Continuing Professional Education (CPE)

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Who is required to earn CPE credit hours?

All educators with a standard teacher or professional certificate such as superintendent,

principal, counselor, school librarians, educational diagnosticians, and reading specialists are

required to earn CPE credit hours.

Are paraprofessionals required to earn CPE credit hours?

No.

Is a candidate in an educator preparation program eligible for CPE credit?

If I have a lifetime professional or provisional certificate issued before September 1,

1999, do I need to accrue CPE clock hours?

If you hold a professional certificate issued prior to September 1, 1999, and decide to opt into

the Standard Certificate, you must complete 200 clock hours of continuing professional

education every five years. If you hold a Provisional Certificate issued prior to September 1,

1999, and you opt into the Standard Certificate, you must complete 150 clock hours of

continuing professional education every five years. If you decided not to opt into either one,

accruing continuing professional development clock hours is voluntary.

What is the period that I must accrue CPE hours?

All certificates issued after September 1, 1999, must be renewed every five years. The CPE

If you have multiple certificates, you should complete a minimum of five CPE clock hours each

year in the content area knowledge and skills for each certificate being renewed.

What is the active period of my certificate?

The certificate is activated for a period of five years. The expiration date can be found on your

virtual certificate and in your Educator Certification Online System (ECOS) profile.

Why does my certificate expire in less than 5 years?

All standard certificates expire on the same date and align to your birth month. When you apply,

all certification areas will be renewed for one fee. This allows you to count all CPE hours toward

renewal of all your certificates.

What happens if I do not renew the Standard Certificate?

video conferencing, online activities, and in-service or staff development activities given by

an approved provider or sponsor. Staff development activities completed through accredited

public and private schools in other states, United States territories, and countries other than

the United States may be accepted;

• Completing undergraduate courses, graduate courses, or training programs that are taken

through an accredited institution of higher education that at the time was accredited or

otherwise approved by an accrediting organization recognized by the Texas Higher

Education Coordinating Board. One semester credit hour equals 15 CPE hours.

• Participating in an independent study in content area knowledge and skills related to the

certificate(s) being renewed, not to exceed 20% of the required CPE hours, which may

• Developing, teaching, or presenting a CPE activity to other educators, not to exceed 10% of

the required CPE hours.

• Providing professional guidance as a mentor to another educator, not to exceed 30% of the

required CPE hours.

If I am taking college/university courses, how do the semester credit hours translate into

CPE clock hours?

One semester credit hour earned at an accredited institution of higher education is equivalent to

15 CPE clock hours. For example, a three-semester credit hour course would be equivalent to

45 CPE clock hours.

The required CPE for educators who teach students with dyslexia must include training

satisfied through an online course.

Are there other examples of professional development activities that may count for

certificate renewal for all educators holding a standard teacher certificate or professional

standard certificate?

• district and campus priorities and objectives;

• child development, including research on how children learn;

• classroom management;

• applicable federal and state laws;

• increasing and maintaining parental involvement;

• ensuring that students read on or above grade level;

• diagnosing and removing obstacles to student achievement; and

• Professional ethics and standards of conduct.

All educators must receive CPE training regarding educating students with disabilities. This

training must include information particular to educating students with dyslexia.

The required CPE for educators who teach students with dyslexia must include training

regarding new research and practices in educator students with dyslexia. The training may be

satisfied through an online course.

A classroom teacher who renews a certificate PRIOR to September 1, 2023, must attain

some hours of CPE that includes training directly related to each of the following topics and may

include two or more listed topics combined:

o students at risk of dropping out of school; and

• understanding appropriate relationships, boundaries, and communications between

educators and students.

A classroom teacher who renews a certificate ON OR AFTER September 1, 2023, not more

than 37.5 hours of CPE training shall include instruction in, and must be directly related to, each

of the following topics and may include two or more listed topics combined:

• collecting and analyzing information that will improve effectiveness in the classroom;

• recognizing early warning indicators that a student may be at risk of dropping out of

school;

• digital learning, digital teaching, and integrating technology into classroom instruction;

Professional development activities that count for certificate renewal include:

• an evidence-based mental health first aid training program or an evidence-based grief-

informed and trauma-informed care program that is offered through a classroom

instruction format that requires in person attendance. A person receiving this training will

receive twice the number of hours of instruction provided under that program, not to

exceed 16 hours;

• suicide prevention training;

• an instructional course on the use of an automated external defibrillator (AED) that

meets guidelines for AED training approved under Texas Health and Safety Code; and

• education courses that:

hours in the classes held during each five-year renewal period unless otherwise specified in applicable

State Board for Educator Certification rules.

