Texas
Texas Real Estate Exam: Complete 2026 Prep Guide
Texas requires more pre-licensing education than any other state — 180 hours — and the exam includes both national and state-specific sections. This guide covers TREC requirements, the exam format, Texas-specific topics like promulgated contract forms and the Deceptive Trade Practices Act, and a study plan.
Texas Exam Requirements at a Glance
Pre-licensing education: 180 hours (6 courses of 30 hours each)
Required courses: Principles of Real Estate I & II, Law of Agency, Law of Contracts, Promulgated Contract Forms, and Real Estate Finance
Exam provider: Pearson VUE
Exam format: 125 national questions + 40 state questions = 165 total
Time limit: 150 minutes for national, 90 minutes for state (taken in one sitting)
Passing score: 70% on each portion separately
Exam fee: $54 for national, $39 for state
Age requirement: 18 years old
Sponsoring broker required before activation
Texas-Specific Topics You Must Know
The Texas state portion has 40 questions and must be passed separately from the national portion.
Texas Real Estate Commission (TREC) — structure, authority, and disciplinary powers. TREC has 9 members: 6 licensed practitioners and 3 public members.
Promulgated contract forms — Texas mandates the use of TREC-promulgated contracts for most residential transactions. Agents must use these forms and cannot practice law by modifying them.
Texas Deceptive Trade Practices Act (DTPA) — provides consumers with remedies against false, misleading, or deceptive practices. Important for real estate agents because DTPA violations can result in treble (triple) damages.
Community property — Texas is a community property state. All property acquired during marriage is presumed to be owned equally by both spouses unless proven otherwise.
Homestead protections — Texas has some of the strongest homestead protections in the country. The homestead is exempt from most creditors (except property tax liens, mortgage liens, and HOA liens). Urban homestead: up to 10 acres. Rural: up to 200 acres for a family.
Texas Property Code — governs landlord-tenant relationships, security deposits (must be returned within 30 days), and property disclosures.
Seller's Disclosure Notice — required for most residential sales in Texas. Covers known defects, flood damage, HOA information, and environmental hazards.
License types — Sales Agent (not 'salesperson' in Texas) and Broker. Know the supervision requirements and continuing education rules.
4-Week Texas Study Plan
Week 1: Take the diagnostic. Study your weakest national topics. Texas has 125 national questions — this is the larger portion. Do 50+ national practice questions.
Week 2: Study agency (Law of Agency course content), contracts (Law of Contracts), and finance. Take a national-only practice exam. Target 68%+.
Week 3: Focus entirely on Texas-specific content: TREC rules, promulgated forms, DTPA, community property, homestead, and Texas Property Code. Do 40+ Texas-specific practice questions. Take a full combined practice exam. Target 70%+ on both portions.
Week 4: Review missed questions, real estate math, 2 more timed practice exams. Remember you must pass BOTH portions at 70% — practice accordingly. Target 75%+ on final practice exam.
Start Your Texas Exam Prep
The diagnostic pinpoints your weakest areas across both national and Texas-specific content.
Keep Studying Smarter
Texas candidates usually do best when they study the national section and the Texas-specific portion in parallel.
Texas Exam FAQ
Why does Texas require 180 hours of pre-licensing?
Texas has some of the most comprehensive pre-licensing requirements in the country. The 6 required courses cover principles, agency, contracts, promulgated forms, and finance in depth. This is intended to better prepare candidates for practice.
Do I have to pass both portions of the Texas exam?
Yes. You must score at least 70% on the national portion AND at least 70% on the state portion. If you fail one section, most candidates only need to retake the failed portion (check current TREC policies).
What are promulgated contract forms?
TREC-promulgated forms are standardized contracts that Texas agents are required to use for most residential transactions. Agents cannot create their own contracts or modify the promulgated forms — that would constitute the unauthorized practice of law.
How long is the Texas exam?
The national portion is 150 minutes (125 questions) and the state portion is 90 minutes (40 questions). They are taken in one sitting with a short break between sections. Total testing time is 4 hours.
What is a sales agent in Texas?
Texas uses the title 'Sales Agent' instead of 'Salesperson' or 'Sales Associate' used in other states. The role and responsibilities are equivalent. All sales agents must be sponsored by a licensed Texas broker.