Does Texas require autism training for school staff? What Texas law asks, and where outside training fits
The short answer
In the Texas statutes and rules we reviewed, we found no statewide requirement for all school staff to complete autism training. Texas does require related training: under 19 TAC §89.1053, each district must provide crisis prevention and intervention training to the staff it identifies through its own risk criteria, and restraint training must cover disability-related behaviors and positive behavioral interventions and supports. Separately, educators subject to the state's continuing professional education requirements for certificate renewal must receive training on educating students with disabilities.
What we found
On October 29, 2026, we read the Texas Education Code chapters on educators (21), special education (29), discipline (37) and health and safety (38), searching for "autism", "positive behavior", "behavior intervention", "behavior management", "challenging behavior" and "de-escalation". We also read the special education rules in 19 TAC Chapter 89, Subchapter AA, and the State Board for Educator Certification rules on certificates, including the educational aide certificate (19 TAC Chapter 230), and on certificate renewal (19 TAC Chapter 232). In the Texas statutes and rules we reviewed, we found no statewide requirement for all school staff to complete autism training.
The one Texas statute titled "Autism Training", Texas Education Code §21.465, is optional for districts:
"A school district may provide a salary incentive or similar compensation to a teacher who completes training provided by a regional education service center relating to autism."
A district that offers this incentive must adopt a policy to implement it.
Source: Tex. Educ. Code § 21.465.
Related training rules for Texas school staff
### Crisis prevention and intervention training (19 TAC §89.1053(j)) Texas Education Code §37.0021(d)(2) directs the commissioner of education to "establish crisis prevention and intervention training requirements for school district personnel." The commissioner's rule, 19 TAC §89.1053, as amended in 2026, applies to school districts and charter schools and says:
"Crisis prevention and intervention training. Training for school employees, volunteers, or independent contractors must be provided in accordance with the following requirements. (1) School districts must create, document, and use risk criteria based on job role, campus assignments, or incident history to determine which personnel, including support staff and law enforcement, require training and the extent of training needed."
Staff a district designates as high risk must receive training that includes non-violent crisis intervention techniques, verbal de-escalation strategies and safe physical intervention procedures. Districts must require training that uses standards from the State Board for Educator Certification's continuing education clearinghouse (Texas Education Code §21.4514).
How often is a recommendation, not a requirement. The rule lists:
"(4) Minimum recommended training intervals include: (A) annually for personnel determined to have a high risk of crisis involvement; and (B) every two years for other campus-based personnel."
In plain terms, TEA recommends at least annual training for high-risk staff and training every two years for other campus staff.
### Restraint training content (19 TAC §89.1053(d)) A core team on each campus must be trained in the use of restraint. The team must include a campus administrator or designee and any general or special education staff whose job duties may place them at high risk of using restraint. The rule sets what that training covers:
"Training on the use of restraint must include instruction on disability-related behaviors, including behaviors associated with neurological, developmental, or emotional disabilities, and evidence-based strategies to prevent, reduce, or respond to such behaviors. This training must emphasize individualized and developmentally appropriate approaches and the use of positive behavioral interventions and supports as alternatives to physical intervention and restraint."
Our course does not teach restraint, crisis intervention or de-escalation.
### The state's Texas Behavior Support Initiative (TBSI) course TEA lists TBSI as "a state-level training that meets the requirements mandated by Texas Education Code §37.0021 and Texas Administrative Code §89.1053." On October 29, 2026, TEA's page for the course also said it "is currently being revised based on the updates to Texas Administrative Code §89.1053" and no longer meets all of the rule's requirements, and it asked participants to read the rule text and make sure they comply with current rules. The page shows no price.
