Alternative Fuels Safety Training FAQs

Yes.

No. Master plumbers can file LPG Form 16B or CNG Form 1016B, "Application for Examination Exemption by a Master or Journeyman Plumber or a Class A or B Air Conditioning and Refrigeration Contractor," submit a $50 registration fee, a legible photocopy of a current Air Conditioning and Refrigeration Contractor or Master of Journeyman Plumber certificate, and a state-issued photo ID card or driver's license to the Railroad Commission, and receive a card that exempts you from the Category D licensing, examination, training and continuing education requirements.

Applicants must pass the appropriate rules examination for the LPG/CNG/LNG activities they will perform. Applicants can register for an exam and training class, if applicable, online at: https://apps.rrc.texas.gov/events/s/

Individuals who will be performing LPG employee-level DOT cylinder filler, service and installation technician, motor/mobile fuel filler, bobtail driver, appliance service and installation technician, or RV technician examination must complete an 8-hour class for certification. An individual that takes and passes an exam prior to attending the required course has until their May 31 renewal deadline to complete the 8-hour training requirement.

Yes, but your employer cannot conduct any LP-gas activities until you are certified and the company is properly licensed. Your certification will not be issued until you complete the required 16-hour class and pass the Category J management-level examination.

Click here to view the requirements in 16 TAC §9.52, which covers the applicable courses for each different type of certification.

Yes. This information is public under Texas' Public Information Act, with the exception of your Social Security Number, which is confidential under state and federal law and will, therefore, be withheld from the public. Access to or copies of this information will be provided in response to a request after the requestor pays any applicable statutory copying charges.

Yes. If the individual will be listed as the operations supervisor for the outlet they must have a Category E management-level certification which requires completion of the 80-hour course.

However , if the operations supervisor listed on the Outlet form is supervising more than one outlet and the employee-level certificate holder will be the designated certified employee responsible for the activities of the outlet, then a management-level certification is not required.

Yes.  All applicants for new Category E management-level certificates must complete the 80-hour course. 

Persons who were Category E certified prior to February 1, 2001, and who’s certification has not lapsed, are not required to take the 80-hour course to retain their certification.

Yes. This course is offered monthly in Austin.

Yes. This course is offered monthly in Austin.

Yes.  You are not currently Category I certified, so your Category I certification will be a new certification.

The fee for this 10-day, 80-hour class is a break-even amount based on the actual cost of putting on the class.  The fee for all Railroad Commission site-based classes is $75 a day.

Continuing education classes are offered online and in-person and are posted in the Certification Exam Registration and Training System (CERTS). If the class you need is not currently posted, please check later.

Alternative Fuels Safety offers training and continuing education classes online and statewide. Individuals can register for classes through Certification Exam Registration and Training System (CERTS).

Registration is required a minimum of seven days prior to the class start date.  Individuals can register for classes through Certification Exam Registration and Training System (CERTS)

The sooner the better. Registration is on a first-come, first-served basis. Individuals must register a minimum of seven days prior to the class start date. If seven or fewer students have registered one week before a scheduled class, the class will be canceled.

Individuals can register for classes through Certification Exam Registration and Training System (CERTS)

No. Individuals can register for classes through Certification Exam Registration and Training System (CERTS).

The fee is $75 for each 8-hour training class. The fee for the 80-hour Category E Management Course is $750. The fee for the 16-hour Category F, G, I and J Management Course if $150. Class fees do not include the LP-gas examination fee.

Eight-hour classes are free to currently certified individuals who have complied with all applicable training or continuing education requirements. Individuals with a certification that is expired within 2 years may attend a class for continuing education but must pay the course fee. Individuals with a certification that is expired over two years must apply for a new certification.

Registration for classes is generally handled on a first-come, first-served basis. If the class you need is not currently posted, please check later.

Possibly, if you have 10 or more students confirmed to attend, a suitable classroom and schedules permit. To request a class at your location, please contact training-exams or call (512) 463-2682.

Yes. In addition to classes conducted by RRC instructors, approved outside instructors can offer training and continuing education courses. Click here for a list of Railroad Commission-approved outside instructors.

Individuals may also attend the Propane and Education Research Council (PERC) Certified Employee Training Program (CETP) courses for continuing education credit. See TAC §9.52(g) for eligible courses and the submission process.

Individuals pursuing a DOT cylinder filler and motor/mobile fuel filler certification may apply for the Dispenser Operations Certificate Exemption in TAC §9.20 by submitting LPG Form 16P or through an approved course per TAC §9.55.”

No. The only non-RRC classes acceptable for RRC credit are classes conducted by Commission-approved outside instructors.

“Training" means a class taken to obtain a new certification. "Continuing education" means a class taken to maintain a current certification. See TAC §9.52 for the lists of training and continuing education classes.

All applicants for new employee-level bobtail driver, DOT cylinder filler, service and installation technician, motor/mobile fuel filler, appliance service and installation technician, and RV technician certificates must complete 8 hours of training.

All applicants for new management-level Category D, K and M certificates must complete an approved 8-hour training course.

All applicants for new management-level Category F, G, I and J certificates must complete the RRC’s 16-hour Category F. G, I, and J course.

All applicants for new management-level Category E certificates must complete the RRC’s 80-hour Category E course.

See TAC §9.51 for training course requirements.

All management-level Category D, E, F, G, I, J, K and M certificate holders and all employee-level bobtail driver, DOT cylinder filler, service and installation technician, motor/mobile fuel filler, appliance service and installation technician, and RV technician certificate holders must complete 8 hours of job-related continuing education every 4 years.

Regardless of the number of LP-gas certifications a certificate holder has, they are only required to complete 8 hours of continuing education within each 4-year period.  Employees with multiple certifications should attend a course that pertains to their primary job duties.  Please refer to the table in §9.52(g) of the LP-gas safety rules.

To increase public safety. The 16-hour course promotes safe handling of propane by people whose jobs involve operating a refueling facility, filling LPG cylinders and motor/mobile fuel containers on vehicles, motor homes, recreational vehicles and catering trucks and related activities.

If you pass a new exam between March 1 and May 31, you have until May 31 of the following year to complete your training requirement.

Under Railroad Commission rules, after your due date you will be out of compliance.  You will not be allowed to renew your certification, which will become expired, and you will no longer be certified by the Railroad Commission to perform the applicable LP-gas activities.

If you missed your renewal and/or continuing-education deadline, you must pay the annual renewal fee and renewal late fee and register for a class, including the $75 registration fee, and complete the class.

You may register for class on the Certification Exam Registration and Training System (CERTS).

If your certification lapsed more than two years ago, you will need to start over as a new applicant.

Yes. To become Category D certified, you must pass the Category D examination and complete an 8-hour class. The class fee is $75 and does not include the $70 management-level examination fee. You may register for class on the Certification Exam Registration and Training System (CERTS).”

However, individuals with a General Installers and Repairman Exemption are not required to attend training. Any individual who is currently licensed as a master or journeyman plumber by the Texas State Board of Plumbing Examiners or who is currently licensed with a Class A or B Air Conditioning and Refrigeration Contractors License issued by the Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation may register with AFS and be granted an exemption to the Category D licensing and examination requirements. See TAC §9.13 for details.

No. Only the certification you added will expire, unless the training due date you missed happened to also be your four-year continuing-education deadline. If you miss a continuing-education deadline, all your certifications expire.

Please e-mail the contact person's name, telephone number and e-mail address, along with a copy of the individual’s certification card or their full name and the last four digits of their Social Security number and a detailed explanation, including any dates of class attendance, to training-exams. The reported information will be evaluated and you will be informed accordingly. Please allow adequate time to research questions.