(a) Application for approval.
  (1) A person desiring to be approved by the Commission to offer real estate, easement or right-of-way, or real estate inspection continuing education courses shall:
    (A) file an application on the appropriate form approved by the Commission, with all required documentation;
    (B) submit the required fee under §535.101 of this chapter (relating to Fees) or §535.210 of this chapter (relating to Fees); and
    (C) maintain a fixed office in the state of Texas or designate a resident of this state as attorney-in-fact to accept service of process and act as custodian of any records in Texas which the continuing education provider is required to maintain by this subchapter.
  (2) The Commission may:
    (A) request additional information be provided to the Commission relating to an application; and
    (B) terminate an application without further notice if the applicant fails to provide the additional information not later than the 60th day after the Commission sends the request.
  (3) A CE provider is permitted to offer continuing education courses in real estate, easement or right-of-way, and real estate inspector that have been approved by the Commission.
(b) Standards for approval. To be approved by the Commission to offer real estate, easement or right-of-way, or real estate inspector continuing education courses, the applicant must satisfy the Commission as to the applicant's ability to administer courses with competency, honesty, trustworthiness, and integrity. If the applicant proposes to employ another person to manage the operation of the applicant, that person must meet this standard as if that person were the applicant.
(c) Approval notice. An applicant shall not act as or represent itself to be an approved CE provider until the applicant has received written notice of the approval from the Commission.
(d) Period of initial approval. The initial approval of a CE provider is valid for two years.
(e) Denial.
  (1) If the Commission determines that an applicant does not meet the standards for approval, the Commission will provide written notice of denial to the applicant.
  (2) The denial notice, applicant's request for a hearing on the denial, and any hearing are governed by the Administrative Procedure Act, Chapter 2001, Texas Government Code, and Chapter 533 of this title (relating to Practice and Procedure).
(f) Renewal.
  (1) Not earlier than 90 days before the expiration of its current approval, an approved provider may apply for renewal for another two year period.
  (2) Approval or disapproval of a renewal application shall be subject to the standards for initial applications for approval set out in this section.
  (3) The Commission may deny an application for renewal if the provider is in violation of a Commission order.

Source Note: The provisions of this §535.71 adopted to be effective January 1, 2015, 39 TexReg 9669; amended to be effective January 1, 2016, 40 TexReg 8237; amended to be effective December 6, 2017, 42 TexReg 6801; amended to be effective December 11, 2019, 44 TexReg 7703; amended to be effective September 1, 2022, 47 TexReg 3053; amended to be effective June 11, 2023, 48 TexReg 2948