bumping an old post to give my Texas license experience...
I paid the app fee and started the process 4.5 weeks ago. I was extremely OCD about getting all my documents ASAP and I sent everything to the TMB via FedEx. It seemed like the LIST website usually posted an item as received 1 day after FedEx delivery. I had my fingerprints scanned at one of the IBT fingerprint scan centers in Texas during my interview trip, and in approximately 1 week the LIST system had the results. I crammed for the JP exam for 1 week during my Q3 Trauma rotation and passed it. The day after I passed the JP exam, I received a message in the LIST system that my application was complete. A few days later I received a message that everything was acceptable and my name was on the list for permanent licensure. So the board met this week and I now have a license. The board meets every 2 months, so obviously it was just lucky that I happened to be complete days before the board meeting.
This was much smoother than I ever could have imagined after reading this thread. So *maybe* the process is improving...