Becoming a Texas Real Estate Agent

Welcome to the exciting world of real estate. Soon, you’ll be helping people with their most significant and likely most important investment: their home.

This career change will be unique to past experiences since Texas has strict guidelines and education requirements to become licensed. Follow this walkthrough of the Texas Real Estate Commission (TREC) process and you’ll be on your way to open houses and home showings in no time.

Pre-Exam Requirements

The excitement to take the big test and throw your first open house is growing, but there are Texas Real Estate Commission requirements and steps to review before you start. 

Remember, becoming a real estate agent means taking on new responsibilities and liabilities, something Texas doesn’t take lightly. Here are the prerequisites to apply:

• Citizenship: Be a U.S. citizen or a lawfully admitted alien.
• Age Requirement: Be 18 years or older.
• Character Check: TREC takes honesty, trustworthiness, and integrity seriously and asks applicants with criminal offenses, unpaid judgments, or disciplinary action against them to complete a Fitness Determination check. 

Character checks are not required and are only in place to save applicants time and money. Completing the fitness determination is strongly recommended if you’ve made past decisions that could cause you to fail a future background check.

Pre-Exam Steps

You have a clean history and fit all requirements; it’s time to submit your application and complete some tasks. You have one year from submitting your application to finalize it.

1. File Your Application: Whether you’re tech-savvy or prefer paper, TREC’s got you covered. Apply online or complete a paper application and send via mail.
2. Background Check: Texas wants its agents to be reputable. Get fingerprinted and pass your background check with DPS and FBI.
3. Complete Qualifying Education: Texas requires 180 “classroom hours” of real estate education across six subjects. Pre-licensing education can be completed online through a qualified education provider. Be prepared to take 30 hours of the following courses and complete a final exam:
   1. Principals of Real Estate I
   2. Principals of Real Estate II
   3. Law of Agency
   4. Law of Contracts
   5. Promulgated Contract Forms
   6. Real Estate Finance

The Testing Process: What to Expect on Exam Day

The big day is here. You have 180 hours of pre-licensing ed under your belt and are ready to answer any questions about riparian and littoral rights.

You will face the 110-question (expect 10-15 additional non-graded) Texas Real Estate Salesperson License exam. To pass, you must score 70% on the National and State exams or 75% if becoming a broker.

Arrive at the Pearson Vue test center with the following:

• Two forms of identification, including a Government-issued identification. Secondary can include a debit or credit card
• Prelicensing education certificate
• For brokers, the Broker Candidate Experience Verification Form and certified license history

Remember to appreciate the power of arriving early; a cool, calm, and collected mind will serve you well in the testing room.

Exam Fees

• Sales Examination: $43 fee
• Broker’s Examination: $39 fee
• Payment Method: Fees are paid during reservation via credit or debit card or voucher​​

Exam Day Procedures

• Arrival: Report to the test center 30 minutes before the exam
• Documentation: Bring the required identification and documentation
• Duration: The exam lasts 4 hours, covering both state and national portions​​.

Score Reporting

• Immediate Results: Receive a pass or fail score report upon completion.
• License Document: If passed and background cleared, expect a license document via email within 5-10 business days​​.

What If You Don’t Pass?

• Retake Policy: If failed, candidates can retake the failed portion within one year of the application date.
• Additional Education: After three failed attempts, applicants must take further education before submitting a new application​​.

Passing Scores

• Salespersons: Must answer 56/80 questions correctly on the National examination and 21/30 questions correctly on the State examination to pass.
• Brokers: Must answer 60/80 questions correctly on the National examination and 38/50 questions correctly on the State examination to pass​​.

Congratulations! The heavy lifting is over, and the wait period begins. But you won’t be bored because now is the time to start building your real estate career.

Charting Your Course in Real Estate After Licensure

With your Texas real estate exam behind you, it’s time to plot your professional trajectory. In the immediate post-exam period, you lay the groundwork for your future success by making strategic decisions and forging valuable connections.

Deciding Your Specialty

Real estate is a field with diverse possibilities. Reflect on whether your passion lies in helping families find their dream homes, assisting businesses in securing the perfect commercial space, or managing properties. Each specialty has its own set of demands and skills:

• Residential Real Estate: Focus on individual or family dwellings, selling single-family homes, condominiums, and townhouses.
• Commercial Real Estate: Specialize in business properties, including leasing and selling office spaces, retail locations, and more.
• Property Management: Manage the leasing of residential, commercial, or industrial properties for investors.

Real estate agents have the added decision of becoming a REALTOR®. Agents are not REALTORS® until joining the National Association of REALTORS®, a membership most prevalent in the residential industry that provides access to the Multiple Listing Service (MLS)® and benefits like discounted healthcare and legal support.

Finding the Right Brokerage Fit

Choosing a brokerage can significantly influence your career direction and growth. New agents should interview several realty firms and speak with local agents to get market intel. 

Take advantage of platforms like Agent Nook to delve into the cultures and strengths of different brokerages. Finding a brokerage to complement your chosen specialty and support your career goals and development will provide a better path to success.

Networking for Success

A robust professional network can catapult your career forward. Engage with peers, seek out mentors, and participate in discussions. Forming these connections can lead to referrals, partnerships, and insightful advice.

Joining a real estate team can provide instant mentorship and partnerships, helping new agents get up to speed quicker with a lead flow and helping to keep you financially supported as you begin your career.

Conclusion

Working in Texas Real Estate can be a fantastic opportunity. It’s a lifestyle of freedom—and wealth—that many dream of. 

The application hurdles, 180 hours of education, and a big exam seem daunting, but turning a new homeowner’s dream into a reality makes all of it worthwhile—the big commission check helps, too.

Welcome to the Real Estate Industry; we’re excited to have you!