Key Takeaways
- Texas sales agent licenses are valid for 2 years and require 18 hours of continuing education (CE) for renewal
- Required CE includes 4 hours of Legal Update I, 4 hours of Legal Update II, and 10 hours of electives
- Renewal fee is $110 for sales agents; late renewals incur additional fees up to $176 total
- Sales agents must complete Sales Agent Apprentice Education (SAE) within their first renewal period
- License not renewed within 6 months of expiration requires completing all education requirements again
License Maintenance and Renewal
Texas real estate licenses require ongoing maintenance through continuing education and timely renewal.
License Terms and Fees
| Item | Amount/Duration |
|---|---|
| License term | 2 years |
| Renewal fee | $110 |
| Late renewal (< 90 days) | $143 |
| Late renewal (> 90 days) | $176 |
| CE Deferral fee | $200 (60-day extension) |
Continuing Education Requirements
Regular Renewal (18 hours)
| Course | Hours |
|---|---|
| Legal Update I | 4 |
| Legal Update II | 4 |
| Elective courses | 10 |
| Total | 18 |
Important: Legal Update I and II are mandatory for every renewal cycle. The courses are updated periodically to cover new laws and TREC rules.
First Renewal Requirements
Sales agents completing their first renewal must also complete:
| Additional Requirement | Hours |
|---|---|
| Sales Agent Apprentice Education (SAE) | 90 hours total in first term |
SAE includes additional training in:
- Real estate brokerage
- Contracts and forms
- Supervision requirements
- Ethical practices
Broker CE Requirements
Brokers have additional CE requirements:
| Course | Hours |
|---|---|
| Legal Update I | 4 |
| Legal Update II | 4 |
| Broker Responsibility | 6 |
| Electives | 4 |
| Total | 18 |
Note: The 6-hour Broker Responsibility course is required for brokers, not sales agents.
Renewal Process
Timeline
| Event | Timing |
|---|---|
| Renewal notice | Sent ~90 days before expiration |
| Complete CE | Before expiration date |
| Submit renewal | Through REALM portal |
| Grace period | Up to 6 months after expiration |
How to Renew
- Complete CE before expiration date
- Log into REALM portal
- Submit renewal application
- Pay renewal fee ($110)
- Receive renewed license
Late Renewal and Expired Licenses
Late Renewal (within 6 months)
If your license expires but you renew within 6 months:
| Time After Expiration | Fee | Requirements |
|---|---|---|
| 0-90 days | $143 | Complete CE, pay late fee |
| 91-180 days | $176 | Complete CE, pay late fee |
Warning: You cannot practice while your license is expired, even if you're within the grace period.
Expired More Than 6 Months
If your license has been expired for more than 6 months:
- Must complete all education requirements again (180 hours)
- May need to retake exam (depending on how long expired)
- Apply as a new applicant
License Status Types
| Status | Meaning | Can Practice? |
|---|---|---|
| Active | Current, sponsored by broker | Yes |
| Inactive | Not sponsored or on hold | No |
| Expired | Not renewed | No |
| Suspended | TREC disciplinary action | No |
| Revoked | License permanently cancelled | No |
Address and Name Changes
Licensees must notify TREC within 10 days of:
- Change of mailing address
- Change of email address
- Change of legal name
- Change of sponsoring broker
Changes are made through the REALM portal at no charge.
How many hours of continuing education are required to renew a Texas sales agent license?
What is the license term for a Texas real estate sales agent?
Within how many days must a Texas licensee notify TREC of an address change?