Can I apply for my Texas real estate license before finishing all 180 hours?

No. TREC requires all 180 hours of pre-license education to be completed before you can submit your application. Your education provider must report your course completions to TREC before the application will be accepted. Confirm with your provider how they report completions and how long it takes before applying.

How long does TREC take to review my application?

Straightforward applications without criminal history disclosures typically take a few business days to a few weeks. Applications requiring additional review — including those with criminal history — take longer. TREC's website includes a processing times page that shows current review timelines.

Can I take the exam before my background check is cleared?

Yes. You can sit for the licensing exam while your background check is still being processed. However, TREC will not issue your license — even if you pass the exam — until the background check has been cleared. In most cases this is not a significant delay, but if your background check requires additional review, the licensing timeline extends accordingly.

What happens if my one-year eligibility expires before I pass the exam?

If you do not pass both portions of the licensing exam within one year of TREC approving your application, your eligibility expires. You must reapply through the REALM Portal and pay the application fee again. Your education hours remain valid — you do not need to retake the 180-hour courses. Once TREC approves your new application, you receive a fresh one-year eligibility window.

How to Apply for a Texas Real Estate License (2026 Step-by-Step Guide)

TL;DR

To apply for a Texas real estate salesperson license, complete 180 hours of TREC-approved education, submit your application through TREC's REALM Portal at trec.texas.gov, pay the application fee, complete fingerprinting, receive your eligibility notice, pass both portions of the Pearson VUE exam, and find a sponsoring broker to activate your license.

Before You Apply — Complete Your 180 Hours

You cannot submit a Texas real estate license application until you have completed all 180 hours of TREC-approved pre-license education — see the full license requirements for details on each course. The 180 hours consist of six 30-hour courses:

Principles of Real Estate I
Principles of Real Estate II
Law of Agency
Law of Contracts
Promulgated Contract Forms
Real Estate Finance

Most candidates complete the 180 hours in 4 to 12 weeks depending on their pace — full-time students can finish in as little as four weeks, while part-time candidates typically take two to three months.

All six courses must be completed through a TREC-approved education provider before you submit your application. In most cases, TREC receives your course completions electronically from your provider. Confirm with your school whether any additional documentation is required and how long their reporting process takes before you submit your application.

Step 1 — Create a TREC Account and Submit Your Application

Texas real estate license applications are submitted through TREC's REALM Portal (Real Estate and Appraiser License Management Portal) at trec.texas.gov. If you do not already have a TREC online account, you will need to create one before you can access the application.

Once logged in, navigate to the salesperson license application. You will be asked to certify that you meet the eligibility requirements — including age (18 or older), legal presence, and honesty and integrity standards — and to disclose any criminal history. Pay the application fee at the time of submission — see our full cost breakdown for all fees involved. Current fee amounts are listed on the TREC website, as fees are subject to change.

After submitting, TREC will review your application. For straightforward applications, review typically takes several business days to a few weeks. Applications involving criminal history disclosures typically require additional review time.

Step 2 — Complete Fingerprinting

Fingerprinting is a required part of the Texas real estate license application process. TREC uses your fingerprints to conduct a criminal background check through the FBI and the Texas Department of Public Safety.

You must be fingerprinted through an approved vendor — IdentoGO (IDEMIA) is the approved fingerprinting vendor for Texas real estate applicants. Schedule your fingerprint appointment through the TREC website or directly through the IdentoGO site. There is a separate fingerprinting fee charged by the vendor.

You can complete fingerprinting before, during, or after submitting your REALM Portal application. You can also sit for the licensing exam before your background check is complete. However, TREC will not issue your license until the background check has been cleared.

Step 3 — Receive Your Eligibility Notice

Once TREC approves your application, they will send you an eligibility notice. Review our exam day guide so you know exactly what to expect at the Pearson VUE test center. This notice contains your TREC ID number, which you need to schedule your licensing exam through Pearson VUE. Keep this notice — you cannot register for the exam without your TREC ID.

Your eligibility to sit for the exam is valid for one year from the date TREC approves your application. If you do not pass both portions of the exam within that one-year window, you will need to reapply.

Step 4 — Schedule and Pass the Licensing Exam

With your TREC eligibility notice in hand, schedule your exam through Pearson VUE at pearsonvue.com/trec. The Texas real estate salesperson exam consists of two separately scored portions — a national portion and a state portion — which you can take on the same day or on different days.

