Experience points, education, exam and fees, in one place
Everything you need to move from sales agent to a Texas real estate broker license: TREC’s four-year, 720-point experience rule, the 900 education hours, the Pearson VUE broker exam and your REALM application.
See the Texas Broker Course Packages — from $579.42 →A Texas real estate broker license lets you work without a sponsoring broker, sponsor and supervise sales agents, and act as the designated broker of a firm. The Texas Real Estate Commission (TREC) sets four requirements: at least four years of active experience worth 720 experience points, 900 hours of education, a passing score on both sections of the Pearson VUE broker exam, and an approved application with fingerprints on file. This guide explains how to become a real estate broker in Texas step by step, what it costs and how long it takes.
Not licensed yet? Start with our guide to getting your Texas real estate license. MLS Campus is a TREC-approved qualifying education provider (#701091) and has taught real estate licensing courses online since 2014.
MLS Campus is a TREC-approved qualifying education provider (#701091). Our 276-hour Texas broker license course packages cover the 270 qualifying hours TREC lists for brokers plus the 6-hour Broker Responsibility Course, and every 30-hour course, including the required Real Estate Brokerage course, can also be bought on its own.
Texas Real Estate Broker License Requirements
To qualify for a Texas real estate broker license, TREC requires the following.
| Requirement | Detail |
|---|---|
| Experience | At least four years of active experience as a licensed sales agent or broker during the 60 months before you apply, totalling 720 experience points (see experience points) |
| Qualifying education | 270 hours: seven mandatory 30-hour courses (210 hours) plus 60 hours of qualifying electives. The 30-hour Real Estate Brokerage course must be completed no more than two years before you apply |
| Related education | 630 hours of related qualifying courses or TREC-approved CE, including the 6-hour Broker Responsibility Course. A bachelor’s degree or extra experience points can each cover up to 300 of these hours |
| Application | TREC’s Individual Broker application in the REALM Portal, $308. Upload your education first; the application expires one year after you file it |
| Background check | Fingerprints on file with the Texas Department of Public Safety for TREC, taken through IdentoGO by IDEMIA ($37 if you weren’t fingerprinted for your sales agent license) |
| Exam | Pass the national and state sections of the Pearson VUE broker exam ($58 per attempt) |
| Character | Meet TREC’s standards for honesty, trustworthiness and integrity |
Together, these are the Texas broker license requirements TREC checks when it reviews your application.
Which Path Is Right for You?
| Your situation | Your route to a Texas broker license |
|---|---|
| Texas sales agent, 4+ years and 720 points | Check your Brokerage course date, finish any remaining related hours and the Broker Responsibility Course, then apply. Broker course packages → |
| Close on time, short on points | Keep building transactions and complete your education now. Points earned after you file can be added with TREC’s Supplement B form. Experience points → |
| You have a bachelor’s degree | Your degree can cover up to 300 of the 630 related hours; upload your transcript with the application. The 900 hours → |
| Brokerage course is over two years old | Retake the 30-hour Real Estate Brokerage course before you apply. Real Estate Brokerage course → |
| Licensed in another state | Texas has no reciprocity, but TREC evaluates out-of-state experience and education. Out-of-state applicants → |
| Attorney | TREC says attorneys must first hold a Texas sales agent license, though law school courses may count toward the education. Details → |
| Already a Texas broker | Complete 18 hours of CE each two-year renewal, including Broker Responsibility. Texas broker CE → |
| Planning to open your own firm | After licensing, a business entity needs its own broker license and a designated broker. How to start a real estate brokerage in Texas → |
How to Become a Real Estate Broker in Texas: 6 Steps
Follow these six steps, in this order, to earn your Texas broker license.
