Vetted by HousingWire | Our editors independently evaluation the merchandise we suggest. If you purchase by means of our hyperlinks, we might earn a fee.
Texas residents focused on turning into an actual property agent should first full 180 hours of accredited coursework to be eligible to sit down the state licensure examination. That’s an extended program than in most states. We estimate that it’ll take three to 6 months to rise up and working as a licensed actual property agent within the Lone Star State.
On this article, we’ll take you thru the Texas actual property licensing course of step-by-step, sharing the prices, time dedication and all the main points you’ll have to launch your new profession
Overview: Learn how to get an actual property license in Texas
Full 180 hours of accredited lessons
It’s essential to full six 30-hour, TREC-approved, qualifying actual property programs.
Submit your state license utility
It’s essential to pay a $185 charge. As soon as accredited, you’ll get an eligibility letter and a TREC consumer ID quantity.
Get a background examine & biometrics
It’s essential to undergo obligatory fingerprinting and go a background examine.
Schedule, sit and go the state examination
The examination is comprised of 125 questions. You’ll have 4 hours to finish it at a testing middle.
Select a sponsoring dealer
When you discover a dealer and file your TREC request, your lively license can be issued.
The Texas actual property license examination
Texas requires all college students to finish a TREC-approved, qualifying course totaling 180 hours of classroom time. The Texas actual property examination is split into two sections, with 85 nationwide authorized questions and 40 state-focused questions. Texas allots 4 hours to finish the actual property licensing examination. You’ll want a passing grade of 70% to get licensed in Texas.
SAVE 30% at The CE Store
Use promo code HW30 at checkout.
Texas actual property license: Eligibility Guidelines
Getting your actual property license in Texas comes all the way down to fulfilling your qualifying training requirement, making use of on your license, getting your background examine and biometrics, passing the examination, and discovering a sponsoring brokerage. Earlier than you start your journey, be sure you meet the essential eligibility necessities:
Step 1: Full 180 hours of accredited lessons
Your first step to an thrilling actual property profession begins together with your qualifying training. You’ll have to enroll in and full the next TREC-approved, qualifying actual property programs. Every course is 30 classroom hours, for a complete of 180 hours. After you full all six programs, you’ll should take and go the prelicense course examination.
- Ideas of Actual Property I
- Ideas of Actual Property II
- Regulation of Company
- Regulation of Contracts
- Promulgated Contract Types
- Actual Property Finance
Professional Tip: Request a Health Dedication
Value: $52
Earlier than you decide to 180 hours of qualifying coursework and make investments a whole bunch or perhaps a thousand {dollars} into your actual property profession, think about requesting a Health Dedication, or FD. For $52, TREC will take a look at your file and establish whether or not or not you meet the state necessities to grow to be a licensed actual property gross sales agent in Texas.
Though non-compulsory, requesting an FD is a sensible transfer to make earlier than you enroll in qualifying training programs, pay for an utility, and take the examination. The outcomes will provide you with the boldness to take that first step, understanding you’re eligible to grow to be licensed in Texas.
Step 2: Submit your state license utility
Value: $185 utility charge
You possibly can apply on your gross sales agent license on-line or by mail utilizing TREC’s paper utility. To use on-line, you’ll submit your gross sales agent utility and charge utilizing TREC’s online licensing service.
After you create an account as a brand new consumer, you’ll pay the $185 utility charge and obtain a cost affirmation. Make sure you obtain and save this affirmation on a cloud drive. It doesn’t damage to print a duplicate to have as backup. Subsequent, you’ll be prompted to electronic mail your cost affirmation.
Upon approval, you’ll obtain an electronic mail from TREC together with your eligibility letter and your TREC consumer ID quantity. Fastidiously learn the eligibility letter and observe the supplied directions to the letter.
After your on-line utility is submitted and also you electronic mail your paperwork, you’ll want to attend for TREC to approve your utility. You possibly can monitor your utility standing utilizing Texas’ Application Status Tracker.
You should have one yr from the date your utility is filed to finish these steps: finishing your 180-hour course of research, submitting to biometrics and a background examine, passing the state examination and discovering a sponsoring dealer.
Upon completion of your 180 hours of prelicensing lessons, you’ll have to submit your course completion paperwork to TREC. You possibly can electronic mail all six of your prelicensing course completion certificates to TREC at [email protected].
