Texas Insurance CE Requirements (2026)
What a licensed Texas agent, and a General Lines Property and Casualty agent in particular, needs to renew: 24 hours every two years, 3 of them in ethics, at least half in a classroom or classroom-equivalent format, all finished before midnight on your expiration date.
The requirements at a glance
| Total hours | 24 hours every two years for General Lines P&C and most other agent licenses. Limited lines, county mutual, and life insurance not exceeding $25,000 need 10. |
| Ethics | 3 of the 24 hours. (Licenses that expired on or before August 31, 2022 needed only 2.) |
| Classroom rule | At least 12 hours must be classroom or classroom-equivalent courses; no more than half of your credits can be self-study. |
| Deadline | Midnight Central Time on your license expiration date. TDI recommends finishing 30 days early, because providers have up to 30 days to report completions. |
| Late CE | Automatic $50 fine per incomplete hour, capped at $500 per license type (28 TAC §19.1016). You still owe the hours. |
| Renewal fee | $50, paid on Sircon, plus a $25 late fee if paid after midnight CT on the expiration date. |
| Where to check | Sircon: Continuing Education Transcript Inquiry (your hours) and Approved Courses Inquiry (course details). |
The classroom rule is where online renewers get caught
Texas does not count every online hour the same way. Each approved course carries an instruction method, and at least half of your hours must come from courses certified as classroom or classroom equivalent. An agent who stacks 24 hours of cheap self-study can finish with a full transcript and still be short, because TDI says self-study hours beyond the limit may not count toward the total. Before you buy anything, look the course up in Sircon's Approved Courses Inquiry and check its instruction method.
Missed the deadline? What TDI does
Fines are automatic: $50 for every hour not completed by midnight Central Time on your expiration date, up to $500 per license type. Paid fines are not refunded, even if an extension or exemption is granted later. Paying the fine does not satisfy the requirement: you still finish the hours, pay the fine on Sircon, and pay the renewal fee before TDI will renew the license. You cannot renew while you are out of CE compliance.
Exemptions, extensions, and non-residents
- 20-year exemption. Agents continuously licensed in Texas for at least 20 years, with no gap longer than 90 days, may qualify for a permanent CE exemption. Request it on Sircon at least two weeks before your license expires.
- Extensions. Illness, medical disability, or other circumstances beyond your control can support an extension (28 TAC §19.1004). Submit the request at least two weeks before expiration, with supporting documentation. Texas does not grant permanent medical exemptions; a new request is needed each term.
- Non-residents. Generally follow their home state's CE rules. Texas rules apply only when the home state has no CE requirement or the licensee holds a Texas designated home state adjuster license.
- Timing traps. Courses completed before your license was issued earn no credit, and repeating the same course in one term counts only once (28 TAC §19.1003).
Our Texas P&C CE course
Elite Training Academy's Texas P&C CE: Compliance Essentials (24 Hours) is TDI course #147641, built for licensed Texas General Lines Property and Casualty agents renewing their biennial CE. It is 24 hours: 21 hours general plus 3 hours of ethics, which lines up with both the 24-hour total and the 3-hour ethics requirement in one course. You can confirm the course number and its details in Sircon's Approved Courses Inquiry before you enroll.
Frequently asked
How many CE hours does a Texas insurance agent need?
Most Texas agent licenses, including General Lines Property and Casualty, require 24 hours of continuing education every two years. A few limited licenses (limited lines, county mutual, and life insurance not exceeding $25,000) need 10 hours. If you hold more than one license, you meet the greatest single license requirement rather than adding them together.
How many ethics hours does Texas require?
Three of your 24 hours must be in ethics. TDI notes that licensees whose license expired on or before August 31, 2022 needed only two ethics hours, so older guides that say two hours are out of date.
Can I take all of my Texas CE online?
Online courses can count, but check the instruction method. At least 12 of the 24 hours must be classroom or classroom-equivalent courses, and TDI says no more than half of your CE credits can be self-study. TDI treats an online course as classroom equivalent only when it is certified that way, so look up the course's instruction method in Sircon's Approved Courses Inquiry before you buy.
What happens if I miss my Texas CE deadline?
TDI automatically fines $50 for each hour not completed by midnight Central Time on your license expiration date, up to $500 per license type. Paying the fine does not remove the requirement: you still have to finish the hours, and you cannot renew until you are CE compliant and your fines are paid.
How do I check how many CE hours I have?
Use the Continuing Education Transcript Inquiry on Sircon. Providers have up to 30 days after you finish a course to report it, which is why TDI recommends completing your hours at least 30 days before your license expires. If a completed course is missing, contact the provider first.
Do non-resident agents need Texas CE?
Usually not. TDI says non-residents follow their home state's CE rules. You follow Texas rules only if your home state has no CE requirement, or if you hold a Texas designated home state (DHS) adjuster license.
Is there an exemption for long-time agents?
Yes. If you have been continuously licensed in Texas for at least 20 years, with no gap longer than 90 days, you may qualify for a permanent CE exemption. Request it on Sircon at least two weeks before your license expires. Extensions for illness or other circumstances beyond your control are also available, but TDI does not grant permanent medical exemptions.
Does CE I took before I was licensed count?
No. Under 28 TAC §19.1003, TDI does not give credit for any continuing education course completed before the date your license is issued. Taking the same course twice in one license term also counts only once.
Finish your Texas P&C CE before the deadline
24 hours, 21 general plus 3 ethics, in one TDI course (#147641) built for licensed Texas P&C agents.
Start Texas P&C CE →Related guides
- Texas General Lines vs Personal Lines
- How to get a Texas adjuster license
- How to get your Texas insurance license
Requirements summarized from the Texas Department of Insurance license-management and continuing education pages, Texas Insurance Code §§4004.051-.055, and 28 TAC §19.1001 and following (including §§19.1003, 19.1004 and 19.1016), current as of September 2026. Verify your own renewal date and completed hours on your Sircon transcript, and current rules at tdi.texas.gov, before relying on any summary. This guide is not legal advice.