Guardianship Certification

All applications must be submitted online. Paper applications are not accepted.

• Requirement of Certification
• Criminal History
• Criminal History FAQ's
• Expiration
• Reinstatement for Certifications Expired over 1 year
• Fees
• FAQ's

Under section 155.012 of Texas Government Code, the following individuals must be certified by the Commission:

• An individual who is a private professional guardian;
• An individual who will provide those services to a ward of a private professional guardian on the guardian's behalf; 
• An individual, other than a volunteer, who will provide those services, or other services under Section 161.114, Human Resources Code, to a ward of a guardianship program or the Department of Aging and Disability Services on the program's or department's behalf.
• A person who at any time supervises direct providers of guardianship services must be certified, unless the person is exempt under Section 155.001(6) of the Government Code.

Please be advised that attorneys are not required to be professionally certified guardians. Attorneys seeking to become guardians should contact the court where the guardianship will be filed for information on those requirements. The attorney will, however, need to register any guardianships with the JBCC and must refer to the Register a Guardianship webpage for information on that process.

Inquiries Regarding Paperwork

Applications are processed as soon as possible, in the order of which they are received. Due to the volume of applications received, processing times can vary; therefore, we are unable to provide more specific timeframes.

Applicants must confirm receipt of their applications, the status of their applications, and their applications progress by referring to the View Pending Online Applications page of their online profiles. From that page, they can verify the following information 24/7:

1. Confirm receipt of documents uploaded to their application by looking at the number reflect next to the Document(s) link.
   • If it shows (0), the document was not uploaded (i.e., it was not received).
   • If it shows (1), or any number other than 0, the document was uploaded (i.e., it has been received).
2. Check their applications status.
   • By hovering their mouse over the status, they'll also be able to see descriptive text that explains what the status means.
3. Check the progress of their applications status by clicking the View Details link.
   • This will show them which items on their application's checklist have been completed, and which are still pending.

Applicants are also sent automated email confirmations of successful application submission, and when applications are approved.

Inquiries for application status checks or receipt confirmation will not be replied to unless determined by staff that there’s been a delay in processing your application, and you have not received prior notification. We receive many of these inquiries and each email takes time to research and respond to which delays the processing of applications. Thank you for your understanding.

Requirement of Certification 

Applicants are solely responsible for ensuring they know all information required to become certified, by ensuring to utilize all resources available to them (i.e., our website, rules, slideshows, any communications submitted to them by staff, etc.).

Certification of Guardians

When you complete the certification application, please ensure your work history is complete and your job duties are fully described in your profile so we can accurately assess your qualifications. Omissions can cause delays in the certification process.

In order to be eligible to become a fully certified Guardian, you must:

1. Satisfy the requirements of Sections 3.0 and 7.2 of the JBCC Rules;
2. Be at least 21 years of age;
3. Be a high school graduate or possess the GED equivalent;
4. Complete the online Texas Guardianship training module located on the Register A Guardianship page of our website per section 7.2(b)(8) of the JBCC Rules.
   • a copy of your training completed certificate must be uploaded to your application. You must maintain a copy of your certificate of completion for a minimum of 3 years.
5. Meet 1 of the requirements below established in section 7.2(b)(4) of the JBCC Rules:
   • have two years of relevant work experience related to guardianship; or
   • have a minimum of a bachelor’s degree in a field relevant to guardians (examples:  nursing, social work and psychology) or completion of a course curriculum or training indicated below; or
   • have 1 year of work experience related to guardianship and completion of one of the JBCC approved course curriculums or training indicated below.
6. Successfully pass a Commission approved exam, obtaining a minimum score of 75, after no more than 4 attempts; and
7. Meet all attestation requirements established in section 7.2 (b) (6-7) of the JBCC Rules.

JBCC Approved Course Curriculums or Training:

• HHSC Course Curriculum (available only to HHSC employees).
• Baylor University's "A Complete Guide to Guardianship" online curriculum.

