Texas renewal guide
On-Site Sewage Facility License (Installer)
If this license is up for renewal, this page gives you the fee, the timeline, and the items that usually hold the filing up.
See this alongside the other 19 Texas license pages we track.
Start here
What matters before you file.
Check the fee, the renewal window, and the documents or insurance records that can slow approval down.
Issuing authority
Renewal period
Every 36 months
Renewal fee
$111.00
Late penalty
$55.50
Bond requirement
No
Insurance requirement
Yes — General Liability
Continuing education
24 hours
Before you renew
Get the filing straight.
- 1
Finish the CE first
Complete the 24 required hours before you start the renewal.
- 2
Check the insurance certificates
Make sure the required policies are current and match what the board or agency expects before you file.
- 3
File with the board
File through Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ) and pay the $111.00 renewal fee once the supporting proof is ready.
Renew online - 4
Leave room for processing
Typical processing time is 45 days, so do not wait until the last minute.
If you miss the deadline, the late penalty is $55.50, with a 180-day grace period.
Detailed notes
The fine print is here.
Texas On-Site Sewage Facility License (Installer)
The Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ) licenses contractors who install septic systems and on-site sewage treatment equipment on properties that cannot connect to a municipal sewer. OSSF licenses are 3-year credentials — renewal is due every three years, not annually or every two years.
Application: $111 fee, a computer-based exam, and proof of insurance
The initial application fee is $111. After TCEQ processes the application, you sit for a computer-based test (CBT). Installer I and Installer II licenses require proof of general liability insurance at renewal — keep the coverage current through each 3-year cycle.
License types under the OSSF program
TCEQ issues four installer-track OSSF credentials:
- Installer I: standard septic system installation and aerobic system maintenance
- Installer II: advanced treatment systems and a broader range of system types
- Designated Representative: company-level oversight for an OSSF contracting business
- Site Evaluator: soil testing and system design authorization
Each type requires 24 hours of TCEQ-approved continuing education per 3-year renewal cycle, completed before the expiration date.
Renewal: $111 every 3 years, same fee as the application
The renewal fee is $111 — the same amount as the initial application. The license is valid for three years from issuance.
If the license lapses, TCEQ applies a multiplier under HB 1237 rules: 1–90 days expired = 1.5× the renewal fee; 91–180 days expired = 2× the renewal fee. After 180 days, reinstatement requires a new application.
- Late Renewal Penalty: $55.50
Practical takeaway
An OSSF Installer license has three recurring obligations per 3-year cycle: completing 24 CE hours before expiration, maintaining the required insurance coverage, and filing the $111 renewal on time. Missing the CE deadline is the most common renewal block — TCEQ does not allow CE to be completed after expiration for the same cycle.
*Disclaimer: This information is provided for general reference only and does not constitute legal advice. Verify current requirements directly with TCEQ at tceq.texas.gov/licensing/ossf.*
Official links
Check the board or agency directly.
Required documents
- Proof of Insurance
- continuing_education_certificate
- Examination Results
Source notes
TCEQ OSSF licensing page (tceq.texas.gov/licensing/licenses/ossflic): 3-year license, $111 application fee, license types, 24 CE hours . TCEQ renewalreq page: $111 renewal fee (standard individual license), 1.5×/2× late multiplier, 180-day reinstatement window (HB 1237, 89th Legislature, eff. Sept 2025). Insurance requirement confirmed per OSSF program; specific coverage minimums not published on accessible TCEQ pages — see 30 TAC Chapter 30 for current requirements. Field correction applied: lateGracePeriodDays 30→180. Verified June 2026.
Rules move. Check Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ) again before you pay, renew, or schedule work around this requirement.
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