How To Get a Real Estate License in Texas

So, perhaps you have stumbled upon this post because you have decided to switch careers and do something a little more lucrative, or maybe you are already in real estate but you want to find out what you need to get your real estate license in Texas.

No matter if you are new or a veteran in real estate, we are going to cover not only how to get your real estate license in Texas, but also elsewhere in the nation.

In addition to that, we are going to provide you with some helpful links and resources that will guide you along your way to being real estate certified and approved!

Before we dive super far into getting a real estate license in Texas, we are going to give you a broad overview of real estate licensing in general before breaking down the specific requirements for the state of Texas.

This overview will not only help you learn what you need for Texas, but also other states if you ever decide to move somewhere else, or if you want to handle real estate in two different bordering states.

For example, let’s say that you live in North Texas in the Texoma area, and you want to handle real estate transactions in not just Texas, but Oklahoma as well. In this instance, you will need to make sure you get a real estate license and pass the state requirements for not just Texas but Oklahoma as well.

Real Estate License Overview

Wikipedia explains real estate licenses in this way.

Real estate licenses, authorizations issued by state governments, give agents and brokers the legal ability to represent a home seller or buyer in the process of buying or selling real estate. Real estate agents and real estate brokers are required to be licensed when conducting real estate transactions in the United States and many other countries.

Although this is a simplified explanation, a real estate license, in short, is a license that entitles you to be able to buy and sell real estate. It qualifies you to handle all tasks related to your specific real estate license type.

If you have been researching real estate licensing a little bit, or if you’re already in the industry, then you are likely familiar with the NAR (National Association of Realtors). Based in Chicago, the members of the NAR are known as realtors.

Founded in the early 20th century, the NAR regulates the use of something called Multiple Listing Service (MLS). You might be familiar with MLS if you are researching real estate, real estate careers or if you are already in the real estate industry.

MLS is described on Wikipedia as follows.

A multiple listing service (MLS, also multiple listing system or multiple listings service) is a suite of services that real estate brokers use to establish contractual offers of compensation (among brokers) and accumulate and disseminate information to enable appraisals. A multiple listing service’s database and software is used by real estate brokers in real estate, representing sellers under a listing contract to widely share information about properties with other brokers who may represent potential buyers or wish to work with a seller’s broker in finding a buyer for the property or asset. The listing data stored in a multiple listing service’s database is the proprietary information of the broker who has obtained a listing agreement with a property’s seller.

Now that you have a basic understanding of what that NAR is and how MLS systems work, you can better understand how a real estate license and how that fits in the context of everything.

Approved Real Estate Licensing Course List

We are going to include in this section a handful of real estate licensing courses that will also provide you with a lot of resources to help you get on your way with obtaining your license. In the next section, we will list some steps that you need to take to acquire your real estate license in Texas specifically.

Aceable Agent

When it comes to the most effective and engaging content for a real estate licensing course, Aceable won’t let you down!

With a real estate license in Texas, there are over 180 hours of required course time, and although that can be a very daunting task and amount of time to spend on something, Aceable makes it seem like a breeze!

It comes very highly recommended by customers, and the complete pre-licensure course starts at just under five hundred dollars ($500).

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Aceable customer support agents are standing by to help you with any questions, and their customer support is a huge talking point among their customers!

They give you a comprehensive test prep guide and provide the industry’s only native mobile experience for real estate education. That way, you can study for your real estate license on your own time; no matter where you are!

Real Estate Express

This real estate licensing company and course has a graduated student base of near four hundred thousand and has many very positive user reviews on a variety of online platforms.

They break down the process to get your real estate license into straightforward and understandable ways in addition to providing extra resources for different states.

Real Estate Express

Real Estate Express has earned a reputation as the top real estate school online. With nearly 50,000 online reviews from past students, it’s known as the right choice for those seeking a real estate license.

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The cost for this course typically starts just under five hundred dollars ($485) and is a decent price, especially considering all of the extra content that you will have access to, such as live instructor support, a very resourceful textbook, and a ‘don’t pass don’t pay’ refund policy.

It claims to be the most popular real estate continuing education course on the web in Texas! If this is your first time getting your real estate feet wet, you can’t go wrong here.

