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(a)To be accepted for inspector licensing, a course must meet each of the following requirements. (1)The course was devoted to a subject listed in §1102.001(5) of Chapter 1102 or this section; provided, however, that the commission will not accept more than 30 hours of course credit for inspection-related business, legal, report writing or ethics courses. (2)The student was present in the classroom for the hours of credit granted by the course provider or completed makeup in accordance with the requirements of the provider or by applicable commission rule. (3)Successful completion of a final examination or other form of final evaluation was a requirement for receiving credit from the provider. (4)The daily course presentation did not exceed ten hours. (5)The course was offered by a provider accredited by the commission to offer inspection courses or exempt from the requirement to be accredited by the commission. (b)A classroom course may include up to 50% of total course time for appropriate field work relevant to the course topic. Field work may not be included as part of correspondence or alternative delivery courses. (c)Except as provided to the contrary by this section, the review and acceptance of correspondence courses or courses offered by alternative delivery systems such as computers will be conducted in the manner prescribed by §535.62 of this title (relating to Acceptable Courses of Study). Correspondence courses are acceptable only if offered by or in association with an accredited college or university. (d)Providers wishing to obtain prior approval of a classroom course shall submit the following items to the commission: (1)a course description, including the number of hours of credit to be awarded; (2)a timed course outline; (3)a copy of any textbook, course outline, syllabus or other written course material provided to students; (4)a cross reference to the course material which demonstrates in a manner that is satisfactory to the commission where the required subject matter is covered in the course; and (5)a copy of the written final examination which measures a student's mastery of the course. (e)The following subjects shall be considered core real estate inspection courses: (1)Foundations, which shall include the following topics: (A)site analysis/location; (B)grading; (C)foundations; (D)flat work; (E)material; (F)foundation walls; (G)foundation drainage; (H)foundation waterproofing and damp proofing; (I)columns; and (J)under floor space. (2)Framing, which shall include the following topics: (A)flashing; (B)wood frame - stick/balloon; (C)roof structure - rafters/trusses; (D)floor structure; (E)porches/decks/steps/landings/balconies; (F)doors; (G)ceilings; (H)interior walls; (I)stairways; (J)guardrails/handrails/balusters; (K)fireplace/chimney; (L)sills/columns/beams/joist/sub-flooring; (M)wall systems/structure - headers; (N)rammed earth; (O)straw bale; (P)ICF; (Q)panelized; (R)masonry; (S)wood I joist; (T)roof sheathing; (U)wood wall; (V)steel wall; (W)wood structural panel; and (X)conventional concrete. (3)Building Enclosure, which shall include the following topics: (A)review of foundation and roofing relation; (B)review of flashing; (C)cladding; (D)windows/glazing; (E)weather barriers; (F)vapor barriers; (G)insulation; (H)energy codes; and (I)ingress/egress. (4)Roof Systems, which shall include the following topics: (A)review - rafters, roof joist, ceiling joist, collar ties, knee walls, purling, trusses, wood I joist, roof sheathing, steel framing; (B)roof water control; (C)skylights; (D)flashing; (E)ventilation/non-ventilation; (F)attic access; (G)re-roofing; (H)slopes - step roof/low slope/near flat; (I)materials - asphalt, fiberglass, wood shake, wood shingle, slate, clay tile, concrete tile, fiber cement (asbestos cement, mineral cement), metal, roll, build up, modified bitumen, synthetic rubber (EPDM), plastic (PVC); and (J)valleys. (5)Plumbing Systems, which shall include the following topics: (A)water supply systems; (B)fixtures; (C)drains; (D)vents; (E)water heaters (gas and electric); (F)gas lines; and (G)hydro-therapy equipment. (6)Electrical Systems, which shall include the following topics: (A)general requirements, equipment location and clearances; (B)electrical definitions; (C)services; (D)branch circuit and feeder requirements; (E)wiring methods; (F)power and lights distribution; (G)devices and light fixtures; and (H)swimming pool. (7)HVAC Systems, which shall include the following topics: (A)heating; (B)ventilation; (C)air conditioning; and (D)evaporative coolers. (8)Appliances, which shall include the following topics: (A)dishwasher; (B)food waste disposer; (C)kitchen exhaust hood; (D)range, cooktop, and ovens (electric and gas); (E)microwave cooking equipment; (F)trash compactor; (G)bathroom exhaust fan and heater; (H)whole house vacuum systems; (I)garage door operator; (J)doorbell and chimes; and (K)dryer vents. (9)Texas Standards of Practice, which shall include the following topics: (A)review of general principles and specific Texas practice standards; (B)inspection guidelines for structural systems; (C)inspection guidelines for electrical systems; (D)inspection guidelines for heating, ventilation, and air conditioning systems; (E)inspection guidelines for plumbing systems; (F)inspection guidelines for appliances; and (G)inspection guidelines for optional systems. (10)Legal/Ethics, which shall include the following topics: (A)Chapter 1102; (B)commission rules related to inspectors; (C)agency enforcement action relating to inspectors; and (D)related case law. (11)Texas Standard Report Form/Report Writing, which shall include the following topics: (A)use of the required inspection report form; (B)allowed reproductions; (C)allowed changes; (D)exceptions from use of the form; (E)review of typical comments for each heading in the report; and (F)review of generally accepted technical writing techniques. (12)Other approved courses as they relate to real estate inspections, which shall include one or more of the following topics: (A)Environmental Protection Agency; (B)Consumer Product Safety Commission; and (C)general business practices. (f)A course approved to satisfy a specific subject matter requirement must address each part of the subject as described by this subchapter. (g)A course that combines more than one subject into a composite course may be approved by the commission to satisfy core course education requirements; however, composite courses will not satisfy the requirements for coursework in specific subject areas unless they are approved for a specific number of hours for each subject area. (h)An applicant may not take the same course more than once for credit toward the education requirements for a license; however, a course for which credit was granted toward a lower license may be counted again toward the requirements for a higher license. (i)An applicant will not receive credit for more than one course with substantially the same course content within a two year period.
This agency
hereby certifies that the proposal
has been reviewed by legal counsel and found to be within the agency's
legal authority to adopt.
Filed with the Office
of the Secretary of State on August 26, 2010
TRD-201005035 Loretta R. DeHay
General Counsel
Texas Real Estate Commission
Earliest possible date of adoption: October 10, 2010
For further information, please call: (512) 465-3926
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