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BHEC to roll out CE Broker Sept. 1; agencies to require online CE tracking under new law
Summary
The Texas Behavioral Health Executive Council said it will launch CE Broker on Sept. 1 with mandatory use beginning Jan. 1, after the legislature required online continuing-education management and BHEC amended rules to authorize CE Broker.
Daryl Spinks, executive director of the Texas Behavioral Health Executive Council, said the council will activate the CE Broker continuing-education management system on Sept. 1 and make use mandatory for licensees beginning Jan. 1.
Spinks said the agency will publish training invitations and hold webinars and board presentations in coming months; he described the basic CE Broker account as free and optional upgrades as available. He said the system stores CE records electronically and eases agency audit work.
The rollout follows legislative action this session that requires state licensing agencies to use online CE-management systems. Patrick Hyde, general counsel, and Robert Romig, deputy executive director, said BHEC adopted a technical change in its continuing-education and audit rule (88250) to “make it crystal clear” the agency may authorize use of CE Broker or another dedicated online system.
Spinks said the rule amendment aligns BHEC with a new state statute requiring online CE management and that the change removes ambiguity about whether the agency can mandate an online platform. He encouraged licensees to register for the introductory webinars and to attend presentations at council and board meetings in the fall.
Agency staff said the basic CE Broker account will allow licensees to record hours, eliminate much paper tracking and help the agency with audits; upgrades are optional. The agency will not reopen the earlier chat-style Q&A feature for these sessions and asked attendees to raise hands and speak so staff can answer live questions.
The council provided no vote tally or formal motion during the listening hour; staff said the continuing-education rule amendment has already been adopted and that CE Broker will be enabled on the dates above.
Licensees with questions about specific CE credits or course provider eligibility were directed to BHEC’s licensing and continuing-education staff and to the CE Broker webinars. Spinks and Romig said staff will circulate email invitations and post guidance on the rulemaking page once the governor’s informal rule review is complete.
Looking ahead, the agency said it will present CE Broker demonstrations at upcoming board meetings and dedicated webinars for licensees who want more Q&A time than the standing meetings allow.
