Constables are required to attain 40 hours biannually, 20 hours of which must be in civil process. Per 2013 Texas Senate Bill No. 686, Texas Eighty-Third Legislature.
Texas Commission on Law Enforcement Requirements - Continuing Education Deadlines for all Peace Officer Licensees
Commission Rule 217.11 Legislatively Required Continuing Education for Licensees requires that individuals appointed as peace officers shall complete at least 40 hours of continuing education training and must complete a training and education program that covers recent changes to the laws of this state and of the United States pertaining to peace officers every 24-month unit of a training cycle. Included within the 40-hour requirement are other legislative required topics., which are listed below.
Legislatively required continuing education requirements for the current training cycle for peace officers holding a Basic Certification are as follows:
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Course Topics
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Course
Number
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Deadline
|
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Special Investigative
Topics
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3232 or 3737
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08/31/19
|
|
Cultural Diversity
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3939 or 3737
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08/31/19
|
|
Crisis Intervention
Training
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3840, 3841,
4001
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08/31/19
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*Note the above courses are mandatory, but can be used as part of the 40 hours required in either unit.
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Requirement
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Time Frame
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40 hours in the first unit - any topic(s)
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09/01/17 -
08/31/19
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|
40 hours in the second unit - any topic(s)
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09/01/19-
08/31/21
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Constables
Each constable must complete at least 40 hours of continuing education through the Bill Blackwood Institute during the current 4-year training cycle. (Occupation Code 1701.3545)
- Newly elected or appointed constables must take Course 3742 New Constable’s Course within 2 years of appointment or election. (Occupation Code 1701.3545(d))
- Constables who have already completed the requirements of a newly elected or appointed constables must take Course 3743, Constable’s Continuing Education each cycle. (Occupation Code 1701.3545(d))
Deputy Constables
Deputy constables are required (unless waived by their elected constable) to have the 20-hour civil process course (3101 or 3131) as part of the above requirements, but their deadlines vary and some waivers based on assignment may apply. Each deputy is also required to take a 2-hour bi-annual legislative update as a part of their on-going training.
Programs that Qualify
For constables, any approved by TCOLE.
Filing for Credit
For constables: Training coordinators report hours earned to TCOLE. Records of Texas Justice Court Training Center training of civil process for constables are recorded by TJCTC and forwarded to TCOLE.
Legal Source
V.T.C.A., Tex. Occ. Code, Sec. 1701.3545
Open Government Training Information
Elected and appointed public officials are required by a state law to receive training in Texas open government laws. For more information on this training including free video training courses, check out The Office of the Attorney General website.
County Official Organizations
The Texas Association of Counties serves as the umbrella organization for various independent county official organizations in Texas. These organizations serve as an important resource for county officials for information, networking and advocacy.
The association for this office is Justices of the Peace and Constables Association of Texas.
For more information about training courses, view the Texas Justice Court Training Center event calendar.