program outcomes according to written program policies.
   2. (2) Only registered nurses who hold master's degrees in nursing shall be eligible for post-master's preparation as clinical nurse specialists.

8. (h) Board staff approval is required prior to implementation of major curriculum changes. Proposed changes shall include information outlined in Board guidelines and shall be reviewed using Board standards.

   1. (1) Changes that require approval include:

      1. (A) Changes in program mission and goals (philosophy and outcomes) that result in a reorganization or reconceptualization of the entire curriculum, and/or
      2. (B) An increase or decrease in program length by more than nine semester credit hours or 25%.
   2. (2) All other revisions such as editorial updates of mission and goals or redistribution of course content or course hours shall be reported to the Board in the Annual Report.

Source Note:The provisions of this §219.9 adopted to be effective September 13, 2001, 26 TexReg 6889.