(a) Exam Development.
  (1) The Board will develop a Nursing Jurisprudence Exam (NJE) as authorized by Nursing Practice Act (NPA) §301.252.
  (2) The NJE will be required for each person who submits an application seeking initial licensure on or after September 1, 2008.
  (3) The NJE will be a minimum of 50 questions and shall be psychometrically validated.
  (4) The NJE shall be designed to test an applicant's knowledge relating to board statutes, rules, position statements, guidelines, disciplinary sanction policies, frequently asked questions, and other resource documents accessible on the board's web page relating to the regulation, licensure, and practice of nursing under the following categories:
    (A) Nursing Licensure and Regulation in Texas;
    (B) Nursing Ethics;
    (C) Nursing Practice;
    (D) Nursing Peer Review;
    (E) Disciplinary Action.
(b) Grading Procedures.
  (1) In this chapter, applicants required to take the NJE exam, must achieve a passing score as determined by the Board of Nursing in consultation with a psychometrician. Should an applicant fail to achieve a passing score on the NJE, such applicant, shall retake the NJE until such time as a passing score is achieved.
  (2) In accordance with NPA §301.252(a)(3), an applicant for initial nursing licensure in Texas shall not be granted a nursing license until the applicant achieves a passing score on the NJE.
  (3) A person who has passed the NJE shall not be required to retake the NJE for another or similar license, except as a specific requirement of the board.
  (4) A passing grade on the NJE is valid for purposes of licensure for one year from the date the passing grade is achieved.
(c) Taking the NJE.
  (1) An applicant may take the NJE at any time during the application process.
  (2) Should an applicant fail to achieve a minimum passing score on the NJE, such applicant may retake the NJE until such time as a passing score is achieved.
(d) Notice of Results.
  (1) Attaining a passing score on the NJE is a requirement of initial licensure in Texas effective September 1, 2008.
  (2) Each applicant will be notified upon successful completion of all requirements for initial licensure.

Source Note: The provisions of this §217.17 adopted to be effective November 15, 2007, 32 TexReg 8167; amended to be effective October 19, 2008, 33 TexReg 8512