An application for certification, payment of the certification fee and fingerprinting for a criminal history background check is required before you may register to take the required exam described in item 5 above.  See the Exam page of our website for more information. In order to apply to become a fully certified Guardian, you must:

1. Submit the Application for Certification and pay the application fee. 
   • You must apply for certification via our online licensing and certification system.
   • Follow the prompts to create your JBCC profile. 
     • You must use your full legal name (i.e., the name indicated on your government issued identification or driver's license). Preferred names are not permitted.
     • Immediately after creating your profile, you will automatically be taken to the first page of the application for certification.
     • Please see the Fees section of this page for information on amounts due, acceptable forms of payment, etc. 
       • When paying the application fee, on the Credit Card page of the application, the payment portal vendor requires you to enter the billing address on file with the credit card company of the cardholder.
2. Pass a state and national criminal history background check.
   • You must get fingerprinted using the JBCC service code for the Guardian Certification's department so that we can obtain your background reports directly from DPS and the FBI.
     • Anything that doesn't have "TX-JBCC Guardianship Certification Program" on it will not be accepted.
     • You will receive the service code form via the automated email confirmation that is sent immediately after submitting your application for certification.
       • You must check your inbox (and spam folder) for this correspondence. 
     • You must upload a copy of your fingerprinting receipt to your online application for certification after you've completed the fingerprinting process and before registering for the exam. 
3. Pass the guardian certification written examination.
   • Note: A passing score on the written examination is valid for 2 years. An applicant who does not become certified during that 2-year period must pass the written examination again.
   • You may take the exam four up to times.
     • If you are not successful after four attempts, you must petition to the JBCC for permission to take the exam a fifth, and final, time. Your petition must be submitted to guardians@txcourts.gov.
   • After you have submitted your application for certification and uploaded your fingerprint receipt, you can register for the exam by logging into your online profile and clicking Apply for Exam on your profile's menu options.
   • Refer to the Exam page of our website for additional information on exam registration procedures, exam fees, exam dates and deadlines, etc.
4. Applicants going from Provisional to Full Certification must also meet the CE requirements established in section 7.7 of the JBCC Rules and must upload copies of their completed CE course completion certificates to their online application. Additional information on CE can be found on the Continuing Education page of our website.
   • Under section 4.3(k)(9), courses completed prior to the first renewal period of the applicant cannot be used for renewal purposes.
     • For example: the provisional applicant completed the course on 07/01/24. They become fully certified on 07/01/25. Courses completed prior to 07/01/25 cannot be used for renewal purposes.

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Provisional Certification 

In order to be eligible to become a provisionally certified Guardian, you must:

1. Satisfy the requirements of Sections 3.0 and 7.2 of the JBCC Rules;
2. Be at least 21 years of age;
3. Be a high school graduate or possess the GED equivalent; and
4. Meet all attestation requirements established in section 7.2 (b) (6-7) of the JBCC Rules.

In order to apply to become a provisionally certified Guardian, once all eligibility requirements have been met, you must:

1. Submit the Application for Provisional Certification and pay the application fee. 
   • You must apply for certification via our online licensing and certification system.
   • Follow the prompts to create your JBCC profile. 
     • You must use your full legal name (i.e., the name indicated on your government issued identification or driver's license). Preferred names are not permitted.
     • Immediately after creating your profile, you will automatically be taken to the first page of the application for certification.
     • Please see the Fees section of this page for information on amounts due, acceptable forms of payment, etc. 
       • When paying the application fee, on the Credit Card page of the application, the payment portal vendor requires you to enter the billing address on file with the credit card company of the cardholder.
2. Pass a state and national criminal history background check.
   • You must get fingerprinted using the JBCC service code for the Guardian Certification department so that we can obtain your background reports directly from DPS and the FBI.
     • Anything that doesn't have "TX-JBCC Guardianship Certification Program" on it will not be accepted.
     • You will receive the service code form via the automated email confirmation that is sent immediately after submitting your application for certification.
       • You must check your inbox (and spam folder) for this correspondence. 
     • You must upload a copy of your fingerprinting receipt to your online application for certification after you've completed the fingerprinting process. 

