If your nursing education was taught in a language other than English, the Texas Board of Nursing needs a passing score on one of five English tests before you can take the Texas NCLEX: TOEFL iBT, IELTS, the Michigan English Test (MET), OET or Pearson's PTE. Since September 1, 2026, the minimums are higher, the speaking minimum rose on every test, and the Board no longer accepts the paper-based or computer-based TOEFL, the Test of Spoken English or the Test of Written English (Texas Board of Nursing).
Below: the exact scores, who is exempt, how the Board reads a score report, and how the test fits your application. Every number comes from the Board's pages and meeting papers, ETS or NCSBN, checked on October 2, 2026.
What changed for the Texas NCLEX on September 1, 2026
The Board replaced its list of English tests and minimum scores to match the federal Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) list for foreign health care workers, which HRSA updated on May 12, 2026. Board staff set out the change at the Board's July 23–24, 2026 meeting, and the published list took effect on September 1, 2026 (Board agenda item 7.2, July 2026).
The July paper's reasons: several Texas minimums had fallen below HRSA's new standards, and HRSA no longer recognizes some tests Texas listed. It also names the cost to you: some applicants now need higher scores, and anyone holding a retired-test score has to sit an approved test.
5
English tests the Board accepts
Texas Board of Nursing, updated Aug 1, 2026
4
retired formats: TOEFL PBT and CBT, TSE, TWE
Texas Board of Nursing
Sep 1, 2026
new minimums in force
Texas Board of Nursing
The "before" column comes from the Board's July 2026 comparison table; the "from" column is its current list.
| Test | Before Sep 1, 2026 | From Sep 1, 2026 |
|---|---|---|
| TOEFL iBT | 83 on the 0–120 scale, or 4.5 on the new 1–6 scaleNo section minimums | 4.5 overall, 4.5 speaking3.5 in reading, listening and writing |
| IELTS | 6.5 overall6.0 in all four modules | 6.5 overall7 speaking |
| Michigan English Test (MET) | 55 overall55 speaking | 58 overall59 speaking |
| OET | 300 in each sub-test | Speaking 360, Writing 350Reading 340, Listening 320 |
| Pearson (PTE) | 55 overall50 in each module | 55 overall, 76 speaking62 in reading, writing and listening |
| TOEFL paper-based | 560 | No longer accepted |
| TOEFL computer-based | 220 | No longer accepted |
| TSE and TWE | TSE 50 and TWE 4.0 | No longer accepted |
Two details are easy to miss. IELTS dropped the 6.0 floor on each module; the Board now lists only 6.5 overall and 7 in speaking. And PTE asks for 62 in reading, writing and listening while the overall minimum stays at 55.
The Board declined to add Cambridge English qualifications, which HRSA lists, because the credential does not expire and may not show current proficiency (July 2026 paper). A Cambridge B2 First or C1 Advanced certificate does not count in Texas.
Jan 21, 2026
TOEFL iBT moves to a 1–6 scale
Apr 23, 2026
Board staff map TOEFL 83 to 4.5
May 12, 2026
HRSA publishes its updated list
Jul 23–24, 2026
Board meeting: align Texas with HRSA
Sep 1, 2026
New Texas list takes effect
Retired formats stop counting; the new minimums apply.
Feb 1, 2027
NCLEX registration fee becomes $350
Applies to registrations completed on or after this date.
Accepted English tests and minimum scores
Each tab shows the Texas Board of Nursing English proficiency minimum for one test and the practical points that decide whether a particular score report will count. Where the Board's page is silent on something you need to know, the tab says so.
Minimum: 4.5 overall, 4.5 speaking, and 3.5 in each of reading, listening and writing.
Since January 21, 2026, ETS reports the TOEFL iBT on a 1–6 scale in half-point steps, and for a two-year transition reports also show a comparable 0–120 score (ETS). ETS will not send scores more than two years after the test date, and Texas accepts only reports sent by the testing agency, so an older TOEFL cannot reach the Board.
