Getting your business done with the Texas Real Estate Commission (TREC) and the Texas Appraiser Licensing and Certification Board (TALCB) is about to get even easier. The agency is developing a new licensing system that will launch later this year. Mark your calendars: 

• Beginning December 2, 2025 at 5 p.m. CT through December 9, 2025: Transition period—TREC-TALCB's current online licensing services unavailable
• December 10, 2025: the new system officially launches

After weeks of voting across social media, via the agency's email newsletters, and other methods of communication in June, it was decided the system would be called the Real Estate and Appraiser License Management Portal, or REALM Portal. 

The REALM Portal will help license holders go paperless and manage licenses, apply for licensure, and more—all online, 24/7. What else you'll get to do:

• Save and return to your application when you're ready.
• Request a fitness determination for licensure online before applying. 
• Upload your documents for licensure within the system (no more separate emails to TREC).
• Make payments securely online.
• Track the status of your application for licensure. 
• File complaints. Doing this online will help with faster processing.

Take a sneak peek of what's to come by navigating through the REALM Portal Video Hub:

How License Holders Should Prep for Launch

We'll handle carrying over your records. But there are a few things you can do as we pack up and get ready for the online move, like renew your license as soon as you get a renewal notice.

Why Should I Renew Early?

If you get a renewal notice and typically renew your license in the fall or winter, go ahead and renew in our current system that you’re familiar with. That way when the Portal launches, the stress of a looming renewal deadline is in the past and you can focus on getting to know our new online features. Plus, it gets checked off your to-do list. 

Thinking About Changing Your Sponsoring Broker?

If you’re a sales agent who plans on changing your sponsoring broker in the next couple months, getting it done now will help prevent any potential delays. 

What License Holders Need To Know

The REALM Portal will serve as the new online home for all TREC-TALCB license management. Everyone will use the same system, but the tools you'll access depends on your license type. The following is an overview of what each group can do in the REALM Portal once it's live.

Sales Agents

Sales agents will use the REALM Portal to:

• Renew licenses online and pay renewal fees
• Track continuing education (CE) requirements
• Manage sponsorship requests and view broker information
• Update contact details and personal information
• Print or download digital copies of your license
• Apply for reinstatement of an expired license online

If you are sponsored by a broker, your broker must also have an active REALM account for sponsorship management.

Brokers

Brokers will have access to expanded management tools within the REALM Portal, including the ability to:

• Review and approve sales agent sponsorship requests
• Manage business entity licenses
• Manage sponsorships
• Update brokerage and designated broker information
• Track license status for sponsored sales agents

Designated brokers can delegate management to other license holder profiles. For example, you can grant permissions to others within your office (like managers or team leads) to manage licenses and team names through their own REALM Portal account.

The Portal will allow associated brokers to identify which brokerages they associate with—those connections will be displayed for public view on TREC’s website.

Inspectors

Apprentice and licensed inspectors will use the REALM Portal to:

• Leave the paper forms behind and submit applications online
• Renew licenses and pay fees online
• Upload and manage proof of required insurance
• Update contact and business information
• Track CE courses
• Access your digital license
• Manage sponsorships online 

Easement or Right-of-Way Agents

Easement or right-of-way agents will use the REALM Portal to:

• Renew licenses and pay fees online
• Track CE
• Update contact and business information
• View and print digital licenses

Appraisers

Appraisers will use the REALM Portal to:

• Renew or upgrade a license
• Submit CE and qualifying education (QE) coursework
• Track experience logs and pending applications
• Manage supervisory and trainee relationships
• Update personal and business contact information

Education Providers

TREC-TALCB-approved education providers will have access to the same features, including all provider and course applications being processed and managed online. This also means all documentation typically required with those applications will be submitted through the new online format. Other features include paying fees online, faster processing times, built-in times outlines and content outlines for course applications, and more:

• Renew provider and course approvals
• Update provider and course information
• Track application status and approval history—all in one secure place.

Keep in mind: Course numbers will change, in preparation for the REALM Portal launch. Education providers will receive new course numbers for all courses. The new numbers will be emailed to providers in the coming weeks. These numbers are necessary for updating course information online and within the continuing education (CE) posting system.

Frequently Asked Questions

Here are the questions license holders have about the REALM Portal transition. The list is organized by topic.

REALM Portal Basics

What is the REALM Portal?

It’s the Real Estate and Appraiser License Management (REALM) Portal—a modern online licensing system created to simplify the way TREC-TALCB real estate professionals manage their license.

Why is TREC-TALCB switching to a new system?

The REALM Portal offers a more secure, user-friendly experience with modern features that make managing your license faster and easier—from updating personal information to online renewals. 

How will the REALM Portal benefit license holders?

In a nutshell, the REALM Portal will allow for fully digital license management. This includes an entirely online experience for license application and renewals. Supporting documents can also be uploaded in the REALM Portal and complaints can be filed, all in one place.

What can I do in the REALM Portal?

You can renew your license, update your contact information, track CE, manage your application, view your license history, and more.

Access and Account Setup

How can I access the REALM Portal?

Hang tight! Staff are still working out the kinks. Once everything's ready, you'll be the first to know.

Do I need to create a new account?

Yes. All users must create a new REALM Portal account once the system launches. Your existing login credentials will not carry over.

How do I create a new account?

If you are already in TREC-TALCB's current system, you will receive an email from the agency with a link to activate your REALM Portal account and instructions for linking your current license or application.

If you are a new applicant or need to submit a complaint, please follow the instructions for how to create an account on the REALM Portal website once it launches.

Will my delegated supervisors or assistants need new accounts?

Yes, if they manage or submit information on behalf of a license holder.

A helpful REALM Portal feature allows designated brokers to grant permissions to others within their office (like managers or team leads) to manage their licenses and team names through their own online account.

Licenses and Numbers

Do I need to reapply or resubmit my information?

No. Your existing license information and application records will automatically transfer to the REALM Portal.

Will my license expiration date or renewal cycle change?

No. Your license expiration date and renewal schedule will remain the same.

Will my license number look different in the REALM Portal?

As part of the transition to the REALM Portal, license numbers will include a short letter code after the existing number to identify the license type. For example, if your certified residential appraiser license number was 1234 in the old system, it will soon appear as 1234-CR in the REALM Portal. These letters help quickly identify the type of license you hold and will be printed on your official license documents.

So, your original license number will remain the same—only the added letters are new.

I’ve been licensed for many years. Will all my license history be brought into the new system?

License holders' sponsorship, active status, and inactive status information dating from 2010 to current day will be added to the REALM Portal.

Support

Are there any tutorials or help guides?

Yes. Step-by-step video tutorials and quick-start guides are available on the TREC and TALCB websites and in the REALM Portal Video Hub. These sites will continue to be updated with new helpful content.

Who do I contact if I have trouble accessing or using the REALM Portal?

Contact TREC's or TALCB's team for assistance.

Last updated October 14, 2025. This page will continue to be updated with new information as TREC-TALCB staff prepares for the new licensing system’s rollout.