Professional Land Management Courses / Certificate Program
Recognized as a leading land management training curriculum and unique for its design and focus, the PETEX Professional Land Management Courses and Certificate Program offer everything a land professional should know to thrive in the oil and gas industry. These innovative, effective learning methods provide the hands-on experience and information you need to succeed in the ever-changing area of land management.
Format
The Professional Land Management Certificate Program includes six fully online course courses offered self-paced, on your schedule. Participants can take individual courses or complete all six to attain the certificate.
Each course is approximately 12 hours in length and includes lectures, videos, class projects, assignments, discussion boards and virtual and in-person field trips. courses are offered one month at a time. The open date of each course is listed below. Each course needs to be completed within 30 days. The Certificate Program takes six months to finish. After successfully completing all courses in the program, you will receive a Certificate of Completion by PETEX, as evidence that you have learned valuable skills relevant to the industry.
PETEX offers two additional related programs: Division Order Certificate Program and Lease Certificate Program.
Fall 2025 Schedule
Registration for each course CLOSES at 11:59 p.m. on the dates listed below.
Course 1: Introduction - Land Management Practices – October 7, 2025
Course 2: Title - Chaining; Interpreting & Curing Title - November 4, 2025
Course 3: Lease – Lease Interpretation, Negotiation & Interest Calculations - December 2, 2025
Course 4: Law - Oil and Gas Law - January 6, 2026
Course 5: Contracts – Contract Law & Producing Property Agreements - February 3, 2026
Course 6: Federal laws – Federal Leasing, Environmental Regulations & Taxes - March 3, 2026
Cost and CEUs
Cost per course ($599). Total cost for six courses ($3,594).
CEU per course (1.2). Total CEUs for certificate (7.2).
A credit card must be used at the time of payment. Please contact epd@engr.utexas.edu for additional payment methods.
Instructor
Alyce Hoge is a highly experienced attorney, landman, Certified Division Order Analyst and Certified Professional Lease and Title Analyst. With decades of expertise in the oil and gas industry, she brings a dynamic and engaging teaching style to her courses. As a former instructor for the American Association of Professional Landmen (AAPL), Alyce stands out for her comprehensive background—having worked across all facets of land management, including as an attorney, landman, lease and title analyst and division order analyst. This hands-on experience sets her apart from other instructors and enhances the real-world applicability of her teachings. See Alyce’s bio.
Who Should Attend
Landmen, attorneys, land technicians, managers, engineers, geologists and any oil and gas professionals seeking a greater understanding of the land function in the oil and gas industry.
Key Learning Objectives of Course Series/Certificate Program
- Understand the Role and Responsibilities of a Landman
Learn the core duties, qualifications, and ethical standards for landmen, including an understanding of the Canons of Ethics of the American Association of Professional Landmen (AAPL), membership benefits, and various certifications and exams offered by the AAPL. Gain a comprehensive industry overview of the landman's role in the oil and gas sector, including key functions such as negotiating leases, title examination, and lease acquisition, along with an understanding of how landmen contribute to the success of exploration and production projects. - Understand Real Property Law and Master Chaining Title
Gain hands-on experience in chaining title a critical skill for landmen. Learn how to trace the ownership of mineral rights through various documents, including deeds, wills, and probate records, to establish a clear and accurate title history. Develop the ability to identify title defects, resolve discrepancies and ensure all relevant documents are properly recorded. Master the techniques for creating a complete and accurate chain of title, which is essential for verifying ownership and mitigating legal risks in oil and gas transactions. - Negotiate Oil & Gas Leases
Develop the skills to effectively negotiate favorable terms in oil and gas leases with mineral owners. While understanding key lease provisions (such as Habendum, Force Majeure, Savings, and Continuous Drilling Clauses) is essential, its equally important to focus on the strategies and tactics needed to advocate for your company’s interests. Learn how to handle negotiations, manage conflicting priorities, and secure mutually beneficial agreements with mineral owners in a variety of leasing scenarios. - Understand Oil & Gas Contracts and Contract Law Principles
Develop a deep understanding of key oil and gas contracts, including Joint Operating Agreements (JOAs), farmouts, trades and support agreements. Learn the five basic elements of contract law—offer, acceptance, consideration, legality, and capacity—and how they apply to oil and gas contracts. Gain the skills to draft, negotiate, and enforce these contracts, ensuring all terms are clear, legally binding and effectively protect the interests of all parties involved. - Navigate Federal Laws Affecting Oil & Gas Leases
Gain comprehensive knowledge of federal laws and regulations crucial for landmen, with a focus on leasing from the federal government, both onshore and offshore. Understand the leasing process, including the steps and requirements for acquiring federal leases, with a particular emphasis on the unitization process for federal onshore leases. Learn about the federal laws impacting the oil and gas industry, including environmental regulations and tax incentives that affect oil and gas development, ensuring landmen can navigate complex legal frameworks and contribute to strategic land management decisions. - Understand the legal and practical aspects of land management.
- Gain skills in title chaining and lease negotiation.
- Apply oil and gas law and contract principles to real-world scenarios.
Past Participants Comments
Very positive learning experience
"The PLM Certificate program was one of the best things I have done in my course of study. I learned many lessons that have helped and continue to help me in my job as a landman. Thank you for this wonderful course - I will never forget it."
– Kendall M
A comprehensive course for land professionals
"The Professional Land Management Certificate Program provided me with an in-depth understanding of land management, from mastering property law to analyzing oil and gas leases. Alyce Hoge’s expertise shines through in her ability to explain complex concepts with clarity and precision. Her extensive experience as an attorney, landman, and title analyst made the course both practical and applicable to my role. I now feel confident in my ability to handle everything from title research to oil and gas lease negotiations."
– Jenna M.
Practical and engaging
"This course gave me the real-world skills I needed to excel in land management. I learned everything from probate laws to lease provisions, and I now have the ability to confidently calculate working interests and net revenue interests. Alyce’s engaging teaching style makes even the most complex topics easy to grasp. She takes the time to connect the theory to practical, everyday tasks, which made all the difference in how I applied the content to my work."
– Mark B.
