A Licensed Real Estate Broker is a person who provides real estate services to another person in exchange for a commission. Brokers can also sponsor and supervise real estate sales agents.

You have one year from the date your application is filed to meet all license requirements. Once you have met all the requirements to get your license, TREC will send an active broker license to you via email.

Qualifications

• Citizen of the United States or lawfully admitted alien
• 18 years of age or older
• Meet TREC’s qualifications for honesty, trustworthiness, and integrity ◦Consider requesting a Fitness Determination before applying for the license

Steps to Becoming a Real Estate Broker

Complete Your Qualifying Education

270 classroom hours of qualifying real estate courses, including the following mandatory courses:

• Principles of Real Estate I (30 hours)
• Principles of Real Estate II (30 hours)
• Law of Agency (30 hours)
• Law of Contracts (30 hours)
• Promulgated Contract Forms (30 hours)
• Real Estate Finance (30 hours)
• Real Estate Brokerage (30 hours)

The Real Estate Brokerage course must be completed not more than two years before the application date.

An additional 630 classroom hours in related qualifying courses acceptable to the Commission or approved Continuing Education (CE) courses is also required.

TREC approved related qualifying courses include:

• Real Estate Appraisal
• Real Estate Law
• Real Estate Marketing
• Real Estate Math
• Property Management
• Real Estate Investments
• Residential Inspections for Real Estate Agents

Following is a list of course topics acceptable for related qualifying course credit if completed for academic credit through a college or university.

• Accounting
• Advertising
• Architecture
• Business or Management
• Construction
• Finance
• Investments
• Law
• Marketing
• Real Estate

A bachelor's degree or higher from an accredited college or university satisfies all of the related education requirements for a broker license. A copy of the college transcript awarding the degree must be submitted as evidence of completion of the degree.

Education course completion documents must be submitted to TREC after applying online or with your paper application. 

Meet the Experience Requirements

Candidates for a broker license must also meet the following experience requirements:

• Have at least four years’ active experience as a licensed real estate sales agent or broker during the 60-month period preceding the filing of the application
• Your experience must total 360 points and be reported on the Qualifying Experience Report for a Broker License. You must also include a transaction identification list for each transaction claimed on the experience report.

File your Application

Apply Online

Submit your application and fee to become a Broker using TREC's Online Services. If you don’t already have a username and password for TREC's Online Services you can register at TREC's website:

www.TREC.Texas.gov

Apply by Mail

If you prefer, you can also apply for a broker license using TREC's paper application. This may take longer to process.

TREC's Fee Schedule

Go to the following link to see a list of TREC's fees:

https://www.trec.texas.gov/agency-informaiton/fee-schedule

Get your Fingerprints Taken and Pass Your Background Check

You are required by law to have fingerprints on file with the Texas Department of Public Safety (DPS) so a background check can be performed. Fingerprints on file for other agencies will not be accepted.

A license will not issue if the background check has not been passed. Expect a delay if you are notified of an investigation into your background history.

Take the Exam

License exams are administered by PearsonVUE, a testing service company. 

You will be sent a notice with instructions for scheduling the exam and obtaining a copy of the exam Candidate Handbook.

If you fail the exam three times, additional education will be necessary.

The education requirement can be detailed. Call us at 1.877.550.5808 so we can assist you.