(a) For the purposes of this section, an "accredited college or university" is defined as a college or university accredited by a regional accrediting association, such as the Commission on Colleges of the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools, or by a recognized national or international accrediting body.     
      (b) Exemption. Pursuant to §1101.301, Texas Occupations Code, the Commission does not approve qualifying educational programs or courses of study in real estate and real estate inspection offered by an accredited college or university; however, the Commission has the authority to determine whether a real estate or real estate inspection course satisfies the requirements of the Act and Chapter 1102.     
      (c) Credit for real estate courses offered by an accredited college or university. To be eligible to receive credit by the Commission, qualifying courses offered by an accredited college or university must meet the following requirements:      
        (1) cover the subject and topics listed in §1101.003, Texas Occupations Code, or §535.64 of this subchapter (relating to Content Requirements for Qualifying Real Estate Courses); and       
        (2) comply with the curriculum accreditation standards required of the college or university by the applicable accreditation association for verification of clock/course hours, design and delivery method.       
      (d) Credit for real estate inspector courses offered by an accredited college or university. To be eligible to receive credit by the Commission, qualifying courses offered by an accredited college or university meet the following requirements:      
        (1) meet the subject and topic definitions set out in §1102.001(5), Texas Occupations Code, as clarified by the Commission in §535.213 of this chapter (relating to Qualifying Real Estate Inspector Instructors and Courses); and       
        (2) comply with the curriculum accreditation standards required of the college or university by the applicable accreditation association for verification of clock/course hours, design and delivery method.       
        (3) any courses offered to fulfill the substitute experience requirements allowed under §1102.111 must meet the requirements set out in §535.214 of this chapter (relating to Education and Experience Requirements for a License).       
      (e) Credit for easement or right-of-way courses offered by an accredited college or university. To be eligible to receive credit by the Commission, qualifying courses offered by an accredited college or university must meet the following requirements:      
        (1) cover the subject and topics set out in §1101.509, Occupations Code, in substantially the same manner as clarified by the Commission in §535.68 of this subchapter (relating to Content Requirements for Easement or Right-of-Way Qualifying Course); and       
        (2) comply with the curriculum accreditation standards required of the college or university by the applicable accreditation association for verification of clock/course hours, design, and delivery method.       
      (f) Preapproval of a course offered under subsections (c), (d), or (e).      
        (1) An accredited college and university may submit qualifying courses to the Commission for preapproval by filing a form approved by the Commission.       
        (2) Any course offered by an accredited college or university without preapproval by the Commission will be evaluated by the Commission, using the standards set out in this section, to determine whether it qualifies for credit at such time as a student submits a transcript with the course to the Commission for credit.       
        (3) An accredited college or university may not represent that a course qualifies for credit by the Commission unless the accredited college or university receives written confirmation from the Commission that the course has been preapproved for credit.       
      (g) Required approval of qualifying courses not offered under subsections (c), (d), or (e) of this section or that are not subject to academic accreditation standards.      
        (1) To be eligible for credit from the Commission, a qualifying course offered by an accredited college and university that is not offered under subsections (c), (d), or (e) of this section or that is not subject to academic accreditation standards is required to be submitted for approval by the Commission in accordance with §535.62 of this subchapter (relating to Approval of Qualifying Courses), including payment of any fee required.       
        (2) An accredited college or university may not represent that a course qualifies for credit by the Commission unless the accredited college or university receives written confirmation from the Commission that the course has been approved.       
      (h) Complaints and audits.      
        (1) If the Commission receives a complaint, or is presented with other evidence acceptable to the Commission, alleging that an accredited college or university is not in compliance with their accreditation association's curriculum accreditation standards for a real estate, easement or right-of-way, or real estate inspection course offered under subsections (c), (d), or (e) of this section, or is not complying with the requirements of this subchapter for a real estate, easement or right-of-way, or real estate inspection course not offered under subsections (c), (d), or (e) of this section, the Commission may investigate the allegation and/or anonymously audit the course in question.       
        (2) If after an investigation and/or audit, the Commission determines that an accredited college or university is not in compliance with their accreditation association's curriculum accreditation standards for a real estate, easement or right-of-way, or real estate inspection course offered under subsections (c), (d), or (e), or is not complying with the requirements of this subchapter for a real estate, easement or right-of-way, or real estate inspection course not offered under subsections (c), (d), or (e) of this section, the Commission will no longer issue credit to applicants for that course.       
      (i) Required approval of CE program and courses. An accredited college or university is not exempt from approval for real estate and real estate inspection CE programs and courses and must comply with all requirements for approval for providers, courses and instructors required by Subchapter G of this chapter.     
     Source Note:        The provisions of this §535.66 adopted to be effective January 1, 2015, 39 TexReg 9669; amended to be effective January 1, 2016, 40 TexReg 8226; amended to be effective September 1, 2022, 47 TexReg 3053; amended to be effective June 11, 2023, 48 TexReg 2948