In this guide you’ll learn all the details you need to know to get your license and become a real estate agent in Texas.
You’ll learn the basic real estate licensing requirements in Texas, information about the exam including pass rates and test prep, reciprocity rules, county by county breakdowns of the most expensive real estate in Texas, and more.
Okay, grab a cup of coffee, and let’s start at the beginning.
Basic Texas Real Estate Licensing Requirements
Getting a real estate license in Texas is a little tougher compared to other states. You need a total of 180 classroom hours of commission-approved pre-licensing courses. In comparison, to get a license in Florida, real estate licenses require applicants to complete only 63 hours of courses. Here’s a quick breakdown of the real estate licensing requirements in Texas.
Pre-licensing Courses Required in Texas
In order to get a real estate license in Texas, you will need to complete 180 hours of real estate pre-licensing courses that will cover:
- Principles of Real Estate (60 hours)
- Law of Agency (30 hours)
- Law of Contracts (30 hours)
- Promulgated Contracts Forms (30 hours)
- Real Estate Finance (30 hours)
Texas Real Estate Exam Information
While the Texas Real Estate License exam has a higher passing rate (60 percent) than other states, you should still take studying for the test seriously.
If you’re looking for help in studying for the test, we recommend Real Estate Exam Scholar’s Exam prep course. They offer top-notch exam prep for an affordable price. Even better, they also offer a money back guarantee if you don’t pass on the first try.
Visit Real Estate Exam Scholar
Texas Pre Licensing Exam Questions
- Total of 110 multiple-choice questions (with a time limit of 150 minutes)
- 80 questions on the national portion
- 30 questions on the state (Texas) portion
What to Bring to the Exam
- 2 valid forms of identification with signatures. One ID must ideally be a government-issued Photo ID
- Confirmation number when the test reservation was made.
- Optional: A basic calculator and scrap paper.
Passing Score
You must earn a score of 70 to pass the Texas Real Estate Salesperson Exam (at least 56/80 on the national portion, and 21/30 on the Texas portion).
Pass Rate
60%
Age
Applicants must be at least 18 of age or older.
Residency
Applicants must be Texas residents.
Exemptions
Any active member of the Texas Bar who is in good standing and qualified under the real estate license law is exempt from taking the real estate salesperson course.
Processing Time
On average, it will take 3-4 months for your application to be processed and approved.
Online Real Estate Schools in Texas
While taking your real estate pre-licensing course in person can be helpful, online courses are much cheaper and offer the exact same courses. Career WebSchool is a solid choice.
Texas Real Estate License Reciprocity and Portability
If you plan on working in states besides Texas, then you need to know the real estate license reciprocity and portability laws for Texas.
- Reciprocity: Texas doesn’t have reciprocity with any other state.
- Portability: Physical Location
To learn more about real estate license portability in Texas, check out our guide on real estate license reciprocity and portability here.
How to Choose the Right Real Estate Company to Work For in Texas
Let’s face it. Choosing the right brokerage to work for in any state isn’t easy. In order to make your choice a little bit easier, check out our in-depth guide on choosing the right real estate company to work for.
Once you’ve finished reading the guide, check out our buyer’s guide comparing Keller Williams, RE/MAX, and Century 21 here.
If you’re curious about which Texas brokerages are the most successful, check out Real Trends list of the top real estate brokerages in Texas for 2017 below.
Dallas/Ft. Worth
| Real Estate Brokerage | Sales Volume (2016) |
|---|---|
| Ebby Halliday Real Estate, Inc. | $7,797,417,171 |
| Keller Williams Realty, GO Management Offices | $6,765,612,256 |
| Briggs Freeman Sotheby’s International Realty | $2,530,262,530 |
| Coldwell Banker Residential Brokerage/NRT | $2,059,134,000 |
| RE/MAX DFW Associates | $1,704,940,808 |
Houston
| Real Estate Brokerage | Sales Volume (2016) |
|---|---|
| Coldwell Banker United/Sotheby’s International Realty/ ZipRealty/NRT | $3,579,149,000 |
| Better Homes and Gardens Real Estate Gary Greene | $2,332,647,873 |
| Keller Williams Realty (The Woodlands) | $1,946,563,321 |
| Greenwood King Properties | $1,376,811,094 |
| Keller Williams Signature | $1,358,201,618 |
*Data from Real Trends Market Leaders 2017
Texas Counties with Highest Average Listing Price and Highest Median Sales Price 2017
Let’s face it, higher listing prices mean higher commission checks! To get a sense of which counties offer the best opportunities for big bucks in Texas check out this sales data from Trulia’s Texas home price page below (week ending June 21):
| County | Average Listing Price | Median Sales price |
|---|---|---|
| Glasscock | $2,000,000 | - |
| Gillespie | $652,924 | - |
| Menard | $631,000 | - |
| Llano | $613,485 | - |
| Dallas | $591,336 | - |
| Kendall | $591,080 | - |
| Kimble | $575,980 | - |
| Fayette | $557,316 | - |
| Travis | $527,685 | - |
| Austin | $486,341 | - |
ChaNita Groomes
Can you re-research the Residency Rules of Texas? From my understanding, you must be a resident.
Kiah Treece
Thank you so much for your comment, ChaNita! That portion of the article has been updated and we’ll ensure the article is completely up-to-date next time we update it. For more information on Texas real estate licensing requirements, check out the Texas Real Estate Commission’s website here: https://www.trec.texas.gov/become-licensed/sales-agent
Best,
Kiah