There are 5 steps you need to take in order to get your Texas real estate salespersons license:
Step #1: File Your Real Estate Agent License Application
First, you have to submit a Sales Agent License application and pay the required application fee.
This can be done online, which is the preferred method, or via mail by submitting a paper application.
Once you file your application, you can track its status, which can prove to be a very useful tool.
Please note, that you have 12 months from the date your application is filed to complete the 180-hour education requirement, get fingerprinted, and pass the State exam, otherwise you will have to resubmit your license application.
For this reason, we recommend that you wait to file your license application until you are close to completing the 180-hour education requirement (see Step #2 below).
Step #2: Complete Your Qualifying Education
You must complete 6, 30-hour courses (180 hours in total). These courses must be approved by the Texas Real Estate Commission.
The 6 courses include the following:
1) Principles of Real Estate 1 - 30-hours
2) Principles of Real Estate 2 - 30-hours
3) Law of Contracts - 30-hours
4) Promulgated Contract Forms - 30-hours
5) Law of Agency - 30-hours
6) Real Estate Finance - 30-hours
The courses can be taken in a classroom setting or online.
Most students prefer to take the course online, since they can complete it faster and it offers them the flexibility to take the course on their own time.
If you take the course in a classroom, you will have to abide by the school’s pre-set schedule.
At the end of each of the 6 courses is a proctored final exam.
Another benefit of taking the courses online is that you can also take the proctored final exams online, rather than having to drive to a school or proctoring location.
After you pass the 6, 30-hour courses, you must submit copies of the 6 Course Completion Certificates to the Texas Real Estate Commission. TREC will use the Certificates as evidence that you have completed their education requirements.
Step #3: Get Your Fingerprints Taken and Pass Your Background Check
Next, you will have to get fingerprinted and file them with the Texas Department of Public Safety.
Your fingerprints will then be used by TREC to perform a background check.
Step #4: Take and Pass the State Exam
Once your license application and 6 Course Completion Certificates are filed and approved by TREC, you will receive an eligibility letter, which includes your TREC ID number that you will use to register to take the State exam.
The State exam is proctored through PearsonVUE, a testing service company.
Prior to registering for the State exam, we recommend that you read through the Texas Real Estate Candidate Handbook.
The State exam is divided into two parts, a national portion and a state law portion.
The nation portion consists of 85 multiple-choice questions.
The state law portion consists of 40 multiple-choice questions.
You must answer at least 56 questions correctly on the national portion in order to pass, and 21 questions correctly on the state law portion.
You must pass both the national and state law portions in order to pass the overall exam.
Step #5: Find a Sponsoring Broker
Once you pass the State exam and have completed the other steps above, you will be issued an inactive license. You must have a sponsoring broker in order to receive an active real estate license. If you wish to change your license from inactive to active, you must complete a sponsorship request using TREC’s Online Licensing Service, or by submitting a Sponsorship Form.