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How to get a Texas Real Estate License

How to get a
Texas Real Estate License

6 Easy Steps to Obtaining a Texas Real Estate Sales Agent License

Thinking about getting a real estate license? Follow these 6 essential steps below and you’re on your way to an exciting new career!

You Can Do It! We Can Help!

Step 1:

Complete Education Requirements

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Step 2:

Submit Online Application to TREC

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Step 3:

Take Exam Prep Class and Practice Exams

Step 4:

Pass the State Exam at Pearson Vue

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Step 5:

File Background Check and Fingerprints

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Step 6:

Find a sponsoring broker

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Basic Requirements to Apply for a Texas Real Estate License

Citizen of the United States or lawfully admitted alien
18 years of age or older
Meet TREC's qualifications for honesty, trustworthiness, and integrity (TREC recommends submitting an optional 'Fitness Determination' form if you have any criminal offenses, unpaid judgments, etc.) The Fitness Determination process is cheaper than paying for an application, examination, and education necessary to receive a license if you do not meet the qualifications for honesty, trustworthiness, and integrity. Please do not submit a Fitness Determination form if you do not have any criminal offenses or already have a pending application with TREC. Please refer to the TREC website for more information on the topic of fitness determination.

Icon - Complete Education Requirements

Step 1: Complete the 6 Required Texas Real Estate Commission (TREC) Courses

These six, 30-hour Real Estate Qualifying Education (QE) courses are required by the Texas Real Estate Commission (TREC) in order to meet the educational requirements for your Texas Real Estate License.

Principles of Real Estate 1
Principles of Real Estate 2
Law of Agency
Law of Contracts
Real Estate Finance
Promulgated Contract Forms

Estimated Time:

3 - 6 Weeks

Estimated Cost:

$980 - $1698

Ready to Start?

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Icon - Submit Online Application to TREC

Step 2: Create an Account in TREC's 'My License' System. Submit Online Application and Course Certificates for an Inactive License

Once you have completed your courses with Champions School of Real Estate, gather your course completion certificates and go to www.trec.texas.gov, click on "Real Estate Sales Agent" in the "Become Licensed" dropdown menu at the top of the page.

Under "File Your Application," click "Online Services."
On the login screen, under "New User," click "Begin Here for Sign-Up."
Fill out all the required information to set up your account and follow the instructions.

All applicants for a real estate license are considered inactive until they are sponsored by a Texas Real Estate Broker. Once you have passed the state exam and found a sponsoring Broker, you are considered an active Real Estate Sales Agent in the state of Texas.

Fax (512-936-3864) OR Email (documents@trec.texas.gov) the following:

A copy of ALL course completion certificates
Include college transcripts if applicable
FAX: Use your application receipt as your cover sheet
Email: Attach certificates and receipt. Include your name and address in the body of the email.

If you already have a sponsoring broker, the Broker Sponsorship can be completed and submitted to TREC at any time, but you will not receive an active license until you have a sponsoring Broker.

Once the application is filed and all documents sent to TREC, it may take up to 14 business days to receive a response.

Please Note - You have one year from the filing date of your Application for Inactive Real Estate Sales Agent License to meet all of the requirements for a real estate license. If the requirements are not met within that year, your application expires and you must submit a new one.

Application Processing Times - TREC has set up the following page to communicate the current TREC processing times to license applicants. - TREC Processing Times.

Check Application Status - TREC has set up the following page to allow applicants to check the status of their existing license application. If you have submitted an application and are wondering about the status, this is a good place to start. - Check Application Status.

Estimated Time:

7 - 14 Business Days

Estimated Cost:

$205 Application Fee

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Step 3: Take the State Exam Prep Class at Champions School of Real Estate

Once you have submitted your application to TREC, it can take them as long as four weeks to review your application and education. During this review period, we highly recommend that you complete the Real Estate Exam Prep course to ensure that you are prepared for the State and National Exam. This class will take the guesswork and stress out of testing. You may repeat the course as many times as you want for a full year at no additional cost to you! We recommend taking the Prep class at least two times and passing with an 80% or better before taking the actual exam.

Estimated Time:

2 - 4 Days

Estimated Cost:

$250 (included in package)

Ready to Start?

Choose a Program

Icon - Pass the State Exam at Pearson Vue

Step 4: Receive Your Exam Eligibility Notification from TREC and Schedule the State Exam at Pearson VUE

Once you receive the eligibility letter from TREC, you must sign up to take the state exam at a Pearson VUE Testing Center. Your exam eligibility letter will include instructions for contacting the exam administrator and obtaining a copy of the Candidate Handbook. The Candidate Handbook contains information about the examination, study material, and instructions for making an exam reservation. You can call Pearson Vue at 800-997-1248 to schedule your exam. Walk-in examinations are not available.

