Acceptable CPE activities for certificate renewal

If you have a standard renewable certificate or you have voluntarily opted in to the certificate renewal system, you must obtain CPE from an SBEC-approved provider to renew your certificate. Existing school district-provided in-service should count toward the CPE requirement, as may other activities such as college coursework, professional seminars, mentoring and self-directed study. TCTA is an SBEC-approved provider. Members can earn CPE hours through TCTA’s free online seminars.

One semester credit hour earned at an accredited institution of higher education is equivalent to 15 CPE clock hours.

Continuing education requirements for educators must include training regarding educating students with disabilities.

Additionally, other than hours needed to comply with required topics for CPE (see below), CPE activities must be related to the certificate(s) being renewed and focus on the standards required for issuance of the certificate(s), including:

1. content area knowledge and skills; and
2. professional ethics and standards of conduct.

A classroom teacher must attain no more than 25% of CPE hours that include training directly related to each of the following topics and may include two or more listed topics combined:

• (A) collecting and analyzing information that will improve effectiveness in the classroom;
• (B) recognizing early warning indicators that a student may be at risk of dropping out of school;
• (C) digital learning, digital teaching, and integrating technology into classroom instruction;
• (D) educating diverse student populations, including:
  • (i) students who are educationally disadvantaged; and
  • (ii) students at risk of dropping out of school; and
• (E) understanding appropriate relationships, boundaries, and communications between educators and students.

A school counselor must attain no more than 25% of CPE hours that include training directly related to each of the following topics:

• (A) assisting students in developing high school graduation plans;
• (B) implementing dropout prevention strategies;
• (C) informing students concerning:
  • (i) college admissions, including college financial aid resources and application procedures; and
  • (ii) career opportunities;
• (D) counseling students concerning mental health conditions and substance abuse, including through the use of grief-informed and trauma-informed interventions and crisis management and suicide prevention strategies; and
• (E) effective implementation of the Texas Model for Comprehensive School Counseling Programs under TEC §33.005.

An educator may fulfill up to 16 clock hours of required CPE activities by participating in 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 credit for twice the number of hours of instruction provided under that program, not to exceed 16 hours.

An educator may receive credit toward CPE requirements for:

• suicide prevention training that meets the guidelines for suicide prevention training approved under TEC §21.451;
• an instructional course on the use of an automated external defibrillator that meets the guidelines for AED training approved under Texas Health and Safety Code §779.002, in accordance with TEC §21.0541; and
  education courses that:
  • (A) use technology to increase the educator’s digital literacy; and
  • (B) assist the educator in the use of digital technology in learning activities that improve teaching, assessment, and instructional practices.

State law provides that continuing education requirements for educators teaching students with dyslexia must include training on new research and practices in the area. Completion of a literacy achievement academy meets this requirement.

For more information on CPE requirements and a list of SBEC-approved providers, click on the Texas Educators link at www.tea.texas.gov.

Some districts also require professional development as a condition of employment. While each district can decide what it will count for local employment purposes, it cannot decide what will count for CPE purposes.