If your inspector license is inactive and you are ready to return to active status, you must complete the required inspector continuing education (ICE) and submit the appropriate request through the Real Estate and Appraiser License Management (REALM) Portal. The process is different depending on whether you are a professional inspector, real estate inspector, or apprentice inspector.
Before You Begin
Before requesting active status, make sure you:
- Have completed the required 32 hours of ICE.
- Have your education posted to your Texas Real Estate Commission (TREC) record. Use the License Holder Search to review the education TREC has on file.
- Have current insurance or proof of financial responsibility on file, as required.
- Are prepared to pay any applicable fee.
- Have not performed inspections while your license was inactive.
Inspectors may not perform inspections while on inactive status. Performing inspections while inactive may result in disciplinary action.
Inspector Continuing Education Requirements
To return an inactive inspector license to active status, you must complete 32 hours of approved ICE. The education must include the eight-hour Inspector Legal and Ethics and Standards of Practice Review course.
Inspectors cannot receive more than 16 hours of continuing education (CE) credit in the same subject.
Your CE is counted based on the two years before the date you request to return to active status. Education completed to return to active status may also count toward your next renewal.
Professional Inspectors
A professional inspector who is on inactive status may request to return to active status directly through the REALM Portal.
Before submitting the request, make sure your required ICE is complete and posted to your TREC record and that your current insurance or proof of financial responsibility is on file.
How To Request Active Status
- Log in to the REALM Portal.
- Select My Records.
- Locate your Professional Inspector license and select Amendment in the Action column.
- Select Return to Active Status from the Type of Change Request menu.
- Select Continue Application.
- Review the certification and check the box to agree.
- Select Continue Application.
- Review the fee and select Continue Application.
- Submit the fee and your request.
The fee to return an inactive professional inspector license to active status is $50.
Allow time for processing after submitting your request.
Apprentice and Real Estate Inspectors
An apprentice inspector or real estate inspector who is inactive must have completed the required ICE before returning to active status. The inspector's sponsoring professional inspector must accept the request in order for the license be returned to active status.
How To Request Active Status
Apprentice inspectors and real estate inspectors must submit the appropriate sponsorship request through the REALM Portal:
- Log in to the REALM Portal.
- Select My Records.
- Locate the sponsoring professional inspector's license and select Amendment in the Action column.
- Select Change or Request Sponsorship from the Type of Change Request menu.
- Follow the prompts to submit the request.
- The professional inspector must accept the sponsorship request.
Allow time for processing after the request is submitted and accepted.
After Your License Is Returned To Active Status
Once your license is returned to active status, you may perform activities authorized by your license.
An apprentice inspector or real estate inspector must have an active sponsorship relationship with a professional inspector before performing inspections.
A professional inspector who returns to active status may resume performing inspections and sponsoring apprentice and real estate inspectors, provided all other applicable requirements are met.
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