1. (a) Terms used in this section have the meanings assigned by Chapter 59 of this title, unless the context indicates otherwise.
2. (b) To renew a license listed in Texas Occupations Code, §1305.168(a), a licensee must complete four hours of continuing education in courses approved by the department.
3. (c) The continuing education hours must have been completed within the term of the current license, in the case of a timely renewal. For a late renewal, the continuing education hours must have been completed within one year prior to the date of renewal.
4. (d) A licensee may not receive continuing education credit for attending the same course more than once for one renewal.

5. (e) For each annual renewal, a licensee must complete a course, or combination of courses, dedicated to instruction in:

   1. (1) the National Electrical Code, as adopted under Title 8, Occupations Code §1305.101, or the current version of the National Electrical Code, as approved by the National Fire Protection Association; and
   2. (2) state law and rules that regulate the conduct of licensees.
6. (f) A licensee shall retain a copy of the certificate of completion for a course for one year after the date of completion. In conducting any inspection or investigation of the licensee, the department may examine the licensee's records to determine compliance with this subsection.

7. (g) To be approved under Chapter 59 of this title, a provider's course must be dedicated to instruction in:

   1. (1) the National Electrical Code, as adopted under Title 8, Occupations Code §1305.101, or the current version of the National Electrical Code, as approved by the National Fire Protection Association; and/or
   2. (2) state law and rules that regulate the conduct of licensees.
8. (h) If a provider files a course approval application prior to January 1, 2005 and the department subsequently approves the course, a provider may submit to the department a completion report for hours of instruction completed from March 1, 2004 to the course approval date. The completion report must be submitted on the appropriate department-approved form. Continuing education credit will be awarded to a participant under this subsection if the provider submits sufficient documentation to satisfy the department that the hours of instruction offered prior to the course approval date were substantially similar to the course subsequently approved by the department.
9. (i) Section 59.51(d) of this title does not apply to hours of instruction or courses completed prior to the course approval date under subsection (h) of this section.

Source Note:The provisions of this §73.25 adopted to be effective November 24, 2004, 29 TexReg 10768.