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Real Estate Agent
Real estate licensing in Texas is governed by Texas Occupations Code, Chapter 1101 and administered by the Texas Real Estate Commission (TREC).
Texas requires 180 hours of pre-licensing education across six TREC-approved courses, a 125-question exam administered by Pearson VUE, and approximately $300 in government fees to become a licensed real estate sales agent. Most candidates complete the process in 4–18 weeks depending on course pace. Texas has no reciprocity with other states — all applicants complete the full requirements regardless of existing credentials.
Pre-License Hours
$297.25
Total Gov Fees
125
Exam Questions
4 hrs
Exam Time
Renewal Cycle
Reciprocity
CE Required
Renewal Fee
18 years old
Min. Age
Texas Real Estate Commission (TREC)
Authority
⚠ Recent Changes in Texas
2025-12-15: TREC implemented a new fee schedule. The application fee increased from $185 to $206. A 3% Texas Online Fee (DIR) now applies to provider/course applications. This page reflects the post-Dec 15 2025 fee schedule; any third-party source still showing $185 is outdated.
| 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 Tex. Occ. Code § 1101.652(a)(6). |
| Background Check | Required Fingerprints submitted to TX DPS via IdentoGO/IDEMIA. TREC reviews for 'honesty, trustworthiness, and integrity'. Review standards under Tex. Occ. Code § 1101.354. |
| Sponsoring Broker | Required to activate license License is initially issued as inactive. Sponsoring broker activates it through the REALM Portal. |
Not sure if you need a real estate license? Check whether your state requires one.
| Fee | Amount |
|---|---|
TREC Application Fee (via REALM Portal) Paid to: TREC | $206 |
Exam Fee Paid to: Pearson VUE | $43 |
Fingerprinting / Background Check Paid to: IdentoGO/IDEMIA | $38.25 |
Real Estate Recovery Trust Account Paid to: TREC | $10 |
Total Estimated Government Fees | $297.25 |
Government fees only. This $297.25 total is the required government/regulatory cost. It does NOT include:
Typical all-in cost to get licensed in Texas: $400–$750 (government fees + course). Ongoing professional costs (broker splits, MLS, board dues) are separate.
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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.
See our picks for the best real estate programs in Texas.
Estimated total timeline: 2–6 months from starting pre-licensing to active licensed status. Pre-licensing courses drive most of the variance — a self-paced student finishing 180 hours in 4 weeks can be licensed in ~2 months; someone finishing over 18 weeks will be closer to 5–6 months.
Estimated time: 4–18 weeks
Complete all six 30-hour TREC-approved courses (180 hours total). Available online or in-person.
Complete all six 30-hour TREC-approved courses (180 hours total). Available online or in-person.
Estimated time: 30 minutes
Create an account at trec.texas.gov, submit your application, and pay the $206 application fee.
Create an account at trec.texas.gov, submit your application, and pay the $206 application fee.
Estimated time: 1–2 weeks for processing
Schedule an appointment with IdentoGO/IDEMIA and pay $38.25. Fingerprints are sent to TX DPS for background check.
Schedule an appointment with IdentoGO/IDEMIA and pay $38.25. Fingerprints are sent to TX DPS for background check.
Estimated time: 5–10 business days
TREC processes your application and sends an approval letter with the Exam Candidate Handbook.
TREC processes your application and sends an approval letter with the Exam Candidate Handbook.
Estimated time: 1–4 weeks
Register with Pearson VUE, pay $43 exam fee, and pass both the national and state exam sections.
Register with Pearson VUE, pay $43 exam fee, and pass both the national and state exam sections.
Estimated time: 1–8 weeks
A licensed Texas real estate broker must agree to sponsor you.
A licensed Texas real estate broker must agree to sponsor you.
Estimated time: 1–3 business days
Your sponsoring broker submits the sponsorship via the REALM Portal. TREC activates your license.
Your sponsoring broker submits the sponsorship via the REALM Portal. TREC activates your license.
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.
For study strategies and what to expect on test day, see our guide to passing the real estate exam.
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
For a deeper dive into CE requirements and deadlines, see our real estate license renewal guide or compare deadlines across all 50 states.
See full CE requirements in Texas: Continuing education details →
Interstate Reciprocity
VerifiedHas Reciprocity
No
All applicants must complete the full Texas requirements regardless of existing credentials from other states.
Moving to another state? Use our Transfer Tool to see what you need →
Compare Texas with other states →
See how requirements, costs, and timelines differ across all 50 states.
Real Estate Agent Schools in Texas
Compare approved training programs, costs, and requirements.
Official Sources
Real Estate Agent requirements in Texas verified against Texas Real Estate Commission (TREC), April 2026.
All data on this page was verified against the following official sources. Last verified: 2026-04-23.
Report incorrect data — help us keep GetLicenseMap accurate.
Ready to advance? After a minimum of 4 years of active experience as a sales agent and 3,600 transaction points, you can upgrade to a Texas real estate broker license — which requires an additional 270 hours of qualifying education and a separate state exam. See Texas Broker License Requirements →
New to the industry? Our career paths guide shows common advancement routes from sales agent to broker to brokerage owner.
GetLicenseMap.com has an advertising relationship with The CE Shop. Clicking links may result in GetLicenseMap.com receiving a commission. This does not affect the price you pay.