Certification of Military Spouses, Military Service Members, and Military Veterans

Definitions per section 55.001 of Chapter 55 Occupations Code:

• Military service member: a person who is on active duty.
  • Active Duty: current full-time military service in the armed forces of the United States or active-duty military service as a member of the Texas military forces.
• Military spouse: a person who is married to a military service member.
• Military veteran: a person who has served on active duty and who was discharged or released from active duty.
• License: a license, certificate, registration, permit, or other form of authorization required by law or a state agency rule that must be obtained by an individual to engage in a particular business.

The Commission may issue an initial certification to an applicant who is a military service member, spouse of a military service member, or a military veteran that:

1. holds a current guardian certification, registration, or license issued by another state that has requirements substantially equivalent to Texas requirements, or
2. within the 5 years preceding the date of application, held a guardian certification, registration or license in Texas.

If you do not meet one of the above two requirements, you are not eligible for the military applicant fee waiver and must pay all required fees.

To apply for Certification or Licensure as a military applicant, under sections 3.4 (a)-(g) of the JBCC Rules, you must do the following:

1. Submit the Application for Certification via the online system on our home page.

• • Select the waiver option for Military Applicant. (Important Note: if you are deemed ineligible for this waiver, staff will invoice you for the application fee(s). The application will be withdrawn if the fee is not paid within 30 days of the invoice date.)

2. Submit all required documentation for the items indicated below:

a. Documentation of being a military service member, spouse, or veteran, (such as military ID or other official documentation confirming you as being a military spouse);

b. Proof of holding a current certification or license as a guardian in another state (such as a copy of your certification or license). You must be licensed or certified, in the other state, under the profession for which you seek licensure or certification in Texas. The documentation must verify you are certified or licensed, in the other state, to practice in the profession for which you are applying; 

c. A letter of good standing from your current certification or licensing authority;

d. Documentation showing a permanent change of station order for purposes of establishing residency;

e. Letters of recommendation or a resume showing your work experience;

f. Proof of passing your state’s certification or licensure exam (if applicable); and

g. Documentation of your state’s current certification or licensure requirements. (Note: the documentation must be from your state’s licensing authority. Applicants cannot create the documentation themselves.)

Note: If you were certified or licensed with the JBCC within 5 years of the date of your application, skip items a-g and, instead, upload proof of your prior Texas certification or license and the name you were certified or licensed under.

3. Pass a state and national criminal history background check.

• • You must get fingerprinted using the JBCC service code for the Guardian Certification department so that we can obtain your background reports directly from DPS and the FBI.
    • Anything that doesn't have "TX-JBCC Guardianship Certification Program" on it will not be accepted.
    • You will receive the service code form via the automated email confirmation that is sent immediately after submitting your application for certification.
      • You must check your inbox (and spam folder) for this correspondence. 
    • You must upload a copy of your fingerprinting receipt to your online application for certification after you've completed the fingerprinting process. 

If eligible, under section 3.4 of the JBCC Rules, you may be waived from the examination requirement. The written knowledge portion of the examination pertains to Texas rules and procedures, which guardians are required to know in order to become certified. Depending on your experience, you may still be required to pass the examination.

To inquire about providing process server services as a military spouse applicant, under section 3.4 (h) of the JBCC Rules, you must submit your inquiry to the licensing specialist for this department at: guardians@txcourts.gov.

Criminal History

Criminal History FAQ's

All new applicants, and those renewing their certifications are required to obtain one-time electronic Fingerprinting through the Texas Department of Public Safety (DPS). Fees for these services are paid at the time your fingerprints are taken. The results of the DPS and FBI fingerprint searches will be sent directly to the Commission.

Please refer to the Criminal History FAQ's for additional information. 

• If you apply for certification within one year of being provisionally certified, a new criminal history check is not required.
• If you are provisionally certified when you apply for certification, new criminal history reports are required if you have been provisionally certified for more than twelve (12) months.

You do not need to have your fingerprints taken again once you have been fingerprinted for the JBCC's Guardian Certification department. Upon receipt of your application and required payment, staff will request a new criminal history report and the results will be sent directly to the Commission.

Refer to section 3.5 of the JBCC Rules for additional details on this requirement.

