The Board of Nurse Examiners and Declaratory Orders

Each applicant to a school of nursing is required to answer these questions re Declaratory Orders. If an applicant or student has situations that fall under Declaratory Orders, then the student is urged to address this early rather than wait until near application for NCLEX.

  • Applicants for NCLEX-RN and Registered Nurses seeking licensure in Texas are required to submit a complete and legible set of fingerprints on a form prescribed by the board for the purpose of obtaining a criminal history from the Texas Department of Public Safety and the Federal Bureau of Investigations. (Section 301.252 (b) and Section 301.252 (e) of the Texas Occupations Code)
  • All NCLEX applicants with outstanding eligibility issues that could prevent them from taking the NCLEX examination upon completion of a nursing program are urged to complete a Declaratory Order application. The Declaratory Order process permits the Board to make decisions regarding an applicant's eligibility for licensure prior to entering or completing a nursing program.
In reference to Declaratory Orders

TEXAS BOARD OF NURSING

PO BOX 430 AUSTIN, TEXAS 78767-0430

The following statements (1-6) have been revised effective July 2002. After you have read the information, sign and detach the bottom portion and return it to (your faculty member).

The Texasd Board of Nursing has identified certain circumstances that may render a potential candidate ineligible for licensure as a registered nurse in the State of Texas. The Board provides individuals the opportunity to petition for a Declaratory Order as to their eligibility in accordance with Article 301.257 of the Nursing Practice Act. (Deferred order, prosecution, or adjudication--a determination by a court that is withheld or delayed for a specific time period.)
If you are required to answer "YES" to any of the following questions, you must request a Declaratory Order Petition.
1. Have you ever been denied licensure by any licensing/certifying agency in any state, country or province?
2. Have you ever had disciplinary action taken against you by any licensing/certifying agency in any state, country or province?
3. Have you ever been convicted of a crime or received a deferred order, with or without an adjudication of guilt, for felony or misdemeanor offense other than a minor traffic violation?
4. Have you been diagnosed, treated or hospitalized in the past five (5) years for schizophrenia or other psychotic disorders, bipolar disorder, paranoid personality disorder, antisocial personality disorder, or borderline personality disorder. (You may answer "NO" if you have completed and/or in compliance with TPAPN for mental illness.)
5. Have you been addicted or treated for the use of alcohol or any drug within the past five (5) years? ((You may answer "NO" if you have completed and/or in compliance with TPAPN for substance abuse.)
6. Have you been issued any order concerning your eligibility for examination or licensure by the Board of have you ever received a proposal of ineligibility from the Board?
----------------------------------------------Detach -------------------------------------------
I have been given a copy of the circumstances that may render a potential candidate ineligible for licensure as an RN in Texas (effective 2002).
PLEASE PRINT NAME
NAME: _______________________________________________________________
FIRST
MIDDLE
MAIDEN
LAST
SOCIAL SECURITY # _______________________
DATE OF BIRTH _______________
__________________________________
________________
SIGNATURE
DATE

 

For a complete review of the form the applicant must complete, go to this page and follow the links under Candidate Licensure.

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01/2005