The 89th Regular Session of the Texas Legislature ended with several new state laws affecting TDLR’s Medical and Health Professions programs. Some laws became effective immediately, while others will take effect on September 1, 2025. To see the full list of new laws affecting TDLR licensees, please see the legislation page on the TDLR website.

TDLR will adopt new or amended rules, as necessary, to implement the new legislation. Some bills include specific direction to TDLR on the rules the agency must adopt and the deadline for adoption. The rulemaking process includes an opportunity to provide comment on proposed rules.

The public can participate in the process when proposed rules are published in the Texas Register and at meetings of the Texas Commission of Licensing and Regulation when the rules are discussed and brought up for a vote. The rulemaking process can take several months to complete.

To keep abreast of proposed rule changes, TDLR urges interested parties to sign up for email updates tailored to specific licensing programs. Select "important notices" for the programs of interest.

The Texas Commission of Licensing and Regulation (Commission) adopted rules for the following programs at their meeting on April 9, 2025.

Athletic Trainers Program:

The Commission adopted amendments to existing rules at 16 Texas Administrative Code, Chapter 110, §§110.24, 110.30, and 110.70, regarding the Athletic Trainers program. The adopted rules amend the license renewal process to add an affirmation by the licensee that all services provided will be directed by a qualified health professional, with those written directives kept current. The adopted rules also update the temporary licensing requirements to first require passage of the written examination, with the expiration of the temporary license coming on the last day of the month of the next scheduled practical examination. Finally, the adopted rules update the standards of practice to include a physician-delegated authority document.

These amendments went effect on June 1, 2025. You can find information about the new rules on the program’s webpage.

Hearing Instrument Fitters and Dispensers

The Commission adopted amendments to existing rules at 16 Texas Administrative Code (TAC), Chapter 112, Subchapter A, §112.2; Subchapter E, §112.44; and Subchapter L, §112.110; the repeal of existing rules at Subchapter H, §112.70 and §112.72; and the addition of new rules at Subchapter H, §112.70 and §§112.73 – 112.76, regarding the Hearing Instrument Fitters and Dispensers program.

The adopted rules are necessary to update the current administrative rules and the continuing education (CE) requirements for hearing instrument fitter and dispenser apprentices, license holders, and CE providers. The adopted rules are a result of changes suggested during the required four-year rule review related to CE and changes recommended by the Education and Examination Workgroup; and other suggested changes made possible, in part, by HB 1560, 87^th Legislature, Regular Session (2021), the Department’s Sunset legislation.

These amendments went effect on May 15, 2025. You can find information about the new rules on the program’s webpage.

Four-Year Rule Review Readoptions

The Commission readopted the following rule chapters as a result of the required four-year rule review.

• Athletic Trainers – 16 Texas Administrative Code, Chapter 110
• Speech-Language Pathologists and Audiologists – 16 Texas Administrative Code, Chapter 111
• Hearing Instrument Fitters and Dispensers – 16 Texas Administrative Code, Chapter 112
• Orthotists and Prosthetists – 16 Texas Administrative Code, Chapter 114
• Midwives – 16 Texas Administrative Code, Chapter 115
• Dietitians – 16 Texas Administrative Code, Chapter 116

The readoption notice was published in the May 16, 2025, issue of the Texas Register. 

Speech-Language Pathologists and Audiologists

The Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation (Department) proposes changes to the rules at 16 Texas Administrative Code, Chapter 111 regarding the Speech-Language Pathologists and Audiologists program. The proposed rules add definitions, revise certain aspects of the license application process, change the rules for interns and assistants, modify the rules regarding supervision requirements and responsibilities, and reorganize and streamline the existing rules to improve readability.

The proposed rules were published in the June 6, 2025, issue of the Texas Register. Comments on the proposed rule changes may be submitted online. The Department will accept comments on the proposed rule changes until July 7, 2025. You can review the rule proposal online.

The Texas Health and Human Services Commission (HHSC) recently revised its training standards to align with federal and state policies. 

As a result, the list of approved human trafficking prevention courses has been removed until HHSC completes its review of trainings against the new standards. Previously approved courses taken before March 13, 2025, will still meet the requirement. For courses taken on or after March 13, 2025, please see the current courses available on the HHSC website and feel free to direct questions about their courses to HHSC. 

TDLR staff are available to provide human trafficking awareness training tailored to specific needs, including law enforcement, TDLR licensees and members of the public. Send our team an email for scheduling information.

