CAREER AND TECHNOLOGY EDUCATION PROGRAM FOR TRADESMAN PLUMBER-LIMITED LICENSE; INSTRUCTORS.

(a) Notwithstanding Section 1301.354, a person who successfully completes a coherent sequence of courses in the plumbing trade that are offered through a career and technology education program may apply for and take an examination for a license as a tradesman plumber-limited license holder. The board may not require the person to register as a plumber's apprentice, pay any fee, or comply with Section 1301.354 or any other requirement of this chapter that applies to a person's eligibility to apply for and take the examination.

(b) A student of any age enrolled in a high school or institution of higher education is eligible to take the sequence of courses described by Subsection (a) without registering as a plumber's apprentice, paying any registration fee to the board, or complying with Section 1301.354 or any other requirement of this chapter that applies to enrolling or participating in those courses.

(c) If an applicant described by Subsection (a) successfully passes the examination for a license as a tradesman plumber-limited license holder, the board shall issue the applicant the license.

(d) The board shall develop the courses described by Subsection (a). If the courses are to be offered at a high school, the courses must be approved by the State Board of Education.

(e) The courses must include an appropriate number of hours of classroom instruction and a practical component. The board may credit on-the-job training toward meeting the requirements under the practical component.

(f) A person may not provide instruction in a career and technology education program described by this section unless the person is licensed under this chapter as a master plumber, journeyman plumber, or plumbing inspector.

(g) A person described by Subsection (f) may provide the instruction in a full-time or part-time capacity as an employee, contractor, or volunteer of a high school or institution of higher education.

(h) The board may adopt rules necessary to implement this section, including procedures to verify a student's successful completion of the sequence of courses described by Subsection (a).

(i) In this section:

(1) "Career and technology education program" means a career and technology education program under Subchapter F, Chapter 29, Education Code, or similar program offered by an institution of higher education.

(2) "Institution of higher education" means an institution of higher education or a private or independent institution of higher education as those terms are defined by Section 61.003, Education Code.