How to Obtain a Real Estate License in Texas
Texas real estate agents have a thorough knowledge of available homes and businesses in the neighborhoods in which they sell property. Agents may work nights and weekends. Economic and mortgage industry conditions impact the level of success an agent might experience over the course of a few years. Nevertheless, according to an April 2008 report, the United States Bureau of Labor Statistics expects the industry to grow slowly through 2016. Before you can practice as a real estate agent in Texas, you must be licensed and registered with the Texas Real Estate Commission.
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Instructions
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Complete Training and Get Licensed
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Meet eligibility requirements. Insure that you are at least 18 years old and a legal resident of the United States before you apply for a real estate license in Texas. Keep in mind that you must also be a legal resident of the state.
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Gain necessary training. Sign up to take the required 60-classroom-hour "Principles of Real Estate" course along with another 60-hour elective. Take three 30-hour required classroom courses, including "Law of Agency," "Law of Contracts" and an elective. Refer to the link titled "Acceptable Core Real Estate Courses" in the Resources section of this article to find a listing of course providers and approved elective course titles.
Receive a transcript or certificate from the course provider to confirm that you successfully completed each of the training courses. Keep the original transcript for your own records. Send a copy of the transcript to the Texas Real Estate Commission. Pay the fee, typically $30, to file your educational records with the commission. Wait 10 days to receive a letter from the commission that attests that you have met all training requirements. Keep in mind that you must receive this letter from the commission before you can file your licensing application. -
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Get fingerprinted. Review the fingerprinting instructions provided with the educational records attestation that you receive from the commission. Complete the FAST Print Pass form. Fill in your nine-digit agency identifier or TREC-ID number, which is found on the educational records attestation letter. Take the FAST Print Pass form to the Texas Department of Public Safety. Pay the fee, which is about $46, and have your fingerprints taken.
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Submit your licensing application. Review and complete the salesperson licensing application (see Resources). Supply required information, such as your name, mailing address, valid driver's license number and date of birth. Pay the applicable fee, which typically runs $100. Make sure that you are paid up on your student loans, as your application may be rejected if you have defaulted on a student loan.
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Ask an active Texas real estate broker to sponsor you so that you can receive your first license. Complete the Salesperson Sponsorship Form at the end of the licensing application. Provide your sponsor's name and contact information, and have your sponsor supply her broker's license number and sign the form. Return the form with your licensing application to the Texas Real Estate Commission, P.O. Box 12188, Austin, Texas 78711-2188. Keep in mind that you can also submit your application and sponsorship form online via the commission's website (see Resources).
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Register for the examination after you file your application and receive confirmation from the commission. Contact the PSI testing site (see Resources). Click on the type of licensing examination you are taking. Create an online account so you can access more of the site. Schedule and take the test.
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Resources
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