June 1 marked the official beginning of the Atlantic hurricane season, which runs through November 30.  According to the latest forecast from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), this hurricane season will be above average, with 13-19 named storms expected this season. Of those, 6-10 will develop into hurricanes, and 3-5 of those will become major hurricanes (category 3 or greater).

It’s important that you and your family are prepared for this emergency. Have a plan in place for you and your family. This plan should include how to receive emergency weather alerts, the locations of nearby shelters, evacuation routes, and more. Also, make sure you have an emergency kit handy, with items like water, flashlight, first aid kit, weather radio, phone chargers, and more.

There are several resources available online to help you stay ready for hurricane season. Ready.gov and TexasReady.gov are great sources of information on hurricane preparedness, as well as other emergencies. The National Weather Service also has information on hurricanes and how to prepare.

TDLR regulates 38 different and often unrelated industries and professions. Many of these professions have been moved to us from other agencies by the Texas Legislature over the years, along with their database applications. We currently have eight different licensing database systems for these industries and professions, making it a challenge to provide efficient service to our licensees

After getting approval in the 2023 Texas Legislative Session and completing the bid process, TDLR has hired Consultants of Government and Industry, Incorporated (CGI Inc.) to create a single expandable system for all our licensing programs. Over the next several months, we will be working with CGI, Inc. to integrate our data and create a completely new, user-friendly, licensing portal for TDLR. We are excited to be working on this upgrade and will be providing updates as this moves forward.

As mentioned in the rule updates article, there are changes to the eligibility requirements for a temporary license for athletic trainers. As of June 1, in addition to the education and fee requirements, an applicant will have to pass the written portion of the licensure examination in order to be eligible for a temporary license. A temporary license allows an applicant to perform the activities of an athletic trainer until the results are released from the first practical examination administered at least 30 days after the temporary license is issued.

To apply for a temporary license, select the option for "Initial and Temporary License" in the Athletic Trainer License Application form. Remember that temporary licenses cannot be renewed.

To find out more information, please visit our webpage.

As of January 1, 2025, a podiatric medical radiological technician, or rad tech, registration is now issued or renewed for two years. If a registration was renewed in 2024, the registration period is still one year, but future renewals will be for two years. The fee for initial and renewal registration has been increased to $50.00, to reflect the expansion of the registration period.

Regarding those individuals registering for the first time, the minimum training hours and X-ray requirements increased beginning in December 2024.  Make sure the certificate you receive reflects those changes. Those who complete classes after December 2024 will have to complete 90 X-rays, which is up from sixty.  The higher number of training hours reflect and document the total amount of time it actually takes (online modules, self-study, and increased X-rays) to complete the training, not just the classroom time.

You can register, renew, or update your supervising podiatric physician online. To find out more information on rad tech registration, please visit our website here.

We’re sending a warm (and slightly belated) thank you to our incredible Speech-Language Pathologists and Audiologists in honor of National Speech-Language-Hearing Month.

Each May, these professionals help raise awareness about the importance of communication and the challenges faced by individuals with speech, language, and hearing disorders. Early identification and intervention are key, as many people live with undetected issues, often unaware they're missing certain sounds, words, or developmental milestones.

Speech-Language Pathologists and Audiologists play a vital role in recognizing these signs early and providing the care and support needed for meaningful progress.

A heartfelt thank you to our licensed professionals for your compassionate expertise. Your work truly transforms lives—one voice, one sound at a time.

This spring, TDLR Compliance Program Specialist Erica Rodriguez hit the road (and the screen!) to connect with future professionals in communicative sciences and disorders programs across Texas. Through 22 presentations at 14 colleges and universities, students had the opportunity to get a firsthand look at the licensure process and what it takes to begin their professional journey.

These informative sessions are designed to guide students through the licensure process. Each presentation covers how to complete the application, required supporting documents, supervision guidelines, scope of practice, and how to maintain a license. Presentations typically last about one hour.

They are especially helpful for:

• Undergraduate seniors applying for a Speech-Language Pathology Assistant or Audiology Assistant license;
• Graduate students pursuing a master’s degree and applying for a Speech-Language Pathology Intern license; and
• Doctoral students working toward a degree in audiology and applying for an Audiology Intern license.

Program directors can email Erica to schedule an in-person or virtual presentation. 

Compliance staff are available to come out to your school or class to provide a presentation for any profession that we regulate. If you would like to have one of our staff provide a presentation to your students, please send us an email.

Following the recent four-year rule review, several updates have been made to the Continuing Education (CE) requirements for the Hearing Instrument Fitters and Dispensers program.