Do you have to full any of the six qualifying actual property programs by means of an accredited school or college for educational credit score, you’ll be able to submit a transcript to TREC for analysis and doable exemption.
Word: Your affirmation and course certificates MUST NOT be despatched as one doc. They should be despatched as particular person attachments to your electronic mail.
Step 3: Full a background examine and biometrics
Value: $38.25
Candidates for an actual property license with TREC are legally required to have fingerprints on file with the Texas Division of Public Security (DPS) so {that a} background examine might be carried out. You possibly can schedule a fingerprinting appointment by means of IDEMIA when you obtain your examination eligibility letter from TREC.
Scheduling the obligatory fingerprinting is as straightforward as searching for your account using the TREC user ID number emailed to you whenever you utilized on your license. You possibly can look it up utilizing your title and date of start, as nicely.
From there, you’ll be capable of acquire your IdentoGO ID, which is required to schedule a fingerprinting appointment. IdentoGO by IDEMIA is a supplier that collects and submits fingerprints by way of the Texas DPS. Since IndentoGO doesn’t settle for walk-ins, you’ll have to schedule your fingerprinting appointment upfront by reserving it by means of their web site or calling 1-888-467-2080.
To cowl the price of the prison historical past report, a fingerprint processing charge of $38.25 should be paid to IdentoGO. You’ll discover a checklist of biometrics areas here.
Your Texas actual property license is not going to be issued in case your fingerprints have been taken elsewhere. What’s extra, your license is not going to be issued till TREC receives your criminal history report from the DPS and the FBI clears your background historical past examine.
Step 4: Schedule and go the examination
You’ve met TREC’s {qualifications}, accomplished your required prelicensing coursework, studied laborious, and handed your background examine… now what? With one yr from the date your utility is filed to take and go your examination, it’s time to shift your focus to the Texas Actual Property Salesperson Examination!
You should have 4 hours to complete the Texas actual property licensing examination and the examination will robotically finish when the time is up. If you depart the check middle, you’ll have your official rating report in hand – there’s no ready round anxiously on your leads to Texas!
Administered by PearsonVUE, a testing service firm, the examination might be scheduled by clicking right here: Texas Real Estate Exam. You too can schedule by calling (800) 997-1248 not less than 24 hours earlier than your most well-liked examination date. Whilst you can schedule your examination as much as one calendar day previous to the day you want to check, that is topic to availability, so it’s a good suggestion to schedule the examination not less than a couple of days earlier than the date you bear in mind.
- Abilene space
- Amarillo space
- Austin space (3 websites)
- Bellaire
- Bryan
- Corpus Christi space
- Dallas space
- El Paso space
- Harlingen space
- Houston space (5 websites)
- Hurst
- Lubbock space
- McAllen
- Midland space
- San Antonio space (3 websites)
- Sugar Land
- Tyler space
- Waco space
Concerns for lively license holders
Whilst you should go each the state and nationwide parts of the Texas actual property examination, the nationwide portion of the examination could also be waived in case you at present maintain an lively license in one other state and handed the nationwide portion of an ARELLO-approved examination.
Learn how to get your official Texas actual property license
When you go the actual property licensing examination, the scores are despatched to the state actual property fee. After affirmation, you must obtain your Texas gross sales agent license doc from TREC by electronic mail, sometimes inside 5 to 10 enterprise days.
Learn how to retake the Texas actual property examination
If you happen to fail the examination the primary time, your rating report will point out a numeric rating regarding the failed portion of the examination. If you retake your examination, you’ll solely have to retake the failed portion, however you need to achieve this inside one yr from the date that the appliance was filed with TREC.
Bear in mind you can’t schedule your re-examination on the check middle. You’ll have to attend as much as seven enterprise days for processing and re-authorization to be submitted to Pearson VUE earlier than you’ll be able to reschedule the examination.
If you happen to fail the examination thrice, you’ll want to finish an extra 30 classroom hours of qualifying actual property training for every failed portion of the examination earlier than you’ll be able to register for re-examination.
Step 5: Discover a Sponsoring Brokerage
You’ve handed your examination, met all of the state necessities, and also you’re excited to begin conducting enterprise as a licensed actual property agent in Texas!
