Complete guide to Continuing Professional Education (CPE) requirements for Texas teaching certificate renewal.
CPE hours are one part of the educator experience. EX in Education tracks Texas requirements alongside coaching, goals, and evaluation, so PD stays connected to everything else that helps a teacher grow and stay.
A printable 2-page reference: the 150-hour requirement, what counts, the 5-year cycle, and how to renew without a scramble.
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Texas requires all educators holding standard certificates (issued since September 1, 1999) to complete Continuing Professional Education (CPE) hours for certificate renewal. The requirements vary by certificate type. In a connected educator experience system, CPE tracking sits next to coaching, goals, and evaluation data, so a district can see the whole picture for every teacher, not just the hours:
150 hours
over 5 years (30 hours/year average)
200 hours
Principals, Counselors, Librarians
Your CPE must directly relate to the certificate(s) being renewed and focus on the standards required for those certificates. TEA sets the exact proportion in rule, so confirm the current figure before planning a cycle.
In-service and staff development from approved providers. No limit on hours.
Undergraduate or graduate courses. 1 semester credit hour = 15 CPE hours.
Interactive distance learning, video conferences, or online courses through approved providers.
Self-directed professional learning. Maximum 20% of required hours (30 hours).
Serving as a mentor to another educator. Maximum 30% of required hours (45 hours).
Developing, teaching, or presenting CPE activities. Maximum 10% of required hours (15 hours).
All educators must receive CPE training on educating students with disabilities, including specific instruction on educating students with dyslexia.
A classroom teacher must complete 25 percent, or 37.5 hours, of CPE related to the topics below. They may be combined - it is 37.5 hours across the set, not per topic.
Training in these topics in excess of 37.5 hours still counts toward your overall requirement.
In EX in Education, what you track for Texas renewal sits beside new-hire onboarding, walkthroughs, coaching cycles, goals, evaluations, staff surveys and recognition. Leaders see how every educator is doing from their first week onward, not only whether they are current, and the renewal record builds out of the growth work already happening.
Start a conversation about TexasEarn your required hours through approved activities over your 5-year cycle.
Keep records of all CPE activities. You may be audited and required to provide proof.
TEA sends a reminder 6 months before expiration. Note: You're responsible even without the reminder.
Submit your renewal application through the Educator Certification Online System.
Pay the required renewal fee to complete the process.
Texas classroom teachers must complete 150 CPE clock hours over a five-year renewal period. School counselors, librarians, reading specialists, principals, and superintendents need 200 hours. CPE must directly relate to the certificate(s) being renewed.
If you hold multiple certificates spanning teaching and administrative roles, TEA requires 200 hours total for the renewal period. Confirm how your combination is counted before planning.
If you fail to complete the required CPE hours, your certificate will expire and you won't be able to teach in Texas public schools. You may need to complete additional requirements and pay fees to reinstate your certificate. It's critical to track your hours throughout the renewal period.
Yes, you are responsible for keeping records of your CPE hours. If selected for audit, you will be required to provide documentation of your professional development activities. This is why it's important to maintain certificates, sign-in sheets, and other proof of completion.
Yes! When you select Texas as your state, our system automatically configures the 150-hour requirement, 5-year cycle, activity limits (independent study, mentoring, presenting), and required topic areas. You'll see real-time progress toward compliance and get alerts as your renewal deadline approaches.
Not in Texas? Find requirements for your state.
Evaluated in Texas? See how Texas teacher evaluation works, and how the evidence connects to the record you keep for renewal.
Part of EX in Education
Texas CPE tracking is one part of how districts support educators. In EX in Education, it connects to the bigger picture: walkthroughs, coaching, evaluations, goals, PD, recognition, surveys, and retention. Bring your own process, or start from a template, then run it across every school so every educator moves from hired to thriving.