If you're a Texas healthcare professional, completing an approved human trafficking prevention course is one of the many state mandates you have to check off the list when renewing your license. Since 2020, this requirement has been required tracking rule changes can be cumbersome. Choosing the right education provider and program can be even more difficult because of the strict requirements Texas as on which companies are approved and which individual courses have met all of their standards. So the short of it is that not every course that looks like it qualifiers actually will, and many of the "free" options that exist won't count towards your CE hour requirements. This 2026 update covers what's new for this mandate, which professions need it, and where the free options fall short.
What has changed in 2025 and 2026?
Key things to highlight:
The first thing is that more professions are covered today. As of September 1, 2025, three new laws (HB 742, HB 754, and HB 1778) extended the requirement beyond healthcare practitioners to include emergency medical personnel, medical assistants, and even individuals who work in the tattoo and body piercing industry.
Next, the Texas Health and Human Services Committee (HHSC) updated their course standards in August 2025
The rules a course has to meet to get approved got a major refresh and many of the older courses aren't valid anymore.
The statute is already in effect, but the administrative rule that spells it out (25 TAC §370.1) hasn't been finalized yet. That doesn't change what you have to do, it's just worth knowing.
Is human trafficking training required in Texas?
Yes. If you provide direct patient care, you must complete a HHSC-approved training course as a condition of renewing your license and maintaining compliance. It comes from Texas Occupations Code, Chapters 116 and 301. Chapter 116 discusses in detail the types of healthcare professionals and 301 speaks exclusively about Nursing and this requirement. Below is how it all breaks down for some of the major Healthcare Licensing Boards in the State. You'll see that all of the Boards that require this training also require CE or CME as a condition for renewing a license. Picking the right CE Provider with national accreditations and HHSC approval ensures you optimize your learning.
Profession Course | Texas Licensing Board | Required for Renewal? | Is AchieveCE Approved? |
|---|---|---|---|
Yes, every renewal cycle | Yes, ANCC Contact Hours & HHSC Approved | ||
Yes, every 3rd renewal cycle | Yes, AMA PRA Category 1 Credits™ & HHSC Approved | ||
Yes, every renewal cycle | Yes, AGD CE Hours & HHSC Approved | ||
Yes, every renewal cycle | Yes, State Board & HHSC Approved | ||
Yes, every renewal cycle | Yes, ACPE & HHSC Approved | ||
Yes, every renewal cycle | Yes, State Board & HHSC Approved |
Whether your a Physician, Nurse, Professional Counselor or a Dental Professional, AchieveCE has the complete national and State approvals for your renewal requirements.
How long does the training last before I have to do it again?
This one can trip people up, so it's worth being clear. The requirement is tied to your ongoing renewal cycle, so you take it again at a frequency set by your State Board's rules. Physicians and Physician assistants only need to take it every 3rd renewal (or 6 years) but most other professions require it every renewal cycle (2 years). If you keep your license in active standing, you most likely have to take it once every 2 years or at minimum once every 6 years if you fall under the Texas Medical Board.
HHSC-Approved course provider approvals do expire, however. The commission approves providers in set cycles, often two or three years at a time (2026 to 2028, for example). So a course that was approved when you last took it might not be approved now. Quick thing to double check before you pay for anything or spend your time taking a course that might not count or provide accredited CE hours.
How do I know if a course is actually approved?
The easiest way to avoid taking a course that isn't approved is to verify the course is listed on HHSC's searchable database. This is a more recent development as they retired the old PDF lists and have a living database now that only includes organizations that have met the new standards they launched in late 2025.
Two things to highlight:
Is the Approval Current? Make sure to check the provider's approval hasn't lapsed and their course has the appropriate required disclosures and approval information on their website.
Was it approved before March 13, 2025? If so, pay attention because courses that were approved before that date and didn't go through the re-approval process no longer count for your renewal after that date.
What does an approved course have to cover?
To get approved, a course has to hit 21 specific standards (updated in August 2025) and meet WCAG 2.1 AA accessibility requirements. They fall into four buckets:
HHSC Human Trafficking Training basics like what labor and sex trafficking actually are, how trafficking differs from smuggling, and how force, fraud, and coercion work.
Awareness training. on how to recognize the signs in different clinical settings.
Appropriately handled trauma-informed care, how to talk to a potential victim safely, and when to bring in a professional interpreter.
Ultimately, detailed guides on how to report, who to call, and connecting individuals with the correct hotlines and local resources.
Our course for nurses & other healthcare professionals and special CME training for Physicians & Physician Assistants covers all 21 standards, hold HHSC approval and meets the accessibility requirements.
What your certificate needs to show
For your certificate to be acceptable during an audit or verification it needs to show a few things:
The type of credit you earned (like Continuing Education Units (CEUs) , CME Credits, or CE Hours)
The name of the approved provider with Texas relevant approval numbers
Contact info for that provider, so it can be verified
Clear written title of the course matching the HHSC approval database
Number of hours or credits awarded along with date of completion
Is AchieveCE approved for the HHSC Human Trafficking Prevention Training?
Yes, AchieveCE holds over 150 national and state level accreditations including HHSC-approval to offer this training to all Texas healthcare professionals including nurses, medical doctors, pharmacists, dental professionals and more. We hold national accreditations with the ACCME, ANCC, ACPE and AGD so every Human Trafficking Training you take includes the CE & CME credits you deserve.
Nurses, Dentists, Dental Hygienists, Pharmacists, Pharmacy Technicians, Mental Health Professionals, Physical Therapists, Occupational Therapists and more can find their HHSC-approved courses here: 100% Online Texas Human Trafficking Training for Nurses and All Health Care Practitioners
Medical Doctors, Osteopathic Physicians and Physician Assistants can find thier special CME HHSC-approved course here: 100% Online Texas Human Trafficking Training for Physicians and Physician Assistants
Who can I contact for more information?
Our fully trained and expert support staff is more then happy to help you understand your Texas Human Trafficking CE requirements. Contact us via the live chat on any page or send us a message at our help desk.
Luke Porter, Founder
