Who Grants a License: Licenses are granted by the Texas Real Estate Commission (“TREC”).
Qualifications to receive a License: A candidate must complete 180 clock hours of study at a TREC-approved real estate school (search schools here), pass a school-administered final exam, and pass a state exam. All candidates must submit a full set of fingerprints, and be at least 18 years of age. For more information about qualifications, see the page titled How to Become a Real Estate Salesperson on the TREC website.
Applying for the Exams: A candidate should apply via the TREC website for eligibility to take the licensing exam. Upon receipt of an eligibility letter from TREC that the candidate is eligible, the candidate should apply to take the state exam through the Pearson Vue website scheduling page. All candidates must pass the state exam within one year of the date of filing the application for eligibility to take the state exam. For more information, see the State of Texas Real Estate Salesperson and Broker Candidate Information Brochure.
Test Content: The Texas state real estate licensing exam is comprised of two separate portions, the national portion and the state-specific portion. Five to ten questions disbursed throughout both portions of the exam are considered "experimental" questions and are not scored. Both tests are comprised of multiple choice questions with four answer choices provided for each question. Test takers are allotted 105 minutes to complete the national portion, and 45 minutes to complete the state-specific portion. A passing score requires the test taker to correctly answer 56 (out of 80) questions on the national portion, and 21 (out of 30) questions on the state-specific portion. The test is presented in a computer-based format, but accommodations for a paper-based test and/or oral testing can be provided with special arrangements.
The national portion of the test consists of 80 questions, and tests the candidate's knowledge of general real estate concepts, including the following subject areas:
Property ownership
Land use controls and regulations
Valuation and market analysis
Financing
General principles of agency
Mandated disclosures
Contracts
Transfer of title
Practice of real estate
Real estate calculations
Subdivisions, including deed restrictions
Commercial, industrial and income property
The state-specific test consists of 30 questions, and tests the candidate's knowledge of the state-specific concepts, including the following subject areas:
Commission Duties and Powers
Licensing
Standards of Conduct
Agency/Brokerage
Contracts
Community Property
Homestead
Deceptive Trade Practices Act
Wills and Estates
Landlord-Tenant Issues
Foreclosure and Short Sales
Recording Statutes
Mechanic’s and Materialman’s Liens
Veterans’ Land Board
How to Apply for the License: Candidates should apply for an inactive license using the TREC online system. must provide TREC with the following documents: (1) completed application and application fee; (2) original Texas state real estate licensing exam score report(s); (3) certificate issued by an TREC-approved school for completion of the 180-hour salesperson pre-licensure curriculum; and (4) a Texas Department of Public Safety (DPS) issued fingerprint card.
NOTE: To activate a license, the applicant must also provide evidence of broker sponsorship.
Fees: TREC charges a license application fee.
Who administers the test: TREC and PSI.
Post-Licensing Requirements – A new Texas real estate licensee must take90 credit hours of post-licensing education from a TREC-approved provider during the first year of licensure.
License Renewal Requirements – A Texas real estate licensee must take 15 credit hours of continuing education (either online or in the classroom) from a TREC-approved provider every two years.
Applicable Regulations: Real estate licensees in Texas are regulated under the Real Estate License Act (Ch 1101) & Ch 1102, Texas Occupations Code, and the TREC Rules.
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