Kelly Riddle
Last reviewed: July 26, 2026
Quick answer
How many continuing education hours does a Texas private investigator need?
A Texas private investigator generally needs 18 hours of continuing education every two years if the investigator has less than 15 years of continuous licensure. A private investigator with more than 15 years of continuous licensure needs 12 hours every two years.
Both renewal paths include 2 hours of ethics and 2 hours reviewing Texas Occupations Code Chapter 1702 and 37 Texas Administrative Code Chapter 35. The remaining hours must relate to investigations.
Texas private investigator CE hour requirements
Texas Department of Public Safety continuing education requirements are based on the investigator's years of continuous private investigator licensure.
| Texas PI license history | Investigation-related | Ethics | Texas law and rules | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Less than 15 years | 14 hours | 2 hours | 2 hours | 18 hours |
| More than 15 years | 8 hours | 2 hours | 2 hours | 12 hours |
When must Texas PI continuing education be completed?
The required continuing education must be completed before the renewal application is submitted. The credits must have been earned during the two-year period immediately preceding the license's current expiration date.
Texas DPS states that continuing education credits generally must be earned through a department-approved continuing education school. PI Institute of Education is Texas continuing education school Y00105.
Investigators should keep their course completion certificates for at least two years and provide them to DPS if requested. The employing company must also maintain proof of the required continuing education in the investigator's personnel file.
PI Institute courses that can meet the Texas renewal breakdown
The following examples use exact whole-hour PI Institute courses to match each required subject category. Choose the path that applies to your continuous Texas PI licensure history.
Sample path
18-hour path for a Texas PI licensed less than 15 years
- Professional Legal Investigations6 investigation hours
- Surveillance Techniques2 investigation hours
- Public Record Searches2 investigation hours
- Background Investigations2 investigation hours
- Interview Techniques2 investigation hours
- Ethics and the Private Investigator (PI)2 ethics hours
- Texas Rules and Procedures2 law and rules hours
Sample path
12-hour path for a Texas PI licensed more than 15 years
- Professional Legal Investigations6 investigation hours
- Surveillance Techniques2 investigation hours
- Ethics and the Private Investigator (PI)2 ethics hours
- Texas Rules and Procedures2 law and rules hours
Other investigation-related courses in the PI Institute course catalog may be substituted as long as your final selection supplies the required number of hours in each category. Keep the ethics and Texas law-and-rules requirements separate when planning your total.
Texas private investigator renewal education checklist
- Confirm how many years you have held continuous Texas PI licensure.
- Select the correct 18-hour or 12-hour requirement.
- Complete the required investigation, ethics, and Texas law-and-rules hours before renewing.
- Confirm every course falls within the two years before your current license expiration date.
- Download each completion certificate and verify that your name, license or registration information, course, date, and hours are correct.
- Keep your certificates for at least two years and provide copies to your employer for its personnel records.
- Submit your renewal through the Texas Online Private Security system and retain your records in case of an audit.
Frequently asked questions about Texas PI continuing education
How many continuing education hours does a private investigator need in Texas?
A Texas private investigator with less than 15 years of continuous licensure needs 18 hours every two years. A Texas private investigator with more than 15 years of continuous licensure needs 12 hours every two years.
What subjects are required for Texas private investigator renewal?
Both renewal paths require 2 ethics hours and 2 hours reviewing Texas Occupations Code Chapter 1702 and 37 TAC Chapter 35. The remaining 14 hours for the 18-hour path, or 8 hours for the 12-hour path, must relate to investigations.
How often does a Texas private investigator renew a license?
Texas private investigator continuing education is required for renewal every two years. Qualifying credits must be completed during the two-year period before the current license expiration date.
Do Texas private investigators submit CE certificates with every renewal?
Investigators attest to completing the required education when renewing and must furnish certificates to Texas DPS upon request. Investigators and their employing companies should maintain the required completion records.
Can extra Texas PI continuing education hours roll into the next renewal period?
No. Texas DPS says credits are valid only when completed within the two-year period preceding the license's current expiration date, so older excess hours do not satisfy a later renewal period.
Official Texas sources
- Texas DPS: Training and Continuing Education
- Texas DPS: Continuing Education Requirements by License Type
- Texas Private Security Statutes and Rules: 37 TAC Section 35.161
Requirements and agency guidance can change. This article is educational information, not legal advice. Confirm your individual renewal requirement with Texas DPS if your license history or course category is unclear.
Build your Texas PI renewal course plan
Compare investigation, ethics, and Texas rules courses from PI Institute of Education.
