Make sure you include the certificates of completion for all 6 pre-license courses, but NOT as original documents – only copies. You'll also have to pay an application fee (currently $205) at the same time. TREC automatically rejects applications that don't include payment.
After your application requirements are met, TREC will send you an eligibility letter with a "TREC ID" that you can use to sign up for the next two steps. Truthfully, Steps 3 and 4 can be completed in any order.
Step 3: Get Fingerprinted for a Background Check
Candidates are required by law to have fingerprints on file with the Texas Department of Public Safety (DPS) so that a background check can be performed. No other agency is accepted. The DPS will then pass your fingerprints on to the FBI for a background check.
Texas currently uses the vendor MorphoTrust to collect and submit fingerprints to the appropriate agencies. You'll need to make an appointment for fingerprinting and pay a fee (currently $39.25).
Step 4: Pass the Texas Real Estate License Exam
Once you have your TREC ID, you can register for and schedule your official state licensing exam. It's a smart idea to take a Texas Exam Prep course beforehand.
For the exam,you'll pay an exam fee, which is currently $54. Texas uses the third-party testing service PearsonVUE to administer their exam in testing locations throughout the state.
You need to bring two forms of signature ID with you to the testing site. You're allowed to attempt the exam three times, but each attempt will require a new exam fee. If you fail the third attempt, you'll be required to complete additional coursework before you can test again.
PearsonVUE's Texas Real Estate Candidate Handbook includes many other helpful details about the exam and the entire licensing process.
Step 5: Obtain Sponsorship
Once TREC receives your passing exam scores and clean background check, they'll issue your inactive license. At this stage, you are still not authorized to perform licensed real estate activities.
The law requires sales agents to be sponsored by a licensed and active Texas real estate broker. Acting without a sponsoring broker is just as bad as practicing real estate without a license.
You can get in big trouble. A sponsoring broker is also necessary on a practical level. By law, sales agents can't perform certain crucial activities like handling funds. Brokers can.
Once you've found a sponsoring broker, you'll send TREC the required sponsorship documents and they will "activate" your license. You can't practice until the documentation of an active real estate license is in your broker's possession.
How Long Does It Take to Become a Real Estate Agent in Texas?
So, how long do all these steps take? Let's break it down.
How Long Does Texas Pre-License Education Take?
If you're balancing your education with other responsibilities, you can expect to finish in 4-6 months. If you're really focused on it to the exclusion of everything else, you can probably get it done in 3-4 weeks, but no less.
By TREC's rules, you can't spend more than 12 hours a day in your pre-license instruction, and you need to log at least as many instructional clock hours as the course is worth. That means you can't complete your pre-license instruction time in less than 15 days, even if it's all you do. It's also worth noting that the final exams for pre-license courses have to be proctored, or monitored to ensure you aren't cheating.
The steps of finding a proctor, scheduling all 6 exams, and taking them can add weeks to the process. You can streamline and speed this up with on-demand, online recorded proctoring that allows you to take your finals anytime, anywhere.
How Long Does the Texas Pre-License Application Process Take?
We can tell you that it has to take a year or less because that's the time limit Texas sets. You have one year from the date that you file your inactive license application to "meet all license requirements." So that's the upper limit. There are a lot of factors that make it nearly impossible to say how quickly you can get it done.
For example, how much time do you need to prepare for the license exam? How many attempts will it take you to pass? How easily can you schedule the fingerprinting and exam appointments? Do you have any complicating factors that will delay your background check results?
Altogether, it's probably reasonable to expect it to take around 18 months from the day you start pre-license education to the day you activate your license.
Become a Real Estate Agent in Texas with AgentCampus by 360training
The process we outlined above may feel overwhelming, but you can do it by tackling one step at a time and arming yourself with the right tools.
360training has a long track record as a TREC-approved and trusted online course provider. You'll have everything you need at your fingertips, including self-paced coursework and the exclusive opportunity for on-demand online proctoring.
With our Premium Package, we'll also help you get ready for your license exam with condensed study guides, math practice, endless practice exams, and a money-back guarantee. Let us put you on the path to a real estate career in Texas!
