A sales agent is a person who is licensed by the Real Estate Commission to act as an agent on behalf of a real estate broker and their clients. A sales agent must be sponsored by a licensed Broker in order to perform any act of real estate services.

Qualifications

• Citizen of the United States or lawfully admitted alien
• 18 years of age or older
• Meet TREC’s qualifications for honesty, trustworthiness, and integrity
  • Consider requesting a Fitness Determination before applying for the license

Read This Before You Start

Do not submit your license application until you have completed all required pre-licensing education. You will upload your course completion documents when you apply. Your application expires one year from the date it is filed. You must complete all license requirements within that one-year period.

Application fees are non-refundable and non-transferable.

Register for a REALM Portal Account

If you do not have a TREC license number, register for a REALM Portal account to receive a pre-license education application number by email. Provide your pre-license education application number to your TREC-approved QE provider. 

Creating a REALM Portal account and receiving a pre-license education application number is not the same as submitting a license application. Do not submit your license application until you have completed all required pre-licensing education.

Take Qualifying Education Courses

First, find a qualifying education provider. After completing your course work, you are welcome to submit a course and instructor evaluation. 

A sales agent applicant must complete 180 classroom hours of the following qualifying real estate courses:

• Principles of Real Estate I (30 hours)
• Principles of Real Estate II (30 hours)
• Law of Agency (30 hours)
• Law of Contracts (30 hours)
• Promulgated Contract Forms (30 hours)
• Real Estate Finance (30 hours)

Once your courses are complete, you will receive a course completion certificate. You will need to upload your course completion documents when you apply online using the REALM Portal. 

If you completed any of the above qualifying real estate courses through an accredited college/university for academic credit, upload a transcript for evaluation. Please note that a college transcript generally will not satisfy qualifying real estate course requirements unless you have taken the specific courses outlined above.

Submit Your Online Application

Apply Online

Submit your application and fee to become a Sales Agent using the REALM Portal. Do not submit your application until you have completed and uploaded all required pre-licensing education.

You have one year from the date your application is filed to meet all the license requirements. All fees are non-refundable and non-transferable.

Select "Create Application" in the REALM Portal and choose the Sales Agent Application. Please do not submit your application until all of your pre-licensing education is uploaded. You will not be able to make changes to your application when it is "Submitted" status.

Get Your Fingerprints Taken and Pass Your Background Check

You are required by law to have fingerprints on file with the Texas Department of Public Safety (DPS) so a background check can be performed. Fingerprints on file for other agencies will not be accepted.

If you have a background history and are unsure whether it could affect your eligibility for a real estate sales agent license, you can request a Fitness Determination before applying. A Fitness Determination does not replace the required background check.

You will receive an email to schedule your fingerprints after your application status changes from "Submitted" to "In Review." Please do not contact the agency requesting a fingerprint letter if your status is "Submitted."

Expect a delay if you are notified of an investigation into your background history. You will not receive a license if you do not pass the background check.

Pass the Exam

License exams are administered by Pearson, a testing service company.

Once we have reviewed your education to ensure you have completed it, you will receive an email from no-reply@notices.trec.texas.gov with instructions for scheduling the state and/national exams.

If you fail either exam three times, you will be required to complete additional education before you can test again.

Find a Sponsor

After meeting the above requirements, you will be issued an inactive license. You must be sponsored by a broker to move to active status and be able to practice brokerage activity. You or your sponsoring broker can complete a sponsorship request using the REALM Portal.