Standard Certificate Renewal and Continuing Professional Education (CPE) Information

Since September 1, 1999, the State Board for Educator Certification (SBEC) has issued the standard certificate, which is subject to renewal every five years.

This page provides comprehensive guidance for Texas educators on renewing a standard certificate and fulfilling Continuing Professional Education (CPE) requirements, as outlined in 19 Texas Administrative Code Chapter 232. General Certification Provisions, Subchapter A. Certificate Renewal and Continuing Professional Education Requirements. Whether you are actively teaching or temporarily away from the classroom, you will find the information you need to stay compliant and maintain your certification.

Certification Renewal Overview

Texas standard certificates are valid for five years and must be renewed through the Educator Certification Online System (ECOS). Renewal is based on the completion of required CPE hours.

Renewal Requirements:

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• CPE must directly relate to the certificate(s) being renewed with a focus on the standards required for issuance and completed during each five-year renewal period. You do not need to be employed by a school district to complete CPE requirements or renew your Texas educator certificate.
• All educators must complete CPE related to educating students with disabilities, including training that addresses educating students with dyslexia. This requirement applies to all educators renewing a standard certificate and may be satisfied through qualifying CPE activities offered by a variety of approved or pre-approved providers, including TEA Learn, Education Service Centers (ESCs), accredited colleges and universities, school districts, professional associations, and TEA-approved CPE providers. The TEA Learn dyslexia course is available through TEA Learn Dyslexia. If you need technical assistance with TEA Learn, please submit a request through the TEA Learn Help Desk. Questions regarding dyslexia course content may be directed to specialeducation@tea.texas.gov.
• Individuals who hold a superintendent certificate must complete at least 2.5 hours of CPE every five years on identifying, preventing, and reporting child abuse, human trafficking, and other maltreatment of children, as required by Texas Education Code, 21.054(h).  This training may be counted toward the superintendent's overall CPE requirement and should be retained as part of the educator's renewal documentation. For additional information and training resources, please visit:
  • TEA Child Abuse Prevention Overview
  • TEA Human Trafficking of School-Aged Children
• If a standard certificate is not renewed by its expiration date, it will become inactive. However, an inactive certificate may still be renewed by completing the applicable CPE requirements, submitting a renewal application, and paying the required renewal fees. Educators are not required to retake certification examinations solely because a certificate has expired.  A late renewal fee, in addition to the standard renewal fee, will apply if the certificate is renewed after the expiration date.
• Completion of each CPE activity must be documented and retained by the educator and should be evidenced by records such as transcripts, certificates of completion, attendance logs, or other documentation verifying participation and completion. These records are not submitted to TEA during the certificate renewal process. Instead, educators attest that they have completed the required CPE hours when renewing their certificates and must retain supporting documentation for five years, providing it to TEA only if requested as part of a certificate renewal audit.

Eligible Hardship Exemptions

Under 19 TAC §232.7, the State Board for Educator Certification (SBEC) may grant a hardship exemption in limited circumstances when an educator is unable to complete certificate renewal requirements by the certificate expiration date.

Eligible hardship exemptions include:

• Catastrophic Illness 
  • A catastrophic illness affecting the educator or an immediate family member that prevents the educator from completing renewal requirements.
  • Requests must be submitted through the TEA Help Desk by selecting Continuing Professional Education (CPE) Exemption Request 
  • Supporting documentation from a licensed physician must be included with the request.
• Military Service 
  • Active-duty military service that interferes with the educator's ability to complete renewal requirements.  
  • Requests must be submitted through TEA Help Desk by selecting Continuing Professional Education (CPE) Exemption Request.
  • Supporting documentation verifying active-duty military service, such as military orders or official military records, must be included with the request.
• Other Extenuating Circumstances
  • Available only to educators who are currently employed by a Texas school district and whose certificate has become inactive due to failure to complete required CPE hours.
  • Requests must be submitted by the employing school district and are subject to TEA review and approval.
  • The district must complete and sign the Hardship Exemption Form, including the educator's information and signature, and submit the completed form through the TEA Help Desk by selecting Continuing Professional Education (CPE) Exemption Request.
  • If approved, the educator must pay the applicable renewal fee before the certificate can be renewed.

Important Information About Hardship Exemptions

A hardship exemption is intended to provide additional time for an educator to complete renewal requirements when qualifying circumstances prevent timely completion.

• A hardship exemption is valid for the academic year in which it is granted.
• Hardship exemptions do not waive or eliminate the CPE requirements for certificate renewal.
• Educators granted a hardship exemption must still complete all required CPE hours and submit a renewal application before the extension period expires.
• If renewal requirements are not completed by the end of the exemption period, the educator's certificate may become inactive.

Educators Not Currently Employed by a Texas School District

Educators who are not currently employed by a Texas school district do not need a hardship exemption because there is no deadline for renewing an inactive certificate. An expired standard certificate may be renewed at a later date by:

• Completing the applicable CPE requirements;
• Submitting a renewal application through ECOS; and
• Paying the applicable renewal and late renewal fees.

