How to Get a Texas Real Estate License
To get a Texas real estate license, you complete 180 hours of qualifying courses, apply to the Texas Real Estate Commission (TREC), get fingerprinted for a background check, pass the national and state portions of the sales agent exam given by Pearson, and then find a sponsoring broker to make the license active.
Texas real estate license requirements
TREC lists these qualifications for a sales agent applicant:
- You are a citizen of the United States or a lawfully admitted alien.
- You are 18 years of age or older.
- You meet TREC's qualifications for honesty, trustworthiness and integrity.
A sales agent acts for a licensed broker and that broker's clients. TREC states that a sales agent must be sponsored by a licensed broker to perform any act of real estate services. Source: TREC, Become a Real Estate Sales Agent.
Steps to get your Texas real estate license
- Check your background first, if you need to. With criminal offenses, unpaid judgments, discipline against another license or past unlicensed activity, you can ask TREC for a Fitness Determination before you pay for courses (see below).
- Create a REALM Portal account. If you do not have a TREC license number, register in TREC's REALM Portal to get a pre-license education application number by email, and give that number to your course provider.
- Complete 180 hours of qualifying courses with a TREC-approved provider. You receive a course completion certificate when you finish.
- Apply online and pay the fee. Submit the Sales Agent Application in the REALM Portal only after all of your course completion documents are uploaded: a submitted application cannot be changed.
- Get fingerprinted. When your application status changes from Submitted to In Review, TREC emails you to schedule fingerprints. Your fingerprints must be on file with the Texas Department of Public Safety; prints on file for other agencies are not accepted. No license is issued without a passed background check.
- Pass the exam. Once TREC has reviewed your education, it emails instructions to schedule the national and state portions with Pearson. See the Texas real estate exam page for pass rates and retake rules.
- Find a sponsoring broker. Meeting the requirements gets you an inactive license. It becomes active when a broker sponsors you through the REALM Portal.
Your application expires one year after you file it, and every requirement must be met within that time. Application fees are non-refundable and non-transferable.
Required courses: 180 hours
TREC requires these six qualifying courses for a sales agent applicant. If you took any of them at an accredited college or university for academic credit, you can upload a transcript for evaluation, but TREC notes that a college transcript generally will not satisfy the requirement unless it covers these specific courses.
| Course | Hours |
|---|---|
| Principles of Real Estate I | 30 |
| Principles of Real Estate II | 30 |
| Law of Agency | 30 |
| Law of Contracts | 30 |
| Promulgated Contract Forms | 30 |
| Real Estate Finance | 30 |
| Total | 180 |
Source: trec.texas.gov, checked Texas Real Estate Commission.
How long it takes to get a Texas real estate license
The time depends on how fast you finish the 180 course hours, how long TREC takes to review your application and background check, and when you can book the exam: Pearson takes online reservations at least 24 hours ahead. Two limits apply: your application expires one year after you file it, and a passed exam portion stays valid for one year from the passing date.
TREC posts current delays on its processing dates page.
Fees you pay to TREC and the vendors
The application and exam fees are set by TREC; the fingerprint fee is collected by the fingerprint vendor. Each amount links to its source.
| Fee | Amount | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Exam fee Real Estate Sales Examination Fee, paid to the exam provider | $58 | trec.texas.gov () |
| License application fee Original sales agent application: $150 application fee + $6 Texas Online fee + $40 Texas A&M Research Center fee + $10 Real Estate Recovery fee. TREC fee schedule effective September 1, 2026 | $206 | trec.texas.gov () |
| Fingerprinting (set by vendor: IdentoGO) Paid to IDEMIA (IdentoGO by IDEMIA) if the applicant has not previously been fingerprinted for TREC; fingerprinting process described at https://www.trec.texas.gov/fingerprint-requirements | $37 | trec.texas.gov () |
With a pre-licensing course, the total to get licensed is $750 to $1,420, including fingerprints, if required. See the full cost breakdown.
Texas real estate schools with the best pass rates
TREC publishes how each school's students did on the exam. From Dec 2023 to Nov 2025, 56.1% of 29,980 first-time takers passed both portions on the first attempt. The highest rate among schools with 30+ takers: Learn Texas Real Estate Online (86.6% of 67 takers).
| Rank | School | Takers | Pass rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Learn Texas Real Estate Online | 67 | 86.6% |
| 2 | Aceable | 8,516 | 65.8% |
| 3 | Colibri Real Estate | 534 | 56.7% |
| 4 | The CE Shop | 1,077 | 56.5% |
| 5 | REALTOR Academy | 105 | 55.2% |
| All Texas takers (statewide) | 29,980 | 56.1% |
Source: trec.texas.gov, checked Texas Real Estate Commission data, first-time takers, Dec 2023 to Nov 2025.
Criminal history and the Fitness Determination
Every applicant must meet TREC's standard for honesty, trustworthiness and integrity and pass a fingerprint background check. If you have criminal offenses, unpaid judgments, discipline against a professional license or past unlicensed activity, you can request a Fitness Determination in the REALM Portal before you take courses. It is optional and has a fee. TREC makes its decision within 30 days after it has all required documents.
Disclose all misdemeanors and felonies, including old offenses and cases that ended in deferred adjudication. A Fitness Determination does not replace the background check, and you cannot request one once your license application is filed.
Reciprocity: already licensed in another state
Texas has no real estate license reciprocity with any state, according to the TREC FAQ. Out-of-state license holders must meet all current Texas requirements, education included. You may be exempt from the national portion of the exam if you hold an active license in a state that participates in national exam accreditation with ARELLO; submit a license history from that state with your application.
What Texas real estate agents earn
BLS estimates the median annual pay for real estate sales agent payroll jobs in Texas at $45,740 (May 2025). See Texas real estate agent salary data.
Frequently asked questions
How long does it take to get a real estate license in Texas?
It depends on how fast you finish the 180 course hours and how long TREC takes to review your application and background check. Every requirement, the exam included, must be met within one year of filing the application.
How much does a Texas real estate license cost?
$750 to $1,420, counting a pre-licensing course at regular list price, the exam fee, the application fee and fingerprints, if required. See the cost breakdown.
Does Texas have real estate license reciprocity?
No. TREC states that Texas has no reciprocity with any state. An active license from a state in the ARELLO national exam accreditation can exempt you from the national portion of the exam.
Can I get a Texas real estate license with a felony?
It depends on your history, and TREC can tell you before you start: a Fitness Determination reviews your eligibility against its honesty, trustworthiness and integrity standard. You still have to pass the fingerprint background check after you apply.
Do I need a sponsoring broker?
Yes, to practice. After you meet all requirements TREC issues an inactive license, and it becomes active only when a broker sponsors you.