Texas Real Estate Sales Agent Exam: Complete Guide for 2026

The Texas Real Estate Sales Agent exam is administered by Pearson VUE on behalf of TREC and consists of two separate portions, a National portion and a State portion, each of which must be passed independently: 56 correct answers on the National portion and 28 correct answers on the State portion.

How the Texas Real Estate Exam Is Structured

Unlike states that use a single combined exam, Texas requires candidates to pass two distinct portions. Each portion is scored separately, and a passing score on one does not carry over to automatically pass the other. This structure is important to understand before scheduling, many candidates coming from other states or studying generic national prep materials are caught off guard by the two-portion format.

Here is the breakdown of each portion:

• National Portion: 85 questions, 150 minutes allowed
• State Portion: 50 questions, 90 minutes allowed

Both portions are taken at a Pearson VUE testing center. Candidates typically schedule and sit for both portions on the same day, but they are graded independently.

What Is the Passing Score?

To pass, a candidate must answer 56 questions correctly on the National portion and 28 questions correctly on the State portion. Both thresholds must be met independently, a strong score on one portion does not offset a low score on the other. For a breakdown of how often candidates clear both thresholds, see the Texas real estate exam pass rate data.

The National portion tests general real estate principles applicable across the country, topics like agency, contracts, property ownership, finance, and fair housing. The State portion focuses specifically on Texas law and TREC regulations, including provisions under the Texas Occupations Code Chapter 1101, TREC-promulgated forms, and Texas-specific agency rules.

What Happens If You Fail One Portion?

One of the most candidate-friendly features of the Texas exam format is that a passing score on either portion remains valid for one year from the date that portion was passed. If a candidate passes the National portion but fails the State portion, they only need to retake the State portion, they do not have to repeat the National exam as long as the passed portion has not expired and the TREC application remains active.

This is a significant advantage over a single combined exam format. In a combined exam state, failing the overall exam means retaking the entire test regardless of how well a candidate performed on any individual section. Texas's two-portion system rewards partial success and reduces the cost and stress of retakes.

If a candidate fails one or both portions, the failed portion(s) may be retaken subject to TREC's examination and application requirements. Candidates should confirm current scheduling availability and retake procedures directly with Pearson VUE.

How to Register for the Texas Real Estate Exam

The exam is scheduled through Pearson VUE. Before a candidate can register, they must have completed all pre-license education requirements and submitted a TREC application. The steps, in order, are:

• Complete all 180 hours of pre-license education across six TREC-approved qualifying courses: Principles of Real Estate I, Principles of Real Estate II, Law of Agency, Law of Contracts, Promulgated Contract Forms, and Real Estate Finance, each 30 hours
• Pass each course's final exam
• Submit a completed application to TREC at trec.texas.gov, including a background check and fingerprints through a TREC-approved vendor (MorphoTrust/IDEMIA)
• Receive eligibility confirmation from TREC
• Schedule the exam at a Pearson VUE testing center via pearsonvue.com/trec
• Pay the exam fee directly to Pearson VUE when scheduling ($43 per examination appointment (whether scheduling one or both portions), verify the current fee at pearsonvue.com/trec before scheduling)

The TREC application fee is $206 (as of the December 2025 TREC fee schedule: $150 application + $6 Texas Online Fee + $40 Texas A&M Research Center + $10 Real Estate Recovery Fund). Verify the current fee at trec.texas.gov before submitting payment.

On exam day, candidates should arrive at the testing center with valid government-issued photo ID. Pearson VUE has strict ID and check-in requirements, review their candidate handbook in advance.

Texas vs. Other States: Why the Two-Portion Format Matters

Candidates who have studied in other states or used generic national prep materials often need to recalibrate their expectations. For example, Florida's real estate sales associate exam is a single combined 100-question test administered by Pearson VUE on behalf of DBPR (Florida's Department of Business and Professional Regulation) under FREC oversight, a fundamentally different structure governed by a different regulatory body.

Texas uses TREC, the Texas Real Estate Commission, not DBPR or FREC. The Texas exam is two separate portions, each with its own time limit and passing threshold. Study materials, question banks, and practice exams built for another state's format may not reflect how Texas structures its exam or what the State portion covers. Always use Texas-specific resources and practice questions that reflect TREC rules and the Texas Occupations Code.

What the State Portion Covers

The 50-question State portion focuses on Texas-specific content. Key subject areas include:

• Agency relationships under Texas law: Agency and representation under Texas law, including seller representation, buyer representation, intermediary relationships, and non-representation, with written agreements required before acting in a representation capacity. The Information About Brokerage Services (IABS) form must be provided at the first substantive communication concerning specific real property, subject to applicable exceptions
• TREC-promulgated contract forms: Use of these forms is mandatory for licensees in most residential transactions; the standard form for residential sales is the One to Four Family Residential Contract
• Seller's Disclosure Notice (SDN): Texas law generally requires a seller of residential property to provide the required disclosure, subject to statutory exceptions
• Earnest money rules: The buyer must deliver earnest money according to the terms of the contract; a broker who receives trust money must handle and deposit it in accordance with TREC's trust-account requirements
• Texas Fair Housing Act: Found in Texas Property Code Chapter 301; mirrors the seven federal protected classes under the Federal Fair Housing Act and includes familial status
• License law and TREC regulations: Sponsoring broker requirements, inactive license status, renewal cycles, and SAE/CE obligations

For a deeper dive into Texas-specific exam topics, see the Texas exam blog.

After You Pass: Activating Your License

Passing both portions of the exam does not automatically result in an active license. A Texas Sales Agent license must be sponsored by a licensed Texas broker to be active. If no sponsoring broker is in place at the time TREC issues the license, it is issued in inactive status. No real estate services may be performed while the license is inactive. Once a sponsoring broker is secured, the license can be activated through TREC.

License renewal occurs every two years. During the first renewal period, sales agents must complete 270 hours of Sales Apprentice Education (SAE), including required qualifying courses, as well as TREC Legal Update I (4 hours) and Legal Update II (4 hours). After the SAE period, sales agents must complete 18 hours of continuing education every two-year renewal cycle: 4 hours of Legal Update I, 4 hours of Legal Update II, 3 hours of contract-related coursework, and 7 hours of elective CE.

Frequently Asked Questions

AhaPrep at ahaprep.com is built specifically for the Texas Real Estate Sales Agent exam, with practice questions organized by topic to help candidates prepare for both the National and State portions. Whether drilling agency law, TREC contract forms, or finance concepts, AhaPrep keeps preparation focused on what Texas actually tests.