(a) To renew a certification, a registered accessibility specialist must complete four hours of continuing education as provided in this section.     
      (b) To meet the requirements of this section, continuing education hours must include instruction in one or more of the following topics:      
        (1) Texas Government Code, Chapter 469, Elimination of Architectural Barriers;       
        (2) 16 Texas Administrative Code, Chapter 68 - Administrative Rules;       
        (3) 2012 Texas Accessibility Standards;       
        (4) technical memoranda published by the department;       
        (5) 2010 Standards for Accessible Design or other accessibility guidelines proposed or adopted by the Access Board or United States Department of Justice;       
        (6) Americans with Disabilities Act;       
        (7) International Code Council/American National Standards Institute (ANSI) A117.1 Standard on Accessible and Usable Buildings and Facilities; or       
        (8) life safety codes related to egress.       
      (c) A registered accessibility specialist must certify completion of continuing education hours at the time of renewal in a manner prescribed by the department.     
      (d) Continuing education hours must have been completed within the term of the current certification, in the case of a timely renewal. For a late renewal, the continuing education hours must have been completed within the one-year period immediately prior to the date of renewal.     
      (e) A registered accessibility specialist will not receive continuing education credit for attending the same course more than once during the one-year period in which the course is offered.     
      (f) A registered accessibility specialist must retain a copy of the certificate of completion for a course for three years after the date of completion. In conducting an inspection or investigation of a registered accessibility specialist, the department may examine the registered accessibility specialist's records to determine compliance with this section.     
      (g) This section applies to certifications that expire on or after September 1, 2023.     
     Source Note:        The provisions of this §68.74 adopted to be effective March 1, 2007, 32 TexReg 884; amended to be effective April 14, 2008, 33 TexReg 2931; amended to be effective March 15, 2012, 37 TexReg 677; amended to be effective May 15, 2017, 42 TexReg 2333; amended to be effective August 31, 2023, 48 TexReg 4642