Texas real estate license exam

Which license are you taking?

• Sales agentThe entry-level Texas license. Two portions scored separately: 80 national questions and 40 Texas law questions, including ten case-study items.125 questions · 240 minutes · 70% to pass
• BrokerFor agents moving up. The Texas portion grows to 50 scored questions and the passing bar rises on both portions.145 questions · 240 minutes · 75% to pass

600 practice questions available for this state: 400 on national principles and 200 on Texas law.

What it takes to get licensed

Texas requires 180 hours of qualifying education across six 30-hour courses, including Principles of Real Estate, Law of Agency, Law of Contracts, Promulgated Contract Forms, and Real Estate Finance. That is nearly three times what Florida asks.

After the courses you apply to the Texas Real Estate Commission, get fingerprinted, pass the exam, and find a sponsoring broker. Nothing you do is lawful brokerage activity until a sponsoring broker is on file.

Applicants unsure whether their history will bar licensure can request a fitness determination from TREC before spending money on 180 hours of coursework. It is a genuinely useful option that most people do not know exists.

Two portions, scored separately

This is the structural fact that shapes how you should prepare. The national and Texas portions are graded independently and you must clear both. Fail only one and you retake only that one, which is a mercy, but it also means you cannot lean on a strength to cover a weakness.

The Texas portion includes ten case study items: a scenario followed by several questions that depend on it. Reading the scenario carelessly costs multiple questions at once, which is a different kind of risk from a standalone item.

What it costs

The Pearson VUE exam fee is $58 per attempt. TREC's application fee is separate and is paid when you apply, and fingerprinting through the Department of Public Safety adds its own charge.

As everywhere, the courses dominate the total. One hundred eighty hours of approved education is a real expense, and packages vary widely in price for the same statutory hours.

Confirm current fees with TREC before applying, since the agency adjusts them periodically.

Where candidates lose

Intermediary practice is the distinctively Texan trap. Texas abolished dual agency and replaced it with intermediary status, which requires written consent from both parties and behaves differently depending on whether the broker appoints associates to each side. National study material describes dual agency instead, which is simply wrong for Texas.

Promulgated forms are the second. Texas requires license holders to use TREC forms, and the exam tests when you may depart from them and what counts as the unauthorized practice of law. Filling in blanks is permitted; drafting original clauses is not.

The Recovery Trust Account figures are a third, and a live example of why currency matters. The caps rose at the start of 2024 to $125,000 per transaction and $250,000 per license holder. Material still in circulation quotes the older $50,000 and $100,000 figures.

Common questions

Does Texas have reciprocity with other states?

No. Texas grants no reciprocity. An out-of-state licensee must meet Texas education requirements and pass the Texas exam, though some license holders may qualify to have the national portion waived.

How soon can I retake a failed portion?

After 24 hours. You cannot make the reservation at the test center; it is done through the vendor. After three failed attempts on a portion you must complete 30 additional qualifying hours for that portion before trying again.

How long is my application valid?

One year from the date you file it. You must pass both portions within that window or reapply under whatever the requirements are at that time.

Can I form an LLC to receive my commissions?

Only if the entity itself holds a TREC business entity license with a designated broker. Agents often form an LLC for tax reasons and overlook this, which turns ordinary commission payments into a license law problem.

Do I need a sponsoring broker before I take the exam?

No, but you need one before you can do anything with the license. Many candidates line up sponsorship while waiting for exam results so they can activate immediately.