CPE requirements for a School Librarian and Learning Resources Specialist, Educational

Diagnostician, Reading Specialist, shall be related to the certificate(s) being renewed and focus

on the standards required for issuance of the certificate(s), including:

• content area knowledge and skills; and

• professional ethics and standards of conduct

All educators must receive CPE training regarding educating students with disabilities. This

training must include information particular to educating students with dyslexia.

The required CPE for educators who teach students with dyslexia must include training

• an evidence-based mental health first aid training program or an evidence-based grief-

informed and trauma-informed care program that is offered through a classroom

o assist the educator in the use of digital technology in learning activities that

• informing students concerning

o college admissions, including college financial aid resources and application

o supervising student discipline and managing behavior;

• recognizing early warning indicators that a student may be at risk of dropping out of

required under TEC, §21.006.

• effective and efficient management, including:

o collecting and analyzing information;

o making decisions and managing time; and

o supervising student discipline and managing behavior;

• recognizing early warning indicators that a student may be at risk of dropping out of

school;

• digital learning, digital teaching, and integrating technology into campus curriculum and

instruction;

• effective implementation of the Texas Model for Comprehensive School Counseling

Programs under TEC, §33.005;

student that is prohibited under Texas Penal Code, §21.12, or for which reporting is

required under TEC, §21.006.

Are there other CPE hour activities that may apply to a principal certificate?

Professional development activities that include:

• an evidence-based mental health first aid training program or an evidence-based grief-

informed and trauma-informed care program that is offered through a classroom

instruction format that requires in person attendance. A person receiving this training will

receive twice the number of hours of instruction provided under that program, not to

exceed 16 hours;

Continuing education requirements for superintendents shall be related to the certificate(s)

being renewed and focus on the standards required for issuance of the certificate(s), including:

• Content area knowledge and skills; and

• Professional ethics and standards of conduct

All educators must receive CPE training regarding educating students with disabilities. This

training must include information particular to educating students with dyslexia.

An individual who holds a superintendent certificate that is renewed on or after January 1, 2021,

must complete at least 2.5 hours of training every five years on identifying and reporting

Professional development activities that include:

• an evidence-based mental health first aid training program or an evidence-based grief-

informed and trauma-informed care program that is offered through a classroom

instruction format that requires in person attendance. A person receiving this training will

receive twice the number of hours of instruction provided under that program, not to

exceed 16 hours;

• suicide prevention training;

• an instructional course on the use of an automated external defibrillator (AED) that

meets guidelines for AED training approved under Texas Health and Safety Code; and

• education courses that:

clock hours?

You may renew professional certificates issued for less than the full five-year period by

one-fifth of the additional CPE hours for each full calendar year that the additional class of

certificate is valid. So, if you have just been issued a principal certificate that will renew in two

years, you need to add 80 CPE clock hours.

What type of documentation should I keep?

• institutes, workshops, seminars, conferences, in-service or staff development activities

given by an approved provider or sponsor: certificates of completion, school district staff

development records

• undergraduate courses, graduate courses, training programs: transcripts, certificates of

completion

• interactive distance learning, video conferencing, or on-line activities or conferences:

evaluations from participants

• providing professional guidance as a mentor to another educator: Time logs including

date, amount of time spent, activity, verified by School District or Campus

Administration; Certificate from educator preparation program

What if I do not know if the provider is approved as a CPE provider?

It is the responsibility of the educator to verify the approval status of any CPE provider prior to

completion of the CPE activities. Visit the CPE website to verify the status of a provider.

Where do I send my proof of my CPE hours?

You are required to maintain your documentation in case TEA audits you. If you are selected for

audit, you will be asked to provide your documentation.

I have completed the required CPE, but I do not have any documentation. Can I still

What is a certificate audit?

A certificate audit occurs when TEA randomly selects educators to review their documentation

of CPE hours. Any educator who holds a standard can be selected for a certificate audit.

Selected educators will be contacted by TEA and provided instructions on how to submit their

documentation. Once the audit review is completed the educator will be notified via email of the

findings of the audit.