Do Real Estate Agents Need a College Degree in Texas?

The process of getting a real estate license is fairly simple and easily accessible. Once you have confirmed that you are eligible, you can move on to taking the required courses, and then you can take your licensing exam. Let’s break down the exact steps that are required to become a real estate agent in Texas.

What Education is Needed to Become a Real Estate Agent?

Do you have to go to school to become a real estate agent? While you don’t need a college degree or prior education in real estate, you will be required to complete 180 hours of qualifying real estate courses through a TREC-approved real estate education provider such as Aceable. These courses include:

• Real Estate Principles I (Course #121)
• Real Estate Principles II (Course #122)
• Law of Agency (Course #1151)
• Law of Contracts (Course #1251)
• Promulgated Contracts Forms (Course #351)
• Real Estate Finance (Course #451)

These courses will provide you with the real estate knowledge you will need to pass your license exam and ultimately operate as a real estate agent in the state of Texas. Note that you will only be able to apply for the Texas Real Estate License Exam once you have met all the license requirements stated in the TREC website, which include completing the six courses (these courses can be completed through any TREC-approved provider). There’s no way around this step, so get ready to be schooled in the world of real estate!

Once your courses are complete, you must submit your education course completion documents to TREC. After you’ve submitted your course completion to TREC for approval, you can then prepare to take the license exam. Easy peasy, right? You’ll be on your way to becoming an agent in no time!

How do you become a real estate broker in Texas?

Interested in becoming a real estate broker? Becoming a broker is often the next step in one’s real estate career. Brokers perform the same basic duties as agents, but they have more experience and are able to sponsor and supervise other agents. This is a great position to be in if you plan on forming and supervising a team someday.

What are the requirements for a real estate broker in Texas?

You must meet the following Texas real estate license 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

You will also need to meet the experience requirements to get your broker license. To be considered for a broker license, you’ll need at least four years of active experience in Texas as a licensed real estate agent or broker during the 60 month period immediately before the filing of the application. You will also need a total of 3600 points of experience in brokerage and report these on the Qualifying Experience Report for a Broker License.

Additionally, you must complete 270 classroom hours of core real estate courses. This includes the 180 hours of pre-license education required for initial licensure, the 90 hours of Sales Apprentice Education needed upon first renewal of a real estate agent license, and a 30-hour Real Estate Brokerage course. The Real Estate Brokerage course must be completed no more than two years before the application date.

Finally, you’ll be required to complete 630 classroom hours in related qualifying courses that are acceptable to TREC or approved continuing education courses. TREC-approved elective qualifying courses include:

• Real Estate Appraisal
• Real Estate Law
• Real Estate Marketing
• Real Estate Math
• Property Management
• Real Estate Investments
• Residential Inspections for Real Estate Agents

Using Existing College Credits

If you have a bachelor’s degree or higher from an accredited college or university and are looking to become a broker, you’re in luck. You may be able to use qualifying completed course credits towards the broker education final requirement if they are in related areas of education.

The accepted education subjects are:

• Accounting
• Advertising
• Architecture
• Business or management
• Construction
• Finance
• Investment
• Law
• Marketing
• Real estate

Make sure you submit a copy of your college transcript awarding the degree as evidence of completion along with the rest of your education course completion documents to TREC when applying.

Note that this ONLY applies to those getting their broker license in Texas. If you are wanting to become a real estate agent, you must still go through the 180 hours of pre-licensing education required to become licensed, even if you have qualifying college credit. Just save that for if or when you decide to become a broker!

And there you have it! You do not need a college degree, a high school diploma, or prior real estate experience to get your real estate license in the state of Texas. All you need to do is follow these steps and you’ll be out in the world selling homes in no time. Getting your real estate license can be easier than ever before. So, what are you waiting for? Begin your journey now!