Become An Agent

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.

You have one year from the date your application is filed to meet all license requirements. Once you have met all the requirements to get your license, including finding a broker sponsorship, TREC will send an active sales agent license to your broker and to you via email!  

Qualifications

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

File Your Application

As you navigate through the application process be sure to check out our easy to use Application Status Tracker. 

Apply Online

Submit your application and fee to become a Sales Agent using our Online Services. If you don’t already have a username and password for our Online Services, register now. If you have registered online with TALCB or TREC in the past, log in now. 

Apply by Mail

If you prefer, you can also apply for your Sales Agent license using our paper application. This may take longer to process and you will need to pay a paper filing fee.

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.

A license will not issue if the background check has not been passed. Expect a delay if you are notified of an investigation into your background history.

Complete Your Qualifying Education

180 classroom hours of the following qualifying real estate courses

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

Find a qualifying education provider. Education course completion documents must be submitted to TREC after applying online or with your paper application.

Take the Exam

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

You will be sent a notice with instructions for scheduling the exam and obtaining a copy of the exam Candidate Handbook.

If you fail the exam three times, additional education will be necessary.

Find a Sponsor

After meeting the above requirements, you will be issued an inactive license. You need to be sponsored by an active Texas licensed broker to work. You can complete a sponsorship request using our online services. Once the broker has accepted your request, your active license will be issued, and you can work as a Sales Agent!