TRCC News
TRCC Offers Continuing Education Courses
Do you know a thing or two about two-by-fours? Would you like a chance to share what you know while providing a service to the marketplace? If so, you might think about contacting the Texas Residential Construction Commission's Continuing Education Department to become a course provider. For almost a year, the commission has provided a comprehensive list of approved classroom and online courses on its website to assist builders and remodelers in fulfilling the five hours of continuing education required to maintain builder/remodeler registration. It is possible for a builder or remodeler to satisfy all five hours online. Although the approved course list offers an extensive list of choices, the commission is actively seeking additional course providers. The need for qualified course providers is particularly strong in cities and regions outside the state's major metropolitan areas such as Houston, Dallas, Fort Worth, San Antonio and Austin.
Builders and remodelers are required to take two course hours covering limited warranties, building and performance standards, and building codes. They are also required to take one hour of ethics and two hours of any other residential construction-related subject. Builders or remodelers who first registered, reinstated or renewed on or after Sept. 1, 2007 must complete these hours within 12 months of registration. Builders or remodelers who were active on Sept. 1, 2007 have five years to complete the minimum course requirements. Continuing education is also required to participate in the Texas Star Builder program. Texas Star Builder is a voluntary program for builders who demonstrate a higher level of education, experience and customer service.
The Texas Association of Builders and its member chapters throughout the state provide most of the approved courses. However, several seminar companies, builders and schools are also approved providers. Some approved course providers offer online courses, allowing a builder or remodeler to fulfill course requirements without having to go to a physical location. This option may also be more appealing to builders or remodelers who are unable to find a course that fits their daily schedules or one close enough to home.
Companies interested in offering courses will find that the application process is easy to complete. The interested sponsor needs to submit a Continuing Education Course Approval application. There is no fee to apply. The form is located on the commission's website in the forms library. To have a course approved, the commission requires:
- A resume (or detailed biography) that shows how the instructor is qualified to teach the course
- A copy of the course content and name of the course
- The number of hours proposed for credit
- A classification/categorization of the course (ethics, warranty/code, etc.)
- Notice of when and where the course will be held
Before submitting a course for approval, the continuing education staff urges potential providers to plan their course schedule; including location and date. While courses approved by other state agencies and the National Association of Home Builders are automatically approved by the commission, the course sponsor must also provide the documentation requested in the Continuing Education Course Approval application. After a course has been approved, the commission will issue an approval number and post the class information on both its English and Spanish websites, giving course providers an excellent source of advertising.
TRCC Advisory Committee to Meet
The Texas Residential Construction Commission's Advisory Committee on Warranties and Building and Performance Standards will meet on Wednesday, September 17 at 1:30 p.m. in the commission's hearing room at 311 E. 14th St., Suite 200, Austin, Texas. If you plan to attend and require auxiliary aids, services or materials in an alternate format, please contact the Texas Residential Construction Commission at least five working days prior to the meeting date. Interested persons who have suggestions for amending the warranties and building and performance standards adopted by the commission pursuant to Title 16 of the property code must submit those suggestions in writing to the commission by the close of business Tuesday, September 2.
