RECOGNITION OF EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMS AND COURSES.

(a) The commission by rule shall recognize appropriate continuing education programs for registrants.

(b) The commission shall recognize a continuing education course, including a course on the legal issues and law related to property tax consulting services, that is:

(1) approved by the Texas Real Estate Commission or the Texas Appraiser Licensing and Certification Board; and

(2) completed by a registrant who also holds:

(A) an active real estate broker license or an active real estate salesperson license under Chapter 1101; or

(B) an active real estate appraiser license or certificate under Chapter 1103.

(c) The commission may recognize an educational program or course:

(1) related to property tax consulting services; and

(2) offered or sponsored by a public provider or a recognized private provider, including:

(A) the comptroller;

(B) the State Bar of Texas;

(C) the Texas Real Estate Commission;

(D) an institution of higher education that meets program and accreditation standards comparable to those for public institutions of higher education as determined by the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board; or

(E) a nonprofit and voluntary trade association, institute, or organization:

(i) whose membership consists primarily of persons who represent property owners in property tax or transactional tax matters;

(ii) that has written experience and examination requirements for membership or for granting professional designation to its members; and

(iii) that subscribes to a code of professional conduct or ethics.

(d) The commission may recognize a private provider of an educational program or course if the provider:

(1) applies to the department on a printed form prescribed by the executive director; and

(2) pays in the amounts set by the commission:

(A) a nonrefundable application fee; and

(B) an educational provider's fee.

(e) The department shall refund the educational provider's fee if the commission does not recognize the provider's educational program or course.