Steps to Get Licensed
Getting licensed in Texas is straightforward when you know what to expect. Here’s exactly what happens from your first class to your first day as a licensed agent, including what it costs and how long it takes.
6 – 12 WEEKS
Complete 180 hours of TREC-approved coursework
Texas requires 6 TREC-approved courses before you can apply for your license. You can take them in any order at your own pace, with no prerequisites. Textbooks ($46.50, tax included) are available for pickup before your first day or on the morning of your first class. Principles I and II share one textbook, so you only buy it once.
The 6 required courses:
Principles of Real Estate I (#01565-REQC): 30 hrs
Principles of Real Estate II (#01566-REQC): 30 hrs
Law of Agency (#01567-REQC): 30 hrs
Law of Contracts (#01553-REQC): 30 hrs
Promulgated Contract Forms (#01552-REQC): 30 hrs
Real Estate Finance (#01562-REQC): 30 hrs
Daytime track: ~6 weeks · Evening track: ~12 weeks · Total cost: $1,453.50 (tuition + textbook + tax)
LAST DAY OF EACH COURSE
Pass the final exam for each course
Each course ends with a closed-book, closed-note final exam. Pass all 6 to receive your TREC completion certificates, the documents you’ll upload to TREC in the next step.
First failure: You have 7 days to retake the exam.
Second failure: You must retake the entire course. A $25 discount applies to re-enrollment.
Important: Bring a calculator to every class, especially Real Estate Finance. Phones must be off during all sessions and exams.
ALLOW 2 – 6 WEEKS
Apply to TREC through the REALM Portal
Once you have all 6 completion certificates, submit your inactive salesperson application online and upload your certificates. Sign and date all certificates with the date you apply.
How to apply: Go to trec.texas.gov → log into the REALM Portal (or create an account) → submit your application and upload certificates as a PDF. If you’ve registered with TALCB or TREC before, use that same login.
Fingerprinting: Once you receive your eligibility letter from TREC, schedule fingerprinting at identogo.com. Results are submitted electronically.
Criminal history? TREC offers a Fitness Determination ($52) so you can check your eligibility before investing in coursework. Submit the form to fdrequest@trec.texas.gov.
If you don’t hear back within 7 days: Visit trec.texas.gov or call the Academy at (915) 779-0096. We’re happy to help.
Cost: TREC application ~$206 · Fingerprinting ~$41 · State & national exam ~$43
SCHEDULE AFTER TREC APPROVAL
Pass the Texas real estate licensing exam
The exam is administered by Pearson VUE and has two sections: national (85 questions) and Texas state (40 questions). You must score at least 70% on each section to pass. Testing centers are right here in El Paso.
Retakes: If you don’t pass one section, you only retake that section, not the full exam.
Timeline: You have 1 year from your TREC application date to pass both sections.
Failed more than 3 times? TREC requires you to complete an additional 30 or 60 hours of education before retaking.
Cost: $43 per attempt, paid directly to Pearson VUE at pearsonvue.com/trec.
✓ Academy graduates take the State & National Test Review for free
AFTER PASSING THE EXAM
Find a sponsoring broker and activate your license
Once you pass, TREC issues your license in an inactive state. To start working as an agent, you need a licensed Texas broker to sponsor you. When your broker submits the sponsorship request through TREC and it’s approved, you’re ready to practice.
When to start looking: You don’t need a sponsor before your courses or the exam. Many students begin talking to local brokerages while finishing coursework so they’re ready to activate immediately after passing.
Cost: No fee to activate, handled through TREC’s portal by your broker.
From your first class to your license: how long it takes
This timeline covers the whole journey: your six classes and the licensing steps that follow.
Fastest possible
Daytime students taking all six courses back-to-back, then applying and taking the state licensing exam right away
~8 – 10 weeks
Typical day student
The average daytime student, from the first class through to passing the state licensing exam
3 – 4 months
Typical evening student
The average evening student, from the first class through to passing the state licensing exam
5 – 6 months
Your pace. Register for the six courses and study for the state licensing exam at a pace that works with your schedule. There is no deadline.
What it costs
Six pre-licensing courses (tuition, textbooks, tax)
$1,453.50
TREC license application fee
~$206
Fingerprinting / background check
~$41
Pearson VUE licensing exam
$43
State and exam fees total
~$290
Estimated total cost to licensure
~$1,744
State & National Test Review is optional: free for Academy graduates, $100 for everyone else. State and exam fees are paid directly to TREC and Pearson VUE, not to the Academy. Fees are set by TREC and subject to change. Retakes cost $43 per section.
What happens after you’re licensed?
FIRST RENEWAL (2 YEARS)
Your first renewal requires 98 hours of Sales Agent Apprentice Education (SAE): the 30-hour Real Estate Brokerage course, 60 hours of qualifying education (two 30-hour courses, such as Real Estate Appraisal and Real Estate Investments), and TREC Legal Update I and II (8 hours). The Academy offers Real Estate Brokerage and Legal Update I and II in person. You can complete the 60 qualifying hours online through our partnership with The CE Shop. See our Online Courses page. Some students may be able to use one of our core courses toward the 60 hours if enough time has passed since they first took it. Call us at (915) 779-0096 to check what applies to you.
ONGOING RENEWALS
After your first renewal, every 2 years you need 18 hours of Continuing Education (CE). Our CE weekend ($225) covers all 18 hours in a single Saturday and Sunday.
BROKER’S LICENSE
Requires an active salesperson license for at least 4 years in Texas, 900 classroom hours, and meeting TREC’s point requirements. Contact TREC to verify current requirements.
Ready to take step one?
Check the current schedule and reserve your spot in your first course today. Questions? Call us at (915) 779-0096. We’re happy to walk you through everything.