TCOLE Rules.
This chapter covers what a Texas peace officer must know about tCOLE Rules, along with the statute limits that shape each element, at the level of detail the TCOLE tests.
Chapter 4 study guide.
The Texas Commission on Law Enforcement (TCOLE) issues your license, sets the training you must complete to keep it, and can take it away. This chapter covers what the Commission is, where its authority comes from, and how its rules are organized.
There are two layers to learn. The Legislature wrote Chapter 1701 of the Occupations Code, which creates the Commission and sets the big requirements. The Commission then wrote detailed rules in Title 37 of the Texas Administrative Code, Chapters 211 to 229. Learn which chapter of the rules covers which topic, then learn the statutory numbers behind them. Current training mandates are posted at www.tcole.texas.gov.
Jump to an objective10
The TCOLE mission
TCOLE is a regulatory State agency. Its mission is to establish and enforce standards to ensure that the people of Texas are served by highly trained and ethical law enforcement, corrections, and telecommunications personnel.
Notice the two verbs and the three groups. The Commission both establishes standards and enforces them. It does so for peace officers, for county jailers, and for telecommunicators.
The mission lines up with the powers the Legislature gave the Commission. Under the Occupations Code, the Commission may establish minimum standards relating to competence and reliability, including education, training, physical and mental standards, for licensing as an officer, county jailer, public security officer or telecommunicator.
- Occupations Code Sec. 1701.151 · General Powers of Commission; Rulemaking AuthorityThe Commission may adopt rules for the administration of Chapter 1701 and establish minimum standards relating to competence and reliability, including education, training, physical and mental standards, for licensing.
On the exam Know the mission’s key phrases: establish and enforce standards, and highly trained and ethical personnel.
The mission of TCOLE is to establish and standards.
The mission is to ensure Texans are served by highly trained and law enforcement, corrections, and telecommunications personnel.
In its mission statement, TCOLE describes itself as a State agency.
The history and importance of TCOLE
TCOLE is a state agency created by an act of the 59th Legislature, Senate Bill 236, which became effective on August 30, 1965.
The Commission is subject to the Texas Sunset Act. Senate Bill 1445, passed in the regular session of the 88th Legislature, continued the Commission until September 1, 2031. Unless it is continued again, the Commission is abolished and Chapter 1701 expires on that date.
The Commission’s power to make rules comes from legislation: Chapter 1701 of the Occupations Code. That is why the rules matter to you. They carry the authority of a statute, and a violation of a Commission rule is a ground for action against your license.
- Occupations Code Sec. 1701.002 · Application of Sunset ActThe Commission is subject to the Texas Sunset Act. Unless continued in existence, the Commission is abolished and Chapter 1701 expires September 1, 2031.
- Occupations Code Sec. 1701.151 · General Powers of Commission; Rulemaking AuthorityThe Commission may adopt rules for the administration of Chapter 1701 and for its own internal management and control.
On the exam Two dates and one chapter number: August 30, 1965, September 1, 2031, and Chapter 1701.
The act creating TCOLE became effective on August 30, .
The Commission’s rulemaking authority comes from Chapter of the Occupations Code.
Unless continued by the Legislature, the Commission is abolished on September 1, .
How the TCOLE rules are organized
The Commission’s rules are in Title 37 of the Texas Administrative Code, Part 7, Chapters 211 to 229. Each chapter covers one subject, and the chapter numbers are odd numbers with one exception, Chapter 218.
Chapter 211 is Administration. Chapter 215 is Training and Educational Providers. Chapter 217 is Enrollment, Licensing, Appointment, and Separation. Chapter 218 is Continuing Education. Chapter 219 is Pre-licensing, Reactivation, Tests, and Endorsements. Chapter 221 is Proficiency Certificates. Chapter 223 is Enforcement. Chapter 225 is Specialized Licenses. Chapter 227 is School Marshals. Chapter 229 is the Texas Peace Officers’ Memorial Monument.
The rest of this guide covers only the chapters with rules for the individual officer: 217, 218, 221, 219, 223, 211 and 229.
- Chapter 211
- Administration.
- Chapter 215
- Training and Educational Providers.
