Mandatory Continuing Education (MCE) FAQs

General Questions Regarding MCE Requirements

Note: When a question references MCE it means 15 classroom hours of Commission approved Mandatory Continuing Education. At least 6 of the 15 hours must consist of a 3 hour legal update course and a 3 hour legal ethics course created for and approved by TREC to satisfy the 6 legal hours of MCE required by Texas Occupations Code §1101.455. Effective September 1, 2012, a broker who sponsors a salesperson, a designated broker of a business entity, or a license holder who is a delegated supervisor of one or more license holders for 6 months or more during the current license must also attend a 6 hour MCE Broker Responsibility course as required by Texas Occupations Code §1101.458.

• you are a salesperson, not under SAE requirements.
• you are a broker not exempted in October 1991 by Senate Bill 432.

1. Do I need to take MCE to renew my active license? Yes. To renew an active license without an additional fee, MCE must have been completed within the term of the license being renewed.
2. What happens if I renew timely and request active status but do not complete my MCE? If you renew your license on an ACTIVE status without first completing MCE, you will be required to pay an additional $200 deferral fee and complete the MCE within 60 days of the renewed license. Your license will remain active during this time.
3. What happens if I fail to pay the deferral fee and/or do not complete the MCE within the 60 days? If you fail to pay the deferral fee and complete the MCE within 60 days your license will be placed on INACTIVE status and you must cease doing business. If you are a broker all salespersons sponsored by you will revert to INACTIVE status.
4. If my license reverts to inactive status because I failed to complete the required MCE or pay the deferral fee within the 60 days, how do I return to active status? To return to active status in this circumstance you must: 1)Complete the required MCE hours; 2)Pay the deferral fee of $200 AND a $250 penalty (Total $450); 3)If you are a broker you must submit an Application for Broker to Return to Active Status form and $20 fee; OR If you are a salesperson you must submit a Salesperson Sponsorship Form and $20 fee.
5. I renewed my license inactive. Now I want to get an active license. Do I need MCE? Yes. The MCE hours must have been completed within the 2 year period prior to filing a request for an active license.
6. If my license stays on inactive status for several years, does the MCE requirement accumulate during the years that I am inactive? No. The MCE needed to get an active license remains the same: 15 hours within the 2 years prior to filing the application to return to active status.
7. My license has been expired for less than 6 months. What do I need to do to become licensed again? You must file the Renewal of Real Estate License - Timely Or Expired Less Than Six Months application and must complete 15 hours in MCE, 3 hours of which must be in Legal Update and 3 hours in TREC Ethics within the two year period prior to filing the application. If the hours were not completed by the license expiration date the licensee must complete the hours and pay the deferral fee of $200. If the hours are completed after 60 days of the license expiration date the $250 penalty fee applies (total $450). If the hours are not completed or the late MCE fees paid, the license will be renewed on an inactive status.
8. My license has been expired for six months but less than two years. What do I need to do to become licensed again? A salesperson or broker whose license has been expired more than 6 months but less then 2 years , who files an application to reinstate that license on active status, must complete the 15 hours in MCE during the two year period prior to filing the Application for Reinstatement of a Salesperson License or Broker license by an individual. If the license was active and the MCE hours were not completed by the license expiration date and the license is being renewed active or inactive within six months, the licensee must complete the hours and pay the deferral fee of $200. If the hours are completed after 60 days of the license expiration date the $250 penalty fee applies (total $450). If the hours are not completed or the late MCE fees paid, the license will be renewed on an inactive status. To return to active status, see Inactive Salesperson Licenses (on this page, above).
9. My salespersons license has been expired more than 2 years. What do I need to do to become licensed again? A salesperson whose license has been expired more than 2 years must reapply for licensure. All current licensing requirements must be met and the Application for Inactive Salespersons License must be filed along with the appropriate fee and you must pass the licensing exam.
10. My broker license has been expired for more than 2 years. What do I need to do to become licensed again? To become licensed you must reapply as a salesperson and satisfy all current licensing requirements and file the Application for Inactive Salespersons License along with the appropriate fee and pass the examination.
11. Where can I take my MCE courses? MCE courses must be taken from an approved MCE provider, all of whom can be located through our Education Providers page.

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