Rule 4.3 - Approval of continuing education courses(a) Continuing education courses must be approved by the Commission. A continuing education course is an organized program of learning designed to increase or maintain the skills or competence of the regulated persons for whom it is intended. A continuing education course must be developed and presented by persons with education or experience in the subject matter of the course.(b) The provider of a continuing education course may request approval of a course. To request approval of a course, a provider must file a completed application on the appropriate form published on the Commission's website.(1) The application must be accompanied by an outline and materials that describe the course objectives and content, describe the teaching methods to be used, identify the presenters and provide their credentials, indicate the time allotted to each segment, and provide the date and location of the program.(2) The course must comply with the course content requirements contained in the rules for the group of regulated persons to whom it will be offered.(c) A regulated person may request approval of a continuing education course on the appropriate form published on the Commission's website. (1) The person may request approval prior to the date that the course will be offered but no later than 30 days before the expiration of their certification, license, or registration.(2) The request must be accompanied by an outline and materials that describe the course content, identify the presenters, indicate the time allotted to each segment, and provide the date and location of the program.(3) The course must comply with the course content requirements contained in the rules for the group of regulated persons to whom it will be or has been offered.(d) The Director may approve or deny a request for approval of a continuing education course. Upon approval, the Director will determine the number of hours of continuing education for the course.(e) The Commission will publish on its website a list of courses that are approved as continuing education.(f) A continuing education provider whose course has been approved must retain participant course completion records for a period of three years after completion of the course. Upon request, a provider must provide information, including attendance records, to the Commission within 10 days of the request.(g) A regulated person must obtain a certificate of attendance or other documentation from a continuing education course provider to prove the person's attendance or completion of all continuing education activity from the provider and submit the documentation to the Commission with the person's renewal application. The person must retain a copy of the documentation for a period of three years after completion of the course.(h) A regulated person may appeal the Director's denial of a request for approval by submitting a written appeal to the Commission within 15 days of notification of the denial. The Commission must review the denial at its next regularly scheduled meeting. The regulated person will be notified of the Commission's decision not more than 15 days after the decision.(i) The Commission, through the Director, may request additional information from a regulated person to verify the person's compliance with continuing education requirements.(j) If a regulated person's certification or license expires and the person is permitted under these rules to renew late, the person must comply with the continuing education requirements for the person's profession. The continuing education credit must be earned during the certification or license period preceding expiration, or within the appropriate late renewal period. Continuing education credit earned during the late renewal period may not be used to satisfy the continuing education for the person's subsequent renewal period.(k) The following do not qualify as continuing education activities under these rules: (1) attendance at, or participation in, professional or association business meetings, general sessions, or policy making sessions;(2) service on a committee or council or as an officer in a professional organization;(3) activities completed to satisfy the requirements of a disciplinary action; and(4) any activity completed as ordered by a judicial officer.;(5) entertainment and recreation;(6) tours or visiting exhibits;(7) any function for which the participant receives remuneration as part of his or her regular employment;(8) courses that emphasize irrelevant skills;(9) any activity completed before the first renewal period for which the renewal applicant is required to obtain continuing education;(10) reading books or articles or submitting book reviews, article reviews, or tests (including those books and accompanying tests that are part of the approved reading list of a national association); and(11) any other training, lesson, written material unrelated to the practice of the applicable profession.Tex. R. Judi. Cert. Commi. 4.3
Amended effective 4/12/2018 immediately; amended 11/17/2023effective immediately.