Steps to Obtain Your Texas Real Estate License
Learn more at https://www.trec.texas.gov/become-licensed/sales-agent
Basic Requirements
- Citizen of the United States or lawfully admitted alien
- 18 years of age or older
- Meet TREC’s qualifications for honesty, trustworthiness, and integrity.
- Complete a total of 180 classroom hours of mandatory qualifying real estate courses and pass the license exam.
You have one year from the date your application is filed to meet all the license requirements.
Step 1: Complete 180 Hours of Pre-Licensing Education
Students must complete the following courses:
- Principles of Real Estate I (30 classroom hours)
- Principles of Real Estate II (30 classroom hours)
- Law of Agency (30 classroom hours)
- Law of Contracts (30 classroom hours)
- Promulgated Contract Forms (30 classroom hours)
- Real Estate Finance (30 classroom hours)
Step 2: File Your Application with TREC
Submit your application and fee to the Texas Real Estate Commission to become a Sales Agent. As part of your submission, provide your education course completion certificates to documents@trec.texas.gov.
Step 3: Get Fingerprints Take and Pass a Background Check
State law requires you to submit fingerprints to the Texas Department of Public Safety (DPS) for a background check. A license will only be issued upon passing the background check. To schedule a fingerprinting appointment, you will need a TREC entity number. Fingerprints previously submitted to other agencies will not be accepted.
Step 4: Take the Licensing Exam
After receiving your approval letter, 10-digit TREC identification number, and instructions to access the Candidate Handbook from Pearson Vue (TREC’s exam administrator), you must register for the national and state exams. If you fail the exam three times, you will be required to complete additional education.
Step 5: Find a Sponsoring Broker
After meeting the above requirements, you will be issued an inactive license. To work as a Sales Agent, you must be sponsored by an active Texas licensed broker. You can submit a sponsorship request through TREC’s online services, and once the broker accepts it, your active license will be issued.