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Texas Real Estate License Requirements

How to Become a Real Estate Agent in Texas


Quick Overview:

You’ll need to be at least 18 years of age and be a U.S. citizen or lawfully admitted alien

  1. Complete 180 hours of Pre-Licensing education
  2. Pass course final exams
  3. Complete license application
  4. Complete fingerprinting and background check
  5. Pass the Texas Real Estate Salesperson Exam
  6. Find a sponsoring broker

BUY YOUR TEXAS PRE-LICENSING

How to Get a Real Estate License in Texas

The Texas Real Estate Commission requires all potential agents to complete the below steps in order to become a licensed real estate agent.

1. Complete 180 Hours of Pre-Licensing Education

Successfully complete the required 96 clock-hour Pre-Licensing course. There are several different Texas real estate colleges, many offer online classes as well as learning in-person coursework. Some Texas real estate schools have an option for a Free Trial that can help determine if real estate courses are right for you.

2. Pass Course Final Exams

After completing all the training/course materials and passing the practice exam, there is a course final exam. The passing score is at least 70%.

You must take each final in the presence of a proctor and you’ll need to schedule an appointment with a proctor in advance. Find out more about our online proctoring here.

3. Complete License Application

Once you’ve passed your course final exams, you’re ready to complete a licensing application using TREC Online Services.

4. Complete Fingerprinting and Background Check

Next, you’ll provide fingerprints to MorphoTrust. They will be used for your background check.

5. Pass the Texas Real Estate Salesperson Examination

Once your exam application is approved, you will receive instructions for scheduling your licensing exam and obtaining a copy of the Candidate Handbook. Pearson VUE administers the Texas Real Estate Salesperson Licensing Exam.

The National portion of this exam consists of 85 questions with a 150-minute time allowance and the State portion consists of 40 questions and a 90-minute time allowance.

6. Find a Sponsoring Broker

To be licensed, you must first be associated with a current and active Texas sponsoring Broker. It’s important to find the right Broker to work with since this person will serve as your mentor as you start your new career in real estate.


Quick Facts:

Common Questions About Getting Your Texas Real Estate License

1. How Much Does It Cost to Get Your Real Estate License in Texas?

The cost of an agent license in TX can vary considerably depending on the price of your Texas real estate classes and different types of fees for your licensing, etc. An individual can typically expect to pay $863-$1,263 to get an active Texas real estate license.

Average Course Tuition $629-$1029
TX State Fingerprinting $38.25
Real Estate Recovery Fee (only initial license) $10
Application Fee $185
Total $863-$950

2. How Long Does It Take to Get a Real Estate License in Texas?

The specific amount of time to complete your 180 hours of licensing can vary depending on how long between each task the student takes and of course how long they take to complete their pre-licensing courses. Different credit hours and requirements of each brokerage will affect each sales associate differently.

Student Learning Pace Time Period
Full-Time Student (40 hours a week) 4.5 weeks
20 Hours a Week 9 weeks
10 Hours a Week 18 weeks
5 Hours a Week 36 weeks

3. If I Get a Real Estate License in Texas, Where Else Can I Work?

If you get a real estate license in Texas, you are automatically eligible to work in states that offer full reciprocity. States that offer full reciprocity will recognize your Texas license, meaning you can work in their state after fulfilling significantly less requirements. Typically, this means passing the state-specific real estate exam or taking a state-specific course. States with full reciprocity include:

  • Alabama
  • Colorado
  • Delaware
  • Georgia
  • Florida
  • Kansas
  • Kentucky
  • Maine
  • Mississippi
  • Missouri
  • Virginia
  • Washington 

The above list is not comprehensive. Please refer to
this guide for more information on reciprocity.

4. How Much Money Can I Make as a Texas Real Estate Agent?

According to Indeed.com, the average salary for a Texas Real estate agent is $104,476. This number is the same as the national average.


Texas Real Estate Post Licensing Requirements

Texas real estate Post-Licensing education requirements are that you complete ninety-eight (98) hours of post-licensing education courses within the first two (2) years of receiving your real estate license. All new sale associate licensees must complete this step, in the industry it’s called the “PLE” (Post-Licensing Education). The required Post-Licensing courses include:

  • 30 hours in Real Estate Appraisal
  • 30 hours in Real Estate Brokerage
  • 30 hours in Real Estate Investment
  • Texas Legal Update I (4 hours)
  • Texas Legal Update II (4 hours)

You will need to make sure that you are getting these courses through a TREC-approved education provider.


Texas Real Estate Continuing Education Requirements

All licensed agents are required to maintain their knowledge in their particular field, for real estate agents, this requirement is eighteen (18) hours of approved continuing education courses, these must be completed once every two years by the end of the month in which you were issued your license. You will need to make sure that you are getting these courses through a TREC-approved education provider.