Since you’re reading this, then you’re considering becoming a Certified Nurse Specialist in Texas… and we think that’s great!
All RNs are very important in health care, but because the nursing field is broad and nurses have to be coordinated, these RNs need leaders who can ensure that all the patients get the best quality of care.
And that’s precisely what Nurse Specialists do! They provide leadership and have responsibilities in management, education, and research.
Nurse specialists also have a wide range of job opportunities and get paid well.
But the BIG question is… How do you become one?
In this article, we’ll guide you on how to become a CNS in Texas using 5 steps.
We’ll also answer some important questions, such as:
- What’s the difference between a CNS and a CNP?
- How much does a nurse specialist earn in Texas?
- How long does it take to become a CNS in Texas?
If you’re ready, let’s dive in!
How to Become a CNS in Texas – 5 Simple Steps
Here are the 5 steps to becoming a Certified Nurse Specialist:
- Become an RN in Texas and Gain Experience
- Enroll in a Nurse Specialist Program
- Become Nationally Certified
- Apply for your CNS License in Texas
- Maintain Your RN and CNS Licenses
Let’s discuss each, one by one.
Step #1: Become an RN in Texas and Gain Experience
Certified Nurse Specialists are one type of Advanced Practice Registered Nurses (APRNs).
This indicates that you first need to become a Registered Nurse before you can advance in your practice.
That’s why the first step to becoming a CNS is to become an RN.
You can read a full article on how to become an RN in Texas here, but let’s discuss a few points.
Enroll in an Approved RN Program
To become an RN, you need to receive the proper training.
You can choose between an Associate’s Degree in Nursing (ADN) or a Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN).
An ADN only takes 2 years, while a BSN takes 4 years. However, because a BSN is longer and more in-depth, this prepares you for advanced practice.
Most nurse specialist programs accept BSN graduates, rather than ADN graduates. But some schools have RN-to-MSN bridge programs designed for ADN graduates.
Get Your RN License in Texas
To become a CNS in Texas, you need to be licensed in Texas as well. The only exception is if you become an RN in another state that is part of the nursing compact.
Let’s discuss this more.
Examination
To become a Registered Nurse, you need to take and pass the NCLEX-RN. This is a national exam to evaluate if you have the entry-level skills to practice as an RN.
To be able to take the NCLEX, you need to apply to the Texas Board of Nursing. They will also ask you to submit other requirements, such as:
- your transcript of records from your nursing school
- a completed criminal background check
- an application fee
- the results from your nursing jurisprudence exam
If you pass the exam, then you will receive your RN license.
Endorsement
If you become an RN in another state, then you need to apply for a Texas RN license. You will only be exempted from this if the state you came from is a nursing compact state.
To apply in Texas, you also need to submit some files to the Texas Board of Nursing. These include:
- your transcript of records from your nursing school
- a completed criminal background check
- an application fee
- the results from your nursing jurisprudence exam
- a copy of your active RN license from your state of origin
Multistate License
If you become a nurse in another state that is part of the nursing compact, then you don’t need to apply for a Texas RN license anymore.
Your multistate license will be credited in Texas since Texas is also a compact state.
Gain Experience
Once you become an RN, you can find your first nursing job and gain more experience.
This is a crucial stage before entering a nurse specialist program because most programs will check for work experience before accepting you.
You need to get a feel of what the work environment is like so that you will understand and appreciate the role of a nurse specialist more.
Step #2: Enroll in a Nurse Specialist Program
After becoming an RN and gaining relevant work experience, it’s time for you to enroll in a CNS education program.
This may be in the form of a master’s or a doctorate.
Accredited Programs
The exact type of program you will enroll in depends on what kind of clinical nurse specialist you want to be.
You can choose what population you want to focus on (pediatric, adult, gerontological, neonatal, family, or maternal) as well as what type of care you want to provide (critical care, psychiatric/mental, medical-surgical, community care, home health, oncology, etc.)
Types of Nurse Specialists
Here is a list of the different types of nurse specialists you can be in Texas:
- Adult health/medical-surgical nursing
- Community health nursing
- Critical care nursing
- Gerontological nursing
- Pediatric nursing
- Psychiatric/mental health nursing
- Other possible titles
- Acute Care Clinical Nurse Specialist
- Cardiovascular Clinical Nurse Specialist
- Emergency Clinical Nurse Specialist
- Family Clinical Nurse Specialist
- Home Health Clinical Nurse Specialist
- Maternal (Parent)-Child Health Clinical Nurse Specialist (with or without sub-specialization)
- Neonatal Clinical Nurse Specialist
- Oncology Clinical Nurse Specialist
- Perinatal Clinical Nurse Specialist
- Women’s Health Clinical Nurse Specialist
Coursework and Clinical Experience
Your CNS program has two main parts – didactic and clinical.
