Are you considering getting your real estate license in the Houston area? Whether you’re located in the heart of Houston or in suburbs like Conroe, Cypress, or Pearland, here’s what you need to know about getting your license in the Houston area.
The Process for Getting Your Real Estate License in the Houston Area
Real estate licenses are issued by state. So wherever you’re located in Texas, the process for getting your real estate license follows the same steps:
Confirm your eligibility. You need to be a person of honesty and integrity, who is over 18 with working rights in the United States. If you are not sure whether or not you would qualify for a Texas real estate license, you can complete a Fitness Determination form before you spend time or money preparing for a career in real estate.
Complete your pre-license real estate courses. While there are a few TREC-approved providers based in Houston, and offering online courses that allow you to work from anywhere at your own pace, around your schedule, you might prefer an AceableAgent online real estate course.
Apply online with TREC. Submitting your online application allows the Texas Real Estate Commission (TREC) to create an account for you to track your progress through the rest of the application process.
Get fingerprinted and approve a background check.
Schedule your real estate exam.
Pass your real estate exam.
Choose a broker. You will need a licensed Texas broker to supervise your work.
Get your Texas real estate license.
Where to Take Your Real Estate Exam in the Houston Metro Area
Texas real estate exams are proctored by a company called Pearson VUE. Pearson VUE has several Houston exam centers. Below are some of the most popular ones, but you can find the one closest to you by going to the Pearson VUE Texas Real Estate homepage and clicking on "Find a test center" in the right-hand menu.
Primary Exam Centers in Houston
14425 Torrey Chase Blvd., Suite 240, Houston, TX 77014 Phone: (346) 250-1209
8876 Gulf Freeway, 8876 Gulf Freeway Building, Suite 220 Houston, TX 77017 Phone: (832) 762-4445
10740 North Gessner Road Suite 450, Houston, TX 77064 Phone: (914) 369-1963
1333 West Loop South, Suite 1475, Houston, TX 77027 Phone: (832) 713-6160
2424 Wilcrest, Ste. 104, Houston, TX 77042 Phone (364) 295-8897
Exam Centers in Sugar Land
2245 Texas Drive, Suite 190, Sugar Land, TX 77479 Phone (346) 279-0178
Testing Centers in Cypress
Lone Star College - CyFair: 9191 Barker Cypress Road, CASA 104, Cypress, TX 77433 Phone: (281) 290 3220 (please note: this is a shared testing facility and may have limited availability)
Testing Centers in Conroe
Lone Star College - Conroe Center: 777 Conroe Park North Drive, Conroe, TX 77303 Phone (936) 521-4521 (please note: this is a shared testing facility and may have limited availability)
But what if these locations are inconvenient for you? Perhaps you live closer to The Woodlands or Pearland and don't want to drive into the city? Well, as long as you have a webcam, a reliable Internet connection, and a space where you will not be interrupted, you can arrange to have an online real estate exam with a live proctor.
Local Real Estate Fees in the Houston Area
To get your real estate license in the Houston area, you’re going to need to pay some fees. All Texas licensees need to pay the:
Application fee: $185 for new real estate salespeople
Fingerprint fee: $38.25
Exam fee: $43 (paid to Pearson VUE)
Is there a REALTORS Association in Houston?
The Houston Association of REALTORS (HAR) serves all REALTORS across the Houston Metro area. HAR has four branch locations:
HAR Central: 3693 Southwest Freeway, Houston, TX 77027 Phone: (713) 629-1900
Bay Area: 17225 El Camino Real, Suite #190, Houston, TX 77058 Phone (713) 629-1900
Fort Bend: 6680 Greatwood Pkwy., Sugar Land, TX 77479 Phone (713) 335-4240
Montgomery County: 25700 I-45 North, Suite #470, Spring, TX 77386 Phone (713) 629-1900
Start Your Houston Real Estate Career Today!
Houston real estate agents enjoy flexibility, autonomy, solid income potential, and the satisfaction of serving buyers and sellers in their communities. If you’ve been thinking about a career in real estate, this is your time to make a move. Take the first step toward becoming a Houston area real estate agent by enrolling in your pre-license course today!