Check your experience and points
Complete 270 qualifying hours
Complete 630 related hours
Apply in the REALM Portal
Have fingerprints on file
Pass the broker exam
The 900 Hours of Texas Broker Education
TREC’s 900 hours for a Texas real estate broker license break down into 270 qualifying hours and 630 related hours:
| Part | What counts | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Mandatory qualifying courses | Principles of Real Estate I and II, Law of Agency, Law of Contracts, Promulgated Contract Forms, Real Estate Finance, Real Estate Brokerage (30 hours each) | 210 |
| Qualifying electives | Any other TREC qualifying courses, such as Real Estate Marketing or Property Management | 60 |
| Related education | Related qualifying courses or TREC-approved CE, including the 6-hour Broker Responsibility Course | 630 |
| Total | 900 |
You can reduce the 630 related hours in two ways, each capped at 300 hours:
- A bachelor’s degree or higher from an accredited college or university counts for up to 300 related hours. Older guides say a degree covers all 630; that changed in 2026.
- Extra experience points above 720 count at two points per classroom hour, for up to 300 hours. TREC’s example: about five extra residential sales a year for four years.
| MLS Campus course | Counts toward | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Real Estate Brokerage (30 hours) | Mandatory (within 2 years of applying) | from $79 |
| Principles I · Principles II · Law of Agency · Law of Contracts · Promulgated Contract Forms · Real Estate Finance | Mandatory (usually done for your sales agent license) | from $79 each |
| Real Estate Marketing · Property Management | Qualifying electives | from $79 each |
| Broker Responsibility (6 hours) | Required part of the 630 related hours | included in the packages, or from $49 on its own |
| 276-hour Texas broker license course packages | All 270 qualifying hours plus Broker Responsibility | from $579.42 |
Source: TREC: Become an Individual Real Estate Broker. Course prices as of October 2026.
How Texas Broker Experience Points Work
TREC measures experience in points, not years alone. You need at least 720 points earned over at least four of the five years before you file, with at least one transaction in each of those four years. The points come from the transactions you list on TREC’s Supplement A form:
| Transaction (TREC Supplement A, 2026) | Points each |
|---|---|
| Closed residential purchase or sale (improved property or unimproved residential lot) | 30 |
| Closed commercial purchase or sale (improved property or unimproved commercial lot) | 50 |
| Closed farm and ranch or unimproved land purchase or sale | 30 |
| Leases and property management | fewer points; see the form |
| Transactions supervised as a delegated supervisor (written delegation required) | 3 |
For a typical residential agent, 720 points is about 24 closed sales over four or more years. Keep your executed contracts and settlement statements: TREC can ask for documentation of every transaction you claim, and your sponsoring broker signs the report.
Source: TREC Supplement A, Qualifying Experience Report for a Broker License (01/01/2026). TREC raised the minimum from 360 to 720 points in 2026, so guides quoting 360 or 3,600 are out of date.
The Texas Real Estate Broker Exam
The broker exam is the last step before TREC issues your Texas real estate broker license. Pearson VUE gives it in two sections, and you must pass both:
| Section | Scored questions | Time | To pass |
|---|---|---|---|
| National | 80 (85 questions, incl. 5 unscored) | 150 minutes | 60 correct |
| State | 50 (up to 60 questions, incl. unscored; includes case studies) | 90 minutes | 38 correct |
| Both | 145 questions in total | 4 hours | both sections |
Source: Pearson VUE Texas Real Estate Candidate Handbook (#094400, September 2026). The fee is $58 per attempt, whether you take one section or both. Bring two current IDs whose names exactly match your registration.
The broker exam goes deeper than the sales agent exam into brokerage operations, supervision, trust accounts, agency and Texas law. You get three attempts to pass both sections before your application expires. After a third failure, TREC requires 30 more hours of qualifying education if you failed one section, or 60 hours if you failed both.
How Much Does a Texas Real Estate Broker License Cost?
| Cost | Amount | Paid to |
|---|---|---|
| Broker course package (270 qualifying hours + Broker Responsibility) | from $579.42 | Your school (MLS Campus 276-hour package) |
| Broker application | $308 | TREC |
| Broker exam | $58 | Pearson VUE |
| Fingerprints (only if not on file with TREC) | $37 | IdentoGO by IDEMIA |
| Estimated total | about $945 | plus optional exam prep |
Fees current as of October 2026, from TREC’s fee schedule (effective December 15, 2025) and Pearson VUE’s Texas candidate handbook (September 2026). TREC’s own fee schedule still lists $39 for the broker exam; Pearson VUE charges $58 when you book. Related hours you still need beyond the package, such as extra CE or electives, add to the total. Older guides show a $305 application fee.
