Frequently Asked Questions About Continuing Education Providers

Provider Application Questions

1. I want to apply to become a continuing education provider, what do I need to do?
To become a TDLR approved continuing education provider, complete the Department’s provider application and submit it along with the required application fee. Please make sure that application is complete and includes all items listed under # 10 “Background Qualifications” in the provider application instructions before submitting to the Department.

2. What do I list for the #10 “Background Qualifications” on the continuing education provider application form?
Provide the department a brief summary of how you will develop and deliver consistent, quality education. You should be able to demonstrate a commitment to continuous improvement and excellence in continuing education.

3. Am I required to submit a “business plan” and what do I address?
The business plan should say what the provider will do if there is a question about refunds, bad weather, instructor “no shows”, canceling a class, and policies regarding conduct, attendance and enrollment, etc. If the provider has business activities in addition to continuing education, the business plan only needs to address the continuing education portion of the business.

4. Do I have to register with the Department to become a continuing education provider?
Yes. You must submit your request on department-approved forms along with the required fees, description of capability and business plan.

5. There are rules that continuing education providers must abide by, where can I find them?
The Continuing Education Providers Administrative Rules Chapter 59 are located on the Texas Administrative Code website. Note that each license type has its own CE rules usually found in section number 25 of that occupations rules.

6. How much is my continuing education provider application fee?
The provider application fee is $200.00. This fee is set by rule in Chapter 59.80.

7. Are schools, such as community colleges, required to pay the provider application fee?
Yes. All those intending to be a provider for continuing education must pay the provider application fee.

8. Is my continuing education provider application fee refundable?
No. The fee is paid to process the application and is non-refundable.

9. What address do I use for the provider’s physical address if I have several offices around the state?
The provider should choose the headquarters office, and use that address for the provider application. The address should be the actual business location of the provider where all records will be kept for auditing purposes.

10. If my mailing address is the same as the physical address, can I write “Same” for the contact person mailing address?
Yes. However, remember that the physical address can’t be a post office box address.

11. If my provider information changes, such as a mailing address, email address, contact person, phone number, do I need to let the Department know of the changes?
Yes. All the information requested on the application must be kept current. Please submit changes in writing to the Education and Examination division or by fax at 512-463-1512. Make sure that all pertinent information is included, such as provider name, license number, etc.

12. How do I know which “Provider Type” to select for my continuing education business?
If your company is solely in the business of providing education, select “School.” If your company is in business and also provides education, select “Private Business.” If your organization is an association and also provides education, select “Association.”

13. Can my contact person have multiple e-mail addresses?
No. The email address provided will be the one that will receive the email confirmations when posting a CE roster.

14. When I fill out the continuing education provider application section on background/qualifications, do I have to list the qualifications of each instructor?
No.

15. I need instructors, does TDLR have a list to choose from?
No. It is up to the approved continuing education provider to hire competent, knowledgeable instructors. A continuing education provider must ensure that instructors possess both the subject matter knowledge they are teaching as well as the teaching ability required to impart the information.

16. If my course instructor is sick, and can’t teach a scheduled course, can another teacher substitute?
Yes. The department’s rules only require instructors to know the subject they teach and to have the ability to teach that subject. The continuing education provider is responsible for ensuring all courses are taught in a manner conducive to learning.

17. Do my continuing education course instructors need a certain license rank in order to teach?
No. The department’s rules only require instructors to know the subject they teach and to have the ability to teach that subject.

18. Do I also have to be approved as a provider by the Texas Workforce Commission (TWC)?
You should review TWC requirements to see if you require approval to operate in the State of Texas, or if you qualify for an exemption. You may wish to check Chapter 132 section 132.002 of the Education Code as well as “Career Schools and Colleges” Form PS-017. You may wish to call 512-936-3100 for TWC’s Proprietary School program.

19. If I want to be a continuing education provider and offer classes for several different programs, must I submit a separate continuing education provider registration for each occupation (electrician, auctioneer, air conditioning and refrigeration, etc.)?
Yes. Separate continuing education provider applications and fees are required.

20. How soon will I be notified that I am a registered continuing education provider?
You will receive a certificate of registration as soon as you are approved. You may also wish to view TDLR's License Search page and perform a search under “Continuing Education Providers” to see if you are listed as a registered provider.

21. I sent a continuing education provider application and I received an RFI letter. What is an RFI?
“RFI” stands for “Request For Information”. If the Department needs additional information, you will receive notification of items needed in order to approve a provider registration and/or course application.

22. Will my provider application be reviewed more quickly if I deliver it by hand, or send it overnight?
No. Although the application will arrive sooner, it will take its place in the “review” queue of pending applications.

23. As soon as I respond with the additional information, will my provider application be approved ASAP?
Processing time will depend on the workload at the time the information is received.

24. When will I be notified that I need to renew my provider registration?
Approximately 90 days prior to expiration, TDLR will mail a renewal application notice to the address of record for the provider. You will need to complete this application and submit it with the renewal fee. However, please note the renewal notice is a courtesy only; it is the provider’s responsibility to renew in a timely manner.

25. How long is my provider registration valid?
Provider registrations are valid for one yearfrom the date of issuance and may be renewed at the end of each registration period. To renew a registration, a provider must submit to the Department a completed renewal application form with the required fee.

