Texas Real Estate Licensing Requirements and FAQs

TEXAS REAL ESTATE FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

What are my Texas real estate continuing education requirements?

All Texas real estate licensees are required to complete 18 hours of continuing education every two years. Sales Agents must complete the 4-hour Legal Update I and 4-hour Legal Update II courses; if made a supervisor by broker for 6 months or more, the 6-hour Broker Responsibility course; in addition elective courses to reach a total of 18 hours. Brokers must complete the 4-hour Legal Update I and Legal Update II courses, the 6-hour Broker Responsibilities course, and 4 hours of elective courses.

How often must I renew my Texas real estate license?

Texas real estate licenses must be renewed every two years.

When do I need to renew my Texas real estate license?

Your Texas real estate license will need to be renewed no later than two years from the original date of issuance.

How do I renew my Texas real estate license?

Requirements:

Complete 18 hours of approved continuing education (CE) courses
- 4-hour Legal Update I,
- 4-hour Legal Update II, and
- 10 hours of elective CE
If you have been made a supervisor by your broker, you may also need to take the 6-hour Broker Responsibility course as part of your 18 hours of CE.
If TREC records do not reflect completion of CE requirements at the time you submit your renewal application, you must pay a $200 CE Deferral Fee, or renew in inactive status. Payment of the CE deferral Fee allows you to remain active for an additional 60 days from your expiration date to complete CE requirements.
If you have NOT submitted your fingerprints for TREC with a previous renewal or application, you must be fingerprinted for a criminal background check.

Renew Online:

If you have not renewed online before, you may need to register first.
Complete your CE at least 10 days before your expiration date, to ensure time for processing.
Pay the renewal fee online no later than the expiration date of your license.

Renew by Mail:

Submit the Renewal Form for Real Estate Sales Agents and Brokers.
Complete your CE at least 10 days before your expiration date, to ensure time for processing.
Include payment of the renewal fee.

How much does it cost to renew my Texas real estate license?

$217 | Individual Broker & Business Entity Broker
$110 | Sales Agents

Click here for a full listing of fees.

I missed the due date for my Texas real estate license renewal, can I still renew?

Yes. You may either pay a $200 deferral fee to continue in active status for an additional 60 days while you complete your renewal process, or you may renew in inactive status. If you choose to renew in inactive status you may not work until you’ve completed your continuing education and paid the appropriate fees.

Do I have to complete any continuing education if my Texas real estate license is inactive?

No. You do not have to complete any continuing education if your license is being renewed to inactive status.

Does Texas have reciprocity with other states?

No. Texas does not have reciprocity with any state. To become licensed, you must satisfy all current Texas real estate licensing requirements.

HOW TO OBTAIN A TEXAS REAL ESTATE SALES AGENT OR BROKER LICENSE

How do I obtain a Texas real estate license?

A Sales Agent is a person who is licensed by the Real Estate Commission to act as an agent on behalf of a real estate broker and their clients. A sales agent must be sponsored by a licensed Broker in order to perform any act of real estate services.

You have one year from the date your application is filed to meet all license requirements. Once you have met all the requirements to get your license, including finding broker sponsorship, TREC will send an active sales agent license to your broker and to you via email!

A licensed Real Estate Broker is a person who provides real estate services to another person in exchange for a commission. Brokers can also sponsor and supervise real estate agents.

You have one year from the date your application if filed to meet all license requirements. Once you have met all the requirements to get your license, TREC will send an active broker license to you via email.

Qualifications

Citizen of the United States or lawfully admitted alien
18 years of age or older
Meet TREC’s qualifications for honesty, trustworthiness, and integrity.
- Consider requesting Fitness Determination before applying for the license.

Step 1: Complete your Qualifying Education

For a Sales Agent: 180 Classroom hours of the following qualifying real estate courses

Principles of Real Estate I (30 classroom hours)
Principles of Real Estate II (30 classroom hours)
Law of Agency (30 classroom hours)
Law of Contracts (30 classroom hours)
Promulgated Contract Forms (30 classroom hours)
Real Estate Finance (30 classroom hours)

Education course completion documents must be submitted to TREC after applying online or with your paper application.

For a Broker: 900 classroom hours of qualifying real estate courses. This requirement is broken into two sections:

270 classroom hours of qualifying real estate courses, including the following mandatory courses:
- Principles of Real Estate I (30 classroom hours)
- Principles of Real Estate II (30 classroom hours)
- Law of Agency (30 classroom hours)
- Law of Contracts (30 classroom hours)
- Promulgated Contract Forms (30 classroom hours)
- Real Estate Finance (30 classroom hours)
- Real Estate Brokerage (30 classroom hours) – must be completed not more than two years before the application date.
- 60 hours is related qualifying courses acceptable to TREC or approved CE courses.
630 additional classroom hours in related qualifying courses acceptable to the Commission or approved CE courses. A bachelor’s degree or higher from an accredited college or university satisfies the additional 630 hours of related education requirement for a broker license. A copy of the college transcript the degree must be submitted as evidence of completion of the degree.

Education course completion documents must be submitted to TREC after applying online or with your paper application.

Candidates for a broker license must also meet the following experience requirements:

Have at least four years’ active experience as a licensed real estate sales agent or broker during the 60-month period preceding the filing of the application
Your experience must total 3600 points and be reported on the Qualifying Experience Report for a Broker License. You must also include a transaction identification list for each transaction claimed on the experience report.

Step 2: File Your Application

Apply Online – Submit your application and fee to become a Sales Agent ($205) or Broker ($305) using our Online Services. If you don’t already have a username and password for Online Services, you’ll need to register first. If you have registered online with TALCB or TREC in the past, log in now.

Apply by Mail – If you prefer, you can also apply for your Sales Agent license using our paper application. This may take longer to process.

Step 3: Get Your Fingerprints Taken and Pass Your Background Check

You are required by law to have fingerprints on file with the Texas Department of Public Safety (DPS) so a background check can be performed. Fingerprints on file for other agencies will not be accepted.

A license will not be issued if the background check has not been passed. Expect a delay if you are notified on an investigation into your background history.

Step 4: Take the Exam

License exams are administered by PearsonVUE.

You will be sent a notice with instructions for scheduling the exam and obtaining a copy of the exam Candidate Handbook.

If you fail the exam three times, additional education will be necessary.

Step 5: Find a Sponsor (Sales Agents only)

After meeting the above requirements, you will be issued an inactive Sales Agent license. You need to be sponsored by an active Texas licensed broker to work. You can complete a sponsorship request using TREC’s online services. Once the broker has accepted your request, your active license will be issued, and you can work as a Sales Agent!

TEXAS REAL ESTATE BROKER & SALES AGENT RENEWAL REQUIREMENTS