Key changes include:

• Apprentice CE: Reduced from 20 to 10 hours (up to 5 online).
• Definitions: Updated for 'in-person,' 'online,' 'virtual'; plus 'CE Hour' is now defined as  50 minutes.
• Expanded CE Activities: Includes publishing, teaching, and proctoring.
• Credit Requirements: Full attendance required; no partial or duplicate credit.
• Provider Registration (Effective May 1, 2025): Now a 2-year term for $400 (was 1 year/$200).  Prospective providers can apply online.
• Course Approval: Pre-approval is no longer needed.
• Provider Responsibilities: Updates to instructor qualifications, delivery, validation, and advertising.

We encourage all licensees and CE providers to familiarize themselves with these updates. You can find the rules via our website.

To find final disciplinary actions taken on complaints filed with TDLR, you can search the administrative orders database. You can search by name, license number, location, or program. This search includes Orders issued by the Commission or Executive Director assessing a sanction, an administrative penalty or both for violations of TDLR's program laws and rules. This search covers Orders issued during the current and most recent past two fiscal years. TDLR's fiscal years begin on September 1st and end on August 31st of each year. No actions taken by previous licensing boards or agencies are included.

License denials and revocations are included. If an application denial is based on criminal history, you can find information on why that criminal history was relevant in the program’s Criminal Conviction Guidelines.

For information on why specific violations of the law or rules might fall into a certain penalty range, please see TDLR's Enforcement Plan.

Please take a moment to subscribe to TDLR’s email updates to receive important information about programs of interest and upcoming Commission and board meetings, including meeting agendas.

This summer is looking busy for TDLR’s Medical and Health Professions staff.  We hope to see you at our upcoming events!  We’ll be available to answer questions and provide information to attendees.

• Texas Hearing Aid Association Annual Conference: Thursday, June 26 – Saturday, June 28 at the Westin Galleria in Houston. 
• Southwest Athletic Trainers Association (SWATA) Symposium: Thursday July 17 – Saturday, July 19 at the Frisco Embassy Suites Hotel and Convention Center.

TDLR is available to provide informational presentations and/or staff booths at your next conference or meeting. If you would like a TDLR representative at your next conference or meeting, contact us at Compliance.Health.Professions@tdlr.texas.gov.

Advisory boards are instrumental in what we do at TDLR. They are experts in their field and help up in updating/creating rules for their programs, updating the enforcement penalty matrix and may be subject matter experts for TDLR. They usually meet one to two times a year. 

If you would like to join an advisory board, please apply via this link. You are also eligible to be a public member on other programs’ boards, besides your own. 

For more information, please email advisory.boards@tdlr.texas.gov. 

Behavior Analyst Advisory Board, 6-year terms

• Licensed Behavior Analyst Term Expires: 02/01/2031

Dyslexia Therapists and Practitioners Advisory Committee, 6-year terms

• Dyslexia Practitioner Term Expires: 12/31/2029

Hearing Instrument Fitters and Dispensers Advisory Board, 6-year terms

• Doctor of Otolaryngology Term Expires: 02/01/2027
• Licensed Hearing Instrument Fitter and Dispenser Term Expires: 02/01/2031
• Licensed Hearing Instrument Fitter and Dispenser Term Expires: 02/01/2031
• Public Member Term Expires 02/01/2031
• Public Member Term Expires 02/01/2029

Massage Therapy Advisory Board, 6-year terms

• Member who represents a licensed massage school Term Expires: 09/01/2025
• Member who represents a licensed massage school Term Expires: 09/01/2029

Midwives Advisory Board, 6-year terms

• Midwife Term Expires: 01/31/2031
• Midwife Term Expires: 01/31/2031
• Midwife Term Expires: 01/31/2031

Orthotists and Prosthetists Advisory Board, 6-year terms

• Public Member who uses orthosis Term Expires: 02/01/2027

Please note that commission meetings are in person. Unless otherwise noted, all advisory board meetings are held via videoconference. You can view the live broadcasts or archived meetings on TDLR's YouTube channel. Meeting notices, agendas, and staff reports are posted on the TDLR Meetings page.

• The Texas Commission of Licensing and Regulationis scheduled to meet on Tuesday, July 8, 2025, at 8:30 a.m. The meeting will take place at 1106 Clayton Lane, Suite 125E, Austin, Texas and by videoconference.
• The Speech Language Pathologists and Audiologists Advisory Board is scheduled to meet on Monday, July 28, 2025 at 10:00 am.
• The Dyslexia Therapy Advisory Committeeis scheduled to meet on Wednesday, July 30, 2025 at 10:00 am.