In line with the Texas Actual Property Commision (TREC), a gross sales agent is an individual who’s licensed by the Actual Property Fee to behave as an agent on behalf of an actual property dealer and their purchasers. Moreover, a Texas actual property gross sales agent should be sponsored by a licensed dealer with a view to carry out any actual property providers on behalf of their purchasers.
Till you’re sponsored by an lively Texas licensed dealer, your license can be inactive. You possibly can full a sponsorship request utilizing TREC’s on-line providers. As soon as the dealer has accepted your request, your lively license can be issued, and you may work as a Texas actual property agent.
Associated Articles
FAQs to assist jumpstart your Texas actual property profession
If you happen to’re a potential or new actual property agent in Texas, it doesn’t damage to have some extra data when deciding if a profession in actual property is best for you. Right here, we offer solutions to essentially the most often requested questions on getting licensed and practising actual property in Texas.
-
How many real estate agents are there in Texas?At present, there are about 154,113 Realtors® in Texas, in accordance with the Nationwide Affiliation of Realtors. The truth is, Florida and California are the one states with extra actual property brokers. Relating to actual property, the outdated adage that “All the pieces’s larger in Texas” holds true.
-
How hard is it to pass the Texas real estate exam?As of July 3, 2023, there have been 42,857 gross sales agent exams taken in Texas. Of these, 24,881 individuals handed the actual property licensing examination on the primary strive, according to TREC. That’s a median go charge of 58% for examination takers.
-
What should I expect on exam day?When it comes time to take the Texas actual property examination, be sure you arrive half-hour earlier than the examination and examine in with the check middle administrator. To be admitted, you may be photographed for the rating report.
Earlier than you enter the examination room, you may be requested to pat your self all the way down to display that there’s nothing hidden in your physique, and empty your pockets in order that the check directors (TAs) can confirm that there’s nothing in them.
-
What types of identification should I bring?On examination day, you’ll be requested current two types of present signature identification.
The next are the one types of major picture identification accepted:
- A present government-issued driver’s license
- U.S. Division of State driver’s license
- U.S. learner’s allow (plastic card solely with picture and signature)
- Nationwide, state, or nation identification card
- Passport card
- Army identification card, or army ID for spouses and dependents
- Alien registration card (inexperienced card, everlasting resident Visa)
To your second type of identification with a legitimate signature, you’ll be able to convey any type of ID on the first ID checklist above or a present debit (ATM) card, bank card, or U.S. Social Safety Card.
-
What can I bring or not bring to the Texas real estate exam?There can be a locker or safe space so that you can retailer your private objects. Don’t neglect to show off any digital units earlier than storing them in.
The next objects are strictly prohibited throughout the examination:
- Learning within the testing middle
- Having guests, associates, or relations within the testing middle
- Possessing dictionaries, books, papers, scratch paper, or different reference supplies
- Consuming, ingesting, chewing gum, smoking, or making noise that disturbs others
- Utilizing books, notes, or different aids
- Giving or receiving assist throughout the examination
Violation of any of those insurance policies is not going to be permitted, and can lead to being dismissed from the check middle and forfeiting the examination.
The TA will provide you with supplies to take notes throughout the examination and every other objects specified by the examination sponsor. You’ll NOT be given a calculator, so it’s really useful that you simply convey your personal. Acceptable calculators embrace battery, hand-held, or solar-powered monetary calculators with no alpha characters (ABC, DEF). Calculators with mathematical symbols (Cos or Sin) are acceptable.
-
How long does it take to get a real estate license in Texas?If you happen to think about that the training requirement alone is 180 hours of coursework, that would take you 4 to 5 weeks must you select to deal with it like a 40-hour work week. The Texas actual property licensing examination is understood for being difficult, so the extra time you spend learning for the examination, the higher your probabilities of scoring 70% or larger the primary time round.
When you issue within the time it takes for fulfilling your training requirement, filling out the appliance, taking the examination, and discovering a sponsoring dealer, you’re taking a look at between three to 6 months to grow to be a licensed actual property gross sales agent in Texas.