If your test was taken before January 21, 2026, your report uses the 0–120 scale. The Board's current page lists only 1–6 minimums, so ask the Board how it will read an older report before you rely on it.
Minimum: 6.5 overall and 7 in speaking.
The Board's page lists no separate minimum for listening, reading or writing. It also does not name an IELTS module, but a 2025 Board staff paper describes the Academic version as the one healthcare licensing agencies, including the Texas Board of Nursing, commonly use (Board agenda item 7.3, April 2025). If you are choosing between modules, book Academic or confirm with the Board first.
Minimum: 58 overall and 59 in speaking.
Board staff proposed the Michigan English Test in October 2024 at 55 overall and 55 speaking, and that was the Texas standard until this year (October 2024 paper). Both numbers rose on September 1, 2026, so an older MET result of 55 to 57 overall, or below 59 in speaking, no longer qualifies.
Minimum: Speaking 360, Reading 340, Writing 350, Listening 320.
OET reports no overall score, so each sub-test has to clear its own minimum (April 2025 paper). Under the standard in force before September 2026, Texas did not accept remotely proctored OET tests and required all passing scores from a single test appointment (July 2026 paper). The current page does not restate those conditions, so confirm them with the Board before booking.
Minimum: 55 overall, 76 in speaking, and 62 in each of reading, writing and listening.
The Board's page calls this test "Pearson (PTE)" without naming a version, while the Board's July 2026 comparison table listed the previous standard against PTE Academic. Confirm the Pearson test with the Board before paying.
Who needs an English test for the Texas NCLEX
You need one if your foreign nursing education was taught in a language other than English. Board Rule 217.4 requires internationally educated applicants for licensure by examination to achieve an approved score on an accepted English test "unless a substantial portion of the applicant's nursing program of study, as determined by the Board, was conducted in English" (22 Tex. Admin. Code §217.4).
The same rule requires every approved credential evaluation service (CES) report to identify the language of nursing instruction and the language of the textbooks, so the evidence the Board weighs for an exemption is in the report you order. The rule does not define "substantial", and the Board's pages give no threshold, so do not assume an exemption until the Board confirms it.
Three groups are easy to miss:
- Graduates from Puerto Rico apply through the Board's "NCLEX Application – International Graduates (Including Puerto Rico)" (Board licensure by examination page). The English test still depends on your program's language.
- Licensed Texas nurses upgrading to multistate status must also show English proficiency if their foreign nursing education was taught in another language.
- Retake applicants do not resend it: the Board keeps your English results on file with your CES report, fingerprints and jurisprudence exam.
How the Board reads your score report
Every listed minimum counts, not just the overall score, and only reports that arrive from the test owner are considered.
Try reading a report the way Board staff would.
How the English test fits into your Texas NCLEX application
The English score is one of four items that must reach the Board straight from their source, alongside the work you do yourself in the Texas Nurse Portal. The Texas Board of Nursing NCLEX requirements for first-time internationally educated applicants are listed on its licensure by examination page (Texas Board of Nursing).
Three time limits run alongside the English test. Your CES report must be dated within one year of issue, a verification of licensure is valid for one year after the licensing authority signs and seals it, and you must have worked as a nurse in the four years before applying or be within four years of graduating. After four years without passing, Texas requires a new nursing program, not a refresher course.
Texas accepts CES reports only from its approved providers. The Board's list, last updated July 1, 2026, names the report type to order from each (Approved CES providers):
| Provider | Report to order |
|---|---|
| TruMerit, Inc. (formerly CGFNS) | For Licensure or Registration |
| Educational Records Evaluation Service (ERES) | Evaluation for Nursing License |
| Josef Silny & Associates (JS&A) | Applications for Licensure (Boards of Nursing Applicants) |
| The Evaluation Company (formerly SpanTran) | Nursing Course Analysis |
The Nursing Jurisprudence Exam is Texas-specific: 50 questions in two hours, open to the Board's website and other materials, with 38 correct answers needed to pass and a retake allowed after 24 hours (Board NJE page).
