Update!  September 16, 2006

The Texas Private Security Bureau has made some changes to the continuing education requirements for PIs which are effective immediately. Very few investigators are aware of these changes and the other online CE providers have yet to get a course approved and in place so I thought I would put this out to all of our previous clients just in case.

In plain language, anyone with 15 concurrent years of continuous PI licensing in Texas now only has to complete 12hours of continuing education. This includes 8 hours of any approved investigative related subject, 2 hours of ethics and a NEW REQUIREMENT of 2 hours of review of the Texas Occupations Code Chapter 1702 and the Board's administrative rules (Texas Administrative Code Title 37 Chapter 35).

That's 12 hours total- 8+2+2.

Those with less than 15 years at the time of renewal must now complete 18 hours which includes 14 hours of any approved investigative related subject, 2 hours of ethics and the NEW REQUIREMENT of 2 hours of review of the Texas Occupations Code Chapter 1702 and the Board's administrative rules (Texas Administrative Code Title 37 Chapter 35).

That's 18 hours total- 14+2+2.

Either way, we've got you covered!

Our new “Industry Ethics and Laws for Texas Private Investigators” is up and posted to the PIEducation.com website. It is a new course and includes the required 2 hours of Ethics and the 2 hour TOC and TAC review for a total of 4 hours which, when coupled with any of our 14 hour courses, WILL SATISFY the current TX DPS PSB continuing education requirement.

Texas Investigators taking any other of our courses for CE will still get this course for free as we have always done in the past.

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The following is no longer applicable but is left for archiving purposes!

January 2006

I wanted to pass some information on to you regarding the continuing education requirements needed to renew our Texas private investigator licenses and to dispel some misinformation that is currently circulating among our colleagues.

 

Our continuing education (CE) requirement is still 16 hours every two years, 14 hours must cover an investigation related subject, as approved by the DPS Private Security Board (PSB), plus 2 hours of Ethics for Private Investigators. Course completion is due before we can renew our license and must be completed sometime within the 2 year licensing period; excess CE cannot be carried over.

 

The source of the confusion is a result of one state association’s website indicating that our CE requirements were now 20 hours- but information posted on the PSB’s website indicated no such change or amendment to DPS PSB rule #442.01, which defines our continuing education requirements.

 

Since several of you have asked me about this, I emailed the PSB and then called them directly; you will find their reply to my email request below.

 

When I spoke to the licensing coordinator this morning (1/11/2005)- she indicated to me that our continuing education requirements were in fact discussed at the last Commissioner’s meeting on December 8, 2004, but that it was agreed that 16 hours would be enough for the foreseeable future, despite one association’s arguments to the contrary (they apparently proposed additional CE requirements).

 

In short, nothing has changed… yet.

 

If you are opposed to any additional continuing education requirements- I urge you to get involved right now, take 30 seconds and email the Board at

 

mailto:privatesecurityboard@txdps.state.tx.us

 

and request that they do not make changes to rule #442.01 or add any additional continuing education requirements. It’s really that simple and it will take less than 2 minutes now to prevent hours of additional time and increased expense in the future.

 

Here is an outstanding example of a letter written to the Private Security Board

 

If you were confused, as I was, I certainly hope that this helps clarify the issue for you. If you knew this already or were unaware of the proposed changes, I apologize for this brief intrusion, but I hope that you will get involved.

 

As the continuing education leader in Texas, and a private investigator too, I thought it important to communicate this to everyone possible but especially to you… our most valued clients!

 

If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to call or email. We hope to continue to be of service to you in the future.

 

Thank you for choosing PIEducation.com!

 

Here is the message returned to me from the Board:

 

-----Original Message-----

From: Banker, Frederica [mailto:Frederica.Banker@tcps.state.tx.us]

Sent: Tuesday, January 11, 2005 10:55 AM

To: 'L Scott Harrell'

Subject: RE: Continuing Education Requirements for PIs

Importance: High

 

Continuing education for Pis is still 16 hours. There have been proposals

to increase this training to 20 hours, but nothing has been approved to

date.

 

Frederica Banker

Texas Department of Public Safety

Private Security Bureau

 

-----Original Message-----

From: L Scott Harrell [mailto:ScottHarrell]

Sent: Tuesday, January 11, 2005 9:54 AM

To: privatesecurityboard@txdps.state.tx.us

Subject: Continuing Education Requirements for PIs

 

Sir or Ma'am,

 

Can someone tell me what the continuing education requirements for private

investigators are these days? I read 16 hours (14 hrs plus 2 hrs of ethics)

every 2 years on the PSB website but I am hearing others saying that it is

now 20 hours every 2 years.

Thank you for your help.

 

Warmest Regards,

 

L. Scott Harrell

Director, PIEducation.com

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