What happens if I don't renew my real estate license?

All Texas real estate licenses must be renewed every two years. TREC will send you a renewal notice around 90 days prior to your license expiration date. You can renew your license online. You should submit your renewal application and all course completion documents to TREC at least 10 prior to your renewal date.

Prior to your renewal date, you must first complete the 4-hour TREC Legal Update 1 course, and the 4-hour TREC Legal Update 2 course. You are not required to complete the full 18 hours of continuing education. Once you have completed the required qualifying education credits, you can then renew your license online.

Prior to renewing your active real estate license, you must first complete the required SAE credits or CE credits (depending on if you are renewing for the first-time or not). Once you have completed all of the education requirements, you can then apply to renew your license online.

​If you renew your license online, the renewal fee will be $110. If you submit a renewal application by mail, you will have to pay the standard $110 renewal fee plus a $20 paper filing fee.

You must renew your Texas real estate license every two years.

Sales Apprentice Education (SAE) credits are only required if you are renewing your Texas real estate license for the first time. After you renew your Texas real estate license one or more times, you are only required to take 18-hours of continuing education for every two-year renewal period.

If you are renewing your Texas real estate license for the first time, you must complete 90-hours of SAE courses. After your first renewal period, you must complete 18-hours of continuing education courses for every 2-year renewal period.

You do not have to complete the 18-hours of CE courses to renew an inactive real estate license. However, you still must complete the required 4-hours of TREC’s Legal Update 1 course, and 4-hours of TREC’s Legal Update 2 course prior to your renewal date. First-time renewals must complete the 90-hours of SAE courses.

​If you do not complete your CE credits, your license will be changed to inactive status.

Sales Apprentice Education credits, or SAE, applies to first-time renewals only. Anyone renewing their Texas real estate license for the first time must complete 90 hours of SAE credits. You must complete your SAE credits prior to your first renewal date, otherwise, you cannot renew your real estate license.

If you do not complete the required SAE credits by the time of your renewal date, your license will be changed to inactive status. Unlike CE credits, SAE credits cannot be deferred by paying a fee.

​If you do not complete the required 90 hours of SAE courses by your first renewal date, your license will be changed to inactive status.

If you do not renew your real estate license within 6 months of your renewal date, your license will be changed to an inactive status. If you do not renew your real estate license within 2 years after your renewal date, you must reapply for a new license and pass the State exam again.

TREC allows you to renew your license for up to 6 months after your renewal date. If you renew your license from 6 months to 2 years after your renewal date, you must apply to reinstate your license. If your license has been expired for two or more years, you must pass the State exam again.

​If your license has not been renewed for 6 months to 2 years after your renewal date, you must apply to get your license reinstated. You can get your license reinstated by submitting a reinstatement form and paying the required renewal fees as well as any late fees.

TREC will send you a renewal notice around 90 days prior to your renewal date. You cannot renew your license until you receive this notice. However, you can still take the required qualifying education (CE and SAE courses) any time during the previous two years.