1
Texas Code Enforcement Officer (CEO) Licensing
Examination
PART 1: CORE DEFINITIONS, PURPOSE & LICENSING (Questions 1–30)
1. The Code Enforcement Officer examination measures the ________ and ________ required to be a
code officer.
A) ability; accuracy
B) efficiency; attitude
C) age; IQ
D) knowledge; skills
✅ Correct Answer: D
Rationale: The exam is designed to test both the knowledge of laws and regulations and the
practical skills needed for effective code enforcement.
2. What is the primary purpose of Code Enforcement?
A) To arrest violators of local ordinances
B) To establish and maintain a standard of quality of life for all citizens
C) To generate revenue for municipalities through fines
D) To enforce federal laws at the local level
✅ Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Code enforcement aims to protect public health, safety, and welfare by ensuring
compliance with regulations, thereby improving community quality of life.
3. How does Texas define Code Enforcement?
A) The ability to arrest anyone at any time
B) The ability to write ordinances, inspect property, issue citations, and arrest violators
C) The enforcement of the federal code
D) The inspection, improvement, and rehabilitation of environmental hazards in public and private
premises
✅ Correct Answer: D
Rationale: This definition is the statutory basis for code enforcement activities in Texas.
4. Code Enforcement started growing with what types of incidents?
A) Traffic violations and noise complaints
B) Health/Environmental issues, community safety, dangerous buildings, and fire incidents
C) Zoning disputes only
D) Federal inspections
,2
✅ Correct Answer: B
Rationale: These incidents highlighted the need for organized code enforcement programs to
protect the public.
5. According to the Texas Administrative Code (2007), a Code Enforcement Officer is defined as:
A) Any person who enforces any local ordinance
B) An agent of the state or political subdivision who has one year or more of experience in code
enforcement
C) A licensed peace officer with arrest powers
D) A municipal employee with less than one year of experience
✅ Correct Answer: B
Rationale: This definition establishes the minimum experience threshold to be classified as a full
CEO rather than a trainee.
6. A Code Enforcement Officer-in-Training is defined as:
A) An agent with three months of experience
B) An agent with one year or more of experience
C) An enforcement agent
D) An agent with less than one year of experience who is supervised by a registered CEO
✅ Correct Answer: D
Rationale: Officers-in-training must work under direct supervision and complete continuing
education every year.
7. True or False: Code Enforcement Officers have the same citation powers as police officers, sheriffs,
and marshals.
A) True
B) False
✅ Correct Answer: A
Rationale: CEOs have statutory authority to issue citations for code violations, similar to law
enforcement for civil violations.
8. Generally speaking, code enforcement does not deal with the _________ element of enabling
legislation and ordinances, while police officers do.
A) Civil
B) Criminal
C) Administrative
D) Regulatory
✅ Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Code enforcement primarily addresses civil violations (nuisances, building codes) rather
than criminal offenses.
,3
9. True or False: Code officers are allowed by law to provide a summons or set a court date.
A) True
B) False
✅ Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Summonses and court dates are judicial functions performed by courts, not code officers.
10. Instead of issuing a citation, what can a CEO do as a non-citation enforcement option?
A) Arrest the violator
B) Serve a notice of violation
C) File a criminal complaint
D) Impound property
✅ Correct Answer: B
Rationale: A notice of violation informs the property owner of the violation and provides a
reasonable time to correct it.
11. How many hours of continuing education (CE) are required for a licensed CEO to renew
registration?
A) 6 hours within 12 months
B) 12 hours within 24 months
C) 24 hours within 24 months
D) No CE required
✅ Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Licensed CEOs must complete 12 hours of CE within the 24 months preceding renewal.
12. How many hours of CE are required for a Code Enforcement Officer-in-Training?
A) 6 hours within 12 months
B) 12 hours within 24 months
C) 24 hours within 12 months
D) 4 hours within 6 months
✅ Correct Answer: A
Rationale: Officers-in-training must complete 6 hours of CE within the 12 months preceding
renewal.
13. How often must a licensed CEO renew their registration?
A) Every year
B) Every two years
C) Every three years
D) Every five years
✅ Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Licenses are renewed every two years for code enforcement officers and every year for
officers-in-training.
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14. Which entity administers the Texas Code Enforcement Officer licensing program?
A) Texas Municipal League
B) Texas Department of Public Safety
C) Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation (TDLR)
D) Texas Commission on Environmental Quality
✅ Correct Answer: C
Rationale: TDLR oversees all licensing, exam administration, continuing education, and enforcement
for code enforcement officers in Texas.
15. What training course is required before taking the licensing exam?
A) Basic Police Academy
B) Basic Code Enforcement Training Course (COD300) administered by TEEX
C) Municipal Law Course
D) Certified Public Manager Course
✅ Correct Answer: B
Rationale: The 1-week (36 classroom hours) TEEX program covers constitutional protections,
authority, housing, construction, property maintenance, and documentation.
16. What is the application fee for a new code enforcement officer registration?
A) $50
B) $75
C) $100
D) $150
✅ Correct Answer: C
Rationale: The $100 fee must accompany the completed registration application. Online
applications are encouraged for faster processing.
17. What is the experience requirement to become a fully registered Code Enforcement Officer?
A) At least six months of full-time experience
B) At least one year of full-time experience
C) At least two years of full-time experience
D) No experience required
✅ Correct Answer: B
Rationale: The experience verification form must be submitted with the application.
Officers-in-training have less than one year of experience.
