Certification
Certain individuals who provide guardianship services in Texas must be certified as of September 1, 2007. Forms, instructions and information on certification, provisional certification and re-certification are available here. If you have any questions about certification, please contact the Program Director [pdf].
Important Notices
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New Exam Requirements, Effective September 1, 2009
The Guardianship Certification Board recently decided to require only a Texas-specific exam as part of the certification requirements. The Office of Court Administration (to which the Board is administratively attached) posted a request for proposals and reviewed responses. It has awarded a contract to develop and administer a comprehensive Texas-specific exam to the Center for Guardianship Certification. As of September 1, 2009, applicants for certification will be required to take and pass the new Texas exam; the national exam will no longer be required. Applicants for certification who did not successfully complete both the national and Texas exam on or before August 31, 2009 must take the new Texas-specific exam. Please visit the Fees page for the new exam fee approved by the Supreme Court of Texas.
If you have questions about the award of the contract, please do not contact Board members or Board staff. Contact the Office of Court Administration's purchaser, Veronica Strong, at veronica.strong@courts.state.tx.us or 512/463-1638.
What's New
- Legislative Update - 81st Legislature, Regular Session
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County Clerks Not Required to Obtain Separate Criminal History Record Information for Certified Guardians
Effective 6/19/09 Amendments set forth in Senate Bill 1057 eliminate the need for the county clerk to obtain a separate criminal history report for those individuals described in Government Code 411.1386(a) and Probate Code 698(a), if the individual described is certified or provisionally certified by the GCB. The court may request a copy of the criminal history record information obtained by the GCB when issuing or renewing the individual's certification. Courts should use the form provided to request a copy of criminal history record information from the GCB. - New Application Form - 09/2009 The application for certification form has been changed to reflect the new examination requirements effective 9/1/09. Go to the Certification & Examinations page for the new form and instructions.
- New Reporting Requirements Under Senate Bill 1055 (see Legislative Update, this page), changes were made to the information reported to the Guardianship Certification Board by private professional guardians, guardianship programs, the Department of Aging and Disability Services and county clerks. Changes to the information reported by private professional guardians and guardianship programs to county clerks were also made. The new requirements are effective 9/1/09, and will apply to information reported for the calendar year ending 12/31/09. Visit the Reporting Requirements page for a summary of the new requirements. New forms will be available in December 2009.
- Continuing Education The Verification of Attendance form has been changed to indicate the number of hours earned for a continuing education activity. Forms are also available to request continuing education credit for an activity, and for speaking, teaching or writing. Visit the Continuing Education page for more information.
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Updated: 01-Sep-2009
