Texas Backflow Tester (BPAT) License Renewal

Last reviewed October 2026 · 5 min read

In Texas, anyone who tests or repairs backflow prevention assemblies needs a Backflow Prevention Assembly Tester (BPAT) license from the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ). A BPAT license is valid for three years. To renew, you finish 24 hours of continuing education before it expires, 8 of them hands-on practical skills training, submit a renewal application and a criminal history attestation, and pay $111. TCEQ takes a late renewal up to 180 days after expiration at 1.5 or 2 times the fee, but CE not finished by the expiration date gets the renewal denied, and after 180 days you start over with a new application and the exam.

At a glance

Who needs it: A person who repairs or tests the installation or operation of backflow prevention assemblies must hold a license issued by TCEQ. A BPAT may test and repair assemblies on any domestic, commercial, industrial or irrigation service, and on fire lines only if permanently employed by an Approved Fireline Contractor
Renews every: Three years. Go by the expiration date on your license
Renewal notice: As a courtesy, TCEQ mails a renewal notice to your last known address at least 60 days before the license expires, and emails one 90 days before if it has a valid email address for you. It isn't responsible for undelivered mail: renewing on time is up to you
When you can renew: A license isn't eligible for renewal while it doesn't expire for 90 days or more, so you renew within the last 90 days before it expires
Continuing education: 24 hours from TCEQ-approved training courses, 8 of them practical skills (hands-on) training. You can take it any time while the license is valid, but it must be finished before the expiration date: CE not completed by then gets the renewal denied, even if you apply within the 180-day late window. TCEQ's License Information search shows the CE hours on your record
Renewal fee: $111 if you apply on or before the expiration date; $166.50 (1.5 times the fee) 1 to 90 days after it; $222 (2 times the fee) 91 to 180 days after it
Renew: Online through TCEQ's Online Renewal page, paying by credit or debit card (print the receipt: it isn't mailed), or on TCEQ's paper renewal form. Submit the criminal history notification the same day you renew. Allow at least 30 days for processing
Deficiencies: If TCEQ finds a problem with your application, it sends a deficiency letter. You have 30 days from the letter's date or the license's expiration date, whichever is later, to fix every issue and tell TCEQ; otherwise the application expires and you must apply again with a new fee. Application fees are non-refundable
Working after it expires: If you've applied to renew (application and fee in), you may keep doing licensed work until TCEQ renews or denies it, but only while the license has been expired 90 days or less. More than 90 days past expiration, or with no application and fee in, you may not do licensed work until the license is renewed or re-issued
After 180 days: A license expired for 180 days or more can't be renewed, and only one renewal application may be submitted after it expires. You apply for a new license with its fee, meet the current education, training and experience requirements and pass the exam again
Keep your record current: Tell TCEQ's Austin central office about an address change within 10 days. To get or renew a license you must be in compliance with child support payments and any TCEQ fees or penalties. Keep your own training records: the course name, date, location and provider
Military service: If you couldn't renew on time because you were on active duty outside Texas as a United States military service member, you can renew within two years of returning from active duty, with your military orders, the renewal application and the fee. CE is waived for the renewal cycle you served in. This doesn't apply to military contractors
Questions: licenses@tceq.texas.gov

The 180-day late window gives you more time to send the application, not to finish CE. Hours not completed by the expiration date get the renewal denied.

Renewing late? Apply well before day 180: TCEQ's pages put the cut-off at both "at least 180 days" and "over 180 days" after expiration, and a license past it can't be renewed.

TCEQ can only send notices to the address and email it has: report an address change within 10 days, or the 60-day notice goes to your old one.

How to renew

Find the expiration date on your BPAT license and put a reminder about three months ahead of it: renewing opens once it's less than 90 days from expiring.
Check your CE hours in TCEQ's License Information search, and finish any you're missing before the expiration date: 24 hours, 8 of them hands-on.
Renew online through TCEQ's Online Renewal page and pay the $111 fee by card, or use the paper renewal form. Print your receipt.
Submit the criminal history notification the same day you renew.
No letter or renewed license after 30 days? Email licenses@tceq.texas.gov, and fix any deficiency letter within its deadline.

Still tracking this in a spreadsheet? On a paid plan, get emailed 90, 60, 30, 7 and 1 days before it expires, by default.