18. What happens if an applicant has a criminal conviction?
A) The applicant is automatically disqualified
B) The applicant must successfully pass a criminal history background check
C) The conviction is ignored after five years
D) The applicant must pay a higher fee
Texas Code Enforcement Officer (CEO) Licensing
Examination
PART 1: CORE DEFINITIONS, PURPOSE & LICENSING (Questions 1–30)
1. The Code Enforcement Officer examination measures the ________ and ________ required to be a
code officer.
A) ability; accuracy
B) efficiency; attitude
C) age; IQ
D) knowledge; skills
✅ Correct Answer: D
Rationale: The exam is designed to test both the knowledge of laws and regulations and the
practical skills needed for effective code enforcement.
2. What is the primary purpose of Code Enforcement?
A) To arrest violators of local ordinances
B) To establish and maintain a standard of quality of life for all citizens
C) To generate revenue for municipalities through fines
D) To enforce federal laws at the local level
✅ Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Code enforcement aims to protect public health, safety, and welfare by ensuring
compliance with regulations, thereby improving community quality of life.
3. How does Texas define Code Enforcement?
A) The ability to arrest anyone at any time
B) The ability to write ordinances, inspect property, issue citations, and arrest violators
C) The enforcement of the federal code
D) The inspection, improvement, and rehabilitation of environmental hazards in public and private
premises
✅ Correct Answer: D
Rationale: This definition is the statutory basis for code enforcement activities in Texas.
4. Code Enforcement started growing with what types of incidents?
A) Traffic violations and noise complaints
B) Health/Environmental issues, community safety, dangerous buildings, and fire incidents
C) Zoning disputes only
D) Federal inspections
,2
✅ Correct Answer: B
Rationale: These incidents highlighted the need for organized code enforcement programs to
protect the public.
5. According to the Texas Administrative Code (2007), a Code Enforcement Officer is defined as:
A) Any person who enforces any local ordinance
B) An agent of the state or political subdivision who has one year or more of experience in code
enforcement
C) A licensed peace officer with arrest powers
D) A municipal employee with less than one year of experience
✅ Correct Answer: B
Rationale: This definition establishes the minimum experience threshold to be classified as a full
CEO rather than a trainee.
6. A Code Enforcement Officer-in-Training is defined as:
A) An agent with three months of experience
B) An agent with one year or more of experience
C) An enforcement agent
D) An agent with less than one year of experience who is supervised by a registered CEO
✅ Correct Answer: D
Rationale: Officers-in-training must work under direct supervision and complete continuing
education every year.
7. True or False: Code Enforcement Officers have the same citation powers as police officers, sheriffs,
and marshals.
A) True
B) False
✅ Correct Answer: A
Rationale: CEOs have statutory authority to issue citations for code violations, similar to law
enforcement for civil violations.
8. Generally speaking, code enforcement does not deal with the _________ element of enabling
legislation and ordinances, while police officers do.
A) Civil
B) Criminal
C) Administrative
D) Regulatory
✅ Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Code enforcement primarily addresses civil violations (nuisances, building codes) rather
than criminal offenses.
,3
9. True or False: Code officers are allowed by law to provide a summons or set a court date.
A) True
B) False
✅ Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Summonses and court dates are judicial functions performed by courts, not code officers.
10. Instead of issuing a citation, what can a CEO do as a non-citation enforcement option?
A) Arrest the violator
B) Serve a notice of violation
C) File a criminal complaint
D) Impound property
✅ Correct Answer: B
Rationale: A notice of violation informs the property owner of the violation and provides a
reasonable time to correct it.
11. How many hours of continuing education (CE) are required for a licensed CEO to renew
registration?
A) 6 hours within 12 months
B) 12 hours within 24 months
C) 24 hours within 24 months
D) No CE required
✅ Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Licensed CEOs must complete 12 hours of CE within the 24 months preceding renewal.
12. How many hours of CE are required for a Code Enforcement Officer-in-Training?
A) 6 hours within 12 months
B) 12 hours within 24 months
C) 24 hours within 12 months
D) 4 hours within 6 months
✅ Correct Answer: A
Rationale: Officers-in-training must complete 6 hours of CE within the 12 months preceding
renewal.
13. How often must a licensed CEO renew their registration?
A) Every year
B) Every two years
C) Every three years
D) Every five years
✅ Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Licenses are renewed every two years for code enforcement officers and every year for
officers-in-training.
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14. Which entity administers the Texas Code Enforcement Officer licensing program?
A) Texas Municipal League
B) Texas Department of Public Safety
C) Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation (TDLR)
D) Texas Commission on Environmental Quality
✅ Correct Answer: C
Rationale: TDLR oversees all licensing, exam administration, continuing education, and enforcement
for code enforcement officers in Texas.
15. What training course is required before taking the licensing exam?
A) Basic Police Academy
B) Basic Code Enforcement Training Course (COD300) administered by TEEX
C) Municipal Law Course
D) Certified Public Manager Course
✅ Correct Answer: B
Rationale: The 1-week (36 classroom hours) TEEX program covers constitutional protections,
authority, housing, construction, property maintenance, and documentation.
16. What is the application fee for a new code enforcement officer registration?
A) $50
B) $75
C) $100
D) $150
✅ Correct Answer: C
Rationale: The $100 fee must accompany the completed registration application. Online
applications are encouraged for faster processing.
17. What is the experience requirement to become a fully registered Code Enforcement Officer?
A) At least six months of full-time experience
B) At least one year of full-time experience
C) At least two years of full-time experience
D) No experience required
✅ Correct Answer: B
Rationale: The experience verification form must be submitted with the application.
Officers-in-training have less than one year of experience.
18. What happens if an applicant has a criminal conviction?
A) The applicant is automatically disqualified
B) The applicant must successfully pass a criminal history background check
C) The conviction is ignored after five years
D) The applicant must pay a higher fee