TREC-approved qualifying courses, online and self-paced around your real estate business.
How Long Does It Take to Become a Broker in Texas?
When you plan how to become a real estate broker in Texas, the experience requirement is the longest part: four years of active licensed work and 720 points. You can complete most of the education while you build that experience. Once you qualify, most people finish in 2 to 4 months:
- Months 1–2: finish any remaining qualifying courses, a current Real Estate Brokerage course and the Broker Responsibility Course.
- Month 2: complete your Supplement A experience report with your broker’s signature, then apply in the REALM Portal.
- Months 2–4: confirm fingerprints are on file, pass both sections of the Pearson VUE exam and receive your license.
TREC posts its current application processing times online, so check them before you plan your exam date.
Mistakes That Delay a Texas Real Estate Broker License
Most delays with a Texas real estate broker license come from a handful of avoidable mistakes. If you’re working out how to become a real estate broker in Texas without setbacks, avoid these:
- Using an old Brokerage course. It must be completed no more than two years before you apply.
- Forgetting Broker Responsibility. The 6-hour course is required within the 630 related hours.
- Counting on a degree for all 630 hours. A bachelor’s degree now covers up to 300.
- Quoting old point totals. The minimum is 720 points, not 360.
- Applying before your education is uploaded. TREC asks you not to submit until it’s complete, and you can’t edit a submitted application.
- Running out the one-year clock. Every requirement, including both exam sections, must be met before the application expires.
- Missing transaction records. Keep contracts and settlement statements for every transaction you claim.
Texas Real Estate Broker License Reciprocity
Texas has no real estate license reciprocity with other states, so out-of-state applicants meet the same experience, education and exam requirements as everyone else.
- Experience: TREC evaluates experience as an active license holder, reported on the Supplement A experience report with documentation.
- Education: courses from other states or colleges may count if TREC accepts them; you upload transcripts or completion documents with your application.
- Exam: Pearson VUE's handbook says the national section may be waived if you hold an active license in another state and passed an ARELLO-approved national exam; you still take the Texas state section.
- Fingerprints: if you live outside the IdentoGO service area, TREC can send a fingerprint Hard Card.
- Attorneys: TREC says a licensed attorney must first get a Texas sales agent license, then a broker license, though many law school courses may count toward the education.
Always confirm how your credentials transfer with TREC before you apply. Source: TREC broker requirements.
After You’re Licensed: Broker CE and Renewal
A Texas real estate broker license renews every two years. Active individual brokers complete 18 hours of continuing education each period:
| Broker CE requirement | Hours |
|---|---|
| TREC Legal Update I and II | 8 |
| Broker Responsibility Course | 6 |
| Contract-related coursework | 3 |
| Elective | 1 |
| Total | 18 |
Renewing active without completing CE adds a $200 late-CE fee. Source: TREC: Renew Your Real Estate Broker License.
Associated Broker, Designated Broker or Delegated Supervisor?
- Associated broker: a licensed broker who works under another broker. TREC says they shouldn’t advertise as just a “broker”; “associate broker” or “broker associate” is fine.
- Delegated supervisor: a license holder a broker authorizes in writing to supervise sales agents. Delegated supervisors also take the Broker Responsibility Course.
- Designated broker: the individual broker an LLC or corporation names to act for it. A business entity needs its own broker license; see how to start a real estate brokerage in Texas.
How to Look Up a Broker License
Once issued, your Texas real estate broker license appears in TREC License Holder Search, where clients and other license holders can check it by name or license number.
Why Get a Texas Real Estate Broker License?
A Texas real estate broker license lets you work independently, sponsor and supervise agents, and keep more of each commission, in markets from Houston and Dallas–Fort Worth to Austin and San Antonio. Income is commission-based and varies with the business you build.