Educators are not required to retake certification examinations solely because a standard certificate has expired. However, applicable late renewal fees will apply.

Note: A hardship exemption extends the time available to meet renewal requirements; it does not replace those requirements. Educators remain responsible for completing all required CPE before a certificate can be renewed.

Acceptable CPE Activities

CPE must be provided by approved providers and may include the following:

Formal Learning

• Workshops, conferences, and in-service training
• Online courses and webinars
• College coursework (1 semester credit = 15 CPE hours)

Independent Study (up to 20% of total hours)

• Self-study of professional materials (books, journals, videos)
• Online modules or recorded sessions

Professional Duties

• Curriculum development
• Mentoring other educators

Specialized Training Topics

Some roles require training in specific areas, including:

• Mental health first aid, trauma-informed care, grief-informed practices (up to 16 hours)
• Suicide prevention and AED training
• Digital literacy and instructional technology
• Dyslexia instruction and special education strategies
• Human trafficking and child abuse prevention (required for superintendents)

Acceptable CPE Activities for Texas Educators Living Outside the State:

1. Online Courses and Webinars
   Many TEA-approved providers offer virtual learning options that meet CPE requirements.
2. College Coursework
   Courses taken at accredited institutions of higher education, even outside Texas, are eligible.
   • 1 semester credit hour = 15 CPE hours
3. Independent Study (up to 20% of total hours)
   Includes:
   • Reading professional books, journals, or articles
   • Developing curriculum
   • Authoring published educational content
4. Professional Presentations or Mentoring
   • Teaching or presenting CPE activities (up to 10% of total hours)
   • Mentoring other educators (up to 30% of total hours)
5. Staff Development from Out-of-State Schools
   In-service or staff development completed through accredited public or private schools in other states, U.S. territories, or other countries may be accepted.

Note: These CPE activities are also valid for in-state Texas educators.

For additional details on the content of required CPE hours based on certificate type, you may either visit 19 TAC Chapter 232, §232.11, or select the certificate type below.

Teacher Certificate CPE Requirements

Principal Certificate CPE Requirements

Superintendent Certificate CPE Requirements

School Counselor Certificate CPE Requirements

School Librarian/Educational Diagnostician/Reading Specialist Certificate CPE Requirements

Renewal Application Instructions

Six months before your certificate’s expiration date, you will receive an email reminder sent to the address listed in your educator account. However, please note that you are responsible for meeting renewal requirements, even if you do not receive the notification.
(Reference: 19 TAC §232.1(c))

To renew your standard certificate, you must apply and pay online through the Educator Certification Online System (ECOS). Follow these steps:

1. Log in to your TEAL account: TEAL Login
2. Click “View My Educator Certification Account” to access ECOS.
3. In ECOS, verify that your profile information is accurate, then click “Continue” at the bottom of the page.
4. From the left-hand menu, select “Applications”, then choose “Renew a Standard Certificate.” Note: When renewing certificates in ECOS, you must renew all standard certificates at the same time. The system does not allow you to select only certain certificates for renewal.
5. Follow the prompts to complete your renewal application and submit payment.

Important Note: When you have more than one classroom teaching certificate you will see one box to check in the online certificate renewal application next to the first certificate listed out of several that you hold. As long as you check that box, all your standard certificates will be renewed at the same time for the one fee and the one set of required continuing professional education hours.

If you are experiencing difficulty accessing your TEAL account, you can contact TEAL Access for assistance. Please submit a Help Desk ticket and a representative will help you regain access and guide you through any necessary steps.

Approved CPE Providers

Below are links to approved CPE providers where you can find eligible training opportunities for certificate renewal.

Only CPE activities from approved providers will be recognized for certificate renewal.

The following organizations are considered pre-approved Continuing Professional Education (CPE) providers and may offer CPE activities without needing additional approval:

1. State Board for Educator Certification (SBEC)
2. Texas Education Agency (TEA)
3. Accredited institutions of higher education recognized by the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board
4. Regional Education Service Centers (ESCs)
5. Texas public school districts and open-enrollment charter schools (in-service/staff development must comply with TEC §21.451)
6. Accredited private schools recognized by the Texas Private School Accreditation Commission and International Association for Learner Driven Schools
7. Professional membership associations or non-profits that:
   • Have offered professional development in Texas for at least five years
   • Hold tax-exempt status under 26 U.S.C. §501(c)(3) or §501(c)(6), or are a state association affiliated with a national association that holds tax-exempt status

Providers must maintain records of:

• Activity content and clock hours
• Attendance logs or certificates of completion
• Dates and locations of training

Educators must retain documentation for five years and submit it only if requested during a certificate renewal audit.

Continuing Professional Education (CPE) Providers:

To better support educators in finding professional development opportunities aligned with their instructional focus, we have updated the way approved CPE providers are listed. Providers are now categorized by primary subject areas, making it easier for educators to identify offerings that match their areas of certification and align with their professional learning goals.  The list of approved CPE providers will continue to be updated regularly as new continuing professional education offerings are reviewed and approved.