### Students with autism: staff training as an IEP strategy (19 TAC §89.1055(l)) For each student eligible under the autism category, the student's admission, review, and dismissal (ARD) committee must consider a list of strategies:
"the strategies described in this subsection must be considered, at least annually based on peer-reviewed, research-based educational programming practices to the extent practicable and, when needed, addressed in the IEP"
One of them is:
"professional educator/staff support (for example: training provided to personnel who work with the student to ensure the correct implementation of techniques and strategies described in the IEP)"
The same list names teaching strategies for students with autism, including applied behavior analysis, as examples. This is a decision the ARD committee makes for each student. It is not a training requirement for all staff. If the ARD committee determines that services are not needed in one or more areas listed in §89.1055(l), the IEP must state that determination and its basis.
### Continuing professional education on students with disabilities Texas Education Code §21.054(a-1):
"Continuing education requirements for educators must include training regarding educating students with disabilities."
The State Board for Educator Certification rule, 19 TAC §232.11(c)(1), says: "All educators must receive CPE training regarding educating students with disabilities. This training must include information particular to educating students with dyslexia." Classroom teacher certificate holders complete 150 clock-hours of continuing professional education in each five-year renewal period. The rule does not name autism.
### District staff development on students with disabilities (Texas Education Code §21.451) District staff development must include evidence-based training that "relates to instruction of students with disabilities, including students with disabilities who also have other intellectual or mental health conditions" and "is designed for educators who work primarily outside the area of special education." A district must provide it to such an educator only if the educator lacks the knowledge and skills to carry out the individualized education program of a student they teach. Staff development may also include training in positive behavior intervention and support strategies.
Sources: 19 TAC §89.1053 and §89.1055, TEA's current text (Chapter 89, Subchapter AA); TEA's text of the adopted 2026 amendment to §89.1053; Tex. Educ. Code § 37.0021; Tex. Educ. Code § 21.054; Tex. Educ. Code § 21.451; 19 TAC §232.11 (Chapter 232, Subchapter A); TEA: Texas Behavior Support Initiative.
Where outside training fits
None of these rules requires a district to buy an outside course. The crisis prevention and intervention rule ties training to standards from the State Board for Educator Certification's continuing education clearinghouse. The §21.465 autism incentive applies to training provided by a regional education service center. For the staff development on students with disabilities, a district must consult people with expertise in research-based practices for students with disabilities; the law says these "include colleges, universities, private and nonprofit organizations, regional education service centers, qualified district personnel, and any other persons identified as qualified by the district." Consulting is not the same as accepting a course for credit. Before buying outside training for any of these purposes, ask your district, or TEA, how it evaluates outside courses.
We offer this course as introductory ABA training. We do not claim that it satisfies 19 TAC §89.1053 or §89.1055, counts toward continuing professional education hours or the clearinghouse standards, qualifies for a §21.465 incentive, or replaces any training Texas requires. We do not claim a number of training hours for it.
What our Intro to ABA Level 1 course covers
The Intro to ABA Level 1 course teaches methods and techniques of Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA) for parents and caregivers, teachers, paraprofessionals and behavior technicians who work with a child every day. Topics include what autism is, what ABA is, pairing, errorless teaching and prompting, and active student responding. Complete the course and pass its 40-question final exam with a score of at least 80%. Completing this course earns a Special Learning certificate of completion. That certificate is not a continuing education (CE) certificate. It is basic training in ABA methods for daily practice, not a professional credential. We do not claim Texas state approval or continuing education credit for this course.
A paraprofessional who took it wrote: "I want to learn everything I can to help my student succeed in the public school system. I found Special Learning's ABA level 1 course so fascinating and inspiring."
Two ways to start
- For one person: try the first two sessions free for 7 days; account creation is required, with no payment information requested. The full course costs $199, paid once, with no subscription or recurring charge. Activate your license code within 90 days of purchase; the published completion window is 10 weeks after activation. You may request a later start date, no later than three months after purchase. Start the free sessions
- For your district's staff: tell us how many people need training and when, and we will send a quote; each participant who completes the course and passes its 40-question final exam with a score of at least 80% earns an individual certificate of completion. Ask for a school quote
Last reviewed: October 29, 2026.