Under section 3.5 (a) of the JBCC Rules, an initial or renewal application may be denied, and a regulated person may be disciplined, if the person's criminal history or other information indicates that the person lacks the honesty, trustworthiness, or integrity to hold the certification, registration, or license.

Please be aware that we must have an application from you before we can provide the instructions, service code and disclosure language that is required to make your fingerprinting appointment. When you submit your application for certification online, an automated email confirmation will be sent to your primary email address. This automated email will contain the code and instructions you need to get fingerprinted. Please check your inbox (and spam folder) for this correspondence. Do not rely on information or forms that you receive from a source other than the JBCC. Doing so may result in your having to be re-fingerprinted, and thus delays in processing your application.

Expiration

For new certifications, your approval to provide guardianship services will expire two (2) years after the last day of the month of certification and, upon expiration, unless renewed, your name will be removed from the list of certified guardians in our online licensing system. Provisional certifications are valid for one 2-year period only and cannot be renewed or reinstated.  

Reinstatement of (Non-Provisional) Certification Expired 1 year or More

See section 3.2 of the JBCC Rules for a certification that has been expired for 1 yr. or more.

Important Note: Before starting the reinstatement process, you must email the licensing specialist at guardians@txcourts.gov so they can reactivate your profile, thereby allowing you to submit the application online.

Reinstating an Expired (non-provisional) Guardianship Certification

When initially applying to reinstate an expired certification under option #1, do not create a first-time applicant profile in our online system. Instead, you must do the following as an existing certification to start the certification process over again.

The there are 2 options for reinstating a (non-provisional) certification expired for 1 year or longer. 

Option #1 (online only): Applicants reinstating a (non-provisional) expired certification must meet the same requirements as new applicants if they do not meet the requirements established under option #2 below.

1. Login to your existing certification profile in the online licensing system
   
   • If you do not know your login credentials, follow the instructions in section XIII of the pdf Guide to Using the Online System located on the home page of our website to obtain your login name and reset your password.
   • If you've never created an online profile, email staff so they can provide the instructions you need to create one. Once your profile is created, proceed to the step below.
2. Click the button to apply for new certification and pay the application fee.
   • When paying the application fee on the Credit Card page of the application, the payment portal vendor requires you to enter the billing address on file with the credit card company of the cardholder.
3. Click the button to apply for the exam and pay the exam fee.

Option #2 (online only): Former TX (non-provisional) guardians who moved out of state and are returning may reinstate without examination only if you meet the following criteria:

1. You were fully certified in Texas prior to moving out of state;
2. You are currently fully certified in the other state;
3. You have been practicing as a fully certified guardian in the other state for a period of at least 1 year preceding the date of application for (re)certification in Texas; and,
4. Your full certification is currently in good standing.

If you meet the criteria in option #2 you may become recertified in Texas by following the procedures below:

1. Login to your existing certification profile in the online licensing system

   • If you do not know your login credentials, follow the instructions in section XIII of the pdf Guide to Using the Online System located on the home page of our website to obtain your login name and reset your password.
   • If you've never created an online profile, email staff so they can provide the instructions you need to create one. Once your profile is created, proceed to the step below.
2. Click the button to apply for new certification and follow the instructions accordingly.
3. Submit the required copies of your CE documentation (i.e., copies of your certificates of attendance) by uploading it to the Additional Supporting Documents portion of your application.
4. Submit all required paperwork to the Commission (along with documentation confirming the above four criteria) by uploading it to the Additional Supporting Documents portion of your application. Please refer to section 3.2 (g) of the JBCC Rules for details.
5. Pay to the commission a fee that is equal to twice the normally required renewal fee. 
   • When paying the application fee on the Credit Card page of the application, the payment portal vendor requires you to enter the billing address on file with the credit card company of the cardholder.
   • Note: the online app will assess the initial $100 fee, and the remaining amount due will be assessed via a staff generated invoice so that the total you pay will be twice the normally required renewal fee.

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Fees

All fees are non-refundable. However, if you have a fee dispute you must submit it to guardians@txcourts.gov for resolution.

Initial Certification: $100.00

Provisional Certification: $100.00

Acceptable forms of payment:  Credit Card