Section 75.124 - Career and technology education program requirements(a) Sections 1302.5036 and 1302.5037 of the Act provide a pathway to an air conditioning and refrigeration technician certification for persons who complete a career and technology education program. Pursuant to §1302.5037, the department is required to: (1) establish standards for the essential knowledge and skills of career and technology education programs offered in Texas public high schools; and(2) determine on a case-by-case basis whether educational programs offered by private high schools and institutions of higher education are similar to career and technology education programs offered in Texas public high schools.(b) A career and technology education program must be designed to ensure that students obtain the essential knowledge and skills set out in the following cross-referenced rules of the Texas Education Agency. The minimum number of academic credits required for each course is also noted. Students enrolled in courses identified in paragraphs (2) and (3) below must be provided hands-on practical instruction, including interactive lab work, for at least 80 percent of total classroom time. A career and technology education program may not allow students to obtain credit by examination. (1) Principles of Construction; Texas Administrative Code Title 19, Part 2, Chapter 130, Subchapter B, §130.43; one credit.(2) Heating, Ventilation, and Air Conditioning and Refrigeration Technology I; Texas Administrative Code Title 19, Part 2, Chapter 130, Subchapter B, §130.59; one credit.(3) Heating, Ventilation, and Air Conditioning and Refrigeration Technology II; Texas Administrative Code Title 19, Part 2, Chapter 130, Subchapter B, §130.60; two credits. Instruction regarding sheet metal and fiberglass ductwork, described in §130.60(c)(14) and (15), is optional.(4) Practicum in Construction Technology and Extended Practicum in Construction Technology; Texas Administrative Code Title 19, Part 2, Chapter 130, Subchapter B, §130.64 and §130.69; three total credits. (A) At least 80 percent of a student's time in a practicum must be spent outside of the classroom and working under the supervision of a department-licensed air conditioning and refrigeration contractor.(B) A high school or institution of higher education offering a career and technology education program under this section must implement procedures allowing a student to earn course credit for work performed outside of the classroom under the supervision of a department-licensed air conditioning and refrigeration contractor.(c) A career and technology education program will not be recognized by the department unless it is instructed by: (1) a department-licensed air conditioning and refrigeration contractor; or(2) a certified technician whose certification was issued on or after September 1, 2018.(d) A career and technology education program offered by an institution of higher education may not be more stringent than a program offered by a public high school.(e) The department will recognize an educational program offered by a private high school or institution of higher education as a "career and technology education program" for purposes of §75.120 if the department determines that the educational program substantially complies with the requirements of this section.16 Tex. Admin. Code § 75.124
Adopted by Texas Register, Volume 49, Number 34, August 23, 2024, TexReg 6449, eff. 9/1/2024