Frequently Asked Questions About Human Trafficking Prevention Training for Health Care Practitioners
Training Requirements – General Information
1. I am not a licensed health care professional, but I do have a license with TDLR. Do I need to take human trafficking prevention training?
No. Only certain health care practitioners are required to take HHSC-approved human trafficking prevention training. View a list of the license types that must comply with this requirement. Anyone may take the free course, if they wish.
2. My practice involves elderly patients who will never be involved in human trafficking. Why should I take this class?
Human Trafficking includes trafficking of children or adults of both sexes, for their labor, for sex, or as bondage to pay off a debt. Even though it’s unlikely that one of your patients or clients is a trafficking victim, there could be people with whom they have frequent contact, people who perform services for them, or household members who are victims, such as home health aides, cosmetologists, drivers, or cleaners.
3. I’m an assistant who doesn’t have much direct contact with patients or clients. Do I have to take the training?
Maybe. The requirement to take human trafficking prevention training does not apply to every license type in every health profession. View a list of the license types that must comply with this requirement.
Licensing and Timeframes
1. My license expires on September 12, 2020. If I apply for renewal on August 30 (before the September 1, 2020 effective date of the new training requirement), will I have to take a human trafficking prevention training course before I submit my renewal?
No. You are not required to complete a human trafficking prevention training course if you renew your license before September 1, 2020.
2. I have a two-year license. How long before I apply for renewal can I take the human trafficking prevention training?
You can take the training at any time during your current license period.
3. My license expired on August 5, 2020 and I want to apply for late renewal in September. I know I may have to pay late fees, but will I need to take the human trafficking prevention training to renew my license?
Yes, the requirement applies to any renewal submitted on or after September 1, 2020, whether timely or late. The expiration date of the license is not relevant.
Training Course and Continuing Education
1. I have another healthcare license, and I must take a human trafficking prevention training course to renew that license as well. Can I do one training course for both licenses?
Maybe. Your TDLR license requires that you take a course that is approved by the Texas Health and Human Services Commission (HHSC). You will need to check with the other licensing agency to see if the HHSC course is acceptable and ensure that the training is taken within the acceptable timeframe for both licenses.
2. If the only HHSC-approved human trafficking prevention training course available is the same one I took in my last license period, do I need to take it again to renew my license?
Yes.
3. If there are several HHSC-approved human trafficking prevention training courses available, do I have to take a different one each renewal period?
No.
4. What if I take a HHSC-approved human trafficking prevention training course but, before I renew, the course is updated, or retired and replaced with a different approved course? Do I have to take the new/updated training?
No, if it was an approved course when you took it, it satisfies the renewal requirement.
5. Can I get continuing education (CE) credit and satisfy the human trafficking prevention training requirement using the same approved course?
Yes, if the human trafficking prevention training course is approved by HHSC and it qualifies under your profession’s CE requirements. The TDLR advisory boards for each health care profession are currently studying whether the HHSC-approved course(s) would qualify for CE credit for each profession.
To date, the following health care professions and license types may obtain CE credit for completing a HHSC-approved human trafficking prevention training:
-
Podiatry
- Doctor of Podiatric Medicine – up to two hours of ethics continuing medical education (CME)
Updates will be provided as available.
6. I attended a two-day human trafficking conference. Does it satisfy the human trafficking prevention training requirement?
It satisfies the human trafficking prevention training requirement only if it has been approved by HHSC. Please check the HHSC website to see if your course or conference has been approved.
7. I am interested in providing a course on Human Trafficking Prevention to healthcare practitioners to meet the requirements of HB 2059. How do I get my course approved?
HHSC will review courses for approval. Please see the HHSC website for information on the course review and approval process (PDF).
Resources and Reporting
1. Where can I find resources on human trafficking prevention?
You can find human trafficking resources at the following websites:
2. If I suspect that one of my clients is a victim of human trafficking, what should I do?
You can report suspected human trafficking by calling local law enforcement or the National Human Trafficking Hotline at 1-888-3737-888 or text “Help” or “Info” to 233733. The hotline is staffed 24/7 with people trained in recognizing and identifying trafficking. They can help you make sense of the information that you have and recommend next steps.