-
How much does it cost to get a real estate license in Texas?Relating to attaining your Texas actual property license, you’ll have to put money into your training up entrance. Contemplating the doorways this might open for you down the highway, it’s value the associated fee. How a lot precisely? Right here’s what you’ll want to price range for:
- Gross sales agent utility charge = $185
- Fingerprinting at a MorphoTrust location = $38.25
- Pre-licensing examination coursework = $500 to $1,600
- Gross sales agent examination charge = $43
- License renewal charge after 2 years = $110
- Different miscellaneous charges = about $100
Estimated whole = Between $800 and $2,000
Miscellaneous charges might embrace programs you’re taking as a complement to the required coursework, equivalent to an examination prep class. One other funding that’s non-compulsory however very useful is a Health Dedication that’s used to find out in case you fulfill the necessities for honesty, trustworthiness, and integrity essential to be a Texas actual property agent.
-
Does Texas have real estate license reciprocity with any other state?No, Texas doesn’t have reciprocity with every other states. Whereas residency is not a requirement for turning into a licensed actual property agent in Texas, you have to to fulfill all present state licensing necessities to legally follow actual property right here.
-
Can I apply for a Texas real estate license online?To save lots of money and time, you’ll be able to and may apply on your Texas gross sales agent license on-line. Not solely will an internet utility course of quicker than the paper utility, nevertheless it’s safer than snail mail and is inexpensive (by the way, TREC prices a $20 processing charge in case you submit a paper doc for a transaction that can also be out there on-line). To use on-line, submit your gross sales agent utility and charge utilizing TREC’s on-line licensing service.
-
What is the Texas real estate license renewal process?In Texas, you need to renew your actual property license each two years. Don’t fear, you may be despatched a renewal discover about 90 days earlier than your expiration date. Till you obtain this discover of renewal, you can not renew your license. You possibly can, nonetheless, renew your license as much as six months after the expiration date. As a part of the renewal course of, be prepared to finish sure persevering with training programs.
If it’s been between six months to 2 years since your license expired, you’ll be able to at all times apply for reinstatement of your license. Don’t let an excessive amount of time go, although. If it’s been over two years for the reason that expiration date, you’ll have to reapply on your license … and retake the examination!
-
What are the continuing education requirements for a Texas real estate agent renewing for the first time?That can assist you present excellent actual property providers to your purchasers, the state requires that you simply full a complete of 270 hours of qualifying real estate courses throughout the first two years of acquiring your Texas actual property license.
If you happen to already submitted 180 hours of qualifying programs to get your actual property license, you need to nonetheless full the next continuing education (CE) courses to resume your Texas salespersons license the primary time:
The 2 Authorized Replace and Brokerage programs are obligatory. After that, you have to to select two extra SAE programs to finish the hours wanted on your first Texas actual property license renewal.
You could find the checklist of qualifying actual property programs right here: Qualifying Real Estate Course List
-
Where and how can I take continuing education classes?You’ll need to full your persevering with training not less than 10 days earlier than your license expiration date, and your post-license CE programs should be by means of a TREC-approved supplier. Fortuitously, there’s a lengthy checklist of accredited CE suppliers and the programs they provide, which yow will discover right here: Approved Real Estate CE Courses
TREC-approved actual property colleges and training course suppliers sometimes provide numerous Texas SAE programs and packages to satisfy your required 98 hours of qualifying (SAE) post-licensing training. Relying on the CE supplier, there are a number of supply strategies out there, from in-person classroom studying to on-line studying and digital lessons.
When you full your CE necessities, you’ll want to:
- Submit proof of completion 10 days earlier than renewing your license. Electronic mail proof to TREC at [email protected]
- Submit your license renewal utility by means of the TREC online portal. Make sure you preserve copies of your renewal affirmation on your information.
-
What are my options if my license is expired but I haven’t completed my CE requirements?If TREC’s information don’t replicate completion of CE necessities on the time you submit your renewal utility, you’ll have to pay a $200 CE deferral charge or renew on inactive standing. By paying the CE deferral charge earlier than the expiration date, you’ll be able to stay lively for an extra 60 days out of your expiration date when you full your CE necessities.
-
How do I submit my license renewal?To resume your license and pay the renewal charge on-line, you’ll be able to go to TREC’s On-line Companies web page. It’s possible you’ll have to register if that is your first time renewing on-line.
To resume your license by mail, print out the Renewal Type for Actual Property Gross sales Brokers and Brokers and mail it to the handle on the shape, together with $110 for the renewal charge. All charges must be within the type of a single cashiers examine, private examine, or cash order payable to TREC.
