Current Application Processing Timeframes
Initial Online Sales Agent Applications and Supporting Documents take approximately 7-10 business days to process but this is subject to change. Exam application processing timeframes are updated weekly on the Texas Real Estate Commission’s (TREC) website at https://www.trec.texas.gov/trec-processing-times. You may also track the status of your application using the TREC application status tracker.
We recommend that you use TREC’s Online Servicesand complete the Sales Agent Application online to expedite processing. You can choose to submit a paper application but it will take longer for TREC to receive and process your application and documents.
You will also need to get your fingerprints taken and pass a background check. You can learn more about the licensing and testing process by visiting the TREC licensing website at https://www.trec.texas.gov/become-licensed/sales-agent.
Locations Where Exams Are Scheduled
Licensing exams are administered by Pearson VUE a testing service company. Visit Pearson VUE’s website for the most updated information on testing locations at https://home.pearsonvue.com/tx/realestate.
What to Expect on Exam Day
Candidates should report to the test center thirty (30) minutes before the examination and check in with the test center administrator. The candidate’s identification and other documentation will be reviewed and he or she will be photographed for the score report. For security purposes, Pearson VUE will capture each candidate’s digital signature and photograph upon check-in.
Candidates are required to review and sign a Candidate Rules Agreement form. If the Candidate Rules Agreement is not followed and/or cheating or tampering with the examination is suspected, the incident will be reported as such and the appropriate action will be taken. The examination fee will not be refunded, the exam may be determined invalid, and/or the state may not issue the license. Candidates will have an opportunity to take a tutorial on the PC on which the examination will be administered. The time spent on this tutorial will not reduce the examination time. The examination administrators will answer questions regarding use of the PC, but candidates should be aware that the administrators are not familiar with the content of the examinations or with the state’s licensing requirements.
Special Rules Regarding What Is Not Allowed in Exam Room
No personal items are allowed in the testing room. Personal items include, but are not limited to, cellular phones, hand-held computers or other electronic devices, pagers, watches, wallets, purses, firearms or other weapons, hats, bags, coats, books, and/ or notes, pens, or pencils. Calculators are not needed but recommended and they areNOTprovided by the testing center.
Please refer to the Pearson VUE Candidate Handbook for a complete list of Test Center Policies.
Acceptable Forms of Identification
Candidates must present two (2) forms of current signature identification. The name on the identification must exactly match the name on the registration. The primary identification must be government issued and photo-bearing with a signature, and the secondary identification must contain a valid signature. Identification must be in English. Primary ID (photograph and signature, not expired)
- Government-issued Driver’s License
- U.S. Department of State Driver’s License
- U.S. Learner’s Permit (plastic card only with photo and signature)
- National/State/Country Identification Card
- Passport
- Passport card
- Military ID
- Military ID for spouses and dependents
- Alien Registration Card (Green Card, Permanent Resident Visa)
Secondary ID (signature, not expired)
- U.S. Social Security Card
- Debit (ATM) or Credit Card
- Any form of ID on the Primary ID list
If the ID presented has an embedded signature that is not visible (microchip), or is difficult or impossible to read, the candidate must present another form of identification from the Primary ID or Secondary ID list that contains a visible signature. Pearson VUE does not recognize grace periods. For example, if a candidate’s driver’s license expired yesterday and the state allows a 30-day grace period for renewing the ID, the ID is considered to be expired.
Time to Complete Exam
Salesperson candidates will have 150 minutes to complete the National portion and 90 minutes to complete the State portion of the exam.
Broker candidates will have 150 minutes to complete the National portion and 90 minutes to complete the State portion of the exam.
Number of Questions on Exam
For salespersons, there is a National exam that contains 85 questions and a State exam that contains 40 questions.
For brokers, there is a National exam that contains 85 questions and a State exam that contains 60 questions.
Pass Rate
For salespersons, you need to answer 56 questions correctly on the National examination and 21 questions correctly on the State examination to pass the examination.
For brokers, you need to answer 60 questions correctly on the National examination and 38 questions correctly on the State examination to pass the examination.
Notification of Results Process
When candidates complete the examination, they will receive a score report marked “pass” or “fail.” Candidates who pass the examination and who have cleared their background check will receive a license document from TREC by email within 5-10 business days.
For security reasons, examination questions are not available to candidates for review.
Retake Provisions
Candidates who fail the examination will receive a score report that includes a numeric score and diagnostic information relating to the failed portion of the examination, as well as information about re-examination. Reservations for re-examination cannot be made at the test center, and candidates must wait twenty-four (24) hours before scheduling. Candidates have three attempts to pass both portions of the examination prior to the application expiration date. If the examination is failed three times, the candidate is unable to retest or submit a new application until additional qualifying real estate education is completed as follows: Thirty (30) hours for an applicant who fails either the national or state part of the examination; and 60 hours for an applicant who fails both parts of the examination. After completion of the additional education, the course completion document(s) and a copy of the third failed score report must be submitted to TREC at documents@trec.texas.gov. Allow 5-7 business days for the education to be processed and authorization submitted to Pearson VUE to allow rescheduling. If the application expires, candidates may reapply for licensure and meet current requirements.
Other Information
Please visit the Texas Real Estate Commission (TREC) website for updated information on licensing at https://www.trec.texas.gov/become-licensed/sales-agent.
Please refer to the Pearson VUE Texas Real Estate Candidate Handbook for FAQ’s on testing. This handbook can be located on Pearson VUE’s website at https://home.pearsonvue.com/tx/realestate.
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Last Updated:June, 21 2021
