A post about a new Texas CE requirement has been circulating in nursing Facebook groups — and most versions of it get one important detail wrong. Here's what Senate Bill 912 actually changes for Texas nurses, verified against the Texas Board of Nursing and the enrolled bill text, and what to do before September 1, 2026.
What Actually Changes
For license renewals on or after September 1, 2026, Texas nurses must upload their CE completion certificates before the license can renew. No upload, no renewal.
Until now, Texas used the honor system most states use: you attest at renewal that you completed your hours, and the board verifies by random audit after the fact. SB 912 flips that. Starting with September 2026 renewals, the proof comes first.
The legal mechanism is Texas Occupations Code §112.103, added by Senate Bill 912 (89th Legislature, 2025): a licensing entity "may not renew a health care practitioner's license unless the licensing entity verifies that the health care practitioner has complied with any continuing education requirements." The law covers Texas health licensing boards broadly — nursing is one of many professions affected.
The Viral Claim That's Wrong
The version spreading in Facebook groups says the Board of Nursing "is in the process of selecting a tracking platform." For nurses, that's not true.
The BON's own announcement is explicit: uploads happen inside the Texas Nurse Portal— the same BON system you already renew through. In the board's words: "No extra logins or accounts to maintain. Best of all, no extra subscriptions or fees!"
The confusion is understandable. SB 912 applies to every Texas health licensing board, and some of them didpartner with third-party platforms — the Texas Medical Board chose CE Broker, for example. But the nursing board built its own solution. If you see a claim that Texas nurses must sign up for CE Broker or any paid tracking service to renew, it's wrong.
What Doesn't Change
- Your CE requirements. Texas RNs and LVNs still need 20 contact hours per 2-year renewal cycle, with the same mandatory topics (jurisprudence and ethics every third renewal, HHSC-approved human trafficking prevention each cycle). SB 912 changes how you prove the hours, not how many you need.
- Past cycles.The requirement isn't retroactive. The BON has said uploading CE for previous licensure cycles is not required.
- Your renewal cost. The portal upload is free. No new fees, accounts, or subscriptions.
The Timeline
- September 1, 2025 — SB 912 took effect as law.
- By September 1, 2026 — every Texas health licensing entity must have its CE tracking system in place.
- September 2026 renewals onward — Texas nurses upload CE certificates in the Texas Nurse Portal before renewing. The BON has described a phased rollout, with a later phase letting approved CE providers upload certificates on your behalf.
What to Do Now
The nurses this will hurt are the ones who complete hours and lose the certificates — which, until now, only mattered if you were audited. Starting September 2026, it matters at every renewal.
- Save every certificate the day you finish a course. Don't rely on an employer education system you lose access to when you change jobs.
- Chase down certificates from this cycle now.If you renew after September 1, 2026, the hours you're earning today are the ones you'll upload. Providers can reissue certificates, but it can take weeks.
- Keep your own records anyway.The BON still expects you to retain documentation for 4 years — the portal upload doesn't replace your personal file.
RenewRN's free tracker stores your CE entries against your Texas license so everything's in one place when the portal opens — and the Texas renewal guidetracks the board's rollout as the BON publishes specifics.
Sources
- Texas Board of Nursing, "Current CNE Tracking Information" — bon.texas.gov (the board's official announcement)
- Senate Bill 912, 89th Texas Legislature (2025) — enrolled text at capitol.texas.gov, adding Occupations Code Chapter 112, Subchapter C
The rollout is still in progress, so mechanics may evolve — this page reflects the BON's published guidance as of June 4, 2026. Watch the rule-change log for updates, or add a Texas license in the tracker to get changes emailed to you.