Overview
Continuing education for IRMs supports skilled information resources management. The IRM Continuing Education Requirements are designed to assist IRMs as they select and pursue professional development opportunities.
DIR develops requirements regarding continuing education for IRMs and requires IRMs to report their compliance. DIR periodically analyzes IRM training needs and adjusts the requirements. DIR may also provide educational materials and seminars for state agencies and IRMs.
The roles of specific IRMs may vary significantly depending on the size and mission of their agencies. The IRM Continuing Education Requirements accommodate different IRMs and agency sizes, first, by being based on agency biennial IR budgets. Additionally, IRMs select their own educational activities from broad areas of knowledge to meet their individual needs and expertise.
Note: Download the IRM Continuing Education Requirements – PDF (177KB). Information about file formats.
Continuing Education Requirements
The Continuing Education Requirements are based on the premise that IRMs should strive for proficiency in key competency areas that will enable them to build expertise in the use and management of information resources.
To comply with the requirements, an IRM must:
-
Complete a minimum number of hours of qualified training/education every fiscal year.
-
Complete an initial set of required topics within two years of being designated IRM.
-
Report the completion of qualified training to DIR by August 31 each fiscal year.
IRM Classification Levels
For purposes of these requirements, IRM classification levels are based on agency biennial IR budgets. Continuing education requirements increase as the level (i.e., budget) increases.
See IRM Classification Levels and the IR Budget for a more detailed description.
| IRM Classification |
Biennial IR Budget |
Training Requirement |
| Level 1 |
Less than $100,000 |
Exempt from Continuing Education requirements
(voluntary participation encouraged) |
| Level 2 |
$100,000–$249,999 |
12 contact hours per fiscal year |
| Level 3 |
$250,000–$1,999,999 |
18 contact hours per fiscal year |
| Level 4 |
$2,000,000- $10,000,000 |
24 contact hours per fiscal year |
| Level 5 |
More than $10,000,000 |
30 contact hours per fiscal year |
Note: If modifications to an agency’s biennial IR budget affects the IRM classification level, the IRM should immediately contact DIR to determine how this change will impact compliance with the Continuing Education Requirements.
Core Competencies
Core competencies represent broad areas of knowledge that IRMs should possess and to which continuing education activities should be directed.
IRMs select their own educational activities from the following set of competency areas:
1.0 Strategic Planning and Policy Issues
2.0 Managerial and Leadership Competencies
3.0 IT Performance Assessment
4.0 Project/Program Management
5.0 Capital Planning, Investment Assessment, and IT Acquisition
6.0 IT Topics and Trends
See IRM Core Competency Areas and Sample Topics for a list of sample topics in each area.
IRMs are responsible for identifying courses and conferences within the core competency categories that meet their agencies’ needs and their own level of expertise. An IRM with little experience in an area should seek introductory topics. An IRM with extensive expertise should seek advanced topics that supplement the knowledge already obtained.
Continuing Professional Education Credit
To fulfill the continuing education requirements, IRMs must attend qualified educational events or classes that support one or more of the core competency areas. The broad list of competencies allows ample flexibility for IRMs to select courses that meet the varying needs of their agencies and their own expertise.
REQUIREMENT: Complete the minimum number of training hours annually
Minimum Annual CPE Requirements—IRMs must complete the following minimum CPE credit hours each fiscal year.
| IRM Level |
Minimum Total CPEs per Fiscal Year |
| 1 |
0 |
| 2 |
12 |
| 3 |
18 |
| 4 |
24 |
| 5 |
30 |
Participants are awarded continuing professional education (CPE) units for qualified activities. One CPE unit is equivalent to one contact hour of education.
A contact houris defined as a 60-minute interval in which interactive learning takes place as part of a structured educational or training experience. A course or session must be at least 50 minutes long to count as one full hour of CPE credit. The IRM should make sure that any event attended, especially one of very short duration, is of sufficient quality and depth to provide appropriate benefit.
To calculate contact hours:
-
Calculate the total length of the class in hours
-
Subtract any time spent on breaks, meals, or non-educational activities
-
Round the remainder up or down to the nearest half hour
For Example: A one-day class lasting from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. with a 30-minute morning break, a one-hour lunch, and a 30-minute afternoon break would equate to 6.0 contact hours.