The cost for the exam is $43 payable to Pearson Vue and must be paid at the time of reservation by credit card, debit card, voucher, or electronic check. Payment will not be accepted at the test center. Examination fees are non-refundable and non-transferable.
Candidates must bring two forms of current signature identification ID to the testing center the day of your exam. The primary ID must be government issued and photo-bearing. No personal items are allowed in the exam. Calculators are not required but are recommended. Cell phone calculators are not allowed.
There are two portions to the state exam; a national portion and a state portion. The national portion has 85 questions (which includes 5 pretest questions) and you have 150 minutes to complete it. The state portion has 40 questions (which include 5 pretest questions) and you have 90 minutes to complete this portion. Pretest questions are not identified and will not affect a candidate's score in any way.
Passing Scores:
- National Examination: Must answer 56 questions correctly to pass.
- State Examination: Must answer 21 questions correctly to pass.

Please Note - You must pass the State Exam within one year of submitting your Application for Inactive Real Estate Sales Agent License. If either portion of the exam is failed three times, you are required to take an additional 30-hours of qualifying education before you can register for re-examination.

Estimated Time:

7 - 10 Business Days

Estimated Cost:

$43 Exam Fee

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Icon - File Background Check and Fingerprints

Step 5: Get Your Fingerprints Taken and Pass Your Background Check

While taking the State Exam Prep course it is recommended that you have your fingerprinting done. Pursuant to §1101.3521 of the Texas Real Estate License Act, any person applying for a broker or salesperson license must be fingerprinted specifically for TREC and pass a background history check before a license will issue. If you schedule your fingerprinting after passing your state exam, your license will not issue until TREC receives your criminal history report from the DPS and the FBI and clears your background history check.

Electronic fingerprinting is encouraged by TREC and costs ($41.45). To have this done visit the TREC website and follow these steps to schedule an appointment and complete your fingerprinting/background check:

Select "Real Estate Sales Agent" from the "Become Licensed" dropdown menu.
Under "Get Your Fingerprints Taken and Pass Your Background Check," click on "Fingerprints."
Search for your account using either your TREC ID or first name, last name, and birth date to obtain your "Get IdentoGO ID."
You can now use your IdentoGO ID _______ to schedule an appointment at the IdentgoGO website.
Please remember to bring your TREC exam eligibility letter to your fingerprinting appointment. You will not receive a fingerprint card as it will be sent electronically to the DPS and the FBI. The fingerprinting agent will give you a receipt of services. Save this receipt for your records.
You also can call (888) 467-2080 to schedule your fingerprints. You will need your TREC ID number from the eligibility letter.

Estimated Time:

7 - 10 Business Days

Estimated Cost:

$38.25 Fingerprinting Fee

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Icon - Find a sponsoring broker

Step 6: Find a Sponsoring Broker

All real estate Sales Agents must work under the sponsorship of a licensed broker. Begin by searching for brokers in your area. Reach out and inform them that you’re getting your real estate license and need sponsorship. It is wise to begin this process even before taking your exam.

During your subsequent interview(s) with brokers, try asking them these questions to determine if the brokerage is a good fit.

To become an active sales agent, you must submit a sponsoring broker form to TREC. Your active sales agent license will arrive in an email to both you and your sponsoring broker. You can then look up your public license number under TREC's License Holder Search feature on their website.

Congratulations! You’re a licensed real estate agent in the state of Texas.

For More Information...

Icon - Youtube Video

Step-by-Step Video

Champions Owner/CEO explains the licensing process.

Real Estate FAQ

Answers to the most important Real Estate licensing questions!

Set Your Real Estate License Education Course Schedule.
Classroom, Online, or in the Virtual Classroom!

Blended Classroom

Do you enjoy independent study but also want live instruction? This delivery combines both! Spend half your time studying at home, then attend class at a brick-and-mortar campus.

Please Note - This delivery method is only applicable to real estate QE and SAE courses.

Virtual Classroom

Attend live classes from the comfort of your home! Our ChampionsLive virtual classrooms are perfect for students who prefer at-home learning, but also want live instruction.

Online Interactive

Perfect for independent learners, this delivery is completely self-paced and includes videos and activities. Accessible from any mobile or desktop device with an internet connection.

Please Note - This delivery method is only available for all QE, select SAE and CE courses.

Online Correspondence

Do you learn best at your own pace? Through this delivery method, you get the textbook and teach yourself. Then, when you’re ready, take the test either online or at a Champions campus!

Sample Course

Please Note - This method is only available for real estate QE/SAE/CE and some home inspection courses.

Select the "Champions Advantage" option when you enroll to customize your learning experience. This option allows you to choose different delivery methods for each course in the program. Learn More.

Helpful Links

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Download Class QE Schedule

Real Estate Student Resources

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Important TREC Notices

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Campus Information