Texas Real Estate Continuing Education Courses

How to Renew Your Texas Real Estate License

Texas real estate Sales Agents, Supervising or Sponsoring Sales Agents, and Brokers (including Designated Brokers for business entities) must renew their licenses every two years. Licenses expire on the license anniversary date. The renewal period opens approximately 90 days before your expiration date in the REALM Portal.

To maintain an active license, you must complete your continuing education (CE), ensure your courses are reported, and submit your renewal before your license expiration date.

Step 1: Complete the Required Continuing Education

Texas requires 18 hours of CE every 2 years for most renewals.

For First-Time Renewal for Sales Agents:

• 90 hours of Sales Apprentice Education (SAE), including:
  • 30-hour Real Estate Brokerage course
  • 60 hours SAE elective courses
• 4-hour TREC Legal Update I
• 4-hour TREC Legal Update II
• If you are a supervisor, you must also complete the 6-hour TREC Broker Responsibility course

For Second and Subsequent Renewals for Sales Agents:

• 4-hour TREC Legal Update I
• 4-hour TREC Legal Update II
• 3 hours of contract-related coursework
• 7 hours of elective CE (the 6-hour TREC Broker Responsibility course may be applied toward these elective hours if required)

For Brokers:

• 4-hour TREC Legal Update I
• 4-hour TREC Legal Update II
• 6-hour TREC Broker Responsibility course
• 3 hours of contract-related coursework
• 1 hour of elective CE

Inactive licensees are not required to complete CE to renew, but may not practice real estate.

All courses must be approved by the Texas Real Estate Commission (TREC), and duplicate courses do not count within the same renewal period.

Important: Complete your CE at least 10 days before your license expiration date to allow time for provider reporting and processing.

Step 2: Verify Your Course Completions

Course providers report completed CE courses directly to TREC.

Before renewing, log in to the REALM Portal and confirm that all of your credits have been posted to your license record.

You can also verify your license status and CE credits using the TREC License Holder Search by entering your license number. Do not submit your renewal until all required CE or SAE credits appear on your record.

Step 3: Complete Your License Renewal

Texas real estate licenses can conveinently renewed online through the REALM Portal.

Renew Online:

1. Log in to your REALM Portal account and navigate to the “Licenses” tab
2. Select “Renew License” in the “Action” column of your license information.
3. Review your personal and license information
4. Answer any required questions
5. Review your application and confirm all information is accurate
6. Pay the renewal fee
7. Complete your payment through the Department of Information Resources portal when redirected
8. Submit your renewal application

After submitting, you will receive a confirmation, and your license will be updated in the system.

Additional Tips

• Renewal Timing: A renewal notice is sent about 90 days before your expiration date. You can renew once your renewal window opens in the REALM Portal.
• CE Timing: All CE must be completed before your license expiration date.
• Daily CE Limit: You may complete a maximum of 12 hours of CE per day.
• CE Deferral: If you renew active without completing CE, you may pay a $200 CE deferral fee, which provides a 60-day extension to complete CE.
• Expired License: You may renew up to 6 months after expiration with a late fee. After 6 months and up to 2 years, you must apply for reinstatement. After 2 years, you must reapply and pass the licensing exam.
• License Status: You can verify your license status and expiration date through the REALM Portal or the TREC License Holder Search.
• Account Setup: Use TREC’s State ID and PIN Number Lookup tool to get information on how to add your license or registration to your REALM Portal account.