Licensing across all 50 states + DC
Salesperson and broker requirements — every value links to its official state commission source, so you can verify anything. Data as of 2026-07.
General information, not legal advice. Fees, hours, and rules change — confirm with the state commission before anything high-stakes. License names aren't uniform across states (some call the entry-level license "Broker"); read the license name and notes together.
TREC-verified, fee schedule eff Dec 15 2025. Sales agent gets inactive license until sponsored by active broker. Broker experience raised under SB 1968 eff 2026: points 360->720, degree credit capped 300 hrs, up to 300 points substitute for related education. One year from filing to complete requirements. No reciprocity.
Salesperson (entry level)
Real Estate Sales Agent
- Minimum age
- 18
- Residency
- US citizen or lawfully admitted alien; no Texas residency requirement stated
- Education prerequisite
- None (HS not explicitly required); must complete pre-license qualifying education
- Pre-license hours
- 180
- Pre-license detail
- Six 30-hr courses: Principles of Real Estate I, Principles of Real Estate II, Law of Agency, Law of Contracts, Promulgated Contract Forms, Real Estate Finance
- Exam required
- Yes - Pearson VUE
- Exam detail
- National + Texas state content; if failed 3x additional education required; must secure sponsorship by active Texas broker to activate
- Background check
- Yes - fingerprinting via Texas DPS/FBI + TREC honesty/trustworthiness/integrity review (Fitness Determination available)
- Experience prerequisite
- None
- Application fee
- $206 total original (eff Dec 15 2025: $150 base + $6 Texas Online + $40 Texas A&M Research + $10 Recovery)
- License term (years)
- 2
- Continuing education
- 18 hrs per 2-yr renewal (4 Legal Update I, 4 Legal Update II, 3 Contract-Related, 7 elective); first renewal requires Sales Apprentice Education (SAE) - +90 hrs to reach 270 qualifying hrs total
- Post-license education
- 90 hrs Sales Apprentice Education (SAE) qualifying courses before first renewal (plus TREC Legal Update I & II) [High confidence, researched — verify]
- Reciprocity
- No reciprocity/mutual recognition; out-of-state must meet Texas education/exam (partial education waivers possible)
Broker
Real Estate Broker (Individual)
- Minimum age
- 18
- Residency
- US citizen or lawfully admitted alien; no Texas residency requirement stated
- Education prerequisite
- None beyond qualifying education; bachelor's degree may count toward related hours (capped at 300 hrs as of 2026)
- Pre-license hours
- 900
- Pre-license detail
- 270 hrs qualifying courses (six sales-agent courses + Real Estate Brokerage 30 hrs, within 2 yrs of application) + 630 hrs related qualifying/CE courses incl 6-hr Broker Responsibility
- Exam required
- Yes - Pearson VUE
- Exam detail
- National + Texas state broker content
- Background check
- Yes - fingerprinting + TREC honesty/trustworthiness/integrity review (Fitness Determination recommended)
- Experience prerequisite
- At least 4 years active experience as licensed sales agent or broker during the 60-month period preceding application, totaling 720 experience points (increased from 360 under SB 1968, eff 2026); transaction list via Supplement A. Points above 720 may substitute for up to 300 of the 630 related education hours (2 points = 1 classroom hour).
- Application fee
- $308 total original (eff Dec 15 2025: $150 base + $8 Texas Online + $140 Texas A&M Research + $10 Recovery)
- License term (years)
- 2
- Continuing education
- 18 hrs per 2-yr renewal (4 Legal Update I, 4 Legal Update II, 3 Contract-Related, 7 elective); sponsoring/designated brokers include 6-hr Broker Responsibility
- Post-license education
- None (SAE is for sales agents; brokers renew with 18 hrs CE) [High confidence, researched — verify]
- Reciprocity
- No reciprocity/mutual recognition; out-of-state broker applicants must meet Texas requirements
Official sources (6)
- https://www.trec.texas.gov/become-licensed/sales-agent
- https://www.trec.texas.gov/agency-information/fee-schedule
- https://www.trec.texas.gov/become-licensed/individual-real-estate-broker
- https://www.trec.texas.gov/renew-license/real-estate-sales-agent
- https://www.trec.texas.gov/does-texas-have-reciprocity-any-other-state
- https://www.trec.texas.gov/forms/information-about-brokerage-services
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