The particular subjects will depend on what kind of CNS you want to be.
The clinical phase involved hands-on supervised experience in partner institutions. You can expect at least 500 hours of clinical experience.
Step #3: Become Nationally Certified
After graduating from your CNS program, the next step is to take a national exam and become nationally certified.
There are several national certification examinations for CNSs recognized by the Texas Board of Nursing.
Here is a list of the national certifying bodies you can go to, based on your CNS specialty.
- Clinical Nurse Specialist in Adult Health Nursing
- American Nurses Credentialing Center’s Adult Health Clinical Nurse Specialist
- Clinical Nurse Specialist in Adult/Gerontology Nursing
- AACN Certification Corporation’s ACCNS—Adult/Gerontology
- Clinical Nurse Specialist in Gerontological Nursing
- American Nurses Credentialing Center’s Gerontological Clinical Nurse Specialist
- Clinical Nurse Specialist in Neonatal Nursing
- AACN Certification Corporation’s ACCNS—Neonatal
- Clinical Nurse Specialist in Pediatric Nursing
- American Nurses Credentialing Center’s Pediatric Clinical Nurse Specialist
- AACN Certification Corporation’s ACCNS—Pediatrics
- Clinical Nurse Specialist in Psychiatric/ Mental Health Nursing
- American Nurses Credentialing Center’s Adult Psychiatric & Mental Health Clinical Specialist
- American Nurses Credentialing Center’s Child/Adolescent Psychiatric & Mental Health Clinical Specialist
You need to check with each national certifying body what their requirements for exam application are, as well as the guidelines for each type of exam.
This will differ based on what kind of CNS you want to become.
Step #4: Apply for Your CNS License in Texas
Once you pass the national exam and receive your national certification, you can apply for your CNS license in Texas.
Requirements
The requirements are the same for all types of APRNs, and these include:
- a $100 application fee ($150 if you are applying with prescriptive authority)
- your Texas RN license or your RN license from another nursing compact state
- certification of completion of your CNP educational program approved by the Board
- your national certification from the national certifying organization with the expiration date
- completion of a minimum of 400 hours of practice within the last 24 calendar months or completion of your advanced practice nursing educational program within the last 24 calendar months
- completion of a minimum of 20 contact hours of continuing nursing education within the last 24 calendar months or completion of your advanced practice nursing educational program within the last 24 calendar months.
You need to send these requirements to the Texas Board of Nursing for evaluation. If they accept your application, you will receive your CNS license.
Prescriptive Authority
You may also apply for prescriptive authority as a CNS in Texas.
If you are applying at the same time as your CNS application, then you can indicate it in the application form from the Texas BON. You will need to pay $150 instead of $100.
But if you apply for prescriptive authority a few months or years after you become a CNS, you will need to fill up a separate Application for Prescriptive Authority.
The application fee costs $50.
Step #5: Maintain Your RN and CNS Licenses
At this point, you can fully enjoy your status as a CNS.
Many job opportunities will be open for you, and you can reap the benefits of all your hard work.
But don’t forget that you need to maintain your licenses and renew them every 2 years.
To renew your RN and CNS license, you need to complete 20 contact hours of continuing education. The 20 contact hours will be counted for both your RN license and your CNS license.
If you have prescriptive authority, you also need to complete 5 contact hours in pharmacotherapeutics.
Another way to renew your licenses is by maintaining your national certificate and meeting the applicable targeted continuing education requirements.
You will be expected to pay $129 for your RN and CNS licenses. You can check the fees here.
Frequently Asked Questions About Becoming a CNS in Texas
Now that we’ve covered the 5 steps on how to become a CNS, let’s talk about some important questions you may still have.
What’s the difference between a CNS and a CNP?
There is often some confusion between the roles of a nurse specialist and a nurse practitioner… and that’s because they are rather similar and their responsibilities can overlap!
However, you can see the difference in the focus of their work. CNSs tend to focus on more managerial and administrative tasks and research, while CNPs tend to focus more on direct patient care.
CNSs usually train other nurses, carry out research to improve the nursing profession or the healthcare system, manage staff and schedules, run departments, and coordinate patient care.
How much does a nurse specialist earn in Texas?
The annual average salary of a CNS in Texas is $111,762.
It can range from $101,055 and $122,421 depending on your location in Texas, how many years you have been in the profession, additional certifications, additional skills, etc.
How long does it take to become a CNS in Texas?
This depends on where you are in your nursing journey and what your previous educational background is. But overall, it could take you around 8-10 years.
Here is a general breakdown to guide you:
BSN – 4 years
Licensure and Work Experience – 2 years
Master’s Degree – 2 years
Doctoral Degree – 2-4 years