-
How much money does a Texas real estate salesperson make?According to ZipRecruiter, an actual property agent working in Texas earns $78,719 per yr on common (as of this writing). That is the equal of $37.85 per hour, $1,513 per week, or $6,559 per 30 days.
With the potential to earn $6,559 per 30 days as an actual property agent in Texas, the Lone Star State has ample monetary alternatives for anybody pursuing an actual property profession.
Whereas ZipRecruiter is seeing brokers’ salaries as little as $25,684, they are often as excessive as $132,089. And the vast majority of actual property brokers’ salaries is at present between $59,600 and $91,700, with high earners making $114,661 yearly in Texas. Understand that this wage common can fluctuate primarily based in your employment setting, degree of training, years of expertise, and the property market.
ZipRecruiter scanned a database of thousands and thousands of lively jobs revealed regionally throughout the nation to find out that Texas is ranked quantity 25 out of fifty states for actual property agent salaries. ZipRecruiter additionally reviews that the highest 5 space/cities the place the standard wage for an actual property agent is above common in Texas are:
- #5 Wichita Falls, $82,180 annual wage
- #4 Amarillo, $82,614 annual wage
- #3 McKinney, $86,888 annual wage
- #2 Beaumont, $87,258 annual wage
- #1 Corpus Christi, $89,264 annual wage
Actual property brokers in TX: By the numbers
There are 154,113 licensed and lively actual property brokers in Texas, in accordance with NAR’s monthly membership report from December 2023. -
What’s the real estate agent commission rate in Texas?Primarily based on a number of latest surveys, the common actual property agent fee charge in Texas is between 5.59% and 6%. This common displays the entire for each the itemizing agent and the customer’s agent, and is normally cut up between the itemizing agent (2.71% and up) and purchaser’s agent (2.88% and up).
-
What are the average homes prices in Texas?Texas housing costs: By the numbers (according to Zillow):
$300,090: the worth of the common Texas house22 days: the common time it takes for a Texas house to grow to be pending
Suggestions for locating an actual property brokerage
As a brand new actual property agent, you’ll need a managing dealer you can rely on for employment, mentorship, and assist. To pick the very best brokerage for you, listed below are 4 issues to think about:
1. Dimension & Tradition
As you search for a managing dealer, you’ll want to evaluate their listings to your private preferences {and professional} objectives. Is your purpose to hitch a much bigger brokerage with an expansive community or do you favor a boutique brokerage with an area vibe? Do you need to promote high-value properties as a part of a luxurious agency or assist first-time homebuyers make their dream of possession come true? These are the questions you’ll want to ask your self as you determine on a managing dealer.
2. Help & Coaching
Selecting a dealer that gives all of the assist you’ll want as a brand new agent is integral, so search for a brokerage that provides complete new agent coaching and mentorship packages. You’ll additionally need a sponsoring actual property dealer that provides administrative assist, together with inputting MLS data, serving to with contract follow-up, and dealing with different workplace duties.
3. Lead Gen
Whereas skilled brokers might be able to generate enterprise by means of referrals or previous purchasers, new brokers have a tendency to want assist with lead technology to get going, particularly in case you plan to make use of your license to characterize patrons or listings. Your greatest wager is to discover a brokerage that makes use of a system to generate results in the workplace. You’ll additionally need to discover out who will get the leads and the way they’re assigned.
4. Advertising and marketing
As a brand new agent, make it a precedence to select a brokerage that’s dedicated to serving to you with advertising and marketing and publicity. When contemplating a brokerage, discover out if it’ll promote your open homes and new listings. You’ll need to ask how the brokerage promotes brokers’ listings too. Do they use garden indicators and postcards? What about optimized blogs, electronic mail advertising and marketing, Google Pay-Per-Click on, social media, radio, or TV advertisements? Contemplate the brokerage’s web and social media presence as nicely. This consists of their quantity of social media followers and consumer testimonials.
Lead gen instruments, cutting-edge know-how, advertising and marketing help, and coaching are key to succeeding as a Texas actual property agent, so search for a brokerage that gives the assets and agent providers you’ll want to maximize attain on your purchasers.
The underside line
Now that you simply’ve discovered learn how to grow to be an actual property agent in Texas, you’re prepared to begin a rewarding profession in actual property. Beginning a brand new profession in actual property must be thrilling, not overwhelming! That’s why HousingWire gives you with the housing market tendencies, instruments, information, and data you want for each step of your actual property journey.