The CE Shop

The third school on our list is The CE Shop but don’t let that fool you! Being last alphabetically certainly doesn’t mean that they’re not one of the best real estate schools in Texas.

According to TREC exam pass rate data, The CE Shop has the second-best pass rate (82.32%) for the sales agent exam of all approved schools with over 500 exams taken over the past two years.

With over 30 different real estate pre-licensing courses approved throughout the country, excellent customer reviews, and pricing options to fit most budgets, The CE Shop is without question one of the leading course providers in real estate training.

Other Texas Real Estate Schools

This list is not even an attempt to be definitive and only encompasses a few of the available real estate schools approved by the TREC.

In general, watch out for scams, and be sure to check the certifications of each real estate school that you are thinking about attending, because scammers have sometimes made businesses look very real, but there is no approved course number.

Be sure to check for this, and also be sure to shop around and ask people around you that you may know that are involved in the real estate business to get the best idea of where to attend a licensing course near you.

Texas Real Estate License Requirements

In addition to the 180 hours of required course content in Texas (divided into six different courses), you will need to follow these steps below to get certified before you can begin pursuing this career.

Getting your real estate agent license in Texas is dependent on you completing the requirements below, which are also some of the most questions about how to get a real estate license.

What age can you become a real estate agent?

You have to be 18 years or older in the state of Texas to become a licensed real estate agent.

Although you can begin learning about real estate and the different career paths available, you will not be able to state the course material or take the real estate agent exam until you are at least 18 years of age.

How long is real estate school in Texas?

In Texas, the pre-licensure courses that are required to before you test for a real estate agent license will take no less than 180 hours to complete.

This step is the longest and most painful step that everyone dreads, but it doesn’t have to be that way.

Depending on the course you sign up for, this will fly by because you’re having so much fun and learning so much, or it will crawl by, and you will wonder why you made this decision in life. Choose your course carefully!

How do I find a real estate broker to sponsor me?

Brokers are your new best friends. Specifically, brokers in Texas who are certified. You will need to find a broker who is willing to sponsor you to get started.

This involves this broker to complete the required paperwork to sponsor you, and you will also have some paperwork to fill out at this point.

Make sure your chosen broker is reputable and that it is someone who isn’t trying to take advantage of you.

Read customer reviews from brokers, and look at their success record as well. Don’t just choose the first one that is interested in sponsoring you!

Remember, you are interviewing them just as much as they are interviewing you.

What forms do I need to submit to get my license from the TREC?

Once you have completed your course and chosen a broker that will sponsor you, you will then need to submit the forms for an active license to the TREC and pay the mandatory fees to obtain your license.

Your license with the TREC can be managed online at www.mylicense.trec.texas.gov. The site is also an excellent resource for information about real estate licensing requirements in Texas.

You can also apply for an inactive license if you do not wish to begin practicing selling real estate right away.

How do I study to pass my real estate exam?

Once approved by the TREC, you must pass a state-required exam that will test your real estate knowledge.

This exam can be quite tricky, so make sure to grab the best real estate study guide that you can find and ace the test on your first attempt. Many of the resources that we listed above offer the exam guides as well.

What else is needed to get a real estate license?

Fingerprinting, exam scheduling, and ace it!

You will need to submit your fingerprints, schedule your exam, and then pass the exam before you can begin practicing real estate sales.

Once you have cleared all of those steps, you will be able to get your real estate license in Texas!

Next Steps to Getting Your Real Estate Agent License in Texas

First of all, it is important to mention that a real estate license isn’t for everyone. You have to be self-motivated, and keep an active career to make money.

If you’re not selling property, then you’re not making money. Before you start to look into getting a real estate license, look into the requirements for your state as they tend to vary a lot between states.

Once you have determined where you want to practice real estate, then you can choose a course, either from the list above or one from your research, that will best suit you.

Once you have chosen your course to take, found a sponsoring broker, aced the exam, sent off your fingerprints and paperwork, then you will be ready to begin practicing real estate, and hopefully off to the start of the next chapter of your career!

Jordan Fabel

Covering different 'paths' that people's lives can take. Creative, foster parent, ticket dismissal, you get the idea. Exploring the requirements, certifications, exams, and obviously, approved courses along each path. I, personally, am the high school dropout son of two teacher parents. So how did I get here? That story takes more time. Coming soon!