How to get Your Real Estate License

Texas

Licensure Requirements for a Sales Agent

  • Minimum age of 18
  • Must be a U.S. citizen or an alien lawfully present in the U.S.
  • Apply for license
  • Fingerprint background check
  • Must complete 180 hours of pre-license education
  • Pass the sales agent exam
  • Become sponsored by a licensed broker

Licensure Requirements for a Broker

  • Minimum age of 18
  • Must be a U.S. citizen or an alien lawfully present in the U.S.
  • Apply for license
  • Fingerprint background check
  • Must complete 900 hours of pre-license education
  • Must have spent at least 4 of the previous 5 years as an active, licensed agent
  • Must have a total of at least 3600 points on the Qualifying Experience Report
  • Pass the broker exam

Step by Step Guide (Sales Agent)

  1. Apply for license
  1. Complete 180 hours of pre-license education through an Approved School (For a breakdown of specific courses and hours required, click on the “Submit Your Qualifying Education” tab on the Sales Agent Application section of the TREC Website)  
  2. Complete Fingerprint Background Check
  3. Pass the sales agent exam (See below for more information)
  4. Find a Sponsoring Broker (This is what will take your license from “inactive” to “active” status) 

Step by Step Guide (Broker)

  1. Complete 900 hours of pre-license education through an Approved School (For a breakdown of specific courses and hours required, click on the “Submit Your Qualifying Education” tab on Broker Application section of the TREC Website)
  2. Submit your Qualifying Experience Report
  3. Apply for license
  1. Complete Fingerprint Background Check
  2. Pass the broker exam (See below for more information)

Exam Info

Sales Agent: The exam costs $43 and is administered on a computer in multiple choice format. The national portion consists of 80 scored questions and 5 pre-test questions that do not affect your score. The state law portion consists of 30 scored questions and 5-10 pre-test questions that do not affect your score. 

There is no distinction made between scored questions and pre-test questions on the exam. They are all mixed in together, so it is important that you answer each question carefully. You must achieve a score of at least 70% on each portion to pass. You will have 4 hours to complete the exam.

Broker: The exam costs $39 and is administered on a computer in multiple choice format. The national portion consists of 80 scored questions and 5 pre-test questions that do not affect your score. The state law portion consists of 50 scored questions and 5-10 pre-test questions that do not affect your score. 

There is no distinction made between scored questions and pre-test questions on the exam. They are all mixed in together, so it is important that you answer each question carefully. You must achieve a score of at least 75% on each portion to pass. You will have 4 hours to complete the exam.

Fees:

Exam Fee (Sales Agent)- $43

Exam Fee (Broker)- $39

License Fee (Sales Agent)- $185

License Fee (Broker)- $235

Fingerprinting- $38.25

Real Estate Recovery Fee- $10