Renewal Requirements

The renewal process ensures that TSOS certificants maintain good standing in the transportation profession and continue to enhance their knowledge of the technology and scientific principles related to the practice of traffic signal operations. Renewal will be granted for a three-year period upon written application meeting the following conditions. Please not that the TPCB Board has waived the renewal fee for TSOS effective November 1, 2011.

Online TSOS Renewal

1. Renewal application shall include a signed declaration that the applicant’s employment or engagement as a Traffic Signal Operations Specialist has not been suspended nor terminated for unethical or illegal actions during the past certification period. Absence of the above declaration may be cause for the TPCB to refuse certification renewal.
2. Continuing Professional Development – Renewal application shall include evidence in a form acceptable to the TPCB that the applicant has engaged in at least 30 Professional Development Hours (PDH) of activities during the past certification period, which should meet the following criteria:
   1. The subject matter of the activity shall be professional level traffic signal operations.
   2. The activity shall be educational in nature and have the clear purpose and objective of maintaining, improving or expanding professional skills and knowledge. The study should relate primarily to technical competence in:
      1. principles of signal and signal systems;
      2. elements of signal design and implementation;
      3. signal timing;
      4. signal operations and safety review;
   3. The activity shall be in addition to activities of the certificate holder’s normal work assignment
   4. PDH must be earned during the immediate past certification period.
   5. The applicant for renewal shall self-certify that the number of PDH claimed and the activities they are based on meet the above criteria.
   6. Certificants must file a renewal application within 90 days of renewal date. Failure to do so will require that the candidate reapply and retake the applicable certification exam.
   7. Expiration date for renewals will be three years from the date that the certification expires.
   8. For each educational activity meeting the above criteria:
3. Requirements – Every certificant is required to obtain 30 PDHs over a three year period. PDHs may be earned as follows:
   1. Successful completion of college courses
   2. Successful completion of continuing education courses
   3. Successful completion of short courses/tutorials and distance-education courses offered through correspondence, television, videotapes, or the Internet
   4. Presenting or attending qualifying seminars, in-house courses, workshops, or professional or technical presentations made at meetings, conventions, or conferences
   5. Teaching or instructing in 1 through 4 above
   6. Authoring published papers, articles, books, or accepted licensing examination items
   7. Active participation in professional or technical societies
   8. Patents
   9. Active participation in educational outreach activities pertaining to certification which involve K–12 or higher education students
4. Units. The conversion of other units of credit to PDHs is as follows:
   1. 1 college or unit semester hour - 30 PDHs
   2. 1 college or unit quarter hour - 30 PDHs
   3. 1 continuing education unit - 10 PDHs
   4. 1 hour of professional development in coursework, seminars, or professional or technical presentations made at meetings, conventions, or conferences - 1 PDH
   5. For teaching in 1 through 4 above, apply multiple of 2*
   6. Publications
      1. Each published peer-reviewed paper or book in the certificants area of professional practice - 10 PDHs
      2. Each published paper or article (other than 6.a above)in the certificants area of professional practice - 5 PDHs
   7. Active participation in professional and technical society (each organization) - 2 PDHs
   8. Each patent - 10 PDHs
   9. 1 hour of outreach activities - 1 PDH (not to exceed 3 PDHs)