Here’s what you need to do to get a Texas real estate license. The state of Texas requires 180 hours of Pre-license education all of which can be completed online. Read on for the details.
Texas State Required Pre-licensing Hours: 180 hours
Step 1. Meet Texas real estate license requirements as outlined by the Texas Real Estate Commission:
— Be at least 18 years old
— Be a U.S. citizen or lawfully admitted alien
— Meet TREC’s qualifications for honesty, trustworthiness, and integrity (Consider requesting a Fitness Determination Form before applying for the license if you have any criminal offenses, unpaid judgments, had discipline taken against a professional or occupational license, or have performed unlicensed activity)
Step 2. Complete an approved 180 hours of Texas real estate pre-license education.
Step 3. Apply for your Texas Sales Agent license.
Step 4. Submit fingerprints for a background check.
Step 5. Successfully pass the Texas real estate licensing examination.
Step 6. Obtain sponsorship from a Texas real estate broker.
Step 7. Complete 98 hours of SAE first time renewal education.
How long does it take to get a Texas real estate license?
On average, it takes between four (4) and five (5) months to get a Texas real estate license depending on the pace in which you complete the 180 hours of pre-licensing courses and pass your licensing examination, the time it takes you to complete the fingerprinting and application process, find a sponsoring broker, and application processing times.
What kind of information will I learn to help me get a Texas real estate license?
The required pre-licensing education consists of all of the following courses:
- Principles of Real Estate I (30 hours)
- Principles of Real Estate II (30 hours)
- Law of Agency (30 hours)
- Law of Contracts (30 hours)
- Promulgated Contract Forms (30 hours)
- Real Estate Finance (30 hours)
Each course concludes with a course final exam that must be proctored by an acceptable proctor, as defined by the Texas Real Estate Commission. Course tuition includes proctoring through our online proctoring partner for our students.
How do I submit my Texas Sales Agent application?
Submit your application and fee to become a Sales Agent using TREC’s online portal. You have one (1) year from the date your application is filed to meet all Texas real estate license requirements. After meeting the requirements, you will be issued an inactive license. When the application requirements are met, TREC will send you an eligibility letter which includes an ID number that you will need to register to take the licensing examination.
After completing the exam, you need to be sponsored by an active Texas licensed broker to work. You can complete a sponsorship request using the online portal. You cannot submit a sponsorship request until you have been issued an inactive license. Once the broker has accepted your request, your active license will be issued.
Track the status of your application using TREC’s Application Status Tracker.
How do I submit my fingerprints for the 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. When you have received your exam eligibility letter from TREC, you may schedule a fingerprint appointment through MorphoTrust. You will need the TREC ID number from the eligibility letter when making your appointment. Pursuant to DPS requirements, you will be photographed as part of the fingerprint process. You must pay a fingerprinting fee to the vendor in a manner that is acceptable to the vendor.
How do I take the Texas real estate licensing exam?
After your application is accepted for processing and education requirements are satisfied, you will be notified of eligibility to sit for the examination. License examinations are administered by a national testing service contracted by TREC. The exam eligibility notification will have instructions for contacting the exam administrator and obtaining a copy of the Candidate Handbook. The Candidate Handbook contains information about the examination, study material, and instructions for making an exam reservation.
The sales agent examination must be taken through Pearson Vue. After obtaining eligibility, candidates may make a reservation by either visiting www.pearsonvue.com or calling Pearson VUE at (800) 997-1248. Before taking an examination, candidates must complete all pre-licensing education and file a real estate sales agent application with the Texas Real Estate Commission (TREC). If you have filed an application and met TREC’s qualifications, you have one year from the date the application was filed to pass your examination. You will need to answer 56 questions correctly on the National portion of the examination and 21 questions correctly on the State portion of the examination in order to pass the examination.
The state requires proctoring of your licensing exam.
What are the Texas Sales Agent post-licensing requirements?
If you are renewing your real estate license for the first time, active or inactive, you must complete a total of 90 first time renewal education hours along with 4 hours of TREC’s Legal Update I and 4 hours of TREC’s Legal Update II for a total of 278 hours of education prior to the end of your first license term. The 90 hours of education consist of the following courses:
- Texas Real Estate Marketing (30 hours)
- Texas Real Estate Brokerage (30 hours)
- Texas Real Estate Property Management (30 hours)
You must submit qualifying course completion documents to TREC at least 10 days before renewing your license. Qualifying credit will not be granted if you were previously given credit for a substantially similar qualifying course within a two year period. You may not defer SAE requirements. If you have been made a supervisor by your broker for six months or more, you need to take a 6-hour Broker Responsibility course to renew.
Texas Real Estate Commission
Website: https://www.trec.texas.gov
Phone: 512-936-3000
Fax: 512-936-3809
Address: Texas Real Estate Commission P.O. Box 12188 Austin, TX 78711
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