1.5 Attempts, Eligibility, and Endorsement Window
Key Takeaways
- Rule 219.1 allows three attempts to pass the licensing examination.
- All attempts must be completed within 180 days from the licensing-course completion date.
- Proctors schedule based on recent course completion within six months or 180 days, or an unexpired TCOLE endorsement letter.
- Failing all three attempts, missing the 180-day window, or being dismissed for cheating requires repeating the basic licensing course.
Three attempts inside 180 days
Rule 219.1 is the source for licensing exam attempts. An eligible examinee is allowed three attempts to pass the examination. All attempts must be completed within 180 days from the completion date of the licensing course.
The rule is strict about what happens next. Any remaining attempts become invalid on the 181st day from the course completion date, or when the examinee passes the licensing exam. If an attempt is invalidated for another reason, it still counts as one of the three attempts.
| Situation | Result under the sources |
|---|---|
| Candidate completed licensing course recently | Proctor can verify recent completion within six months or 180 days |
| Candidate has an unexpired endorsement letter | Proctor may use endorsement to confirm eligibility |
| Candidate fails all three attempts | Must repeat the basic licensing course for the license sought |
| Candidate does not complete attempts within 180 days | Must repeat the basic licensing course |
| Candidate is dismissed for cheating | Must repeat the course and remaining attempts are invalidated |
| Candidate fails one attempt | No required waiting time, but study time is strongly recommended |
Applied scenario guidance: start the clock on the course completion date, not on the first test attempt. If a student finishes BPOC on January 1 and waits until May for the first attempt, the 180-day window is already mostly gone. The answer is not reset by nerves, work schedule, or a preferred test date.
The Proctor Manual gives the practical scheduling check. When scheduling, proctors confirm either recent completion of the licensing course within the last six months or 180 days, or an endorsement letter from TCOLE that has not expired. On exam day, proctors can review records in TCLEDDS or Public License Lookup to verify recent course completion or endorsement.
If the testing system says there is no endorsement to take the exam, the proctor first verifies the correct exam was selected. If still unresolved, the manual directs the proctor to contact the Credentialing Division to verify eligibility. The candidate does not get to choose a different licensing exam just because another exam opens.
The repeat-course consequence is also part of the attempt rule. Rule 219.1 says the examinee must repeat the basic licensing course if all three attempts are failed, if all attempts are not completed within 180 days, or if the examinee is dismissed for cheating. Remaining attempts do not survive those events.
Exam trap: three attempts within 180 days is not the same as three attempts within 2 years. The 2-year issue belongs to score expiration and appointment or inactive status after passing. For retake eligibility after BPOC completion, focus on three attempts and 180 days.
Source anchors: TCOLE Statutes and Rules Handbook, Rule 219.1; TCOLE Proctor Manual, Scheduling and Appendix C.
Under Rule 219.1, how many attempts is an eligible examinee allowed to pass the licensing exam?
When do remaining attempts become invalid under the 180-day rule?
Which scheduling proof does the Proctor Manual identify for Peace Officer exam eligibility?