Texas Court Counseling

What is the Texas DOEP class, and who has to take it?

By Texas Court Counseling · Published

DOEP stands for Drug Offender Education Program. It's a 15-hour class, set by the state and taught by licensed providers, that Texas uses after drug convictions. Most people take it for one of two reasons: to end a driver's license suspension, or because a judge or probation officer ordered it.

What the class is

Every DOEP in Texas follows the same rules from the Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation (TDLR). Each course must include:

  • at least 15 hours of class time, split into at least five sessions
  • sessions of two to three hours, with no more than one session a day
  • a short test at the start and another at the end
  • between 3 and 30 students in each class

The class covers the dangers of drug misuse. It is education, not counseling or treatment. Because every licensed provider teaches to the same state standard, the certificate is the same wherever you take it.

Reason 1: your driver's license was suspended

Texas automatically suspends your driver's license after a final conviction for:

  • a felony drug offense, or
  • a misdemeanor drug offense, if you were convicted of another drug offense committed less than 36 months earlier.

For other misdemeanor drug convictions, the court can still order a suspension if it decides in writing that it's in the interest of public safety. If you didn't have a license when you were convicted, the state won't issue you one during the suspension period instead.

The suspension is 90 days. It doesn't end until you complete a state-approved drug education class like the DOEP, or until two years have passed, whichever comes first. To get your license back, the Texas Department of Public Safety (DPS) also asks for:

  • your DOEP certificate of completion
  • a $100 reinstatement fee, plus any other fees you owe
  • proof of insurance on an SR-22 form, kept for two years from the conviction

A 2021 law, S.B. 181, changed these rules. Before it, suspensions were 180 days and followed any drug conviction, so older articles you find online may be out of date.

Reason 2: a court or probation officer ordered it

The DOEP can also be a condition of probation (called community supervision in Texas), set by the judge in your case. For defendants under 18 convicted of certain drug possession offenses, state law specifically lets the judge require a drug education class like this one.

If the class is part of your court order or probation terms, those papers say what you need and the deadline. When in doubt, ask your probation officer before you book.

Can you take it online?

Yes. Since 2021, state law says the class can be "in-person or online," as long as the provider is approved by TDLR. Online classes must be taught live, with your camera on, so a pre-recorded video course doesn't count. Read more in can you take a court-ordered class online.

What happens after the class

Your certificate is printed on an official state form and mailed to you within 5 days of finishing. Texas doesn't allow certificates to be emailed. You then send it to DPS, or hand it to your probation officer, depending on why you took the class. See how your certificate arrives.

Taking the DOEP with us

Our DOEP class is taught live on Zoom with a real instructor, so you can take it from anywhere in Texas. It costs $50 when you book at least 14 days ahead and $60 after that. The cheapest in Texas, guaranteed.

Sources

This guide is general information, not legal advice. Your court order and your probation officer decide which class you need and by when. We are not a court and are not affiliated with any court.