(a) Sponsored learning activities are measured by actual program length, with one 50-minute period equal to one CPE credit. Sponsors may recommend CPE credits under the following scenarios:
  (1) Live and blended learning programs--A minimum of one full credit must be awarded initially, but after the first credit has been earned, credits may be awarded in one-fifth increments or in one-half increments (1.0, x.2, x.4, x.5, x.6, x.8, and so on).
  (2) Self-study--A minimum of one-half credit must be awarded initially, but after the first full credit has been earned, credits may be awarded in one-fifth increments or in one-half increments (0.5, 1.0, x.2, x.4, x.5, x.6, x.8, and so on).
  (3) Nano learning--Credits must be awarded only as one-fifth credit (0.2 credit). A 20-minute program would have to be produced as two stand-alone nano learning programs.
(b) Self-study programs shall be pre-tested to determine average completion time. A minimum of three pre-testers must be used to determine the CPE credits for the course.
(c) The total CPE credits for a continuous program cannot exceed the actual time spent in the program. Continuous conferences and conventions, when individual segments are less than 50 minutes, should be combined and counted as one total program. For example, five 30-minute presentations would equal 150 minutes and should be counted as three CPE credits.
(d) Sponsors may round down CPE credits awarded to the nearest one-fifth, one-half, or whole credit at their discretion and as appropriate for the instructional delivery method.
(e) Only learning content portions of programs (including pre-program, post-program, and homework assignments, when incorporated into a blended learning program) qualify toward eligible credit amounts. Time for activities outside of actual learning content, including, for example, excessive welcome and introductions, housekeeping instructions, and breaks are not accepted toward credit.
(f) For programs with individual segments that are less than 50 minutes, the sum of the segments would be considered one total program. For example, five 30-minute presentations would equal 150 minutes and would be counted as three CPE credits. When the total minutes of a sponsored program are greater than 50, but not equally divisible by 50, the CPE credits granted must be rounded down to the nearest credit basis depending on the instructional delivery method of the program. For example, a group live program must be rounded down to the nearest one-fifth, one-half, or whole credit. Thus, programs with segments totaling 140 minutes would be granted two and four-fifths CPE credits if using one-fifth increments and two and one-half credits if using one-half increments.
(g) The CPE sponsor is responsible for monitoring attendance. While it is the participant's responsibility to report the appropriate number of credits earned, CPE program sponsors must maintain a process to monitor individual attendance at group programs to assign the correct number of CPE credits. A participant's self-certification of attendance alone is not sufficient.
(h) Monitoring mechanism for group Internet based programs. In addition to meeting all other applicable group program standards and requirements, group Internet based programs must employ some type of real time monitoring mechanism to verify that participants are participating during the course. The monitoring mechanism must be of sufficient frequency and lack predictability to ensure that participants have been engaged throughout the program. The monitoring mechanism must employ at least three instances of interactivity completed by the participant per CPE credit.

Source Note: The provisions of this §523.142 adopted to be effective April 7, 2004, 29 TexReg 3482; amended to be effective April 11, 2007, 32 TexReg 2011; amended to be effective February 17, 2008, 33 TexReg 1116; amended to be effective February 6, 2013, 38 TexReg 506; amended to be effective March 29, 2017, 42 TexReg 1447