Becoming A Texas Real Estate Agent With A Law Degree

If you're considering a career as a real estate agent in Texas, you'll need to meet certain requirements and obtain a Texas real estate license. Here's an introduction to the process and requirements for becoming a real estate agent in the state.

Eligibility requirements

To become a real estate agent in Texas, you must meet the following eligibility requirements:

Age and Citizenship

You must be at least 18 years old and a citizen of the United States or a lawfully admitted alien.

Education

You must complete 180 hours of qualifying real estate courses through a TREC-approved education provider. These courses are typically divided into six 30-hour sections:

• Real Estate Principles I
• Real Estate Principles II
• Law of Agency
• Law of Contracts
• Promulgated Contracts Forms
• Real Estate Finance

You are not required to have a college degree, a high school diploma, or prior real estate experience to become a real estate agent in Texas. However, you may choose to pursue further education, such as an associate's or bachelor's degree, to gain a unique skill set that could benefit your career. Helpful majors to pursue include business administration, accounting, and digital marketing.

Honesty, Trustworthiness, and Integrity

The Texas Real Estate Commission (TREC) will assess candidates based on certain qualifications, such as showcasing integrity, trustworthiness, and honesty in their personal lives. Candidates with unpaid judgments, criminal offenses, or a history of performing unlicensed activities may be ineligible to acquire a real estate license.

Background Check and Fingerprints

You must submit to a background check and fingerprinting by the Texas Real Estate Commission to ensure you meet their standards for honesty, trustworthiness, and integrity. You will be asked to disclose any criminal offenses or professional sanctions from your past, and failure to do so will result in automatic disqualification.

If you are concerned that something from your past may be disqualifying, you can request a Fitness Determination before applying for a license.

Examination

After completing the required education and submitting the necessary documentation, you must pass the Texas Real Estate Sales Agent Examination. The exam consists of two sections: a state and a national component. You will have 150 minutes to complete the 85-question national section and 90 minutes to complete the 40-question state section. A passing score is 70% or higher.

Broker Sponsorship

To practice as a real estate agent in Texas, you must be sponsored by a licensed Texas real estate broker. You and your sponsor will need to complete an online sponsorship request.

Education

While a college degree is not required to become a real estate agent in Texas, you must complete 180 hours of pre-licensing education from a TREC-approved education provider. This curriculum is divided into six mandatory 30-hour courses:

• Principles of Real Estate I
• Principles of Real Estate II
• Real Estate Finance
• Law of Contracts
• Law of Agency
• Promulgated Contract Forms

These courses will provide you with the knowledge you need to pass your license exam and operate as a real estate agent in Texas.

You can choose to take these courses online or in a classroom setting. Online courses offer flexibility and cost-effectiveness, while classroom courses provide structure.

The cost of these courses can range from $350 to $1,000, depending on the school, format, and bundled services.

It is important to note that Texas has specific requirements for these courses, and alternate or related coursework is not accepted.

Once you have completed the required education, you will need to submit your course completion documents to TREC.

In addition to the pre-licensing education, you will also need to pass a final exam for each course to prepare you for the licensing exam.

After completing your education and passing the course exams, you can move on to the next step of scheduling and taking the Texas Real Estate License Exam.

Application

To become a real estate agent in Texas, you must apply for a Texas Real Estate Sales Agent License. The application process is handled by the Texas Real Estate Commission (TREC).

The first step is to complete the required 180 hours of pre-licensing courses from a TREC-approved education provider. These courses are divided into six 30-hour sections:

• Principles of Real Estate I
• Principles of Real Estate II
• Real Estate Finance
• Law of Contracts
• Law of Agency
• Promulgated Contract Forms

Once you have completed the required courses, you can submit your application for a Texas Real Estate Sales Agent License through TREC's online licensing service. You will need to include the following with your application:

• Application fee (currently $205)
• Certificates of completion for all six pre-license courses
• Fingerprints for a background check
• Proof of sponsorship from a licensed Texas real estate broker

After submitting your application, you will need to pass the Texas Real Estate Sales Agent Examination. This exam is administered by Pearson Vue and consists of two sections: a state section with 40 questions and a 90-minute time limit, and a national section with 85 questions and a 150-minute time limit. You must score at least 70% to pass.

Upon passing the exam, TREC will issue your real estate license. However, to activate your license and begin working as a real estate agent, you must be sponsored by a licensed Texas real estate broker. You will need to submit the required sponsorship documents to TREC, and they will activate your license.

Background check

To become a real estate agent in Texas, you must submit to a background check and provide your fingerprints to the Texas Real Estate Commission (TREC). This process is not a mere formality; it is a thorough investigation into your past to ensure that you embody the principles of honesty, trustworthiness, and integrity—qualities that are essential for anyone representing clients in the real estate market.

TREC advises those with a criminal history to seek a moral character determination before investing time and money into coursework. You can do this by submitting an FD form, along with a $50 fee. This step is vital for assessing whether your past actions disqualify you from licensure.

If you have a criminal record, it is still possible to get your Texas real estate license. You will need to submit the Fitness Determination Form and a Background History Form (Form BH-3) to TREC. Each applicant will be evaluated on a case-by-case basis. TREC will consider factors such as the nature and seriousness of the crime, how the crime relates to your ability to perform a real estate agent's duties, the age you committed the crime and the amount of time that has elapsed since, your conduct and work before and after the crime, your compliance with court-ordered terms and conditions, and evidence of rehabilitation and present fitness through letters of recommendation.

Convictions for serious offenses like fraud, felonies, and misdemeanors must be reported to TREC within 30 days of sentencing or plea arrangements. However, TREC takes a holistic approach, evaluating each case individually and possibly granting waivers if they believe you can still serve as a trustworthy real estate agent.

Examination

The Texas Real Estate Exam is administered by Pearson Vue and is in a multiple-choice format. It consists of 125 questions and candidates have four hours to complete the exam. The exam is divided into two sections: a state section and a national section. The state section must be completed in 90 minutes and contains 40 questions, while the national section must be completed in 150 minutes and contains 85 questions. A passing score is 70% or higher, which means that candidates need to answer 56 out of the 80 questions correctly.

The questions in the exam address topics such as property use, real property characteristics, forms of ownership, landlord and tenant rights, and environmental issues.

Candidates are allowed three attempts to pass the exam. If they fail the third attempt, they will be required to complete additional coursework before they can test again. The fee for a retake is the same as for the first exam.

Candidates will receive their test results immediately after the test. Once they have passed the exam, they will receive an Active or Inactive Sales Agent License from TREC via email.

Frequently asked questions