The Texas Association of School Administrators is an approved provider (ID# 500101) of Continuing Professional Education (CPE).
CPE is required for all Texas educators holding a standard certificate (issued since September 1, 1999), which must be renewed every five years by earning a minimum number of CPE hours through an approved CPE provider:
- Classroom teachers must complete 150 CPE hours. No more than 150 CPE hours are required, even if you hold multiple classroom certificate areas.
- If you hold an administrative and/or student services certificate, you must complete 200 CPE hours. No more than 200 CPE hours are required, even if you hold multiple certificates, such as: classroom, administrative, and student services certificates. (This applies to superintendents, principals, school counselors, school librarians, educational diagnosticians, reading specialists and all master teachers, supervisor, special education supervisor, vocational supervisor, visiting teacher, and special education visiting teachers.)
- 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.
The standard certificate must be renewed every five years to remain valid. Your certificate will be set to inactive status if you do not renew by the expiration date (found on your certificate and in your TEA educator profile). CPE hours are required, even if your certificate has already been set to inactive status. Certificates cannot be renewed by completing examinations.
Professional Learning Activities Accepted for CPE Hours
- institutes, workshops, seminars, conferences, in-service or staff development activities given by an approved provider or sponsor.
- completing the following from an accredited institution of higher education
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- undergraduate courses in the content area knowledge and skills related to the certificate being renewed
- graduate courses
- training programs
- interactive distance learning, video conferencing, or online activities or conferences
- independent study not to exceed 20% of the required clock hours [30 hours for classroom teachers and 40 hours for professional class certificates] (which may include self-study of relevant professional materials (books, journals, periodicals, video and audio tapes, computer software, and participation in online programs), or authoring a published work
- developing curriculum or CPE training materials
- teaching or presenting a CPE activity not to exceed 10% of the required clock hours [15 clock hours for classroom teachers and 20 clock hours for professional certificates]
- providing professional guidance as a mentor to another educator [such as cooperating teacher, mentor to a candidate who is preparing for standard or professional certification], not to exceed 30% of the required clock hours [30 clock hours for a classroom teacher and 40 clock hours for the professional certificate)
For all standard certificates, 80% of CPE activities should be directly related to the certificates being renewed and focus on the standards required for the certificates.
It is your responsibility to determine what training meets the requirements. School district employees can contact their district for assistance. TEA staff will not make determinations about courses for CPE credit.
TEA Verification of Certificate Renewal Requirements
You will affirm through an online affidavit that all requirements have been met. TEA obtains information about criminal history and student loan and child support obligations from other state agencies. You could be subject to criminal charges and sanctioning of your certificate if you affirm false information.
You are responsible for keeping a written record of your CPE hours. If selected for audit, you will be required to provide documentation. Acceptable documentation may be certificates of completion or a professional development transcript.
*This page was last updated June 2019. All information is from the Texas Education Agency’s Continuing Professional Education Information and Standard Certification webpages. Visit those sites for more detailed information. Learn how to become a principal or superintendent in Texas.
