The Texas Real Estate Commission (TREC) adopts amendments to 22 TAC §535.212, Education and Experience Requirements for a License, without changes to the proposed text as published in the December 12, 2014, issue of the Texas Register (39 TexReg 9656). The Texas Real Estate Inspector Committee (TREIC) recommended the amendments.

The reasoned justification for the amendments is to provide better clarity and requirements that are easier to understand, apply, and process.

The amendments revise the options through which an applicant may satisfy the field work component of the substitute experience requirement. The amendments define the term "interactive experience training module," increase the methods of delivery to satisfy each training option and reduce the required hours under one option to lower costs and promote hands-on training. The amendments also extend the deadline that eliminates one option to allow course providers more time to develop courses for the other two options.

One comment was received on this proposal as published. The commenter suggested adding the word "previously" before the phrase "approved interactive experience training module" in subsection (g)(1)(B)(iii).

The Real Estate Inspector Advisory Committee considered this comment in its meeting on January 23, 2015, and determined that the addition of the word "previously" did not add anything to the proposed amendments because the amended rule would apply on a prospective basis and would not affect the approval status of existing courses. The Real Estate Inspector Advisory Committee recommends that the proposed amendments be adopted as published without change. The Commission agreed with that recommendation.

The amendments are adopted under Texas Occupations Code, §1101.151, which authorizes the Texas Real Estate Commission to adopt and enforce rules necessary to administer Chapters 1101 and 1102; and to establish standards of conduct and ethics for its license holders to fulfill the purposes of Chapters 1101 and 1102 and ensure compliance with Chapters 1101 and 1102.

The statutes affected by this amendment are Texas Occupations Code, Chapter 1102. No other statute, code or article is affected by the proposed amendments.