If you’re ready to jump in and start selling homes, the first step is getting your Texas real estate license. Whether you dream of closing deals in Houston or helping families find the perfect property in Dallas, this guide will walk you through everything you need to know to become a licensed real estate agent in the Lone Star State.
What are the Basic requirements?
To qualify for a Texas real estate license, you must:
- Be at least 18 years old
- And be a U.S. citizen or lawfully admitted alien
How do I Obtain a Texas Real Estate License?
The process involves six key steps:
1. Meet state standards for honesty, trustworthiness, and integrity.
Before you invest time and money in the licensing process, consider requesting a Fitness Determination1 from the Texas Real Estate Commission (TREC). This optional step allows you to confirm whether any criminal offenses, unpaid judgments, or disciplinary actions may disqualify you.
2. Get fingerprinted for a background check.
Texas law requires all real estate license applicants to have fingerprints2 on file with the Texas Department of Public Safety so a background check can be performed. Even if your fingerprints are on file with another agency, you will need to submit new fingerprints for TREC’s background check.
3. Complete the required coursework.
To qualify for the state exam, you must complete 180 hours of TREC-approved3 real estate courses. Once completed, submit your documents to TREC’s online4 licensing service. Or if you’ve earned a real estate degree at an accredited college, you can email5 your transcripts for evaluation.
4. Pass the Texas real estate license exam.
Schedule your exam through Pearson VUE,6 the official Texas real estate license testing provider.
5. Apply for your Texas real estate license.
Once you’ve passed the exam, you can submit your application online7 or by mail, using this form.8 You can also monitor the status of your Texas real estate license by using the application tracker9 on TREC’s website.
6. Find a sponsoring broker to activate your license.
Real estate sales agents must work under a licensed Texas real estate broker. Your license will remain inactive until you secure sponsorship.
To activate your license:
- Find a Texas real estate broker10 willing to sponsor you.
- Submit a sponsorship request through TREC’s online11 services.
- Once your broker accepts you, TREC will issue your active Texas real estate license, allowing you to start working as a real estate agent.
By following these steps, you’ll be on your way to launching a successful real estate career in Texas.
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- https://www.trec.texas.gov/forms/fitness-determination ↩︎
- https://www.trec.texas.gov/fingerprint-requirements ↩︎
- https://www.trec.texas.gov/education/approved-qualifying-real-estate-courses ↩︎
- https://mylicense.trec.texas.gov/datamart/login.do;jsessionid=6vv_IPhyOJ-omsXKPOE36rycxtN6bk8HRN1gXf4h.idvoapp1 ↩︎
- mailto:[email protected] ↩︎
- https://www.pearsonvue.com ↩︎
- https://mylicense.trec.texas.gov/datamart/mainMenu.do ↩︎
- https://www.trec.texas.gov/sites/default/files/pdf-forms/ISL-10_3.pdf ↩︎
- https://www.trec.texas.gov/apps/application-tracker/?homeApplicationSearch=&homeApplicationSearchButton= ↩︎
- https://www.trec.texas.gov/become-licensed/individual-real-estate-broker ↩︎
- https://mylicense.trec.texas.gov/datamart/mainMenuTXREC.do ↩︎