Start free

Deadline checklist

6 months outLook up your CE hours in TCEQ's License Information search and book the courses you still need, including the 8 hands-on hours.
3 months outCheck TCEQ has your current mailing and email address. Renewing opens once the license is less than 90 days from expiring.
60 days outRenew online, pay the $111 fee and submit the criminal history notification the same day.
30 days outNo letter or renewed license yet? Email licenses@tceq.texas.gov.
Expiration dayEvery CE hour must already be done. Renewing after today costs 1.5 times the fee, then 2 times after 90 days.

Put this renewal in your calendar

Know your expiration date? Download a free calendar file with reminders before it, no sign-up needed. It's made in your browser: nothing you type is sent to us (your browser keeps it only if you follow the sign-up link, for your new ledger). A Google Calendar button sends just that one event to Google.

The file covers one date: once you renew, make a new one. How to add it to your calendar

The license isn't the only thing expiring

Most lapses that cost contractors work aren't the license itself. They're one of these, renewing on a different date:

Your TSBPE plumbing license, if you hold one: it renews on its own date
Your landscape irrigator or irrigation technician license, if you hold one: TCEQ renews it separately
General liability insurance policy
Workers' compensation policy (or exemption)
Certificates of insurance (COIs) you've given to clients and GCs
Commercial auto insurance

LicenseLedger keeps every one of those dates in one place and emails you before each one expires, with reminders far enough ahead to finish CE and paperwork.

Track your renewal dates free

Frequently asked questions

How often do you renew a Texas backflow tester license?

Every three years. TCEQ mails a renewal notice at least 60 days before the license expires, and you can renew within the last 90 days before it expires.

How many CE hours does a Texas backflow tester need?

24 hours from TCEQ-approved training, 8 of them hands-on practical skills training, finished before the license expires. CE not completed by then gets the renewal denied, even within the 180-day late window.

How much does it cost to renew a Texas BPAT license?

$111 if you apply on or before the expiration date, $166.50 1 to 90 days after it, and $222 91 to 180 days after it.

What if my Texas BPAT license expired?

You have 180 days after expiration to apply, at the late fee. If you've applied, you may keep working until TCEQ renews or denies it, but only while it has been expired 90 days or less; past that, or with no application in, you may not do licensed work until it's renewed. After 180 days you need a new license and must pass the exam again.

Official sources

Rules, fees and CE requirements change. Confirm the current requirements with the official source before you renew:

TCEQ, Backflow Prevention Assembly Tester Information and Requirements

This guide is general information, not legal advice.

Other Texas guides

All Texas guides on one page

Get a reminder before this renewal is due

Add this license, your insurance policies and the COIs you collect from subs to LicenseLedger, and get an email before each one expires. Free for up to 3 records, no credit card required.

Start free

Not ready to sign up? Get the free tracking spreadsheet

Texas Backflow Tester (BPAT) License Renewal

Last reviewed October 2026 · 5 min read

At a glance

Who needs it: A person who repairs or tests the installation or operation of backflow prevention assemblies must hold a license issued by TCEQ. A BPAT may test and repair assemblies on any domestic, commercial, industrial or irrigation service, and on fire lines only if permanently employed by an Approved Fireline Contractor
Renews every: Three years. Go by the expiration date on your license
Renewal notice: As a courtesy, TCEQ mails a renewal notice to your last known address at least 60 days before the license expires, and emails one 90 days before if it has a valid email address for you. It isn't responsible for undelivered mail: renewing on time is up to you
When you can renew: A license isn't eligible for renewal while it doesn't expire for 90 days or more, so you renew within the last 90 days before it expires
Continuing education: 24 hours from TCEQ-approved training courses, 8 of them practical skills (hands-on) training. You can take it any time while the license is valid, but it must be finished before the expiration date: CE not completed by then gets the renewal denied, even if you apply within the 180-day late window. TCEQ's License Information search shows the CE hours on your record
Renewal fee: $111 if you apply on or before the expiration date; $166.50 (1.5 times the fee) 1 to 90 days after it; $222 (2 times the fee) 91 to 180 days after it
Renew: Online through TCEQ's Online Renewal page, paying by credit or debit card (print the receipt: it isn't mailed), or on TCEQ's paper renewal form. Submit the criminal history notification the same day you renew. Allow at least 30 days for processing
Deficiencies: If TCEQ finds a problem with your application, it sends a deficiency letter. You have 30 days from the letter's date or the license's expiration date, whichever is later, to fix every issue and tell TCEQ; otherwise the application expires and you must apply again with a new fee. Application fees are non-refundable
Working after it expires: If you've applied to renew (application and fee in), you may keep doing licensed work until TCEQ renews or denies it, but only while the license has been expired 90 days or less. More than 90 days past expiration, or with no application and fee in, you may not do licensed work until the license is renewed or re-issued
After 180 days: A license expired for 180 days or more can't be renewed, and only one renewal application may be submitted after it expires. You apply for a new license with its fee, meet the current education, training and experience requirements and pass the exam again
Keep your record current: Tell TCEQ's Austin central office about an address change within 10 days. To get or renew a license you must be in compliance with child support payments and any TCEQ fees or penalties. Keep your own training records: the course name, date, location and provider
Military service: If you couldn't renew on time because you were on active duty outside Texas as a United States military service member, you can renew within two years of returning from active duty, with your military orders, the renewal application and the fee. CE is waived for the renewal cycle you served in. This doesn't apply to military contractors
Questions: licenses@tceq.texas.gov