Requirement: Complete Required Topics within First Two Years
An IRM (Level 2–5) must complete a one-time set of required topics within the first two yars of being designated. Level 1 IRMs are exempt from this requirement.
The following table identifies required topics for each competency area and the minimum number of hours required. For more information about this requirement, see One-Time Required Topics.
| One-Time Required Topics by Core Competency Area |
Required Hours per Level |
| |
Level 2 |
Level 3 |
Level 4 |
Level 5 |
1.0 Strategic Planning and Policy Issues
- Strategic planning (level appropriate to current experience)
|
6
|
6 |
6 |
6 |
2.0 Managerial and Leadership Competencies
IRM must have CPEs in both areas below. The combined total should at least equal the required hours stated.
- Communication of technical information to non-technical staff
- Training of staff who use the agency's information technology resources
|
-- |
-- |
6 |
6 |
3.0 IT Performance Assessment
- Business value of information technology
|
-- |
3 |
3 |
3 |
4.0 Project / Program Management
- Quality Assurance and/or Risk Management
|
-- |
-- |
3 |
3 |
5.0 Capital Planning, Investment Assessment, and IT Acquisition
- Contract Negotiation and/or Contract Management
|
-- |
3 |
3 |
6 |
6.0 Information Technology Topics and Trends
No required topics in this competency |
-- |
-- |
-- |
-- |
Total, Required-Topic CPEs
To be completed within two years of an individual's designation as agency IRM |
6 |
12 |
21 |
24 |
Year Zero Grandfather Clause
Educational activities completed in the year immediately prior to designation qualify for CPE credit, if those activities satisfy a required topic.
Example: IRM designated on September 1. A Level 4 IRM who attended a one-day (6 CPE) strategic planning course the previous summer may report the requirement for that topic has been met. However, it would not count toward the 24 CPEs needed for the current fiscal year, because the training occurred in the previous fiscal year.
Requirement: Report Completed CPEs to DIR by August 31 Annually
IRMs are required to report the completion of qualified training to DIR by August 31 each fiscal year. For more information, see Reporting CPE Hours for an explanation of the procedure or go directly to the online Report CPE Hours tool.
If a new IRM is appointed during a fiscal year, the IRM must complete a portion of the annual CPE requirements, as identified in the following table.
| Starting Quarter |
Percent of Annual CPEs to Complete |
| First |
75% |
| Second |
50% |
| Third |
25% |
| Fourth |
0% |
Transferring CPEs
An IRM transferring from one agency to another as the IRM may transfer his/her educational records/hours.
Qualified Educational Events
Qualified educational events are those that meet the requirements and enhance the IRM’s management of information resources. The IRM must attend the entire module, session, or event as is appropriate to meet the learning objectives.
To qualify for credit an event must meet all of the following criteria:
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Supports one or more of the competencies identified in the requirements
-
-
Provides some type of attendee interaction (exercises, discussion, group work, question and answer, etc.)
-
Provides proof of attendance (sign in sheet, evaluation, attendance roster, etc.)
For more information about the types and training and events that meet the requirements, see What is a Qualified Educational Event for CPE Credit?
Waiver from Continuing Education Requirements
Continuing education is a critical factor in successful technology management, so it is imperative that Texas IRMs stay abreast of current technology and continue to develop their knowledge areas. These requirements are designed to help IRMs obtain ongoing training, while at the same time, enabling them to choose courses and conferences that meet their individual needs.
Texas Administrative Code, Chapter 201, Sec. 201.9 allows DIR to grant compliance waivers to state agencies. If an agency believes there is a compelling reason that its IRM should not have to comply with the mandatory Continuing Education Requirements, the agency may submit a request in writing to DIR. Requests for waivers will be reviewed on a case-by-case basis.
Source
TGC 2054, Subchapter D
1 TAC 211, 1 TAC 221
1 TAC 201.9
Learn More
See Frequently Asked Questions for a list of common questions and answers about the IRM Continuing Education Requirements.
