Texas human trafficking CME for physicians — the HHSC-approved hour

Texas physicians who see patients need one hour of human trafficking prevention education: first in the renewal period after the license is issued, then once every third renewal period. It is a small requirement, but it is easy to lose track of because it does not come up every renewal. Since Texas now checks CME in CE Broker before it lets you renew, a missing hour can stop a renewal.

The short version

Who needs it

Occupations Code §156.060 applies to physicians "who designate a direct patient care practice" on the registration permit renewal. The Texas Medical Board defines direct patient care as "any in-person or real-time audio or visual communication with a patient or a patient's legal medical decision-maker." That definition includes real-time audio or video visits. If you only do administrative, research or other non-clinical work and do not designate direct patient care, the hour does not apply to you.

How often

The Board: physicians in direct patient care must complete at least 1 hour "in their first renewal period after license issuance, and at least 1 hour every third renewal period thereafter" (every 6 years, since Texas renews every two years). In the Board's shorthand, "Human Trafficking CE is due once every three cycles."

Look back at when you last took it. If it was in your first renewal period, count three renewal periods forward; that is when it is due again.

Which courses count

The Board says "HHSC's approved courses will fulfill this requirement" and points physicians to the Texas Health and Human Services Commission (HHSC) training page. HHSC must post its list of approved courses and keep it updated (Occupations Code chapter 116), and the law requires at least one approved course to be free.

On HHSC's course list you can filter by profession (Physician MD/DO), cost and format. Each entry shows the provider, cost, length and whether it is online, in person or a live webinar. HHSC's own course, HEART (Hearing, Evaluating, Activating, Resourcing and Training), is free and online.

A general human trafficking course that is not on HHSC's list is a risk. Choose one from the list, and save the certificate. If you are unsure about a course, confirm with the Board before you count it.

How it fits with your other Texas hours

Texas requires 48 hours every two years, at least 24 of them formal. The human trafficking hour:

• counts toward the 24 formal hours (22 TAC §161.35(a)(2)(A));
• counts toward medical ethics or professional responsibility: §156.060 tells the Board to designate it that way, and the Board's page says it "may be credited towards the requirements for medical ethics or professional responsibility";
• cannot be carried forward to the next period (22 TAC §161.35(c)(3));
• is not covered by the board-certification presumption: the Board's chart says recent board certification satisfies most hours, but not this one.

Our Texas CME requirements guide lists every other Texas topic, including the pain management and opioid hours and the newer forensic evidence and nutrition requirements.

Report it in CE Broker before you renew

Texas now verifies CME through CE Broker. The Board says licensees renewing on or after September 1, 2026 must meet the CE Broker requirements, that compliance "must now be verified through CE Broker BEFORE RENEWAL," and that licensees without a "Complete" status in CE Broker "will be unable to access the TMB renewal system." A Basic CE Broker account is free.

When you enter the human trafficking course in CE Broker under its category, the Board says the platform recognizes it and applies it toward the ethics or professional responsibility requirement. Upload the certificate when you report it.

Checklist

1. Check whether you designate direct patient care (most clinicians do).
2. Find when you last completed the human trafficking hour, and whether it is due this renewal period.
3. If it is due, pick a course from HHSC's list, filtered to Physician (MD/DO). Free options exist.
4. Report it in CE Broker with the certificate, well before your expiration date.
5. Note the period it is next due, three renewals out, in your renewal planner. Your dates are on the Texas deadline page.

Requirements change. This guide was checked against the sources below in October 2026; confirm with the Board before you rely on it.