How to Become an Aerobic Maintenance Provider in Texas

Anyone who maintains aerobic on-site sewage facilities in Texas must hold one of two TCEQ credentials: a maintenance provider license or a maintenance technician registration (30 TAC §285.50(j)). The provider is the one who can run the work: sign the contracts and reports and supervise technicians. To get the license you need one of three prerequisites: a current OSSF Installer II license, a Class C or higher wastewater treatment operator license, or three years as a registered maintenance technician. Then you complete the basic maintenance provider course and the advanced aerobic course, pass the TCEQ licensing exam, and apply with a $111 fee. The license runs three years and renews with 24 hours of continuing education. One more step sits outside TCEQ: manufacturers certify providers on their own products, and the TCEQ course does not guarantee that. TCEQ no longer registers maintenance companies; the license is personal.

Summarizes public rules and TCEQ licensing guidance as of Oct 14, 2026; not legal advice; verify with TCEQ.

Provider or technician: which do you need?

Both credentials may do the visit. The difference is responsibility.

Question	Maintenance provider (license)	Maintenance technician (registration)
Perform maintenance visits and tests	Yes	Yes, under a provider’s direct supervision on site or in direct communication (30 TAC §285.64(b)(3))
Be named in the contract as responsible	Yes (30 TAC §285.7(d)(1)(C))	No
Sign maintenance reports	Yes, required (30 TAC §285.7(b)(3))	No
Prerequisite for the license	Installer II, Class C or higher wastewater license, or 3 years as a technician	Not applicable
TCEQ application fee	$111	$111
Term	Three years	Three years
Continuing education to renew	24 hours	None

One route is to start as a technician under an established provider and, after three years, apply for the provider license on that experience. The full comparison of duties is on maintenance provider vs. maintenance technician.

What are the steps to the provider license?

1. Meet one prerequisite. TCEQ lists three: “Possess a current OSSF Installer II license; or Possess a Class C or higher Wastewater Treatment Operator license; or Have three years of experience as a registered Maintenance Technician.” The experience route is 30 TAC §30.240(e)(2). If you hold an Installer II or a Class C or higher wastewater license, TCEQ’s supplemental experience form is not needed.
2. Complete the training. TCEQ lists the basic maintenance provider course and the advanced aerobic course. Approved training providers and their schedules are on TCEQ’s training pages.
3. Pass the licensing exam. After the course, you apply to TCEQ to take the exam through its online application system.
4. Apply for the license. Submit the application for a licensed maintenance provider with the $111 application fee.
5. Get manufacturer certification for each brand of aerobic system you will maintain (see below).

What does it cost, and how long does it last?

TCEQ’s application fee is $111 for the provider license and $111 for the technician registration. Course fees are set by the training providers. Both credentials last three years. To renew, TCEQ’s continuing education chart requires 24 hours for a maintenance provider and none for a maintenance technician.

What about manufacturer certification?

TCEQ licenses the person; manufacturers decide who may service their products. TCEQ’s own course outline says that completing the course “does not guarantee that the manufacturer will certify the maintenance provider on that manufacturer’s product(s).” Before you sign contracts for a brand, ask the manufacturer what its certification requires and keep the certificate with your records. The aerobic septic alarm guide links each covered manufacturer’s own manual.

What changes once you are licensed?

The license comes with duties that run for every contract you hold:

• The contract must contain six provisions, including your name as the responsible provider and your business address and phone (30 TAC §285.7(d)(1)). See what a Texas maintenance contract must contain.
• The visits run at least every four months on surface-application systems (30 TAC §285.91(4), Table IV). See how often aerobic systems are inspected.
• The reports go to the permitting authority and the owner within 14 days of each test (30 TAC §285.7(e)(1)(B)), signed by you (§285.7(b)(3)). See the 14-day report deadline.
• If you end a contract, you give written notice to the permitting authority, the manufacturer and the owner at least 30 days before service stops (30 TAC §285.7(d)(3)(A)).

Sources

• TCEQ, Maintenance of On-Site Sewage Facilities: https://www.tceq.texas.gov/permitting/ossf/ossfmaintenance.html
• TCEQ, OSSF occupational licenses: https://www.tceq.texas.gov/licensing/licenses/ossflic
• TCEQ, Maintenance Provider supplemental experience form (30 TAC §30.240(e)(2)): https://www.tceq.texas.gov/downloads/licensing/occupational/requirements/supplemental/maintenance-provider-supplemental.pdf
• TCEQ, Continuing education renewal chart: https://www.tceq.texas.gov/downloads/licensing/occupational/renewals/renewal-ce-chart.pdf
• TCEQ, Maintenance provider course outline: https://www.tceq.texas.gov/assets/public/compliance/compliance_support/regulatory/ossf/forms/Maintenance_Company_Course_Outline.pdf

Last verified: 2026-10-14. Summarizes public rules as of Oct 14, 2026; not legal advice; verify with your permitting authority.

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