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News and Updates

TDLR Seeks Auctioneers to Volunteer for the Auctioneer Advisory Board

August 17, 2023

If you’re an auctioneer who’s concerned about the future of the industry, we need you!

The Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation (TDLR) is looking for four licensed auctioneers who will agree to serve as volunteers on the Auctioneer Advisory Board.

You may ask why you should give up work or family time to serve as an uncompensated member of the board.

Great question.

Members of the Auctioneer Advisory Board provide TDLR staff members with technical knowledge and expertise about the live-bid auction industry in Texas. Thanks to a change in state law, we’re able to hold most of our advisory board meetings online, so members no longer have to travel at their own expense to Austin to meet.

In other words, if you’ve ever wondered why auctioneers are required to do certain things, or you think that TDLR should handle something a certain way, now’s your chance to get involved and ask those questions. Help make a difference in your chosen career!

The board has a total of seven members who serve six-year terms, including four licensed auctioneers. We need to fill all four of those slots as soon as possible. All members of the board are appointed by the chair of the Texas Commission on Licensing and Regulation.

See this page to apply: https://www.tdlr.texas.gov/AdvisoryBoard/login.aspx. The deadline to apply for the Auctioneer Advisory Board is September 22, 2023.

Auctioneer Education and Recovery Fund Fee To Be Assessed In 2023

January 5, 2023

The Auctioneer Education and Recovery Fund is established by the State of Texas and managed by TDLR to provide compensation to individuals who are harmed by the actions of a licensed auctioneer. To ensure compliance with Auctioneer law and rules, TDLR reviews the balance of the Auctioneer Education and Recovery Fund each year to determine if additional fees are needed to maintain the fund’s minimum balance of $350,000.

If the balance in the fund on December 31 is less than $350,000, each license holder is required by Auctioneer law to pay an additional $50 fee at their next license renewal (or a pro rata share of the amount necessary to obtain a balance in the fund of $350,000).

If the additional $50 fee is assessed, it is automatically added to the license renewal fee.

For 2023, the fund balance on December 31, 2022 was $340,828.29, requiring TDLR to assess the additional $50 fee for each renewal in 2023.

Questions? Contact TDLR

Auctioneer Program Study - Licensee Survey

July 11, 2022

You are invited to take this survey to help the Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation (TDLR) and the State Legislature learn more about the Auctioneers Program. Participating in this survey is completely voluntary, and there are no negative consequences if you do not participate. If you start the survey, you can always change your mind and stop at any time. 

House Bill 1560, passed in the 87th Legislature’s regular session requires TDLR to conduct a study of the Auctioneering program to determine its future. This survey, which will ask questions about your expertise and your experiences interacting with the Auctioneers Program and the regulatory process, is a part of that study. TDLR will also use the results to create or change internal policies, practices, and procedures. 

This survey should take approximately 10-15 minutes to complete.

TDLR will not collect any identifying information about you. The data collected are completely anonymous. 

If you have any questions about this survey or the Auctioneers Study, please contact Meg Peel, Ph.D., at meg.peel@tdlr.texas.gov. 

If you want to be able to access the information on this page later, please save or print this screen.

NOTE: If you are viewing this survey on a mobile device, use the bottom blue arrows to advance or return to the previous screen.

Survey: http://surveys.tdlr.texas.gov/s3/AUCTIONEER-PROGRAM-STUDY-LICENSEE-SURVEY

Notice to Auction Schools

May 18, 2020

In light of current health and safety concerns related to the COVID-19 pandemic, the Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation (TDLR) will recognize courses from licensed Auction Schools taught via distance learning to satisfy the licensing requirements in 67.20. Schools using technologies such as videos, electronic learning, virtual learning, and other practices to deliver the school’s curriculum shall ensure participants are receiving the 80-hour course needed to develop the job skills and knowledge necessary to obtain an auctioneer’s license in Texas.

Schools must properly account for the hours that each participant is engaged in remote auction courses. Schools must also confirm the identity of their students who are using distance learning and should make sure that students are equipped with the proper tools to effectively complete the course.

COVID-19: Continuing Education Waived

March 24, 2020

TDLR continuing education requirements are waived for all individual licenses expiring in March, April, and May 2020. Licensees still need to submit their renewal applications, pay the required fees, and TDLR will check their criminal histories, but they will not need to complete any TDLR-required continuing education this licensing cycle. (§51.405, Occupations Code)

Note: TDLR is not authorized to waive continuing education requirements imposed by a certifying or credentialing entity other than TDLR. If a certifying entity requires continuing education to maintain certification, and certification is required for Texas licensure, then that continuing education must be completed. If the certifying entity waives continuing education or allows it to be completed on a delayed basis due to COVID-19, then you may follow the certifying entity’s policy.

Please check the TDLR COVID-19 webpage for the most up-to-date information.

Important Information About the Auctioneer Recovery Fund

January 30, 2018

Reminder: The Auctioneer Education and Recovery Fund is established by the State of Texas and managed by TDLR to provide compensation to individuals who are harmed by the actions of a licensed auctioneer. To ensure compliance with Auctioneer law and rules, TDLR reviews the balance of the Auctioneer Education and Recovery Fund each year to determine if additional fees are needed to maintain the fund’s minimum balance of $350,000.

If the balance in the fund on December 31 is less than $350,000, each license holder is required by Auctioneer law to pay an additional $50 fee at their next license renewal (or a pro rata share of the amount necessary to obtain a balance in the fund of $350,000).

If the additional $50 fee is assessed, it is automatically added to the license renewal fee.

For 2018, the fund balance on December 31, 2017 was $321,709.98, requiring TDLR to assess the additional $50 fee for each renewal in 2018.

Questions? Contact TDLR

The Auctioneer Recovery Fund is established by the State of Texas and managed by TDLR to provide compensation to individuals who are harmed by the actions of a licensed auctioneer. Additional information about the Fund can be found on the Procedures for filing a claim against the Auctioneer Education and Recovery Fund page.

Advisory Board Meetings

November 29, 2022

The Auctioneer Advisory BoardmetNovember 29, 2022via videoconference. The meeting was archived and is available on TDLR’s YouTube channel. The agendaand staff reportsare available online.

The Auctioneers FAQs are a great resource to answer many questions about the auctioneer’s law and rules, education and licensing questions, as well as general information.

TDLR licensed auctioneers should use the online tool to verify that their personal contact information is correct. Keeping this information current is important for TDLR to communicate with the auctioneers.

The Associate Auctioneer license application is now available on the Auctioneer forms page. Please see the Frequently Asked Questions page for further information.

Auctioneer license on-line renewal - A renewal form is mailed approximately 65 days prior to the license expiration date. You can renew your license online and pay with a credit card.

Need a replacement license? You can also order a duplicate license online.

For more information about the TDLR Auctioneers program, contact TDLR by email, or call 800-803-9202. Also, you can sign up to receive TDLR Email Updates to be notified about any further changes or updates to the Auctioneer Program.