If you hold a Texas RN license, the Texas Board of Nursing requires 20 contact hours of Board-approved continuing nursing education every two-year renewal cycle (or you can maintain a national certification in your practice area instead of the 20 general hours). Several mandated topics layer on depending on your cycle and practice setting — nursing jurisprudence and ethics, forensic evidence collection, geriatric care, and human trafficking prevention. Below is the full breakdown of what you need, what counts, and when it is due.
20 hours / 2 years
Twenty contact hours each biennial renewal cycle.
Jurisprudence & ethics
2 hours of nursing jurisprudence and ethics every third renewal.
Human trafficking
An HHSC-approved human trafficking course each renewal for direct-care nurses.
Practice-specific topics
Forensic evidence (ER nurses) and geriatric care (geriatric practice) hours may apply.
How many CE hours Texas RNs need
Texas requires 20 contact hours every two years, tied to your biennial license renewal. National certification in your practice area can substitute for the 20 general hours.
Mandated subject requirements
- Nursing jurisprudence and ethics: 2 hours every third renewal.
- Forensic evidence collection: one-time 2-hour course for ER nurses and those performing sexual assault forensic exams.
- Geriatric care: 2 hours if your practice includes older adult populations.
- Human trafficking prevention: an HHSC-approved course each renewal for direct-care nurses.
Renewal cycle and deadlines
Texas RN licenses renew every two years. Complete and document your 20 hours, including any applicable mandated topics, before your renewal date.
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View pricingTexas Registered Nurses (RN) CME at a glance
- Nursing Jurisprudence & Ethics2 hrs · every 3rd renewal
2 contact hours of nursing jurisprudence and ethics are required every third renewal (counts toward the 20-hour total).
- Forensic Evidence Collection2 hrs · one time
A one-time 2-hour course in forensic evidence collection is required for nurses who work in an emergency room or perform forensic exams on sexual assault survivors.
- Geriatric Care2 hrs · every renewal
At least 2 contact hours relating to geriatric care are required if the nurse's practice includes older adult or geriatric populations (counts toward the 20-hour total).
- Human Trafficking PreventionRequired · every renewal
An HHSC-approved human trafficking prevention course is required each renewal for nurses who provide direct patient care.
Always confirm with your licensing board
Texas RN licenses renew biennially. RNs must complete 20 contact hours of Board-approved continuing nursing education per cycle (or maintain national certification in their practice area as an alternative to the 20 general hours). Several mandated topics apply depending on practice setting and cycle.
CE requirements change. Confirm current rules with the Texas Board of Nursing before relying on these figures.
Source: Texas Board of Nursing. Board website · Researched as of 2026-06-01 · CME rules change; this is administrative guidance, not legal or CME-accreditation advice.
Licensed in more than one state?
Nurse Licensure Compact: active. Active. One multistate RN/LPN license from the home state authorizes practice in member states; practice-state requirements (including CE) may still overlay.
Each state license carries its own CME requirement and renewal date — if you hold more than one, you need a plan for each.
Also licensing in Texas or beyond?
Our sister teams handle the licensing side with the same concierge service.
Texas RN Continuing Education Requirements — Frequently Asked Questions
How many CE hours do Texas RNs need?
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20 contact hours every two years, or national certification in your practice area in place of the 20 general hours.
Does Texas require a nursing jurisprudence course?
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Yes — 2 contact hours of nursing jurisprudence and ethics are required every third renewal.
Does Texas require human trafficking training?
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Yes — an HHSC-approved human trafficking prevention course is required each renewal for nurses who provide direct patient care.
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