What Are the Continuing Education Requirements for Texas Insurance Agents?

Texas insurance producers and adjusters must complete continuing education (CE) to keep their licenses active. The Texas Department of Insurance (TDI)Agcehome.html Agent sets the rules, and Sircon (managed by Pearson VUE) handles transcript tracking and course reporting. Whether you hold a Life and Health, Property and Casualty, or General Lines license, here is what you need to know to stay compliant and avoid fines.

How Many CE Hours Do Texas Insurance Agents Need?

TDI requires all resident insurance producers to complete 24 hours of approved continuing education during each two-year license period. Of those 24 hours, at least 3 must focus on ethics and consumer protection topics. These requirements apply regardless of how many license types you hold. If you carry both a Life and Health license and a Property and Casualty license, you still only need 24 total hours to renew all of them.

Adjusters follow the same structure: 24 hours of CE with 3 hours dedicated to ethics. If you hold a limited lines license, the requirement drops to 10 hours per cycle, with 3 of those hours still reserved for ethics training.

What Is the Classroom Equivalent Rule in Texas?

At least half of your 24 CE hours, meaning 12 hours minimum, must be completed in a classroom or classroom equivalent format. Classroom equivalent courses are approved online courses that include interactive elements such as timed progression, quizzes after each unit, and monitored seat time. Self-study courses, which are generally less structured, can fill the remaining 12 hours. When selecting a course, always confirm the instruction method before enrolling so your hours are categorized correctly on your CE transcriptPre License What Insurance Terms Do I Need To Know In Texas Resources.

When Is My Texas Insurance License Renewal Deadline?

Texas insurance licenses expire on the last day of your birth month every two years. For example, if your birthday is in March, your license expires on March 31 of your renewal year. TDI mails postcard reminders to your address on file before your deadline, but it is your responsibility to track your renewal date. You can verify your exact expiration date by checking your CE transcript on the Sircon Continuing Education Transcript InquiryInquiry LoginCETranscript.do ComplianceExpress tool.

TDI strongly recommends completing all CE at least 30 days before your license expires. This buffer gives your course provider time to report completions to Sircon, which typically must happen within 30 days of course completion.

What Happens If You Miss Your Texas Insurance CE Deadline?

If you do not complete your 24 hours of CE before your license expires, TDI imposes a fine of $50 for every deficient hour, up to a maximum of $500 per license. You then have a 90-day grace period to finish your remaining hours and pay any fines. If you fail to meet requirements within those 90 days, your license is inactivated and you must apply for a new licensePre License Texas Insurance License Faq Resources from scratch. A new license will not be issued until the deficient hours are completed and all fines are paid.

Does Texas Require Specialty CE Training?

Yes. Certain product lines carry additional training requirements beyond the standard 24-hour CE obligation. These specialty hours generally count toward your 24-hour total, but they must be completed through courses specifically approved for that category.

Annuity training: Before selling annuities, producers must complete a one-time 4-hour Annuity Best Interest certification course. After certification, 8 hours of annuity-specific CE must be completed during each subsequent two-year license period. The TDI annuity training pageAnnuity Products.html Agent provides a list of approved courses through Sircon.

Long-term care (LTC) training: Producers selling LTC partnership products must complete an initial 8-hour certification course, followed by 4 hours of LTC-specific CE during each renewal period. These ongoing hours count toward the 24-hour total.

Medicare training: An 8-hour initial certification is required before selling Medicare-related products, with 4 hours of ongoing Medicare CE due each renewal cycle. The 20-year longevity exemption does not waive Medicare training requirements.

Flood insurance training: P&C agents must complete a one-time 3-hour course established by FEMA and the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP)Flood Insurance before selling flood policies.

Can I Take CE in Any Line of Authority?

Yes. TDI no longer divides courses by license type. All approved CE courses are classified as either "General" or "Ethics," and any Texas-licensed producer can take courses from either category regardless of their license typePre License What Type Of Insurance License Should I Get In Texas Resources. This flexibility allows agents to explore topics across lines of authority while fulfilling their 24-hour requirement.

Do I Qualify for the 20-Year CE Exemption?

Texas offers a permanent CE exemption for producers who have held a Texas insurance license continuously for 20 or more years with no gaps longer than 90 days. To apply, submit TDI form FIN517Form5702702702702702702702702702702702702702702702702702702.html Forms along with your licensure history. Be aware that the exemption does not apply to annuity, LTC, or Medicare training requirements. If you sell those products, you must still complete the relevant specialty CE even with an active longevity exemption.

What About Non-Resident Agents?

Non-resident producers who have met the CE requirements of their home state are generally exempt from Texas CE. The exception applies to non-residents who hold a Texas designated home state (DHS) adjuster license or whose home state does not require CE at all. In those cases, the agent must complete Texas CE to maintain their non-resident license.

How Do I Check My Texas Insurance CE Transcript?

Your CE transcript is managed through Sircon. Visit the Sircon Continuing Education Transcript InquiryInquiry LoginCETranscript.do ComplianceExpress page, select Texas from the dropdown menu, and enter your license number. Your transcript shows all reported completions, the number of hours earned in each category, and your license expiration date. If credits are missing, contact your course provider first. Providers have 30 days to report completions. If the issue is unresolved, email CE@tdi.texas.govAgents Ce.html Tips with a copy of your completion certificate.

How Does Texas Compare to Other States?

Texas's 24-hour CE requirement is on par with many large states. California also requires 24 hours per two-year cycle, while Illinois mandates 30 hours. Florida requires 24 hours for most license types but has different specialty training structures. One distinguishing feature of Texas CE is the 50/50 classroom equivalent rule, which is stricter than states that allow all hours to be completed through self-study. Understanding how Texas stacks up can be especially helpful if you are a new agentPre License How To Become An Insurance Agent With No Experience Resources or a multi-state producer planning your education strategy.

What Can Slow Down the Licensing Process in Texas?

• Waiting until the last minute: Providers need up to 30 days to report completions, and courses finished too close to your deadline may not appear on your transcript in time.
• Missing specialty training: Failing to complete annuity, LTC, Medicare, or flood certifications can delay your renewal even if your general CE hours are met.
• Incorrect course format: Taking too many self-study hours without enough classroom equivalent courses will leave you short of the 50/50 requirement.
• Unreported credits: If your provider does not report your completion to Sircon, TDI has no record of it. Always keep certificates for four years.
• Outdated contact information: TDI sends renewal reminders to your last known address. If your address is out of date, you may miss critical notices.

Stay Ahead of Your Texas CE Requirements with Aceable Insurance

Keeping your Texas insurance license active does not have to be stressful. With the right plan, you can spread 24 hours across a two-year cycle and knock out your requirements on your own schedule. Aceable Insurance is building a modern, mobile-friendly CE experience designed specifically for Texas producers and adjusters. From career-building strategiesPre License Tips Becoming A Successful Insurance Agent Resources to compliance tools, Aceable is here to make continuing education surprisingly painless.