Requirements, steps, costs and timeline, in one place
Everything you need to get your Texas real estate license as a sales agent: the 180 hours of TREC-approved education, the REALM Portal application, fingerprints and the Pearson VUE exam.
Start Your 180-Hour Course — from $289 →Getting a Texas real estate license takes five things: 180 hours of state-approved education, an online application to the Texas Real Estate Commission (TREC), fingerprints and a background check, a passing score on the Pearson VUE exam, and a sponsoring broker. This guide walks through how to get a real estate license in Texas step by step, what it costs, how long it takes, and what you need to do after you’re licensed as a sales agent (Texas’s term for a new real estate agent). In short, this is how to become a real estate agent in Texas, from your first course to your sponsoring broker.
MLS Campus has taught real estate licensing courses online since 2014, and most of the questions our students ask come down to the same few things: what order to do things in, what it costs, and how long it takes. This guide answers all three, including the change TREC made to the application order.
MLS Campus is a TREC-approved qualifying education provider (#701091-QP). All six 30-hour courses Texas requires are 100% online and self-paced: Principles of Real Estate I and II, Law of Agency, Law of Contracts, Promulgated Contract Forms and Real Estate Finance.
Real Estate License Texas Requirements
To qualify for a Texas real estate license as a sales agent, TREC requires that you meet all of the following.
| Requirement | Detail |
|---|---|
| Age | 18 or older |
| Citizenship | U.S. citizen or lawfully admitted alien |
| Character | Meet TREC’s qualifications for honesty, trustworthiness and integrity (a Fitness Determination can check this before you apply) |
| Residency | Not required. You don’t need to live in Texas to hold a Texas real estate license |
| Qualifying education | 180 hours: Principles of Real Estate I and II, Law of Agency, Law of Contracts, Promulgated Contract Forms and Real Estate Finance (30 hours each) |
| Application | TREC REALM Portal, $206, filed after you finish the 180 hours; valid for one year |
| Background check | TREC-specific fingerprints with IdentoGO by IDEMIA, $37 |
| Exam | Pearson VUE: national and state portions, 4 hours in total, $58 |
| To work | A licensed Texas broker must sponsor you; until then your license is inactive |
How to Become a Real Estate Agent in Texas: Which Path Fits You?
| Your situation | Your route to a Texas real estate license |
|---|---|
| New to real estate, studying full-time | Create your REALM account first and give your pre-license education number to your school, then complete the 180 hours (about 4–6 weeks full-time). 180-hour course → |
| Studying part-time around a job | Plan on 2–4 months or more for the 180 hours. Online study fits around work, and audio lets you learn on the go. 180-hour course → |
| Already licensed in another state | Texas has no reciprocity, so you’ll still need the Texas education and the state portion of the exam. If you passed an ARELLO-approved national exam for your active license, the national portion may be waived. Out-of-state applicants → |
| Took real estate courses at a college for credit | Upload your transcript when you apply. TREC only accepts it if you took the specific qualifying courses; a general degree usually won’t count. Requirements → |
| Have a criminal record | Consider a Fitness Determination ($54) before you apply, so you know where you stand. Criminal record → |
| Already a licensed Texas sales agent | Complete the 98 hours of Sales Agent Apprentice Education (SAE) before your first renewal, then look at the broker path. 98-hour SAE → · become a broker → |
| Licensed, but your license is inactive | You need a sponsoring broker to go active. You or the broker can request sponsorship in the REALM Portal. Step 6 → |
How to Get a Real Estate License in Texas: 6 Steps
Follow these six steps, in this order, to earn your Texas sales agent license and start working as a real estate agent in Texas.
Create a REALM Portal account
Complete the 180 hours of qualifying education
Complete the six TREC-approved 30-hour courses: Principles of Real Estate I and II, Law of Agency, Law of Contracts, Promulgated Contract Forms and Real Estate Finance. You’ll receive a course completion certificate for each.
You can take the courses in a classroom or online. Every approved course covers the same TREC requirements, so the choice comes down to how you learn best. With MLS Campus, all 180 hours are fully online, you can read, listen or watch the lessons, and you have six months to a year to finish, depending on your package.
Apply to TREC and upload your certificates
Get fingerprinted for your background check
Pass the Pearson VUE exam
Get sponsored by a broker
The Texas Real Estate Exam: Format, Fee and What It Covers
The exam is the last big hurdle to your Texas real estate license. It’s administered by Pearson VUE in two portions: a national portion on general real estate principles and practices, and a state portion on Texas law. You have 4 hours in total for both. Some questions are unscored pretest items that don’t count toward your result.
| Portion | Questions (incl. pretest) | Time | To pass |
|---|---|---|---|
| National | 85 | 150 minutes | 56 correct |
| State | 50 | 90 minutes | 28 correct |
Source: Pearson VUE Texas candidate handbook (August 2026). Exam fee $58, paid to Pearson VUE.
