(a) The board shall recognize, prepare, or administer continuing education programs for its certificate holders. A certificate holder must participate in the programs to the extent required by the board to keep the person‘s certificate of registration.
(b) The continuing education programs:
(1) must include courses relating to sustainable or energy-efficient design standards; and
(2) may include courses relating to:
(A) health, safety, or welfare; or
(B) barrier-free design.

(b-1) As part of a certificate holder’s continuing education requirements for each annual registration period, the board by rule shall require the certificate holder to complete at least one hour of continuing education relating to sustainable or energy-efficient design standards.
(c) The board may recognize the continuing education programs of:
(1) a nationally acknowledged organization involved in providing, recording, or approving postgraduate education; and
(2) any other sponsoring organization or individual whose presentation is approved by the board as qualifying in design or construction health, safety, or welfare.
(d) A person is exempt from the continuing education requirements of this section if the person is, as of September 1, 1999, engaged in teaching the subject matter for which the person is registered under this subtitle as a full-time faculty member or other permanent employee of an institution of higher education, as defined by Section 61.003, Education Code.