Texas real estate exam
Format, passing score, fees and what to study — compiled from the official candidate handbook and state sources, with a link and a confidence level for every fact. Last verified 2026-10-31.
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Texas exam format and requirements
| Fact | Value | Confidence | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Regulator | Texas Real Estate Commission (TREC) | Official source | Link |
| Exam provider | Pearson VUE TREC: 'License exams are administered by Pearson'. Some secondary sources still say PSI - outdated. | Official source | Link |
| National-portion questions | 80 85 items delivered = 80 scored + 5 pretest (unscored, unidentified). | Official source | Link |
| State-portion questions | 40 Handbook table lists 50 items = 40 scored + 10 pretest (state outline effective Jan 1, 2026). | Official source | Link |
| Exam time (minutes) | 240 150 min national + 90 min state; 240 min (4 hours) total when both taken. | Official source | Link |
| Passing score | National 56 of 80 correct; State 28 of 40 correct (70%) Raw scores. Broker: 60 national, 38 state. | Official source | Link |
| Exam fee (USD) | $58 Handbook table shows $58 for Sales national, state, or both (retake fee also $58). Confirm whether $58 applies per sitting. | Official source | Link |
| Pre-licensing hours | 180 Six 30-hour courses: Principles of Real Estate I & II, Law of Agency, Law of Contracts, Promulgated Contract Forms, Real Estate Finance. (Rule 535.55 lets some hours incl. a 30-hr brokerage course finish by end of fir… | Official source | Link |
| Languages | English Handbook mentions no translations; ID must be in English. | Secondary source | Link |
| Active licensees | 237730 SCOPE CAVEAT: State Auditor reports 237,730 ACTIVE LICENSE HOLDERS (brokers, sales agents, inspectors, easement agents combined) as of December 2025; sales-agent-only count not published in sources reached. | Secondary source | Link |
“Official source” = read in a state agency page or the exam provider’s candidate handbook on 2026-10-31. Anything marked “Vendor claim” or “Not verified” should be confirmed before you rely on it. Fees and formats change.
What this means for your study plan
- Time per question: about 2 minutes each (240 minutes ÷ 120 questions). Practice at that pace.
- Both portions count: you must reach the pass mark on each portion — a strong national score does not make up for a weak Texas score.
- Where people lose points: math word problems, wording traps (NOT/EXCEPT), and state rules that differ from the national rule. Our formula sheet covers the math.
- Good to know: Candidates get 3 attempts to pass both portions before the application expires (1 year from filing); after 3 failures must take 30 more hours (fail one portion) or 60 hours (fail both). Retake only failed portion; 24-hour wait. State exam tests TREC-promulgated contract forms (e.g., TREC One to Four Family Residential Contract), so forms familiarity matters.
State-portion topics published for Texas
- Commission Duties and Powers (3 items)
- Licensing (3 items)
- Standards of Conduct (9 items): ethics, grounds for discipline, unauthorized practice of law, trust accounts, splitting fees, rebates, advertising
- Agency/Brokerage (11 items): disclosure, intermediary practice, duties to client, broker-sales agent relationship, unlicensed assistants
- Contracts (9 items): promulgated contracts/forms/addenda, statute of frauds, seller disclosures
- Special Topics (5 items): community property, homestead, DTPA, wills & estates, landlord-tenant, foreclosure, recording statutes, mechanic's liens, Veterans Land Board, HOAs, equitable interest
Sample Texas practice questions
Original questions written from the law, each with an explanation and a citation.
A buyer's agent wants to deliver an offer directly to a seller who is under an exclusive listing with another broker. When is this permitted?
- Always, because the seller makes the final decision on offers
- If the seller signs a waiver of the exclusive listing agreement
- Never, since the buyer's agent may only deal through the listing broker
- If the seller's broker consents and receives a copy of the offer
Answer: D. The sole delivery of an offer to a party does not violate the prohibition on negotiating with a party under an exclusive agency if the party's broker consents to the delivery, a copy of the offer is sent to the party's broker (unless a sealed-bid government process bars it), and the person delivering does nothing else that violates the prohibition.
Topic: State Agency & Brokerage Rules · Source: Tex. Occ. Code § 1101.557
Seller prepaid the full $90 association dues for June, a 30-day month. Closing is June 20 and the seller is responsible through the Closing Date. How much does the buyer reimburse the seller for the unused days?
- $60
- $90
- $45
- $30
Answer: D. Daily dues are $90 / 30 = $3. The seller used through June 20, leaving 10 days, so the buyer reimburses the seller $30.
Topic: State-Specific Math & Prorations · Source: TREC Form 20-19, One to Four Family Residential Contract (Resale)
The designated broker of a brokerage entity that sponsors sales agents dies. What happens if no new designated broker is named and approved?
- The entity may keep operating normally for 90 more days
- The agents may continue under any other broker in the same office
- The entity's license is revoked immediately by operation of law
- The entity's and its agents' licenses become inactive after 14 days
Answer: D. If the designated broker dies and the entity sponsors sales agents, the entity's license and sponsored agents' licenses become inactive upon expiration of 14 days unless the entity names a new designated broker, provides the required information, and the commission approves.
Topic: Licensing & Regulatory Authority · Source: 22 Tex. Admin. Code § 535.124
Try the full 20-question Texas quiz
Frequently asked questions
How many questions are on the Texas real estate exam?
The Texas exam format we found is 80 national questions plus 40 Texas questions (120 in total) in 240 minutes. Confirm in the official handbook before exam day.
What is the passing score for the Texas real estate exam?
National 56 of 80 correct; State 28 of 40 correct (70%) (Official source).
How much does the Texas real estate exam cost?
The exam fee we found is $58, paid to Pearson VUE. Fees change, so check the current handbook.
How many pre-licensing hours does Texas require?
180 hours for the entry-level license, according to the sources below. Pre-licensing education must come from a state-approved school; GablePrep is exam prep and is not an approved course.
Guides for Texas
Official sources for Texas
- Regulator: Texas Real Estate Commission (TREC)
- Exam provider: Pearson VUE
- Official candidate handbook / content outline
Independent exam prep. Not affiliated with any state real estate commission or testing provider. Not an approved pre-licensing course. Not legal advice.