Real Estate Requirements

Your Path to Becoming a Licensed Real Estate Salesperson

1. Education Requirement

Before you apply for a real estate Salesperson License, you must first provide the Texas Real Estate Commission (TREC) satisfactory evidence of successfully completing the following coursework:

1. Principles of Real Estate I & II core real estate course (60 classroom hours)
2. Law of Agency core real estate course (30 classroom hours)
3. Law of Contracts core real estate course (30 classroom hours)
4. An additional core real estate course (30 classroom hours)
5. Another 60 classroom hours in core courses or in related courses acceptable to the Commission.

 
TREC accepts real estate courses from colleges and universities accredited by the regional accreditation associations.
 

2. Evaluation of Education Documents

You need to present evidence of successful completion of your education requirement via credit transcript or certificate prior to filing an Application for Inactive Salesperson License form. Do not submit original transcripts and/or course completion certificates. Keep the originals for your personal files and send photocopies to the Commission.
 
To obtain an evaluation of your education documents, submit the Request for Evaluation of Education Documents form available from the TREC website.
 
A fee of $20.00 is required for the evaluation of education documents for the purpose of determining if education requirements have been satisfied. This fee is good for one year.
 
After you have met the education requirements, you will receive an evaluation letter from the Commission attesting to satisfaction of all education requirements. The evaluation of education documents must be performed before the application can be filed.
 

3. Filing Your Application

After the Commission has notified you that your education has been satisfied, you may then file and pay for the Application for Inactive Salesperson License available from the TREC website.
 
Note: To be eligible to apply for a real estate Salesperson License, you must be a citizen of the United States or a lawfully admitted alien, 18 years of age or older, and a legal resident of Texas.
 
If you apply and pay for your Inactive Salesperson License online at the TREC website the application process is sped up considerably, reducing by several days the time you must wait to register to take the exam. The information requested online is the same as on the paper application. If you submit a paper application and check by mail or in person, an incomplete application will not be returned to you for completion. A letter will be mailed requesting the incomplete information.
 
Submit the following required fees at the time of filing an application. If you submit your application by mail or in person, an application received without the appropriate fees will be rejected and your check will be returned to you.
 
The following fees should be submitted in one check or money order payable to the Texas Real Estate Commission.
 

Fees Required with Real Estate Salesperson License Application
Fee	Amount	Comment
Original Application	$69.50	Required for all applicants
Recovery Trust Account (formerly Recovery Fund)	$10.00	Required for all applicants unless previously paid

 
All fees listed are nonrefundable.

4. Examination Information

Psychological Services, Inc. (PSI) is the Texas Real Estate Commission’s provider of licensing examinations. The exam registration fee is $59.00, payable to PSI. Once your application has been received, processed, and accepted, you will receive notification that you may obtain a copy of the Candidate Information Brochure (CIB) to register for the exam. The CIB will provide instructions on how to make reservations to take the examination and contains study material and instructions about licensing. A copy of the CIB can be downloaded from the PSI web site at http://www.psiexams.com. You should not attempt to register for the exam without first receiving notification from TREC.
 
The examination must be passed within six months from the date the application is filed with TREC.
 

5. An Investigation May be Needed

When you file an application, it authorizes an investigation of your background. Information revealed in an investigation may be cause for disapproval of your application even though other requirements for a license are met. If an investigation is necessary, it may not be conducted until you have passed the examination.
 

6. Texas Guaranteed Student Loan Repayment History Checked

State law prohibits issuing more than one license after a licensee has defaulted on a student loan guaranteed by the Texas Guaranteed Student Loan Corporation (TGSLC) unless the licensee has entered into a repayment agreement with TGSLC. YOU SHOULD CONTACT TGSLC BEFORE FILING THIS APPLICATION if you have defaulted on a student loan. An application or renewal may be rejected if TREC has received information from TGSLC that you have defaulted on a student loan. The Texas Guaranteed Student Loan Corporation can be contacted at:
 
 

7. Obtain Sponsorship

Before you can practice as a licensed salesperson, you must arrange for a Texas real estate broker holding an active license to sponsor you as a salesperson. Applicants and inactive salespersons are not authorized to act as real estate agents.
 
While you are not required to have a sponsoring broker to file an application for a license, a Salesperson Sponsorship Form is included with the application materials. If you wish, you may file the sponsorship request along with the application. Once all licensing requirements have been satisfied, TREC will send an active salesperson license to the broker, and you may act for the broker on receipt of the license.
 
You may also file the application and arrange for sponsorship after TREC notifies you that you have been issued an inactive license. Once a broker holding an active license has mailed a request to TREC to act as your sponsor, you may begin to act for the broker as a salesperson.
 

8. Don't Practice Prior to Licensure

You are not authorized to perform any act for which a real estate license is required until an active Texas Real Estate Commission license is in the possession of your sponsoring broker.
 
For more information, see the TREC website.