How quickly will I be able to schedule my fingerprint appointment?
The BON makes every attempt to enter the rosters within ten (10) business days. We will send an email notification to your school when the information has been entered.
How will I get the Service Code Form (formerly known as a Fast Pass)?
It will be attached to the email sent to the designated contact at your school once the roster has been entered. The school will provide this to you.
My school has been following this process for a while, and they have a Fast Pass from before. Do I have to wait for my school to hear back from the BON before they can give me the Service Code Form?
YES! Getting fingerprinted before your information is in the BON database will delay processing and could interfere with the BON receiving the transmission of CBC results.
What happens if a new/accepted student gets fingerprinted before being entered in the BON system?
As mentioned above, it could interfere with the BON receiving the transmission of CBC results. If this happens, you may be asked to repeat the process.
What do I do with the Service Code Form once I have scheduled my fingerprinting appointment? Do I mail this to the BON?
No. The Service Code Form is for you to use when scheduling your fingerprint appointment. You are no longer required to take the form to your appointment. Do not mail this information to the Board.
Does a blue card mean there isn’t anything that the BON needs to review?
Not necessarily. Remember, blue cards are sent to individuals whose CBC was clear, but it is possible that you did have criminal activity in the past and the jurisdiction has not reported the information to the TX DPS. In addition, the eligibility section of the D.O. has questions of a non-criminal nature. It is highly recommended that you read the ENTIRE section of eligibility questions to determine if a D.O. needs to be submitted
I already know that something is going to show up on my background check. Can I mail the documentation before the BON has the CBC results?
You may write the letter of explanation and start accumulating the necessary documentation, however, we recommend that you wait until receiving a letter from the BON to ensure that all incidences are addressed. Not following this procedure could delay the processing.
How long does it take to hear back about the Declaratory Order I submitted?
Within ten (10) business days of the BON receiving a completed declaratory order petition, statement, and court records staff will submit the documentation to the Director of Operations for the initial review (given that the CBC results have already been received by the Board). The initial review can take up to 30 days. You will be sent correspondence regarding the outcome of the initial review and whether additional action is necessary on your part.
Will I receive a blue card if my D.O. review is approved?
No. Blue cards are only mailed to individuals whose CBC was clear. If you submitted a D.O. then you will receive an Operations outcome letter.
Is there a fee associated with the eligibility review?
If the nature of the issue can be resolved within the delegated authority of the Operations Department, there will be no charge, and the Operations outcome letter will be mailed accordingly.
If the nature of the criminal issue is beyond the delegated authority of the Operations Department and must be transferred to the Enforcement Department for review, you may be asked for the $150 review fee. Within fifteen (15) business days of receipt of the fee your file will be transferred to the Enforcement Department for review. Once the DO petition is transferred to enforcement, you will need to allow a minimum of four months before inquiring.
I am having difficulty obtaining some of the documentation since the incident happened so long ago. What do I do?
You need to make every attempt to obtain court documentation related to the incident in question. The appropriate legal jurisdiction should be able to provide something on letterhead stating that no records are found, if that is indeed the case.
Just to be on the safe side, I submitted a D.O. petition to the BON even though I’m answering ‘no’ to all of the eligibility questions. That’s okay isn’t it?
No. Receiving needless paperwork delays processing time all around. If you are legally able to answer ‘no’ to all eligibility questions and have received a blue card, you should not submit D.O.
Will I have to repeat the background check process before graduation?
If you completed a DPS/FBI CBC after March 2006, then you will not have to do it again prior to your graduation.
I misplaced my blue card and my school is asking for it. How do I get another one?
The BON mails the original blue card to the address provided by the school on the New and Accepted Student Roster. One additional courtesy copy can be mailed to an address you specify. Email your request to webmaster@bon.texas.gov Include your full name, date of birth, and last four digits of your SSN (if applicable), and confirm which address to mail the courtesy copy. Please make the subject line of your email: BLUE CARD COPY
Any additional blue cards, after the first two, would require a new roster from the nursing program.
I went through the D.O. process a few years ago and received an outcome letter. Is this still valid?
Yes. So long as no new offenses have occurred, the approval would stand, even if the letter is outdated.
I received approval through the D.O. process. This means I can now answer “no” to the eligibility questions on the NCLEX application, correct?
No. Having a previous review on file does not negate the need for honesty on the eligibility questions. Complete the paper version of the application and include a statement that the information has been previously reviewed by the BON and, if applicable, that no new offenses have occurred. You may also submit a copy of the previous approval letter.
What happens if I had a review in the past and then submit my NCLEX application online?
With the exception of expunged offenses, this situation is considered ‘non-disclosure’ and your file will be transferred to Enforcement.
For more information on these and other topics, use the search field at the top right corner of the page. Should you have further questions or are in need of clarification, please feel free to contact the Board.
