The Texas Supreme Court approved amendments to Rules 103 and 536(a) of the Texas Rules of Civil Procedure, effective July 1, 2005, governing statewide certification of process servers. The Court also issued a companion order to establish the framework for certification of those approved to serve process under the revised rules, to approve of certain existing civil process service courses, and to establish the framework for the Board to approve additional courses.
Requirements to Become a Process Server in Texas
- Certificate of completion from an approved educational course
- Electronic fingerprinting through the Texas Department of Public Safety
- First-time applicants fee of $200.00
Step-by-Step
In order to become a process server in the state of Texas, you must:
- Complete a civil process service educational course. The course must be approved by the Judicial Branch Certification Commission (JBCC). Upon completion of the course, the course director will supply you with a certificate of completion. Expect to pay between $75 and $150 for the course. You have one year from the date you complete your training course to submit your application or else you'll have to take another course.
- Submit the application for certification. You must apply for certification via the JBCC online licensing and certification system. Note that the JBCC will no longer accept any form of paper applications. All applications must be submitted online using the JBCC Certification, Registration, & Licensing System.
- Pay the certification fee. The appropriate fee of $200.00 must accompany the application in order for it to be considered.
- Pass a criminal history background check. Once your application is received, the JBCC will send you the form to schedule your fingerprinting appointment with the approved vendor listed on the form. All new Certified Process Server applicants and those Certified Process Servers renewing under the JBCC are required to obtain electronic fingerprinting through the Texas Department of Public Safety. Remember that you will have to pay the fingerprinting vendor for services.
- Receive your certification card. You will likely receive your certification card within 30 days. If approved, you will receive a blue certification card in the mail and be included on the list of certified legal process servers.
All Process Servers are strongly encouraged to review and adhere to the Process Server Curriculum. For more information about becoming a process server in Texas, visit the JBCC website.
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Expiration
Your approval to serve process will expire two years after the last day of the month of certification and, unless renewed upon expiration, your name will be removed from the list of certified process servers in the JBCC’s online licensing system.
Texas Process Server Certification & Training
Find a process server training course approved by the JBCC:
