SECTION 360.221. Validity of Certificates and Recertification

(a) Certificates are valid for five years, subject to the certificate holder's payment of an annual certificate renewal fee. After expiration of the five-year certification cycle, a certificate holder must be recertified by DARS.

(b) A certificate holder may be recertified if he or she:

(1) provides written documentation of completing at least the minimum number of required continuing education units, as approved by DARS; or

(2) achieves a passing score on a specified examination; and

(3) is in compliance with all other applicable rules, including those relating to annual certificate renewal, recertification, eligibility, and qualifications.

(c) DARS may not renew or recertify a certificate holder or a former certificate holder seeking to recertify through examination until:

(1) all pending or unresolved complaints, disciplinary actions, or agency orders relating to the current or former certificate holder are resolved with DARS; and

(2) payment of any required renewal or recertification fees are received by DARS within 30 days of their due date.

(d) For multiple certificate holders possessing more than one BEI interpreter certificate, the following rules apply:

(1) When a current BEI certificate holder is awarded an additional BEI certificate, the current and new certificates are assigned a single, new five-year certification cycle that begins on the award date of the newest BEI certificate(s).

(2) The new five-year certification cycle and the annual renewal date each become due as of the award date of the newest BEI certificate.

(3) All certificates are assigned one certificate number.

(4) Any continuing education units (CEUs) earned prior to the multiple certificate award date are void.

(5) The certificate holder, if not a military service member, has five years from the multiple certificate award date to earn all required CEUs. The certificate holder, if a military service member, has seven years from the multiple certificate award date to earn all required CEUs.

(e) Information on current annual certificate renewal and five-year recertification requirements may be obtained from DARS.

Source Note: The provisions of this §360.221 adopted to be effective April 24, 2013, 38 TexReg 2513; amended to be effective September 15, 2014, 39 TexReg 7342; amended to be effective April 6, 2016, 41 TexReg 2503; transferred effective March 1, 2021, as published in the Texas Register February 5, 2021, 46 TexReg 946