The post-renewal CE audit is a TDLR program, adopted in January 2025 under 16 TAC §§60.700–60.701, in which the department randomly selects renewed licensees and asks them to produce documentation of the continuing education they attested to. It applies to 13 TDLR license programs — massage therapy, dietitians, midwives, and others.
The programs OnlineTexasCE serves are not among them:
- Barbering and cosmetology — not covered
- Electricians — not covered
- ACR (HVAC) contractors — not covered
The reason is straightforward: in these programs, TDLR-approved CE providers report completions directly to TDLR. The department already holds the completion record for your license, so there is nothing for a random documentation audit to add — which is exactly why these programs were left out of the rule.
What still applies to you is ordinary recordkeeping. Keep your CE completion certificate for 2 years if you hold a barbering or cosmetology license, and 1 year if you hold an electrician or ACR contractor license. TDLR also retains its general authority to inspect or investigate records — that authority is separate from the random-audit program, and it is the reason the retention periods exist.
What it means for your renewal
You are not facing a random CE audit or a documentation deadline. Complete your hours before you renew, download your certificate, and keep it for the retention period — that's the whole obligation. Your OnlineTexasCE completion is reported to TDLR for you within 24 hours, so the state's record and your copy both exist from day one.