Real Estate

There are many to choose from including real estate agent, broker, appraiser, inspector, leasing agent, property manager, loan officer, and commercial property specialist just to name a few.

Real estate agents are independent contractors and work under the supervision of a licensed broker. Agents earn money by commissions on the sales they make. If you don’t sell anything then you don’t make any money. If you sell a lot of homes, then you’ll make a lot of money. The amount of money you make is really up to you and how hard you want to work. The average first year real estate agent earns less than $20,000, however, the average experienced agent with at least five years of experience can earn more than $60,000 a year, with many agents earning more than $100,000 a year. The potential is there if you have a business plan and work hard at marketing yourself.

If you're renewing for the first time, active or inactive, you must have the following education requirements posted to your license record before you submit the renewal:

• Total of 270 qualifying real estate course hours
• 4 hours of TREC's Legal Update I
• 4 hours of TREC's Legal Update II
• If you have been made a supervisor by your broker, you must complete the 6-hour Broker Responsibility course to renew.

You may submit qualifying course completion documents to TREC at least 10 days before renewing your license. Qualifying credit will not be granted if you were previously given credit for a substantially similar qualifying course within a two year period. 

You may not defer SAE requirements. The license will not be renewed until you complete the required education.

Complete 18 hours of approved Continuing Education (CE) courses:

• 8 hours of TREC Legal Update I and II
• 3 hours of contract-related coursework
• 7 hours of elective CE
• If you have been made a supervisor by your broker, you must complete the 6-hour Broker Responsibility course as part of the 18 hours of CE.

If TREC records do not reflect completion of CE requirements at the time you submit the renewal application, you must pay a $200 CE Deferral Fee, or renew in inactive status. Payment of the CE Deferral Fee allows you to remain active for an additional 60 days from the expiration date to complete CE requirements. To receive the additional 60 days to complete any outstanding CE, the CE Deferral fee must be paid before the expiration date of the license. Deferral does not apply to sales agents renewing for the first time.

If your license expires, you cannot renew until CE requirements are met and you have paid the CE Deferral Fee. If you complete CE more than 60 days after the license expiration date, you will be subject to an additional late reporting fee of $250.

If you have not submitted fingerprints for TREC with a previous renewal or application, you must be fingerprinted for a criminal background check.

You may renew the license on inactive status without completing CE. You cannot engage in real estate brokerage activity with an inactive license.

How to renew online:

1. Renew online using TREC's Online Services. If you have not renewed online before, you may need to register first.
   
2. Complete CE at least 10 days before the expiration date, to ensure time for processing.
3. Pay the renewal fee online using TREC's Online Services no later than the expiration date of the license

How to renew by mail:

1. Submit the Renewal Form for Real Estate Sales Agents and Brokers.
2. Complete CE at least 10 days before the expiration date, to ensure time for processing.
3. Include payment of the renewal fee.

To apply for your license, you must meet the following qualifications:

• Citizen of the United States or lawfully admitted alien*
• 18 years of age or older
• Meet TREC’s qualifications for honesty, trustworthiness, and integrity**

Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) recipients do not qualify as a lawfully admitted alien
** Applicants may consider requesting a Fitness Determination form before applying for the license. 

You must prove completion of a total of 270 classroom hours (30 classroom hours per course), including the following mandatory real estate courses:

• Principles of Real Estate I
• Principles of Real Estate II
• Law of Agency
• Law of Contracts
• Promulgated Contract Forms
• Real Estate Finance
• Real Estate Brokerage (must be completed no longer than two years before the application date)

An additional 630 classroom hours in related qualifying courses acceptable to TREC or approved Continuing Education (CE) courses are also required.

• Browse the list of TREC-approved elective qualifying courses 
• Browse a list of course topics acceptable for related qualifying course credit if completed for academic credit through a college or university

A bachelor's degree or higher from an accredited college or university satisfies all of the related education requirements for a broker license. A copy of the college transcript awarding the degree must be submitted as evidence of completion of the degree.

You may submit course completion documents to TREC after applying online or with a paper application. After completing course work, you are welcome to submit a course and instructor evaluation.

You must also meet the following experience requirements:

• Have at least four years’ active experience as a licensed real estate sales agent or broker during the 60-month period preceding the filing of the application.
• Experience must total 3600 points and be reported on the Qualifying Experience Report for a Broker License. 
• You must also include a transaction identification list for each transaction claimed on the experience report.

Submit the application and fee to become a Sales Agent using TREC's Online Services. If you do not already have a username and password for the Online Services, either register online or apply for the Sales Agent license using TREC's paper application.

You are required by law to have fingerprints on file with the Texas Department of Public Safety (DPS) so a background check can be performed. Fingerprints on file for other agencies will not be accepted. A license will not be issued if the background check has not been passed. Expect a delay if you are notified of an investigation into your background history.

• Review fingerprint requirements 

License exams are administered by PearsonVUE, a testing service company. You will be sent a notice with instructions for scheduling the exam and obtaining a copy of the exam Candidate Handbook. If you fail the exam three times, additional education will be necessary.

• Learn about examinations with PearsonVUE