Real estate license requirements in Texas
Texas requires more pre-licensing education than almost any other state — 180 classroom hours across six courses — but charges no separately-confirmed post-licensing course and offers no reciprocity with any other state.
Education
The Texas Real Estate Commission (TREC) requires 180 classroom hours across six specific 30-hour courses before you can apply to sit for the exam — there’s no shortcut path with fewer hours.
| Course | Hours | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Principles of Real Estate I | 30 | Foundational course |
| Principles of Real Estate II | 30 | Foundational course |
| Law of Agency | 30 | |
| Law of Contracts | 30 | |
| Promulgated Contract Forms | 30 | TREC’s standard contract forms |
| Real Estate Finance | 30 |
All six courses must come from a TREC-approved provider. Your application to take the exam expires one year after you file it, so don’t finish your coursework years ahead of when you actually plan to apply.
What Texas calls your first license
Texas’s entry-level license is called a “Sales Agent,” not “salesperson” or “broker.” A Sales Agent can’t practice independently — you must be sponsored by, and work under, a licensed Texas real estate broker from day one.
The licensing exam
Texas contracts with Pearson VUE, not PSI, to administer the exam. It’s a single combined sitting covering both a national and a Texas-specific portion.
| Portion | Items | To pass |
|---|---|---|
| National | 85 items (80 scored + 5 unscored pretest) | 56 correct |
| Texas state law | 50 items (40 scored + 10 unscored pretest) | 28 correct |
| Total sitting | 135 items, 240 minutes | Both portions |
The exam fee is $58, paid directly to Pearson VUE when you schedule. If you already hold a real estate license from an ARELLO-member state, Texas will waive the national portion. After three failed attempts, TREC requires additional qualifying real estate education before you can retest — the exact hour count isn’t fixed by rule, so check with TREC if you’re on your third attempt.
Texas requires a background check through the Texas Department of Public Safety before you can be issued a license, and processing isn't instant. Get it scheduled early rather than treating it as a last-minute step.
Fees
| Fee | Amount | Paid to |
|---|---|---|
| Application & license fee | ~$206 total | TREC ($150 base + $6 online + $40 TX A&M Real Estate Research Center + $10 recovery fund) |
| Exam fee | $58 | Pearson VUE |
| Background check | ~$37 | IdentoGO / DPS |
Budget roughly $300 in state and vendor fees on top of your course costs. TREC’s fee schedule was last updated December 15, 2025 — always confirm current figures directly with TREC before you pay, since these numbers can change.
How to apply, step by step
The steps can overlap in places, but this is the order that avoids the most common delays.
From a TREC-approved education provider.
Along with the application fee. TREC runs a background review before you're cleared to test.
Required for the background check TREC needs before approving you to sit for the exam.
Both the national and Texas state-law portions, in one sitting.
You can't activate a Sales Agent license without an actively sponsoring Texas broker on file.
This activates your license once your broker signs on.
After you’re licensed: staying current
We could not confirm from TREC’s current published pages whether Texas requires a distinct post-licensing course beyond standard continuing education — if you’re a new Sales Agent, confirm your specific renewal requirements directly with TREC rather than assuming.
Reciprocity
Texas has no reciprocity agreements with any other state. If you’re licensed elsewhere, Texas’s ARELLO-membership waiver can exempt you from the national portion of the exam, but you’ll still need to complete Texas’s own education and pass the state-law portion.
Common questions
Can I take the pre-licensing courses online?
Yes, as long as the course and provider are TREC-approved. The format doesn’t matter to TREC — approval status does.
Do I need a Texas sponsoring broker before I take the exam?
No. You can complete your education, get fingerprinted, and pass the exam before lining up a sponsoring broker. But your license stays inactive until a broker sponsorship is on file with TREC.
What happens if I fail a portion of the exam?
You can retake just the portion you failed. After three failed attempts at either portion, TREC requires additional qualifying education before you can test again.
Is Texas's Sales Agent license the same as a "salesperson" license elsewhere?
Functionally, yes — it’s Texas’s entry-level, broker-sponsored license. The state just uses different terminology than most other states.
Does an out-of-state license help me in Texas?
It can waive the national portion of the exam if your home state is an ARELLO member, but it doesn’t waive Texas’s 180-hour education requirement or the state-law exam portion.
Next step
Texas Real Estate Commission (TREC) — https://www.trec.texas.gov
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