Welcome to the dfwREALTORS.com - MetroTex Real Estate Licensing Requirements section. The process of obtaining your Real Estate license can seem daunting. However we have broken the process into easy to follow steps. If you need help please call our Education Department at 214-540-2751 or email education@dfwREALTORS.com.
HOW TO OBTAIN A REAL ESTATE LICENSE
The first thing to know when trying to obtain your real estate license is that licensees in the state of Texas are governed by the Texas Real Estate Commission (TREC) www.trec.state.tx.us. This is the institution that issues real estate licenses (you will send all of your paperwork and application fees directly to TREC to obtain your license). Before applying for a real estate Salesperson License, an individual must first furnish TREC satisfactory evidence of successfullycompleting the following education:
(Note: To find classes, see Core Real Estate License Education Providers for salesperson and broker applicants).
Evidence of successful completion shall be presented via credit transcript or certificate prior to filing an Application for Inactive Salesperson License form. DO NOT submit original transcripts and/or course completion certificates. Keep the originals for your personal files and send photocopies to the Commission.
To obtain an evaluation of your education documents submit the form, Request for Evaluation of Education Documents. A fee of $20.00 is required for the evaluation of education documents for the purpose of determining if education requirements have been satisfied. This fee is good for one year. After you have met the education requirements you will receive an evaluation letter from the Commission attesting to satisfaction of all education requirements. The evaluation of education documents must be performed before the application can be filed. Please allow at least ten (10) business days for processing. Once TREC has notified you that your education has been satisfied, you may then file and pay for the Application for Inactive Salesperson License.
Note: To be eligible to apply for a real estate Salesperson License, an individual must be a citizen of the United States or a lawfully admitted alien, eighteen (18) years of age or older and a legal resident of Texas. Please apply and pay for your Inactive Salesperson License online. The information requested online is the same as on the paper application, yet the application process is sped up considerably, reducing by several days the time you must wait to register to take the exam. If submitting a paper application and check by mail or in person, please keep in mind an incomplete application will NOT be returned to you for completion. A letter will be mailed requesting the complete information. The following required fees must be submitted at the time of filing an application. If submitting your application by mail or in person, please note that an application received without the appropriate fees will be rejected and your check will be returned to you. The following fees should be submitted in ONE CHECK OR MONEY ORDER payable to the Texas Real Estate Commission. ALL FEES LISTED BELOW ARE NONREFUNDABLE.
| Fees Required with Real Estate Salesperson License Application | ||
| Fee | Amount | Comment |
| Original Application | $69.50 | Required for all applicants |
| Recovery Trust Account (formerly Recovery Fund) | $10.00 | Required for all applicants unless previously paid |
The filing of an application authorizes an investigation of the applicant’s background by TREC. Information revealed in an investigation may be cause for disapproval of an application even though other requirements for a license are met. If an investigation is necessary, it may not be conducted until the applicant has passed the examination. Once your application has been received, processed and accepted, you will receive notification that you may obtain a copy of the Candidate Information Brochure (CIB) to register for the exam (license examinations are administered by PSI, a testing service company).
The CIB will provide instructions on how to make reservations to take the examination and contains study material and instructions about licensing. A copy of the CIB can be downloaded from the PSI web site.
Please DO NOT attempt to register for the exam without first receiving notification from TREC. THE EXAMINATION MUST BE PASSED WITHIN SIX MONTHS FROM THE DATE THE APPLICATION IS FILED WITH TREC. You will need to call the testing site and schedule an appointment to take the state exam. The test is taken on the computer and is NOT open book. After successful completion of the exam, you will receive a letter from TREC to activate your license. HOWEVER, before you can practice as a licensed salesperson, you must arrange for a Texas real estate broker (holding an active license) to sponsor you as a salesperson.
Applicants and inactive salespersons are not authorized to act as real estate agents. While you are not required to have a sponsoring broker to file an application for a license, a Salesperson Sponsorship Form is included with the application materials. If you wish, you may file the sponsorship request along with the application. Once all licensing requirements have been satisfied, TREC will send an active salesperson license to the broker, and you may act for the broker on receipt of the license.
You may also file the application and arrange for sponsorship after TREC notifies yu that you have been issued an inactive license. Once a broker holding an active license has mailed a request to TREC to act as your sponsor, you may begin to act for the broker as a salesperson. Don’t Practice Prior to Licensure. You are not authorized to perform any act for which a real estate license is required until an active Texas Real Estate Commission license is in the possession of your sponsoring broker.
While you are not required to have a sponsoring broker to file an application for a license, a Salesperson Sponsorship Form is included with the application materials. If you wish, you may file the sponsorship request along with the application. Once all licensing requirements have been satisfied, TREC will send an active salesperson license to the broker, and you may act for the broker on receipt of the license.
You may also file the application and arrange for sponsorship after TREC notifies you that you have been issued an inactive license. Once a broker holding an active license has mailed a request to TREC to act as your sponsor, you may begin to act for the broker as a salesperson. Don’t Practice Prior to Licensure. You are not authorized to perform any act for which a real estate license is required until an active Texas Real Estate Commission license is in the possession of your sponsoring broker.