(a) Except as otherwise provided by this subchapter, all continuing education credits must be earned through department approved continuing education schools.
(b) All department approved continuing education schools shall comply with paragraphs (1) - (7) of this subsection:
  (1) Each school must identify to the department a school director as its agent responsible for ensuring the school's compliance with this subchapter, including the maintenance of attendance records, the provision of such records to department personnel upon request, and the verification of curricula and instructors' qualifications. The failure of this individual to perform these duties or to otherwise comply with this subchapter may result in the cancellation of the school's certificate of approval and the rejection of claims for continuing education credit obtained from that school.
  (2) School attendance records shall include:
    (A) Subjects taught in each course of instruction;
    (B) Total hours of each course of instruction and the hours instructed on each subject;
    (C) Date of instruction;
    (D) Name, license number, and date(s) of attendance for each individual that attended a course of instruction; and
    (E) Name and qualifications of instructor.
  (3) Schools shall issue certificates of attendance to licensees attending a course of instruction. The certificates of attendance shall contain the name and license number of the attendee, the date of attendance, the number of hours of attendance, and the course(s) of instruction attended. Each certificate shall be signed and dated by the school director.
  (4) Schools shall maintain all records required by this section for a period of two (2) years.
  (5) The school shall provide copies of all records required under this subchapter to the department upon request.
  (6) The school director shall verify that the curriculum of each continuing education course offered is in compliance with this chapter.
  (7) The school director shall verify the qualifications of each instructor.
(c) Attendees of courses of continuing education shall maintain certificates of completion furnished by the school director in their files for a period of two (2) years. Attendees shall furnish the department with copies of all certificates of completion upon request.
(d) Licensed companies with ten (10) or more licensed employees may make a written request for a letter of exemption allowing them to provide continuing education to those employees registered under the requesting company's license. Such requests shall be addressed to the department. A letter of exemption granted under this section shall be valid for two (2) years. To qualify for a letter of exemption, the company must appoint a training director, assure that all training is in compliance with all related administrative rules, maintain proof of all training, and provide each licensed employee with a certificate of training as required by this section. There is no annual fee associated with a letter of exemption issued under this subsection. The exemption provided in this subsection does not apply to commissioned security officers or personal protection officers.
(e) The department may recognize as valid those continuing education credits that relate to the regulated services for which the individual is licensed and are earned through courses offered by:
  (1) a local, state, or federal agency;
  (2) an institution of higher education;
  (3) a local, state, or national non-profit professional or trade association; or
  (4) a continuing education school or program recognized by, or licensed with, another state's private security licensing agency.
(f) The course completion certificate or other proof of completion must include the title and date of the course, the name of the entity providing the course, a description of the course sufficient to establish a relationship to the license held, and the number and category of credit hours being claimed. Credits claimed under this subsection may not be used to satisfy the continuing education requirements for commissioned security officers or personal protection officers.

Source Note: The provisions of this §35.162 adopted to be effective May 6, 2014, 39 TexReg 3610; amended to be effective December 29, 2019, 44 TexReg 8035; amended to be effective January 10, 2022, 47 TexReg 33