How Much Does It Cost to Get a Real Estate License in Texas?

A successful career in Texas real estate is highly desirable. This profession allows you to choose your work schedule and map your own career. A real estate agent’s income is dependent on experience and hard work. You are not tied to an office for eight hours a day. Instead, you get to meet new people and get to know new areas of your city.

A real estate career does not guarantee any amount of success, but agents who put in the time and work often do exceptionally well for themselves. After a few years of building a client base and getting to know the industry, agents can make over six figures.

How Much Does It Cost To Earn Your Texas Real Estate License?

The cost to get a real estate license in Texas is between $1,000 and $1,500 and takes 4-6 months on average. This means you can begin your new career and be just as, if not more, financially successful without debt and with many years to spare.

Below is a break down of the total licensing cost including education, exam fees, and application fees.

1. Real Estate School – $350 - $800+

Choosing the right real estate school is essential for your success. Make sure your school is TREC approved, has a high pass rate, and offers support to its students.

There are many real estate options. Some real estate schools, such as VanEd, are 100% online and can be completed any time, anywhere. VanEd 180-Hour Pre-License courses also provide online support from instructors and payment plans. Other schools offer in-person classes.

To better understand which school is right for you, check out this blog: Online vs. Classroom Real Estate Courses - Which Is Better?

2. Exam Proctoring – $50-$150

Each hopeful licensee must take a final course exam at the end of their coursework. In many states, Texas included, that exam must be proctored. A proctored exam means that each participant must have supervision while taking the exam. This can be costly if done through a third party. However, VanEd includes online proctoring in their Convenience and Premium packages.

3. Exam Fee – $43 per attempt

Many people need to take the TREC real estate exam more than once in order to pass. It costs $43 each time you take the test. Make sure you study as much as possible to keep from retaking the exam.

4. Application and Processing Fee – Approximately $225

The real estate exam application fee is $185. You will also need to pay a fingerprinting fee of $38.25 to the Texas Department of Public Safety (DPS) so a background check can be performed.

What Are The Costs to Maintain a Real Estate License in Texas?

Even after school, exam fees, licensing fees, and background checks, there are periodic courses that real estate agents must take to maintain their license. These Continuing Education (CE) courses keep real estate agents up to date on the laws of their state, serve as an information refresher, and allow real estate agents to learn more about the real estate industry.

How often agents need to take CE courses varies depending on their licensing state. View all Texas license renewal requirements. CE is an excellent opportunity to gain knowledge and update your skills to advance even further in the industry.

Many brokerages pay for their agents’ CE courses. Ask your sponsoring broker if CE is something they offer.

Some states require their agents to take a post-license course within a year of their licensure. This post-license training is a one-time course that serves as an extension of your real estate education. Texas requires a 98-hour Salesperson Apprentice Education (SAE) during your first license renewal.

Written and Published by: VanEd