The 180-day late window gives you more time to send the application, not to finish CE. Hours not completed by the expiration date get the renewal denied.

Renewing late? Apply well before day 180: TCEQ's pages put the cut-off at both "at least 180 days" and "over 180 days" after expiration, and a license past it can't be renewed.

TCEQ can only send notices to the address and email it has: report an address change within 10 days, or the 60-day notice goes to your old one.

How to renew

Find the expiration date on your BPAT license and put a reminder about three months ahead of it: renewing opens once it's less than 90 days from expiring.
Check your CE hours in TCEQ's License Information search, and finish any you're missing before the expiration date: 24 hours, 8 of them hands-on.
Renew online through TCEQ's Online Renewal page and pay the $111 fee by card, or use the paper renewal form. Print your receipt.
Submit the criminal history notification the same day you renew.
No letter or renewed license after 30 days? Email licenses@tceq.texas.gov, and fix any deficiency letter within its deadline.

Still tracking this in a spreadsheet? On a paid plan, get emailed 90, 60, 30, 7 and 1 days before it expires, by default.

Start free

Deadline checklist

6 months outLook up your CE hours in TCEQ's License Information search and book the courses you still need, including the 8 hands-on hours.
3 months outCheck TCEQ has your current mailing and email address. Renewing opens once the license is less than 90 days from expiring.
60 days outRenew online, pay the $111 fee and submit the criminal history notification the same day.
30 days outNo letter or renewed license yet? Email licenses@tceq.texas.gov.
Expiration dayEvery CE hour must already be done. Renewing after today costs 1.5 times the fee, then 2 times after 90 days.

Put this renewal in your calendar

The file covers one date: once you renew, make a new one. How to add it to your calendar

The license isn't the only thing expiring

Most lapses that cost contractors work aren't the license itself. They're one of these, renewing on a different date:

Your TSBPE plumbing license, if you hold one: it renews on its own date
Your landscape irrigator or irrigation technician license, if you hold one: TCEQ renews it separately
General liability insurance policy
Workers' compensation policy (or exemption)
Certificates of insurance (COIs) you've given to clients and GCs
Commercial auto insurance

LicenseLedger keeps every one of those dates in one place and emails you before each one expires, with reminders far enough ahead to finish CE and paperwork.

Track your renewal dates free

Frequently asked questions

How often do you renew a Texas backflow tester license?

Every three years. TCEQ mails a renewal notice at least 60 days before the license expires, and you can renew within the last 90 days before it expires.

How many CE hours does a Texas backflow tester need?

How much does it cost to renew a Texas BPAT license?

$111 if you apply on or before the expiration date, $166.50 1 to 90 days after it, and $222 91 to 180 days after it.

What if my Texas BPAT license expired?

Official sources

Rules, fees and CE requirements change. Confirm the current requirements with the official source before you renew:

TCEQ, Backflow Prevention Assembly Tester Information and Requirements

This guide is general information, not legal advice.

Other Texas guides

All Texas guides on one page

Get a reminder before this renewal is due

Add this license, your insurance policies and the COIs you collect from subs to LicenseLedger, and get an email before each one expires. Free for up to 3 records, no credit card required.

Start free

Not ready to sign up? Get the free tracking spreadsheet