License holders must complete continuing education and provide background-check information to renew; expired licenses have time-based limits and fees.
Sec. 43.009. LICENSE RENEWAL. (a) To be eligible for license renewal, a license holder shall: (1) present evidence to the department of participation in a program of continuing education for 15 hours of formal study each year during the two-year period before the renewal; and (2) provide information for the department's use in conducting a criminal history and background check under Section 43.004(c) and applicable department rules, including a complete set of the person's fingerprints. (b) The department shall recognize, prepare, or administer continuing education programs for license holders. The continuing education requirement may be fulfilled by studies in the areas of legal aspects of child care, concepts related to the field of social work, or other subjects approved by the department. (c) A person who is otherwise eligible to renew a license may renew an unexpired license by paying to the department before the expiration date of the license the required renewal fee. A person whose license has expired may not engage in the activities that require a license until the license has been renewed under the provisions of this section. (d) If a person's license has been expired for 90 days or less, the person may renew the license by paying to the department one and one-half times the required renewal fee. (e) If a person's license has been expired for longer than 90 days but less than one year, the person may renew the license by paying to the department one and one-half times the required renewal fee. (f) If a person's license has been expired for one year or longer, the person may not renew the license. The person may obtain a new license by submitting to reexamination and complying with the requirements and procedures for obtaining an original license. If the person was licensed in this state, moved to another state, and is currently licensed and has been in practice in the other state for the two years preceding application, the person may renew an expired license without reexamination. The person must pay to the department a fee that is equal to two times the required renewal fee for the license. (g) At least 30 days before the expiration of a person's license, the department shall send written notice of the impending license expiration to the person at the licensee's last known address according to the records of the department. Acts 1979, 66th Leg., p. 2369, ch. 842, art. 1, Sec. 1, eff. Sept. 1, 1979. Amended by Acts 1983, 68th Leg., p. 386, ch. 81, Sec. 13(c), eff. Sept. 1, 1983; Acts 1987, 70th Leg., ch. 1052, Sec. 4.12, eff. Sept. 1, 1987; Acts 1997, 75th Leg., ch. 1022, Sec. 48, eff. Sept. 1, 1997. Amended by: Acts 2005, 79th Leg., Ch. 268 (S.B. 6), Sec. 1.117(a), eff. September 1, 2005. Acts 2013, 83rd Leg., R.S., Ch. 746 (S.B. 427), Sec. 8, eff. September 1, 2013. Acts 2015, 84th Leg., R.S., Ch. 1 (S.B. 219), Sec. 4.251, eff. April 2, 2015. Acts 2025, 89th Leg., R.S., Ch. 423 (H.B. 2789), Sec. 8, eff. September 1, 2025.