Sec. 1152.204.  RECOGNITION OF EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMS AND COURSES.  (a)  The commission by rule shall recognize appropriate continuing education programs for registrants.
(b)  The commission shall recognize a continuing education course, including a course on the legal issues and law related to property tax consulting services, that is:
(1)  approved by the Texas Real Estate Commission or the Texas Appraiser Licensing and Certification Board;  and
(2)  completed by a registrant who also holds:
(A)  an active real estate broker license or an active real estate salesperson license under Chapter 1101;  or
(B)  an active real estate appraiser license or certificate under Chapter 1103.
(c)  The commission may recognize an educational program or course:
(1)  related to property tax consulting services;  and
(2)  offered or sponsored by a public provider or a recognized private provider, including:
(A)  the comptroller;
(B)  the State Bar of Texas;
(C)  the Texas Real Estate Commission;
(D)  an institution of higher education that meets program and accreditation standards comparable to those for public institutions of higher education as determined by the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board;  or
(E)  a nonprofit and voluntary trade association, institute, or organization:
(i)  whose membership consists primarily of persons who represent property owners in property tax or transactional tax matters;
(ii)  that has written experience and examination requirements for membership or for granting professional designation to its members;  and
(iii)  that subscribes to a code of professional conduct or ethics.
(d)  The commission may recognize a private provider of an educational program or course if the provider:
(1)  applies to the department on a printed form prescribed by the executive director;  and
(2)  pays in the amounts set by the commission:
(A)  a nonrefundable application fee;  and
(B)  an educational provider's fee.
(e)  The department shall refund the educational provider's fee if the commission does not recognize the provider's educational program or course.
Added by Acts 2001, 77th Leg., ch. 1421, Sec. 2, eff. June 1, 2003.  Amended by Acts 2003, 78th Leg., ch. 816, Sec. 12.012, eff. Sept. 1, 2003.