Texas RN CE renewal: hours, trafficking course, and the 2026 upload

By David Spriggs, RN, cardiovascular nurse and author of Nurse AI Made Easy: The AI Playbook. Updated August 2026.

Who this is for

• Texas RNs and LVNs heading into a birth-month renewal
• Nurses who keep meaning to do CE and then scramble in the last week
• Anyone who heard "just buy unlimited" and wants the actual rules first

What the Texas Board of Nursing requires

Confirm on the Board site. Rules live under continuing competency, not on a vendor sales page.

• 20 contact hours in your area of practice per 2-year licensing period, or a board-approved national cert in that area
• Targeted course: human trafficking prevention, each renewal
• Human trafficking prevention: HHSC-approved course, each licensing period, for nurses who provide direct patient care. A national certification does not replace this course.
• Nursing jurisprudence and ethics: at least 2 contact hours before the end of every third two-year renewal cycle (about every 6 years). Board Rule 216.3(g). Certification does not replace this either.
• Other targeted hours exist for some roles (older adult care if that is your population, forensic evidence collection if you work in an ED). Check the Board page for your job, not a vendor bundle.
• Hours do not carry over to the next period
• CNE must be from a credentialing agency or provider the Board recognizes
• License expiration is tied to your birth month on the 2-year cycle

What changes September 1, 2026

Texas is moving CE proof into the Nurse Portal. The Board calls it the CE Module. Plan to enter and upload your certificates before you hit renew. Do not wait until the night your license lapses. This page is not the statute. Read the Board and portal pages when you sit down to renew.

Unlimited membership or one course

Unlimited CE sites often price around $40 to $60 a year. That can be cheaper than buying hours one at a time if you still have most of your 20 to do. It is a waste if you already have hours and only need the trafficking course.

Nurse.com is the first membership we will link after Scrub Squad approval. Other vendors exist. Compare accreditation, whether they report for you, and whether the trafficking course is included. Then check the Board list.

Who should skip a membership

• You already have 20 accepted hours this period
• Your employer already pays for a library
• You only needed one required course and a free option already covers it

Where to buy

An affiliate button for Nurse.com goes here after approval. Until then, note that https://www.nurse.com/scrub-squad/ is the program page, not your renewal.

Also on this site: the Clove guide, compression socks, and the AI nursing book.

Frequently asked questions

How many CE hours does a Texas RN need to renew?

20 contact hours every 2 years in your area of practice, or a board-approved national certification in that area instead. Hours do not carry over to the next period.

Does buying an unlimited CE membership renew my license?

No. You complete accepted hours, meet targeted courses, upload proof, and renew with the Board. A membership is a way to buy hours, not a renewal.

Is the human trafficking prevention course required every renewal in Texas?

Yes. It is an HHSC-approved course required each licensing period for nurses who provide direct patient care. A national certification does not replace this course.

Did I miss nursing jurisprudence and ethics?

It is not due every renewal. It is due every third cycle, meaning at least 2 contact hours before the end of every third two-year renewal cycle, about every 6 years, under Board Rule 216.3(g). Certification does not replace it either. Use the Board jurisprudence calculator if you do not know which cycle you are on: https://www.bon.texas.gov/NJE_Calculator.asp.html

What changes on September 1, 2026 for Texas nurses?

Texas is moving CE proof into the Texas Nurse Portal. Starting September 1, 2026, you upload CE certificates in the portal before the portal will take your renewal. Plan to upload certificates before you hit renew.

Can this site tell me my hours are accepted?

No. The Board does not pre-clear random courses through a blog. CNE must be from a credentialing agency or provider the Board recognizes.

Do APRNs have extra CE hours in Texas?

APRNs have extra rules if you have prescriptive authority. Check the Board page for your license type. This page is written for the RN baseline.

Do you get paid if I click a CE link?

Yes, once a tracked link is on this page. You do not pay extra.

Does this cover other states?

Not yet. Compact states come later. Texas CE on this site is written for Texas RNs first.