If you're interested in pursuing a career in real estate in Texas, there are certain requirements you'll need to meet in order to become licensed. Real estate agents in Texas are licensed by the Texas Real Estate Commission (TREC), which sets the standards for education, experience, and examination that aspiring agents must meet. Here are the requirements for a real estate career in Texas.

Education Requirements:

To become a licensed real estate agent in Texas, you must complete 180 hours of pre-licensing education from a TREC-approved provider. The education must cover a range of topics related to real estate, including principles of real estate, law of agency, contracts, and real estate finance.

Exam Requirements:

After completing the pre-licensing education, you'll need to pass the Texas Real Estate Salesperson Exam. The exam consists of 110 questions covering national and state-specific topics. You must score at least 70% to pass the exam.

Experience Requirements:

Once you've passed the exam, you'll need to complete your experience requirements. To be eligible for a license, you must have at least four years of active experience as a licensed real estate agent or broker during the five years preceding your application. Alternatively, you can complete a total of 630 classroom hours in core real estate courses and have at least two years of experience as a licensed sales agent or broker during the five years preceding your application.

Background Check:

You'll also need to pass a criminal background check. TREC will conduct a fingerprint-based criminal history check to ensure that you don't have any disqualifying criminal offenses on your record.

Application and Fees:

After completing your education, passing the exam, and meeting the experience requirements, you'll need to submit your application and pay the required fees. As of 2023, the application fee is $205, and the license fee is $110.

Continuing Education:

Once you're licensed, you'll need to complete 18 hours of continuing education every two years to maintain your license. The continuing education must include at least eight hours of legal topics and four hours of ethics.

The bottom line is that if you are willing to put in the time and effort to meet these requirements, a career in real estate in Texas can be both challenging and rewarding. Please let us know if you have any questions about the process, or want to talk about joining a supportive Brokerage who offers a mentor program, regular training, and the support from our team of over 200 agents. We look forward to hearing from you!