In order to be certified as a Basic Arson Investigator an individual must:
  (1) possess a current basic peace officer's license from the Texas Commission on Law Enforcement or documentation that the individual is a federal law enforcement officer;
  (2) hold a current license as a peace officer and notify the commission on the prescribed form regarding the law enforcement agency currently holding the individual's peace officer license; and
  (3) possess valid documentation of accreditation from the International Fire Service Accreditation Congress as a Fire Investigator; or
  (4) complete a commission approved basic fire investigation training program and successfully pass the commission examination as specified in Chapter 439 of this title (relating to Examinations for Certification). An approved fire investigation training program shall consist of one of the following:
    (A) completion of the commission approved Fire Investigator Curriculum, as specified in Chapter 5 of the commission's Certification Curriculum Manual;
    (B) successful completion of an out-of-state, NFA, or military training program which has been submitted to the commission for evaluation and found to meet the minimum requirements as listed in the commission approved Fire Investigator Curriculum as specified in Chapter 5 of the commission's Certification Curriculum Manual; or
    (C) successful completion of the following college courses: Fire and Arson Investigation I or II, 3 semester hours; Hazardous Materials I, II, or III, 3 semester hours; Building Construction in the Fire Service or Building Codes and Construction, 3 semester hours; Fire Protection Systems, 3 semester hours. Total semester hours, 12.

Source Note: The provisions of this §431.3 adopted to be effective October 11, 2000, 25 TexReg 10189; amended to be effective March 8, 2001, 26 TexReg 2044; amended to be effective July 29, 2002, 27 TexReg 6724; amended to be effective December 24, 2002, 27 TexReg 12007; amended to be effective September 2, 2003, 28 TexReg 7402; amended to be effective May 26, 2005, 30 TexReg 3035; amended to be effective February 17, 2008, 33 TexReg 1132; amended to be effective August 17, 2008, 33 TexReg 6603; amended to be effective August 1, 2010, 35 TexReg 6697; amended to be effective March10,2011, 36 TexReg 1688; amended to be effective February 21, 2012, 37 TexReg 912; amended to be effective March 2, 2014, 39 TexReg 1169; amended to be effective August 23, 2017, 42 TexReg 4141