TCFP Continuing Education Requirements
What Texas firefighters need to know about annual continuing education for Texas Commission on Fire Protection certification renewal.
This page is a plain-language summary of the TCFP continuing education rules, drawn from the TCFP Standards Manual. It is general guidance, not legal advice. Requirements vary by certification and employment status and can change. Confirm your specific requirements with TCFP or your department before you renew.
How many hours do you need?
There is no single number that applies to everyone. The minimum depends on whether you are employed by a fire department or hold your certification as an individual. The one constant for every firefighter is the 2-hour annual injury report review.
Hours that stack on top
Beyond the base minimum, additional continuing education applies in these situations:
- Two additional hours per year for each discipline a person is appointed to.
- Wildland Fire Protection certificate holders must earn 4 hours of wildland CE per year, and that annual training must include a hands-on refresher in the deployment of a fire shelter. These 4 hours can count toward the 18-hour minimum.
- Hazardous Materials Technician certificate holders must earn 8 hours of technician-level CE per year, in addition to the requirements above.
CE may be completed in Level 1 or Level 2 subject areas. Level 1 training repeats basic-level skills, while Level 2 training is intended to develop new skills.
The mandatory injury report
Every year, 2 of your hours must be a review of the most recent TCFP injury report, the report published in the same year you are renewing. CE Solutions offers this as a separate $25 course. See our TCFP injury report course page for details.
CE audits and recordkeeping
Each year you renew, you may be audited. Individual certificate holders are not required to submit CE documentation at renewal but should keep copies of everything completed. Documents must be non self-serving, meaning verifiable by someone other than yourself, and must state your name, the subject, the number of hours completed for each subject, the date completed, and the training provider. Acceptable records include certificates of completion, summary pages, and official transcripts. If you are audited, you must provide documentation of the minimum hours, completed in Level 1 or Level 2 training or a combination.
Get your CE done with CE Solutions
CE Solutions is a TCFP-approved continuing education provider and has served Texas firefighters and EMS providers since 1997. Our courses are online, self-paced, and accepted toward TCFP renewal. Browse our Texas firefighter CE packages, or if you also hold an EMS certification, see the Texas EMS recertification requirements page. Questions reach a real person at 888-447-1993, Monday through Thursday.
TCFP CE FAQs
How many continuing education hours do Texas firefighters need each year?
Employed TCFP certificate holders must earn a minimum of 18 hours of CE per year, which must include the 2-hour injury report review. Individual certificate holders who are audited must be able to show a minimum of 20 hours. Additional hours apply for extra disciplines and for Wildland and Hazmat certifications.
What is the 2-hour injury report requirement?
Each year you must complete 2 hours reviewing the most recent TCFP injury report, the report published in the same year you are renewing. CE Solutions offers this as a separate $25 course.
Do extra certifications add continuing education hours?
Yes. Two additional hours per year are required for each discipline you are appointed to. Wildland Fire Protection holders must earn 4 hours of wildland CE per year, which can count toward the 18-hour minimum. Hazardous Materials Technician holders must earn 8 hours of technician-level CE per year in addition to the other requirements.
What records do I need to keep for a CE audit?
Keep non self-serving records that state your name, the subject, hours completed for each subject, the date completed, and the training provider. Certificates of completion, summary pages, and official transcripts all work.
Are CE Solutions courses TCFP-approved?
Yes. CE Solutions is a TCFP-approved continuing education provider and has served Texas firefighters since 1997. Courses are online, self-paced, and accepted toward Texas Commission on Fire Protection renewal.
Source: TCFP Standards Manual. For the full rules and any updates, see the Texas Commission on Fire Protection continuing education page. To confirm requirements specific to your certifications, contact the TCFP certification section at 512-936-3829.
