She received an associate's degree in nursing from Angelina College, a bachelor's degree in nursing from SFA, a master's degree in nursing as a family nurse practitioner from the University of Texas at Galveston, and a doctoral degree in nursing from Texas Woman's University. Hensarling has been a registered nurse for 37 years and a family nurse practitioner for 17 years. She has practiced in clinical areas throughout East Texas and has taught Community Health Nursing for 12 years at SFA.