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How to get a real estate license in Texas. 180 pre-licensing hours required. Government fees: $300.45. 2-year renewal cycle. Verified 2026-03-22. Data verified 2026-03-22. Source: LicenseMap (getlicensemap.com).
Real Estate Agent
Pre-License Hours
$300.45
Total Gov Fees
125
Exam Questions
4 hrs
Exam Time
Renewal Cycle
Reciprocity
⚠ Recent Changes in Texas
Complete all six 30-hour TREC-approved courses (180 hours total). Available online or in-person.
Estimated time: 4–18 weeks
Create an account at trec.texas.gov, submit your application, and pay the $206 application fee.
Estimated time: 30 minutes
Schedule an appointment with IdentoGO/IDEMIA and pay $38.25. Fingerprints are sent to TX DPS for background check.
Estimated time: 1–2 weeks for processing
TREC processes your application and sends an approval letter with the Exam Candidate Handbook.
Estimated time: 5–10 business days
Register with Pearson VUE, pay $43 exam fee, and pass both the national and state exam sections.
Estimated time: 1–4 weeks
A licensed Texas real estate broker must agree to sponsor you.
Estimated time: 1–8 weeks
Your sponsoring broker submits the sponsorship via the REALM Portal. TREC activates your license.
Estimated time: 1–3 business days
| Minimum Age | 18 years old |
| Citizenship | U.S. citizen or lawfully admitted alien |
| Education | No high school diploma or GED required Only the 180 hours of TREC courses are required. |
| Residency | Not required Must demonstrate geographic competency per TX Occupations Code 1101.652(a)(6). |
| Background Check | Required Fingerprints submitted to TX DPS via IdentoGO/IDEMIA. TREC reviews for 'honesty, trustworthiness, and integrity'. |
| Sponsoring Broker | Required to activate license License is initially issued as inactive. Sponsoring broker activates it through the REALM Portal. |
Education Requirements
VerifiedTotal Hours Required
Provider Type
TREC-approved education providers (online or classroom)
Required Courses
Course completion valid for 6 months from enrollment date.
Exam Details
VerifiedExam Provider
Total Questions
125
Total Time
240 min
Format
Computer-based, multiple-choice, in-person at Pearson VUE test centers
Exam Sections
| Section | Questions | Time | Passing |
|---|---|---|---|
| National | 85 | 150 min | 70% |
| State (Texas) | 40 | 90 min | 70% |
Retake Policy
Unlimited retakes. After 3 failed attempts on a section, must complete additional 30 classroom hours (3-strike rule). 5-7 day wait between attempts. Fitness Determination may be required for applicants with criminal history — apply before investing in education.
National section: 80 scored + 5 pretest items. State section: 40 scored + 10 pretest items. 70% passing on both sections. First-time pass rate ~56%. Applications submitted via REALM Portal.
| Fee | Amount |
|---|---|
TREC Application Fee Paid to: TREC (via REALM Portal) ⚠ Conflict: 360training and other pre-Dec 2025 sources reports $185. Confirmed $206 per TREC fee schedule effective December 15, 2025. The $185 figure is the prior amount. | |
Exam Fee Paid to: Pearson VUE | |
Fingerprinting / Background Check Paid to: IdentoGO | |
Recovery Trust Account Paid to: TREC | |
Total Estimated Government Fees | $300.45 |
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Renewal Details
VerifiedRenewal Cycle
CE Hours
Renewal Fee
Deadline & Late Policy
Renewal available up to 6 months after expiration with late fees. After 2 years past expiration, must reapply as new applicant.
First Renewal Notes
First renewal requires 98 hrs (90 SAE + 4 Legal Update I + 4 Legal Update II) — extremely high.
Regulatory Board
Interstate Reciprocity
VerifiedHas Reciprocity
No
All applicants must complete the full Texas requirements regardless of existing credentials from other states.
8–26 weeks from start to active license.
Minimum assumes full-time education (~4 weeks) + fast processing. Maximum accounts for part-time study and broker search.
2025-12-15
TREC implemented a new fee schedule effective December 15, 2025. Application fee appears to have increased from $185 to $206. A 3% Texas Online Fee (DIR) now applies to provider/course applications.
Explore requirements for other professional licenses in Texas.
How this state compares to 48 others for this profession
Timeline
#44 of 49
Salary
#26 of 49
Cost
#28 of 49
Based on May 2024 Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS data for Real Estate Sales Agents (SOC 41-9022)
Entry Level
$37,120
25th percentile
Median
$50,150
-11% vs. national avg ($56,320)Experienced
$84,040
75th percentile
Wage Distribution (Annual)
21,270 employed in this state
Note: Real estate agent compensation is heavily commission-based. BLS OEWS data reflects base wages reported by employers and may undercount total earnings.
Source: BLS OEWS – Real Estate Sales Agents (May 2024)
National employment projections for 2024-2034
Projected Growth
+1.8%
Below AverageNew Jobs
+6,500
over 10 years
Annual Openings
42,900
per year (avg.)
359,300 currently employed nationwide (2024)
Source: BLS Employment Projections 2024-2034 (September 2025)
Real Estate Career Ladder+28% salary growth potential
You are here
Real Estate Agent
$50,150
Pre-licensing education (40-180 hours) + state exam
You are here
Real Estate Agent
Pre-licensing education (40-180 hours) + state exam
$50,150
2-3 years experience + additional education + broker exam
$66,700
AQB courses + supervised experience (varies by tier)
$63,960
Salary data from BLS OEWS May 2024 for this state. Career paths represent common advancement routes — actual progression may vary. Bureau of Labor Statistics — Occupational Outlook Handbook
Government fees and exam costs to obtain your initial license
Note: These are government licensing fees only. Education/training program costs (tuition, books, etc.) are not included as they vary widely by institution.
Estimated total: 8–26 weeks
Timeline estimated from licensing requirements on this page.
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All data on this page was verified against the following official sources. Last verified: 2026-03-22.
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