Renewing your license for the first time soon?

Effective Oct. 1 2023 sales agents renewing their license for the first time are required to complete an approved, 30-hour real estate brokerage course as a part of the 90 hours of SAE. The Texas Real Estate Commission made this change to the renewal requirement during its May meeting.

The Texas REALTORS® GRI: Real Estate Brokerage class qualifies for this requirement.

Yes. You are under the Sales Apprentice Education (SAE) requirements. Before you can renew your license, you are required to have completed a total of 270 hours of qualifying course hours, and the Legal Update I and II courses.

To determine how many hours have posted to your license record, you may visit the license holder info search feature on our website.

Active sales agent license renewal requirements. Complete 18 hours of approved

Continuing Education (CE) courses:

• 8 hours of TREC Legal Update I and II

• 3 hours of contract-related coursework

• 7 hours of elective CE

• Complete the 6-hour Broker Responsibility course as part of your 18 hours of CE if you have been made a supervisor by your broker.

You must pay a $200 CE Deferral Fee, or renew on inactive status if TREC records do not reflect completion of CE requirements at the time you submit your renewal application. Payment of the CE Deferral Fee before the expiration date allows you to remain active for an additional 60 days from your expiration date to complete CE requirements. You cannot renew an expired license until CE requirements are met and you have paid the CE Deferral Fee.

If you complete CE more than 60 days after your license expiration date, you will be subject to an additional late reporting fee of $250.

If you have not submitted your fingerprints for TREC with a previous renewal or application, you must be fingerprinted for a criminal background check.

Yes. If TREC records do not show that you have completed your CE at the time you submit your renewal application, you must pay a $200 CE deferral fee, or renew in inactive status. Paying the deferral fee allows you to continue to be active in real estate activities and provides an additional 60 days from your expiration date to complete your CE.

No. An active real estate license is required to negotiate a real estate transaction between third parties. Conducting real estate brokerage activity with an inactive license is considered a violation subject to sanctions. [TRELA §1101.351(c)].

A sales agent may work from an office location different from the main office of the sales agent’s sponsoring broker, but the sponsoring broker is still responsible for the sales agent's actions. [TRELA §1101.803, Rule 535.2(a)] Despite this flexibility, a sales agent may not lawfully engage in brokerage activity unless the sales agent is associated with, and acting for, the sponsoring broker at all times.

[TRELA §1101.351(c)] Thus, a sales agent may not work for a broker who is not the sales agent’s sponsoring broker or work for another broker or out of another broker’s office.

Yes, if the real estate business entity holds a real estate license and the sales agent is sponsored by that entity. In such a situation, the designated broker for the entity is still responsible for the sales agent’s actions, even when the sales agent owns the licensed business entity. [TRELA §1101.803, Rule 535.2(l), ] A sales agent may not engage in real estate brokerage activity unless the sales agent is associated with, and acting for, a sponsoring broker. [TRELA§1101.351(c)]. When the sponsoring broker is a licensed business entity, it must have a designated broker to be active.

Yes. Complete the 6-hour Broker Responsibility course as part of your 18 hours of Continuing Education (CE) courses. An additional 60 days from your expiration date to complete your CE.

No. TREC Rule 535.4(c) states that a person must be licensed as a broker or sales agent to show a property. “Show” includes causing or permitting a property to be viewed by a prospective buyer or tenant, unlocking or providing access onto or into a property for a prospective buyer or tenant, and hosting an open house at the property. As such, an unlicensed assistant must refrain from any activity that allows the buyer to be able to view the home, which includes unlocking doors.

No. You must be licensed as an auctioneer by the Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation to call an auction. Your real estate license alone doesn’t authorize you to act as an auctioneer.