Introduction
Texas offers amazing career opportunities for aspiring real estate agents, especially if you are someone who wants to build a profitable side gig or switch careers entirely.
For most people, working in real estate is a way to escape the conventional nine-to-five job and achieve financial independence.
If you are someone who wants to earn a six figure income while being your own boss and defining your work-life balance, then working in real estate might just be for you.
To become a real estate agent in Texas, all you need to do is complete pre license education from an online course provider like RealEstateU and pass the Texas licensing exam.
Once you pass the licensing test, you will receive your real estate license in Texas allowing you to legally work with clients and help them buy and sell properties.
Texas is home to some of the most popular and attractive real estate markets like San Antonio, Austin, Georgetown, Dallas-Fort Worth and New Braunfels and with a real estate license you will be able to work anywhere in the state.
TX’s strong real estate landscape can be attributed to its stable economy, thriving job market, low taxes, relatively affordable cost of living and a diverse culture.
As one of the largest states in the country by land, Texas offers something for everyone and has offerings across various budgets, needs and preferences.
If you are ready to build a thriving, successful career in the Texas booming real estate market, here are the steps you need to complete.
How to become a licensed real estate agent in Texas
If you are ready to take the plunge into pursuing a career as a part-time or a full-time agent, you need to complete multiple steps to become licensed.
Like most states, Texas also requires individuals to fulfill various state and federal licensing requirements and regulations.
The Texas Real Estate Commission (TREC) requires every individual to follow the qualifying guidelines and meet the minimum standards to become eligible for working in the industry.
First and foremost, you must meet the statutory eligibility requirements to prove your eligibility which are:
- You must be 18 years of age or older
- You must be a legal resident of the state of Texas
- You must have a high school diploma or have GED equivalent in education
If you fulfill the minimum eligibility requirements, the next step is to complete the qualifying education required to earn your license.
As per the TREC, completing a pre-licensing education and training is mandatory for obtaining a salesperson or a brokers’ license and working with clients.
To obtain a salesperson license, you must complete 180 hours of pre-licensing course credits from a state approved education provider.
If you are wondering, the purpose of completing pre license education is to equip yourself with the knowledge of the fundamental principles and core concepts of your profession.
Your coursework will consist of some mandatory topics and courses such as:
- Principles of Real Estate: Worth 60 course hours (mandatory)
- Law of Agency: Worth 30 course hours (mandatory)
- Law of Contracts: Worth 30 course hours (mandatory)
- Real Estate Finance: Worth 30 course hours (mandatory)
- Promulgated Contract Forms: Worth 30 course hours (mandatory)
Typically, the cost of completing pre license education in TX can range from $200 to $700, depending on the experience of the education provider, the medium of teaching, the learning package and plan you choose among other factors.
Many students applying for a real estate license in Texas prefer the flexibility and convenience of enrolling in an online real estate prep course for completing their education.
After completing the salesperson pre license education and training, the next step is to take and pass the salesperson licensing exam in Texas.
The TREC requires all applicants to pass the licensing test and prove their competence and knowledge by scoring at least 75 percent or above in the final test.
The exam consists of 120 multiple choice questions and passing the test is one of the most crucial steps in becoming a licensed real estate agent in Texas.
Note that it will cost you $43 for taking the test and if you are unable to pass it on your first attempt, you can apply for it again.
After you have successfully passed the licensing test, you must undergo a federal criminal history and background verification test.
The TREC requires all applicants to meet the qualifying standards for ethics, truthfulness, honesty and good moral conduct.
To complete this step, you need to submit a scan of your fingerprints along with your personal details for verification. It will cost you around $39 to get a live fingerprint scan.
Along with the documents, you need to submit your licensing application and pay a processing fee of $185 to obtain a salesperson license.
Lastly, once you have completed all the steps and fulfilled the state specific licensing requirements, you will receive your license issued by the TREC.
Congratulations on getting your license and being an official professional who can work with clients anywhere in TX!
