How to Become a Realtor in Texas: 7-Step Licensing Process (2024 Guide)
Step 1: Prove You’re Not a Cactus (aka Meet Basic Requirements)
First, Texas needs to confirm you’re a human with ambitions grander than surviving a summer in Laredo. You must be 18+, have a social security number, and possess the legal stamina to stare at paperwork without spontaneously combusting. Residency? Not required. But hey, if you’re out-of-state, prepare to explain your obsession with “Friday Night Lights” convincingly.
Step 2: Become a Real Estate Jedi (Complete 180 Hours of Pre-Licensing Courses)
Texas doesn’t just hand out licenses like free samples at Costco. You’ll need 180 hours of state-approved education, split into:
- 60 hours of Principles of Real Estate (spoiler: it’s not about how to say “open concept” with a straight face)
- 30 hours of Law of Contracts (where you learn to whisper “*force majeure*” in your sleep)
- 90 hours of random electives (like “How to Survive Zoning Laws: A Drama in 3 Acts”)
Pro tip: Stock up on coffee. And maybe a therapist.
Step 3: Pass the Exam (Or, How to Outsmart a Scantron)
The Texas real estate exam is 110 questions of pure adrenaline—think *Squid Game*, but with more disclosure forms. You’ll need a score of 70% or higher. Fail? No worries! You can retake it (after paying $18 and sobbing into a breakfast taco). Pass? Congrats! You’re now certified to argue about property liens at parties.
Steps 4-7: The Paperwork Gauntlet
- Step 4: Submit fingerprints for a background check. Texas must ensure you’re not a supervillain (unless you specialize in foreclosed lairs).
- Step 5: Apply for your license ($205 fee—cheaper than a pair of cowboy boots, but less fun).
- Step 6: Find a brokerage to sponsor you. Choose wisely: this is your “real estate Yoda,” not just someone with a nice desk plant.
- Step 7: Join the Texas Realtors® and NAR. Now you can say “*Realtor™*” without air quotes and access MLS like it’s the Holy Grail (but with more photos of backsplashes).
And there you go! You’re ready to sell ranches, condos, and that one house in Austin that’s definitely haunted. Yeehaw?
Texas Realtor Requirements: Education, Exams, and Costs Explained
Step 1: Education (Or, “How to Survive 180 Hours of Real Estate School”)
To become a Texas realtor, you must first complete 180 hours of pre-licensing courses. That’s roughly the time it takes to binge-watch *The Office* three times—except instead of Jim pranking Dwight, you’ll learn about property law, contracts, and ethics. The courses are split into six “modules” (fancy word for “chapters that feel longer than a Texas summer”). Pro tip: Don’t confuse “minimum progress requirements” with “speedrunning.” TREC (Texas Real Estate Commission) will notice.
- 60 hours of Principles of Real Estate
- 30 hours of Law of Agency
- 30 hours of Law of Contracts
- …and more thrilling titles!
Step 2: Exams (Where Dreams Meet Scantrons)
Once educated, you’ll face the Texas real estate exam—a 110-question gauntlet where “What’s a lien?” feels as existential as “Why are we here?” The test covers national and state-specific material. Pass both sections with at least 75%, or enjoy the soothing ritual of paying $43 to retake the part you failed. Fun fact: The exam’s vibe is “SATs meets a zombie apocalypse,” but with more No. 2 pencils.
Step 3: Costs (Because Nothing Says ‘Welcome’ Like Fees)
Becoming a realtor isn’t free, unless you consider $1,000+ in costs “pocket change.” Let’s break it down like a budget-friendly piñata:
- $365 – TREC application fee (includes background check)
- $54 – Fingerprinting (to prove you’re not a cartoon villain)
- $43+ – Exam fees (per attempt, because optimism is taxable)
- $210 – License fee (your golden ticket to MLS access)
Add in pre-licensing courses ($300–$700), and voilà—you’ve spent more than a cowboy boot subscription service. But hey, at least you’ll get a shiny license and the right to say, “Y’all want a porch with that?”