You must pass both portions independently. The passing score is 56 out of 80 on the national portion and 21 out of 40 on the state portion. If you pass one portion and fail the other, you only need to retake the failed portion — your passing score on the other portion remains valid for one year.

Pay the Pearson VUE exam fee when you schedule. Current fees are listed on the Pearson VUE TREC candidate page.

Step 5 — Find a Sponsoring Broker

A Texas real estate salesperson license cannot be activated without a sponsoring broker. Once you have passed both exam portions and your background check has cleared, TREC will issue your license in inactive status. You cannot conduct real estate transactions under an inactive license.

To activate your license, a licensed Texas real estate broker must agree to sponsor you and submit a sponsorship request through the REALM Portal. The activation happens on TREC's end once the broker submits the request — there is no additional fee for activation.

You do not need to have a sponsoring broker before you take the exam. However, begin researching brokerages during your exam preparation so you can activate quickly after passing. See our step-by-step licensing guide for the full process from application to active license.

What Is the Fitness Determination for Criminal History?

If you have a criminal history, TREC evaluates each application individually. You are not automatically disqualified — TREC considers the nature and severity of the offense, how long ago it occurred, and evidence of rehabilitation.

TREC offers a Fitness Determination process that allows applicants with criminal history to request an advance ruling on whether their background would bar them from licensure — before completing the 180 hours of education. This costs a non-refundable fee (current amount at trec.texas.gov) and takes up to 30 days for TREC to review. If you have any criminal history, using this process first can save significant time and money.

How Much Does It Cost to Apply for a Texas Real Estate License?

The government fees involved in the application process are relatively fixed. As of 2026, the costs are approximately:

TREC application fee — $185
Pearson VUE exam fee — $43 per attempt
Fingerprinting fee — $38.25 (charged by the approved vendor)

These fees total approximately $266 for a first-time candidate who passes on their first attempt. Fees are subject to change — confirm current amounts at trec.texas.gov and the Pearson VUE TREC candidate page before applying. This estimate does not include the cost of your 180-hour pre-license education, which varies by provider and typically ranges from $300 to $1,000.

How Long Does the Application Process Take?

The timeline from application submission to active license varies by candidate. TREC application review typically takes a few business days to a few weeks for straightforward applications. Fingerprint processing adds another one to three weeks in most cases. Candidates who move efficiently through the process — scheduling fingerprinting promptly, using our study guide to prepare during the review period, and having a sponsoring broker lined up — can receive an active license within six to ten weeks of submitting their application.

The one-year eligibility window gives you plenty of time to pass the exam and complete the process, but do not let the window expire — reapplying requires paying the application fee again.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I apply for my Texas real estate license before finishing all 180 hours?: No. TREC requires all 180 hours of pre-license education to be completed before you can submit your application. Your education provider must report your course completions to TREC before the application will be accepted. Confirm with your provider how they report completions and how long it takes before applying.
How much does it cost to apply for a Texas real estate license?: As of 2026, the TREC application fee is $185, the Pearson VUE exam fee is $43 per attempt, and fingerprinting costs $38.25 — approximately $266 total for government fees. These amounts are subject to change; confirm current fees at trec.texas.gov. Your pre-license education costs are additional and vary by provider.
How long does TREC take to review my application?: Straightforward applications without criminal history disclosures typically take a few business days to a few weeks. Applications requiring additional review — including those with criminal history — take longer. TREC's website includes a processing times page that shows current review timelines.
Can I take the exam before my background check is cleared?: Yes. You can sit for the licensing exam while your background check is still being processed. However, TREC will not issue your license — even if you pass the exam — until the background check has been cleared. In most cases this is not a significant delay, but if your background check requires additional review, the licensing timeline extends accordingly.
What happens if my one-year eligibility expires before I pass the exam?: If you do not pass both portions of the licensing exam within one year of TREC approving your application, your eligibility expires. You must reapply through the REALM Portal and pay the application fee again. Your education hours remain valid — you do not need to retake the 180-hour courses. Once TREC approves your new application, you receive a fresh one-year eligibility window.

Source: Pearson VUE Texas Real Estate Salesperson Candidate Handbook · Texas Real Estate Commission (trec.texas.gov)