The Texas Real Estate Commission (TREC) oversees the licensing and regulation of all real estate professionals across the state. License renewal is a mandatory, cyclical requirement for every active broker and sales agent to maintain their legal authorization to practice. This process ensures practitioners remain current with state laws, regulations, and industry standards. TREC has streamlined this procedure to be handled primarily through its secure online portal, providing a straightforward means for licensees to complete the necessary steps.
Renewal Timeline and License Status
Texas real estate licenses operate on a biennial cycle and must be renewed every two years. The expiration date is based on the original date the license was issued, not a fixed calendar date. TREC generally sends a renewal notice approximately 90 days before the expiration date, which opens the renewal window.
It is the individual license holder’s responsibility to track their specific expiration date. A distinction exists between “active” and “inactive” license status, determined upon renewal. Only active license holders may legally engage in brokerage activities, such as representing clients or negotiating transactions, and collect commissions. Renewing on inactive status removes the continuing education requirement but prohibits the licensee from practicing real estate until they satisfy the education mandates and formally reactivate the license.
Education Requirements for First-Time Renewals
Sales agents renewing their license for the first time must complete Sales Agent Apprentice Education (SAE). This post-licensing mandate requires the agent to have a total of 270 qualifying real estate course hours completed before the first renewal is finalized.
Agents who completed the minimum 180 hours of qualifying education must complete an additional 90 hours of SAE courses. First-time renewal applicants must also complete 8 hours of required Continuing Education (CE), consisting of the 4-hour Legal Update I and the 4-hour Legal Update II courses. This results in a total requirement of 98 hours of education posted to the agent’s record. The SAE requirement cannot be deferred, and the license will not be renewed until all 98 hours are successfully completed and reported by the education provider.
Continuing Education Requirements for Experienced Licensees
For experienced sales agents and brokers, the educational requirement shifts to the standard Continuing Education (CE) mandate. Licensees must complete a total of 18 hours of TREC-approved CE courses during each two-year renewal cycle. This education is designed to keep professionals updated on current laws, ethical practices, and industry changes.
The 18 hours of CE are broken down into specific categories that must be satisfied before the renewal application is submitted. This includes 8 hours of mandatory content: the 4-hour Legal Update I and the 4-hour Legal Update II courses. The remaining 10 hours are composed of elective CE courses approved by the commission. If the licensee is a broker or a sales agent designated as a supervisor, the CE must also include the 6-hour Broker Responsibility course as part of the 18-hour total.
All 18 hours of CE must be completed and reflected on the license holder’s record prior to submitting the online renewal application. If the education is incomplete, the licensee must either renew on inactive status or pay a $200 CE deferral fee. Paying the deferral fee allows the license to remain active for an additional 60 days to allow for course completion.
Completing the Online Renewal Application
The practical steps for renewing a Texas real estate license are managed through the Texas Real Estate Commission’s online portal. Before initiating the renewal, the licensee must verify that all required education hours have been electronically reported and posted to their record by the course providers. Accessing the system allows the agent or broker to submit the application and pay the required fees.
The online application requires the licensee to answer a series of mandatory screening questions. These questions relate to any recent criminal history, professional disciplinary action, or unpaid judgments. Completing these background check questions is a necessary part of the renewal, even if the license holder has previously provided fingerprints for a criminal background check. The typical online renewal fee for a sales agent is approximately $110, which must be paid at the time of application submission.
TREC advises licensees to complete their required education at least 10 days before the expiration date to ensure course providers have time to report the hours. Successfully completing the application, paying the fee, and satisfying the education and background requirements results in the issuance of a new license certificate.
What Happens If Your License Expires
Failing to renew a Texas real estate license by the expiration date prohibits the individual from practicing real estate or receiving compensation for services performed after that date. The license is automatically set to an inactive status upon expiration.
A license can be renewed late for up to six months following the expiration date, but this incurs substantial late penalties and fees in addition to the standard renewal cost. If the license is expired for more than six months but less than two years, the license holder must apply for reinstatement, which requires meeting all education requirements and paying additional fees.
After two years, the expired license cannot be reinstated or renewed. The individual must submit a new license application, complete all current qualifying education requirements, and pass the state licensing examination again to regain authorization to practice.