Once everything has arrived, Board staff review your file for an Authorization to Test (ATT). The Board says it has temporarily extended its expected processing time for applications and incoming documents to 20 business days (Board notice). The Board's page states that an ATT is valid for 75 days and cannot be extended, so book your NCLEX appointment as soon as yours arrives.
What the exam steps cost, and the February 2027 fee change
The Texas examination application is $75 with the jurisprudence exam included (Board fee schedule), and NCLEX registration with Pearson VUE is $200 today. NCSBN has raised the registration fee to $350 for registrations completed on or after February 1, 2027; the date you register decides the fee, not the date you test (NCSBN). Testing at an international test center adds a $150 scheduling fee, which is never refunded (NCLEX fees).
Practise for the NCLEX while you wait for paperwork
The NCLEX tests safe nursing decisions in English, and many items turn on communication. Here is an original practice question in the NCLEX multiple-choice format.
Frequently asked questions
Does Texas accept IELTS for nursing applicants?
Yes, with at least 6.5 overall and 7 in speaking, and no separate minimum for the other modules since September 1, 2026. Book IELTS Academic or confirm the module with the Board.
What are the NCLEX requirements for international nurses in Texas?
A Texas Nurse Portal application, fingerprints, the jurisprudence exam, Pearson VUE registration, a CES report from an approved provider, verification of every license, and an English score if your program was not taught in English. You must also have nursing work in the last four years or be within four years of graduating.
Do I need an English test if my nursing school taught in English?
Not necessarily. Rule 217.4 waives the test when a substantial portion of your nursing program was conducted in English, as determined by the Board. The Board decides from your CES report, which must state the language of instruction and of the textbooks.
Can I still use a TOEFL paper-based, TSE or TWE score?
No. From September 1, 2026, the Board no longer accepts the paper-based or computer-based TOEFL, the Test of Spoken English or the Test of Written English. You need TOEFL iBT, IELTS, MET, OET or PTE at the current minimums.
Can I send the Texas Board of Nursing my own copy of my English score?
No. The English report, CES report and license verification must come directly from their issuers; applicant copies are refused.
Does the English requirement apply to a multistate license upgrade?
Yes. The Board's page says licensees seeking to upgrade to multistate status must show English proficiency if their foreign nursing education was taught in a language other than English.
Sources
- Texas Board of Nursing — Approved English Proficiency Exams (last updated August 1, 2026), accessed October 2, 2026.
- Texas Board of Nursing — Agenda item 7.2: Revisions for English proficiency tests and scores to align with HRSA, July 23–24, 2026, accessed October 2, 2026.
- Texas Board of Nursing — Agenda item 7.2: Change to scoring scale for the TOEFL iBT, April 23, 2026, accessed October 2, 2026.
- Texas Board of Nursing — Agenda item 7.3: Consideration of the Occupational English Test, April 2025, accessed October 2, 2026.
- Texas Board of Nursing — Agenda item 7.4: Consideration of the Michigan English Test, October 2024, accessed October 2, 2026.
- Texas Board of Nursing — Licensure by Examination, accessed October 2, 2026.
- Texas Board of Nursing — Approved Credential Evaluation Service Providers (last updated July 1, 2026), accessed October 2, 2026.
- Texas Board of Nursing — Nursing Jurisprudence Exam, accessed October 2, 2026.
- Texas Board of Nursing — Schedule of Fees, accessed October 2, 2026.
- Texas Board of Nursing — Temporary Update to Licensure Processing Timeframes, accessed October 2, 2026.
- 22 Tex. Admin. Code §217.4 (via Cornell Legal Information Institute), accessed October 2, 2026.
- ETS — TOEFL iBT scores: what your scores mean, accessed October 2, 2026.
- NCSBN — NCLEX fee changes Feb. 1 (August 21, 2026), accessed October 2, 2026.
- NCLEX — Fees and payment and Scheduling, accessed October 2, 2026.