Salary data: ZipRecruiter (2026). Individual results vary.
Tips for Passing the Texas Broker Exam
- Track your points as you go. Keep a running list of transactions and documents from your first year.
- Time your Brokerage course. Take it within two years of the date you expect to apply.
- Study both sections. The national section tests broker-level principles; the state section tests Texas law and TREC rules.
- Practise under exam conditions. Timed practice exams are the best way to walk into the test ready for both sections.
- Book the exam while it’s fresh. Schedule it soon after TREC approves you to test.
Texas Real Estate Broker License FAQ
Tap a question to see the answer.
How do I become a real estate broker in Texas?
Earn at least four years of active experience as a licensed agent in the last 60 months totalling 720 points, complete 900 hours of education (270 qualifying and 630 related), apply to TREC in the REALM Portal, have fingerprints on file, and pass both sections of the Pearson VUE broker exam.
How long do you have to be a sales agent before becoming a broker in Texas?
At least four years of active experience as a licensed sales agent or broker during the 60 months before you apply, with experience totalling 720 points.
How many experience points do I need for a Texas broker license?
720 points. A closed residential sale is worth 30 points and a commercial sale 50, so a residential agent needs about 24 closings. TREC raised the minimum from 360 in 2026.
What are the education requirements for a Texas broker license?
900 hours: 270 hours of qualifying courses, including seven mandatory courses and a Real Estate Brokerage course taken within two years of applying, plus 630 related hours that include the 6-hour Broker Responsibility Course.
Do my sales agent and SAE courses count toward the broker hours?
Yes. Your 180 pre-license hours cover six of the seven mandatory courses and SAE adds Real Estate Brokerage and two electives, but the Brokerage course must have been completed within two years of your broker application.
Does a bachelor’s degree count toward a Texas broker license?
Yes, for up to 300 of the 630 related hours. A degree isn’t required, and older guides that say it covers all 630 hours are out of date.
Can I take the Texas broker courses online?
Yes. TREC qualifying courses, including Real Estate Brokerage and Broker Responsibility, can be completed online through an approved provider such as MLS Campus.
How many questions are on the Texas broker exam?
145 questions in two sections: the national section has 85 questions (80 scored) in 150 minutes, and the state section up to 60 questions (50 scored) in 90 minutes.
What score do I need to pass the Texas broker exam?
60 correct answers on the national section and 38 on the state section, according to Pearson VUE's Texas candidate handbook.
What happens if I fail the Texas broker exam?
Retake only the section you failed, for $58. You get three attempts within your one-year application; after a third failure TREC requires 30 more qualifying hours (one section failed) or 60 (both failed).
How much does a Texas real estate broker license cost?
About $945: the 276-hour broker course package from $579.42 (including Broker Responsibility), the $308 TREC application and the $58 exam, plus $37 for fingerprints if you’re not already printed for TREC.
How long is a Texas broker application valid?
One year from the date you file it. You must complete every remaining requirement, including passing both exam sections, within that year.
Does Texas have broker license reciprocity?
No. Out-of-state applicants meet the same experience and education requirements, though TREC evaluates out-of-state experience and courses, and an active out-of-state licensee who passed an ARELLO-approved national exam may only need the state section.
How much continuing education do Texas brokers need?
18 hours every two years: 8 hours of Legal Update I and II, the 6-hour Broker Responsibility Course, 3 hours of contracts and 1 elective hour.
What’s the difference between a sales agent and a broker in Texas?
A sales agent must be sponsored by a broker. A broker can work independently, sponsor and supervise sales agents, and act as the designated broker of a licensed business entity.
Start Your Texas Broker Education Today
MLS Campus is a TREC-approved qualifying education provider (#701091), established in 2014, that has helped tens of thousands of students build their real estate careers. Finish your broker courses online, at your own pace.
- How to become a real estate broker: state-by-state guide
- How to get a Texas real estate license
- How to start a real estate brokerage in Texas
- How to renew a Texas real estate license
- 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.