26. My provider registration has expired. Do my courses expire too?
Yes. If a provider’s registration expires, all course approvals for that provider expire upon the expiration of the registration. And provider information will not be available on the website.

27. What must be included in my provider’s advertisements?
You should include your provider number and course number assigned by the Department. Your web page announcements about courses are considered advertisements. You should not publish false or misleading advertisements. Any advertisement which lists a fee should show all course fees in the same place in the advertisement, and with the same size and type of print. If you require participants to buy course materials which are not included in the course fees, those extra fees must be listed in the advertisement.

28. How is my provider compliance determined?
Department employees and representatives may audit your business and any continuing education courses you offer. Audits may be conducted without prior notice. Department employees and representatives are not required to pay fees for attending a course they are auditing.

29. How soon must I issue a participant a course completion certificate, and what must that certificate contain?
You must issue each participant who attended an entire course a course completion certificate no later than 15 days after the course completion date. The certificate must include the course name and TDLR course number, course completion date, provider name and TDLR provider number, number of approved hours of continuing education credit, signature of the provider representative and name, license type and license number of the participant who attended.

30. How soon must I submit a course completion report to the Department?
You must file electronically a course completion report no later than seven days after the course completion date. The report must include the TDLR number of the course, course completion date, TDLR provider number, the location where the course was taught, the number of participants to whom a certificate was issued, and the license number of each participant to whom a certificate of completion was issued. The provider must keep participant course completion records for a period of two years after completion of the course.

31. How do I submit a course completion report electronically?
You willneed to access TDLR’s Continuing Education provider web page by using your license number and PIN, click on “Post CE Rosters” from the column on the right, and enter the requested information. Instructions can be printed from the link “Operations Manual” at the bottom of the “Continuing Education Completion Reporting Site.”

32. What is a PIN? How do I locate my PIN? I lost my PIN, what do I do?
After you have been registered as a provider, you will receive a Personal Identification Number (PIN) on your registration certificate in the mail.
If you lose your PIN, contact the Education and Examination division or fax your inquiry to 512-463-1512. Include provider name and TDLR assigned license number and contact person.

33. What information must I be able to give the participant?
If requested by a participant, a provider shall provide copies of the participant’s records to the participant within 10 days of the request. A reasonable fee to cover copying costs may be charged to the participant.

34. What information must I be able to give to the Department?
If requested by the Department, a provider shall provide to the Department all specified records within 10 days of the date of request.

35. Where do I go to see the list of approved providers and courses?
You can go to http://www.tdlr.texas.gov/continuing-education-providers/ and click on to the appropriate program. You will be directed to the list of approved providers and courses.

36. I am a barber and cosmetology continuing education provider and/or tow continuing education provider, what is the $5.00 fee that is required by the Department?

A provider shall pay to the Department a continuing education record fee of $5 for each licensee who completes a course for continuing education credit as per Chapter 83.25(j) (Barber and Cosmetology) and 86.250 (i) (Tow). A provider's failure to pay the record fee for courses completed may result in disciplinary action against the provider, up to and including revocation of the provider's registration under §59.90 of this title.

37. How does a continuing education provider receive their bill for continuing education record fees? (This is only applicable for Barber/Cosmetology and/or Tow providers)

Each month, TDLR will invoice for the number of completions reported, and email you a statement with your updated balance. If you have any questions about your current balance, please submit a request to our Education and Examination Webform.

38. How does a continuing education provider make a payment for continuing education record fees? (This is only applicable for Barber/Cosmetology and/or Tow providers)

After receiving your monthly statement via email, please submit a copy of your statement and payment to:

Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation
P.O. Box 12157
Austin, TX 78711-2157

Complaint Questions

1. How do I file a complaint?
2. What is the provider required to do when notified about a complaint or an audit?
3. Are there penalties to the provider for violations of the continuing education requirements?
4. What activities are considered violations of this chapter which may result in administrative penalties or administrative functions?

1. How do I file a complaint?

You may fill out the online Complaint Form from our website. If you have any questions, please feel free to contact the Department at 800-803-9202 ( Texas only), 512-463-6599 or complaints@tdlr.texas.gov.

2. What is the provider required to do when notified about a complaint or an audit?

A provider is required to cooperate fully with the Department, its employees and representatives in the investigation of a complaint or performance of an audit.

3. Are there penalties to the provider for violations of the continuing education requirements?

Yes. If a person violates any provision of this chapter, or any provision of the statute or rule administered by the Department, or a commission or executive directive order, the Department may assess administrative penalties pursuant to Title 2 Occupations Code, §51.301 and 51.302 or administrative sanctions or pursuant to Title 2, Occupations Code, §51.353.

4. What activities are considered violations of this chapter which may result in administrative penalties or administrative functions?

The following activities are examples of violations of this chapter:

changing a program’s teaching methods or course content without the approval of the Department;
issuing a certificate of completion to an individual who did not complete the approved course;
refusing to issue a certificate of completion to an individual who has satisfactorily completed an approved course;
fraud or misrepresentation in an application process for provider registration or course approval;
fraud or misrepresentation regarding maintenance of records, teaching method, program content, or issuance of certificates or;
failing to cooperate with the Department in an investigation or audit.

Site Navigation

Frequently Asked Questions About Continuing Education Providers

On this page:

Provider Application Questions

Complaint Questions