The state portion covers Texas license law and TREC rules, including agency, contracts and standards of conduct such as advertising, trust accounts and the unauthorized practice of law. Give extra practice time to the state portion and to real estate math until both feel routine. Pearson VUE publishes full content outlines for both portions.
Exam Day: What to Expect
- Book at least 24 hours ahead. Reserve online or by phone with Pearson VUE; walk-in exams aren’t available.
- Arrive at least 30 minutes early. Bring the identification listed in the Pearson VUE candidate handbook.
- Expect a photo and digital signature at check-in.
- You’ll leave with your score report, marked pass or fail, for each portion.
How Much Does a Texas Real Estate License Cost?
| Cost | Amount | Paid to |
|---|---|---|
| 180-hour qualifying education | from $289 | Your school (MLS Campus Basic package) |
| TREC application | $206 | TREC |
| Fingerprints | $37 | IdentoGO by IDEMIA |
| Pearson VUE exam | $58 | Pearson VUE |
| Estimated total | about $590 | plus optional exam prep |
Fees current as of October 2026. Optional: a Fitness Determination costs $54 if you have a background history to check first. You may see $205 for the application, $43 for the exam or $54 quoted as the exam fee in older guides; TREC’s current fee schedule lists $206 for the application, and Pearson VUE’s August 2026 handbook lists $58 for the exam.
Study online at your own pace and get ready for both portions of the Texas exam.
How Long Does It Take to Get a Texas Real Estate License?
Most people get their Texas real estate license in 3 to 6 months. It can take longer if TREC needs to review your background history:
- Weeks 1–6: complete the 180 hours (about 4–6 weeks full-time; longer part-time).
- Weeks 6–10: apply in REALM; TREC reviews your application and emails you to schedule fingerprints.
- Weeks 8–14: TREC confirms your education and you schedule and pass the Pearson VUE exam.
- Weeks 10–16: your license is issued as inactive until a broker sponsors you.
The best way to avoid delays with your Texas real estate license is to create your REALM account before you start the courses, give your pre-license education number to your school, and apply as soon as your last course is complete.
Mistakes That Delay a Texas Real Estate License
- Applying before your education is complete. TREC says not to submit until all 180 hours are uploaded, and a submitted application can’t be changed.
- Not giving your school your pre-license education number. Create the REALM account first and pass the number on.
- Using fingerprints taken for another agency. They must be taken specifically for TREC.
- Letting the application expire. You have one year from filing to meet every requirement.
- Running out of exam attempts. Fail either portion three times and you must complete more education before testing again.
- Forgetting sponsorship. Your license stays inactive until a broker sponsors you.
- Missing the SAE deadline. The 98 hours must be done before your first renewal, or you can’t renew.
Can You Get Licensed With a Criminal Record?
A criminal record doesn’t automatically disqualify you from a Texas real estate license. TREC checks every applicant’s background through fingerprints and decides whether you meet its standards for honesty, trustworthiness and integrity. If you’re unsure whether your history could affect you, request a Fitness Determination ($54) before you apply. It doesn’t replace the fingerprint background check, but it tells you where you stand before you invest in the application.
What If You Fail the Exam?
You can retake the portion you failed; you don’t have to retake a portion you’ve passed, because each passed portion stays valid for one year. You have three attempts to pass both portions before your application expires. Fail either portion three times and TREC requires additional qualifying education before you can test again. Use your score report to see which areas to review, then practise with timed exams before you rebook.
Texas Real Estate License Reciprocity: Licensed in Another State?
Texas has no license reciprocity with other states, so every applicant meets TREC’s education and exam requirements. If you currently hold an active real estate license in another state and passed the national portion of an ARELLO-approved exam, Pearson VUE’s handbook says the national portion may be waived, leaving the state portion.
You don’t need to live in Texas to apply. If you’re outside IdentoGO’s service area, TREC can send you a Hard Card for fingerprinting. Once licensed, you must work under a sponsoring Texas broker. Military service members and veterans with a similar license in good standing in another state may qualify for expedited processing; see TREC benefits for veterans.
After You’re Licensed: SAE and Renewal
Getting your Texas real estate license isn’t the end of the coursework. TREC counts 270 hours of qualifying education across your first two years, and your 180 pre-license hours count toward it, which leaves 90 hours of Sales Agent Apprentice Education (SAE). Separately, TREC requires 4 hours of Legal Update I and 4 hours of Legal Update II, so the full first-renewal requirement is 98 hours. These hours can’t be deferred; if they aren’t done by the end of your first two-year period, you can’t renew.