- Chapter 217
- Enrollment, Licensing, Appointment, and Separation.
- Chapter 218
- Continuing Education.
- Chapter 219
- Pre-licensing, Reactivation, Tests, and Endorsements.
- Chapter 221
- Proficiency Certificates.
- Chapter 223
- Enforcement.
- Chapter 225
- Specialized Licenses.
- Chapter 227
- School Marshals.
- Chapter 229
- Texas Peace Officers’ Memorial Monument.
On the exam Expect to match a chapter number to its subject, especially 217, 218, 221 and 223.
The TCOLE rules are found in Title of the Texas Administrative Code.
Chapter 223 of the TCOLE rules covers .
Continuing Education is covered in Chapter of the TCOLE rules.
Chapter 221 of the TCOLE rules covers Proficiency .
Questions on what you just read.
- Question 1 · LO 4.1
A recruit is asked to state the TCOLE mission. Which answer is correct?
- Question 2 · LO 4.2
Where does the Commission get its power to create rules?
- Question 3 · LO 4.3
An officer wants to read the rules on how the Commission suspends and revokes licenses. Which chapter of the TCOLE rules should she open?
The rest of Chapter 4.
- LO 4.4Basic training and enrollment standards5 statutes and cases · 4 fill-in-the-blank
- LO 4.5Continuing education: the training unit and the training cycle2 key terms · 3 statutes and cases · 4 fill-in-the-blank
- LO 4.6Proficiency certificates1 authority · 3 fill-in-the-blank
- LO 4.7Attempting a licensing exam1 authority · 2 fill-in-the-blank
- LO 4.8Commission action against a licensee4 statutes and cases · 4 fill-in-the-blank
- LO 4.9Reporting a licensee arrest3 fill-in-the-blank
- LO 4.10The Peace Officers’ Memorials2 fill-in-the-blank
A subscription opens the other 7 objectives in this chapter, with 22 more fill-in-the-blank items and 7 more practice questions, along with the study guide for every other BPOC chapter.
Unlock the full guideLast checked against the Texas statutes in September 2026. This guide is a study aid for the TCOLE licensing exam. It is not legal advice, and your academy’s instruction and your department’s policy come first.
What recruits ask about this chapter.
How does the TCOLE curriculum define TCOLE mission as it pertains to the establishments of standards?
Define the TCOLE mission as it pertains to the establishments of standards. Includes: basis for the TCOLE Mission; the mission of the Texas Commission on Law Enforcement, as a regulatory State agency, is to establish and enforce standards to ensure that the people of Texas are served by highly trained and ethical law enforcement, corrections, and telecommuni…
What should a Texas peace officer understand about history and importance of TCOLE?
Discuss the history and importance of TCOLE. Includes: tCOLE is a state agency created by an act of the 59th Legislature—Senate Bill (SB) 236 which became effective on August 30, 1965; the Commission will continue until September 1, 2031--Senate Bill (SB) 1445 passed in the 88th Legislature Regular session;
What does the TCOLE curriculum list about how the TCOLE rules are organized?
List how the TCOLE rules are organized. Includes: the sections are listed to include a brief description; rule organization for Part 7—Title 37 Texas Administrative Code Chapters 211-229; chapter 211: Administration; chapter 215: Training and Educational Providers; chapter 217: Enrollment, Licensing, Appointment, and Separation;
How does a Texas peace officer identify criteria for TCOLE Rules concerning basic training and enrollment standards?
Identify the criteria for TCOLE Rules concerning basic training and enrollment standards. Includes: chapter 217: Enrollment, Licensing, Appointment, and Separation; minimum Standards for Enrollment and Initial Licensure--§217.1; application for License and initial Report of Appointment--§217.3; denial and Cancellation --§217.5;
Related study guides in Professional Police Practices.
Drill this chapter with practice questions written from the BPOC curriculum.
You get a curated practice question bank for every BPOC chapter, a daily drill that weights toward the topics you keep missing, and a predicted TCOLE score that moves with your answers.
Get full access →Preparing for the state exam? Read the TCOLE exam guide for the format, passing score, and retake rules, or take a free TCOLE practice test to see where you stand.