Texas Licensed Vocational Nurse (LVN)

1. 1
   Graduate from a Board-approved vocational nursing education program (Texas has no experience-challenge path for medics/corpsmen/paramedics to NCLEX-PN)

   Sources:Texas Board of Nursing

   • Texas Board of Nursing
     Texas BON Education FAQ states Texas has **no provision** to allow challenge of the NCLEX-PN based on experience as a paramedic, Navy Corpsman, or Air Force Medic. Requirement is graduation from an approved vocational nursing program. The **only approved military vocational nursing program** identified by BON is the Army Practical Nurse Course (formerly 91C). Prior college/health-occupation experience may be considered for transfer credit/advanced placement **by individual VN programs** — school decision, not automatic license.
     confidence: mediumsourced/curated: 2026-09-10Official link (opens in the browser)
     Citation id

     SRC-TX-BON-EDU-FAQ
   • Texas Board of Nursing
     Texas Board of Nursing examination licensure — U.S.-educated RN/LVN applicants apply via Texas Nurse Portal for NCLEX; fingerprints/background and Texas Nursing Jurisprudence Exam requirements apply as published on BON examination page. Graduation from an approved nursing education program is the examination path — **not** MOS experience alone.
     confidence: highsourced/curated: 2026-09-10Official link (opens in the browser)
     Citation id

     SRC-TX-BON-EXAM
2. 2
   Pass NCLEX-PN and complete Texas BON examination application requirements (including jurisprudence/fingerprint steps as published)

   Sources:Texas Board of Nursing

   • Texas Board of Nursing
     Texas Board of Nursing examination licensure — U.S.-educated RN/LVN applicants apply via Texas Nurse Portal for NCLEX; fingerprints/background and Texas Nursing Jurisprudence Exam requirements apply as published on BON examination page. Graduation from an approved nursing education program is the examination path — **not** MOS experience alone.
     confidence: highsourced/curated: 2026-09-10Official link (opens in the browser)
     Citation id

     SRC-TX-BON-EXAM
3. 3
   Only military VN program BON identifies as approved is the Army Practical Nurse Course (formerly 91C) — not 68W AIT

   Sources:Texas Board of Nursing

   • Texas Board of Nursing
     Texas BON Education FAQ states Texas has **no provision** to allow challenge of the NCLEX-PN based on experience as a paramedic, Navy Corpsman, or Air Force Medic. Requirement is graduation from an approved vocational nursing program. The **only approved military vocational nursing program** identified by BON is the Army Practical Nurse Course (formerly 91C). Prior college/health-occupation experience may be considered for transfer credit/advanced placement **by individual VN programs** — school decision, not automatic license.
     confidence: mediumsourced/curated: 2026-09-10Official link (opens in the browser)
     Citation id

     SRC-TX-BON-EDU-FAQ

• Complete approved VN program (minus any school-awarded credit)
• NCLEX-PN + BON application / jurisprudence / fingerprints

1. 1
   Do not plan on challenging NCLEX-PN from 68W experience alone.

   • VA licensing and certification test reimbursement

     Needs expert review

     You can use part of your entitlement to cover the costs of tests (no more than $2,000 per test) for a job that requires a license or certification, even if you are already receiving other education benefits. VA pays back the cost of the test, including registration and administrative fees, and charges entitlement based on the amount paid back. To get paid back, you must already be covered under Post-9/11 GI Bill (Chapter 33), Montgomery GI Bill Active Duty (Chapter 30), Montgomery GI Bill Selected Reserve (Chapter 1606), or Survivors' and Dependents' Educational Assistance (Chapter 35). This page does not say a specific pathway step or state fee is covered. This tag is attached because the step mentions an exam. It does not say this exam qualifies.

     Funding source (opens in the browser)Retrieved 2026-09-27. Sign-off not recorded.

2. 2
   Contact Texas VN programs about transfer credit / advanced placement using JST.
3. 3
   If you completed Army Practical Nurse Course (91C/68C path), verify BON military VN recognition with BON.
4. 4
   After graduation, apply for NCLEX-PN via Texas Nurse Portal.

   • VA licensing and certification test reimbursement

     Needs expert review

     You can use part of your entitlement to cover the costs of tests (no more than $2,000 per test) for a job that requires a license or certification, even if you are already receiving other education benefits. VA pays back the cost of the test, including registration and administrative fees, and charges entitlement based on the amount paid back. To get paid back, you must already be covered under Post-9/11 GI Bill (Chapter 33), Montgomery GI Bill Active Duty (Chapter 30), Montgomery GI Bill Selected Reserve (Chapter 1606), or Survivors' and Dependents' Educational Assistance (Chapter 35). This page does not say a specific pathway step or state fee is covered. This tag is attached because the step mentions an exam. It does not say this exam qualifies.

     Funding source (opens in the browser)Retrieved 2026-09-27. Sign-off not recorded.

• Individual VN programs may consider prior college/health-occupation coursework for transfer credit or advanced placement — school decision

  Caveat: Credit ≠ license; 68W alone does not authorize NCLEX-PN in Texas

  Sources:Texas Board of Nursing

  • Texas Board of Nursing
    Texas BON Education FAQ states Texas has **no provision** to allow challenge of the NCLEX-PN based on experience as a paramedic, Navy Corpsman, or Air Force Medic. Requirement is graduation from an approved vocational nursing program. The **only approved military vocational nursing program** identified by BON is the Army Practical Nurse Course (formerly 91C). Prior college/health-occupation experience may be considered for transfer credit/advanced placement **by individual VN programs** — school decision, not automatic license.
    confidence: mediumsourced/curated: 2026-09-10Official link (opens in the browser)
    Citation id

    SRC-TX-BON-EDU-FAQ
• Holding Texas EMT may help employment while in VN school but is not an LVN substitute

  Caveat: Separate credentials

  Sources:Texas DSHS — EMS and Trauma Systems · Texas Board of Nursing

  • Texas DSHS — EMS and Trauma Systems
    Current military service members, veterans, and spouses who received EMT training in the military and have a **current National Registry certification** are eligible for Texas EMT certification. Military courses are **not** Texas-approved courses, so applicants follow the **same reciprocity process** as out-of-state applicants: reciprocity online application, **$126** application fee (as published on DSHS military page), and FBI fingerprint background check. DSHS's reciprocity page separately describes a military fee exemption; verify the applicable amount with DSHS.
    confidence: highsourced/curated: 2026-09-27Official link (opens in the browser)
    Citation id

    SRC-TX-DSHS-MILITARY
  • Texas Board of Nursing
    Texas Board of Nursing examination licensure — U.S.-educated RN/LVN applicants apply via Texas Nurse Portal for NCLEX; fingerprints/background and Texas Nursing Jurisprudence Exam requirements apply as published on BON examination page. Graduation from an approved nursing education program is the examination path — **not** MOS experience alone.
    confidence: highsourced/curated: 2026-09-10Official link (opens in the browser)
    Citation id

    SRC-TX-BON-EXAM

Verify on the licensing authority's own pages before paying a fee.

• bon.texas.gov (opens in the browser)
• bon.texas.gov (opens in the browser)
• bon.texas.gov (opens in the browser)