Texas Board of Nursing NCLEX application: requirements, fees, ATT timing and results
Written and reviewed by Rachel Goldberg, MSN, RN, CEN · 5 min read · Updated November 2026
Checked against official sources: November 2026
Rules, fees and deadlines differ by state and change without notice. Check with your state board of nursing before you rely on them.
Short answer
To test in Texas, US graduates apply in the Texas Nurse Portal and pay the board's $75 exam fee, register with Pearson VUE for $200, pass the Nursing Jurisprudence Exam, submit fingerprints, and have their dean send an Affidavit of Graduation. The board reviews for an ATT within 15 business days of the last item, and results post to the Nurse Portal.
The Texas application, step by step
As of November 2026 the Texas Board of Nursing lists the same five items for every US graduate applying for a first ATT with Texas. The ATT review does not start until all five are in, so the slowest item sets your test date.
| Step | What you do | Detail from the board |
|---|---|---|
| Application | Submit the NCLEX-RN or NCLEX-PN application for US graduates in your Texas Nurse Portal | Pick the RN or PN version; anyone who already had a Texas ATT uses the retest application |
| Fingerprints | Complete a criminal background check through Texas DPS and the FBI | Results go straight to the board; prints done for another agency or employer cannot be reused |
| Pearson VUE | Register for the NCLEX | $200; the board recommends doing it at least 30 days before graduation |
| Jurisprudence exam | Pass the Nursing Jurisprudence Exam | Two hours, based on the Texas Nursing Practice Act and board rules |
| Affidavit of Graduation | Your dean or director submits it after you graduate | Texas programs file through the AOG Portal; out-of-state programs email a sealed paper form |
Two details catch people. A Texas program cannot file your affidavit unless your NCLEX application carries the correct NCSBN program code. And for an out-of-state program, the board rejects affidavit forms that are mailed or sent by the applicant; only the school's email to [email protected] counts.
What it costs to test in Texas
Texas splits the cost between the board and Pearson VUE. The board's fee page lists the examination fee as $75 with the jurisprudence exam fee included, and its rule text says all board fees are non-refundable.
| Fee | Amount | Paid to |
|---|---|---|
| Board examination fee, jurisprudence exam included | $75 | Texas Board of Nursing |
| NCLEX registration | $200, rising to $350 for registrations from February 1, 2027 | Pearson VUE |
| Fingerprinting at IdentoGO | $41.95; other agencies may charge differently | IdentoGO |
At those figures, a first attempt costs about $316.95 if you register with Pearson VUE before February 1, 2027 and use IdentoGO. A retest repeats the Pearson VUE registration but not the fingerprints, affidavit or jurisprudence exam, which stay on file. The board pages we read do not state a separate retest fee, so confirm any amount in your Nurse Portal.
How long Texas takes to issue the ATT
Once the last item arrives, board staff review your file within 15 business days and change your NCLEX checklist item in the Nurse Portal to Eligible. Pearson VUE's ATT email follows within 5 business days of that. If you qualify for a graduate nurse or graduate vocational nurse permit, it posts to your portal within 5 business days of the ATT email.
Worked out, that is up to four working weeks from your last item to the ATT email. Both the ATT and the GN or GVN permit are valid for 75 days and cannot be extended, so have a Pearson VUE date in mind before the email lands rather than starting the search afterward.
Checking Texas NCLEX results
The board says it receives your pass or fail from Pearson VUE within 24 to 48 hours of the exam, and posts it to the NCLEX checklist item in your Nurse Portal application status. It does not release results by phone or email. Texas takes part in Quick Results, but the board says the portal result is the official one.
The board's two pages give different license timings: the examination page says your permanent license is issued within 15 business days of a passing result, while the licensure FAQ says within 24 to 48 hours of the result posting. Plan around the longer figure. If you fail, request your Candidate Performance Report through the Nurse Portal message center.
Retesting in Texas and the four-year rule
To retest, US graduates submit the NCLEX retest application in the Nurse Portal and register with Pearson VUE again. Fingerprints, the affidavit and the jurisprudence result stay on file, and the board reviews a retest within 15 business days of the last required item. The national 45-day wait between attempts still applies.
Texas limits retests by time, not by count. Under Board Rule 217.2, a retest applicant must be within four years of their graduation date. After that, the board will not issue an ATT until you complete a new initial nursing program with a new graduation date, and a refresher course does not count.
Sources
Texas Board of Nursing, Licensure by Examination (checked November 2026). Five application items, fingerprint rules, $200 Pearson VUE registration 30 days before graduation, two-hour jurisprudence exam, affidavit rules, 15 and 5 business day ATT timeline, GN or GVN permit, 75-day validity, results within 24 to 48 hours, license within 15 business days, retest steps, Board Rule 217.2 four-year rule.
Texas Board of Nursing, Licensure FAQ. No results by phone or email, Nurse Portal checklist, license within 24 to 48 hours of results posting, Quick Results not a substitute, Candidate Report request, IdentoGO $41.95.
Texas Board of Nursing, Schedule of Fees. Examination fee $75 with jurisprudence exam included; board fees non-refundable.
NCLEX.com, Fees and Payment. $200 registration fee; $350 for registrations from February 1, 2027; no refunds.
Common questions
How do I apply for the NCLEX in Texas?
Submit the NCLEX application for US graduates in your Texas Nurse Portal, complete fingerprints, register with Pearson VUE, pass the Nursing Jurisprudence Exam, and have your program send an Affidavit of Graduation. The ATT review starts only when all five are in.
How long does Texas take to issue the ATT?
The board reviews your file within 15 business days of the last required item, then the ATT email arrives within 5 business days, so up to about four working weeks. The ATT is valid for 75 days and cannot be extended.
How do I check Texas NCLEX results?
Log in to your Texas Nurse Portal and open your NCLEX application. The NCLEX checklist item shows pass or fail, usually within 24 to 48 hours of the exam. The board does not give results by phone or email.