During the Texas Real Estate Commission’s Education Standards Advisory Committee (ESAC) meeting on October 7, the group reviewed three rules regarding course proctoring and student identification requirements. Multiple changes were recommended but before a dig into the highlights, a congratulations.
The Commission’s latest Legal Update I and II courses were selected for an education award by the Association of Real Estate License Law Officials. ESAC congratulated staff and supporting subject matter experts for the team effort to improve the courses with changes that received this national attention. Both the Texas Real Estate Commission (TREC) and Texas Appraiser Licensing and Certification Board (TALCB) were awarded during a ceremony in Chicago, as pictured (from the left: TREC Education Director Jennifer Wheeler, TREC General Counsel Vanessa Burgess, TALCB Director Melissa Tran).
Recommended Rule Changes
The following changes were reviewed and recommended by both ESAC and the Inspector Committee. They will go before the Commission for proposal in November.
Verifying Identity
After discussion, ESAC recommends amending TREC Rule 535.65 to say providers must verify student identification at class sign up and before every class meeting, rather than the current requirement of checking the photo ID. ESAC is making this recommendation to reduce potential security concerns and open the rule to other ways providers can verify a student’s identity.
Exam Proctoring
ESAC recommends removing proctoring requirements from TREC rules out of concerns that the requirements were burdensome and unnecessary, including in the context of course examinations because the licensing examination itself is proctored. The committee removed new language in the draft rule that would have required a monitor for every 20 students participating in a qualifying or non-elective continuing education classroom delivery course delivered through the use of technology.
Meeting Materials
ESAC will meet again January 6, 2025.