Getting your Texas real estate license might seem daunting, but we’re here to guide you through the process.
Read on to learn about the 7 steps you’ll need to complete before starting your career in Texas real estate. To learn about how much it costs to get your real estate license, visit our Texas Pre-Licensing pricing page.
To start:
You must be at least 18 years of age.
You must be either a U.S. citizen or a lawfully admitted alien.
Meet TREC's qualifications for honesty, trustworthiness, and integrity.
Consider requesting a Fitness Determination before applying for the license.
The Texas Real Estate Commission (TREC) requires all candidates that meet the requirements complete these two courses:
Principles of Real Estate I (30 classroom hours)
Principles of Real Estate II (30 classroom hours)
The CE Shop is a TREC approved real estate education provider and offers all the classes you need to qualify for your Texas license. Through an advanced web-based platform designed specifically for real estate professionals, each course combines the most recent real estate education with the flexibility and convenience of online learning. Courses are taught using real-world scenarios and practical examples that will prepare you for a promising career as a sales agent, while providing the knowledge you need to pass your Texas licensing exam.
For each course, you complete all the course materials, meet the minimum time requirement, and pass the practice exam. Then there is a 60-question final exam per course. The passing score is 70%.
As you go through the licensing process and become a new sales agent, you’ll need to be sponsored by a licensed Texas real estate broker. Picking the right broker to work with you is a key success factor to building your new career. Here are some questions to consider when looking for a sponsoring broker:
What is their reputation, both locally and nationally?
What kind of real estate agents are they looking for?
Are they technologically advanced and up to date with the latest systems?
How do they support their agents with education and training?
What kind of commission structure do they offer?
Do they offer benefits?
Do they provide their agents with leads and marketing material?
Is there room to grow with the brokerage?
*You may have already completed this step when attempting the exam after the Pre-Licensing courses. Contact TREC to learn more: Texas Real Estate Commission (TREC) Mailing Address: P.O. Box 12188 Austin, TX 78711-2188 Email Local Phone: 512.936.3000 or Toll Free: 1.800.250.TREC (8732)
Once all Pre-Licensing courses are completed, you may file and pay for the application. The application can be downloaded or completed online. Submit Certificates of Course Completion or transcripts of your education with your application.
All candidates applying for a sales agent license must submit their fingerprints. After receiving a TREC entity number, the candidate should visit the TREC website here to enroll with MorphoTrust to complete this requirement.
Once the candidate application is processed, TREC will notify applicant that they’re eligible to sit for the examination. TREC has contracted with Pearson VUE to facilitate and administer the examination. For more information, see the Texas Real Estate Candidate Handbook by Pearson VUE.
After you pass the licensing examination and TREC completes any background checks, they will issue an Active Sales Agent License. When the license is in the possession of your sponsoring broker, you can begin practice as a Texas real estate sales agent.