From your second renewal onward, you complete 18 hours of continuing education every two years. If your broker appoints you as a supervisor, you’ll also need the separate 6-hour Broker Responsibility course.
See also: how to renew your Texas real estate license · 18-hour continuing education
Sales Agent, Broker or Realtor®?
- Sales agent: the first Texas real estate license. You work as a real estate agent under a sponsoring broker.
- Broker: the next step, after at least four years of active experience in the past five years (720 experience points) and 900 hours of education. See how to become a real estate broker in Texas.
- Realtor®: not a license. It’s membership of the National Association of REALTORS®, which you can join once licensed. See how to become a Realtor® in Texas.
How to Look Up a License
Once your license is issued, you can look it up with TREC’s License Holder Search, by name or license number. Clients and brokers use the same search, so keep your details current.
Why Get a Real Estate License in Texas?
Texas’s population growth and diverse economy, from Houston and Dallas–Fort Worth to Austin and San Antonio, keep buyer demand strong year-round, and there’s no state income tax. Income is commission-based, so earnings depend on the deals you close.
Salary data: ZipRecruiter (2026); career outlook: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. Individual results vary.
Tips for Passing the Texas Real Estate Exam
- Set a schedule. Block regular study time each week; online study fits around a job.
- Study both portions. The national portion tests general principles; the state portion tests Texas law. Practise each separately.
- Practise under exam conditions. Timed practice exams are the best preparation for passing on your first attempt.
- Book the exam while it’s fresh. Schedule it as soon as TREC’s email arrives.
- Test when you’re ready. Aim to score consistently above the pass marks in practice first.
Texas Real Estate License FAQ
Tap a question to see the answer.
How do I get a real estate license in Texas?
Create a TREC REALM Portal account, complete the 180 hours of TREC-approved qualifying education, then apply in REALM ($206), get fingerprinted, pass both portions of the Pearson VUE exam, and have a licensed Texas broker sponsor you.
How much does a Texas real estate license cost?
About $590 in total: the 180-hour course from $289, the $206 TREC application, $37 for fingerprints and the $58 Pearson VUE exam.
How long does it take to get a Texas real estate license?
Most people finish in 3–6 months, depending on study pace and TREC processing times.
Do I apply to TREC before or after the courses?
After. Create your REALM account first to get a pre-license education number, complete the 180 hours, then submit the application with your certificates uploaded.
How many hours are required for a Texas real estate license?
180 hours: six 30-hour courses (Principles of Real Estate I and II, Law of Agency, Law of Contracts, Promulgated Contract Forms and Real Estate Finance).
Can I take the Texas real estate courses online?
Yes. The 180 hours can be completed fully online and self-paced through a TREC-approved provider such as MLS Campus.
What score do I need to pass the Texas real estate exam?
56 correct on the national portion and 28 correct on the state portion, according to Pearson VUE’s August 2026 Texas handbook.
How much is the Texas real estate exam?
$58, paid to Pearson VUE (August 2026 handbook).
What happens if I fail the Texas real estate exam?
Retake only the portion you failed; passed portions stay valid for a year. After three failed attempts on either portion, you must complete more education before testing again.
Do I need to live in Texas to get licensed?
No. Residency isn’t required. If you’re outside IdentoGO’s service area, TREC can send a Hard Card for fingerprinting.
Does Texas have real estate license reciprocity?
No. Every applicant meets TREC’s education and exam requirements, though agents with an active license elsewhere who passed an ARELLO-approved national exam may have the national portion waived.
Can I get a Texas real estate license with a criminal record?
Possibly. TREC reviews each applicant’s history. Request a Fitness Determination ($54) before applying if you’re unsure.
Are there fee waivers for veterans?
Yes. TREC waives the base application and exam fees for military service members, veterans and military spouses.
What do I need after I get my Texas real estate license?
A sponsoring broker to go active, then 98 hours of SAE (90 hours plus Legal Update I and II) before your first renewal, and 18 hours of CE every two years after that.
Start Your Texas Real Estate Career Today
MLS Campus is a TREC-approved qualifying education provider (#701091-QP), established in 2014, that has helped tens of thousands of students start their real estate careers. Take all 180 hours online, at your own pace, with read, listen and watch options.
- How to get a real estate license: state-by-state guide
- How to become a Realtor® in Texas
- How to become a real estate broker in Texas
- How to find a sponsoring broker in Texas
- Texas real estate courses
Ready to get your Texas real estate license?
Study online at your own pace with state-approved, instructor-supported courses. Browse the Texas packages or head back to our homepage to explore everything MLS Campus offers.