Quick Answer: Sales Apprentices must complete 98 hours of SAE courses when renewing their license for the first time. Licensed sales agents must complete 18 hours of CE courses every two years for all subsequent renewals.
Texas real estate agents need different continuing education depending on their license stage. If you're renewing your Sales Apprentice license for the first time, you'll complete Sales Apprentice Education (SAE) courses. Once you're a licensed sales agent, you'll complete continuing education (CE) courses every two years to maintain your license.
| Requirement Feature | SAE (Sales Agent Apprentice Education) | CE (Continuing Education) |
|---|---|---|
| Who Needs It | Agents going through their first-time license renewal | Agents going through all subsequent renewals after the first one |
| Total Hours Required | 98 hours total | 18 hours total |
| Frequency | One time only (following initial licensure) | Every 2 years (ongoing throughout career) |
Important: Submit to TREC 10 days before renewal. Supervisors add 6-hour Broker Responsibility.
Texas SAE Requirements for Sales Apprentices (First-Time Renewal)
Sales Apprentices in Texas must complete 98 hours of qualifying SAE courses to renew their license for the first time. Combined with your 180 hours of pre-license coursework, you'll need 270 total qualifying real estate course hours before your first renewal, as required by TREC (the Texas Real Estate Commission).
Required SAE Courses
TREC Legal Updates (8 hours total):
- 4 hours of TREC Legal Update I
- 4 hours of TREC Legal Update II
Real Estate Brokerage Course (30 hours):As of October 1, 2023, TREC requires a 30-hour Real Estate Brokerage course as part of your SAE requirements.
Additional Required Coursework (60 hours):The remaining 60 hours must come from approved courses in these core topics:
- Principles of Real Estate: Covers licensing, ethics, titles, legal descriptions, deeds, encumbrances, liens, distinctions between personal and real property, appraisals, closing procedures, and at least 3 hours on housing and credit discrimination laws
- Law of Agency: Agent authority, termination of authority, employment law, listing procedures, and disclosure requirements
- Law of Contracts: Offers and acceptances, fraud, breach of contracts, commission rules, and owner disclosure requirements
- Promulgated Contract Forms: Commission rules governing form use, broker-lawyer relationships, and unauthorized practice of law
- Real Estate Finance: Primary and secondary money markets, mortgage loan sources, loan applications, closing costs, equal credit opportunity acts, and community reinvestment
You can also select from approved elective courses on topics like real estate appraisal, real estate law, marketing, mathematics, property management, investments, and real estate inspection.
Important: Do not repeat the same course within a 2-year period or it won't count toward your requirements. Learn more about fulfilling your Texas SAE requirements.
Texas CE Requirements for Licensed Sales Agents (Ongoing Renewals)
Licensed real estate sales agents in Texas must complete 18 hours of continuing education every two years to renew their license. These requirements apply to all renewals after your first one.
Required CE Courses
TREC Legal Updates (8 hours total):
- 4 hours of TREC Legal Update I
- 4 hours of TREC Legal Update II
Contract-Related Coursework (3 hours):
- 3 hours from any TREC-approved contracts course (required as of February 2021)
Elective Courses (7 hours):
- 7 hours from any TREC-approved elective courses
Available CE Elective Topics
Choose from these TREC-approved elective courses to fulfill your 7 hours:
AppraisalFunction and purpose of appraisals, value determinants, market and income-based value estimates, case studies, and appraisal reports.
Real Estate LawMain tenets of real estate law including land descriptions, conveyances, encumbrances, foreclosures, and titles.
Real Estate MarketingMarketing your business, professionalism, ethics, time management, marketing psychology, listing policies, advertising, and the Deceptive Trade Practices-Consumer Protection Act.
Real Estate MathematicsEssential math and logic skills including percentages, interest, depreciation, proration, amortization, and estimating closing statements.
Property ManagementProperty manager roles, landlord policies, lease negotiations, tenant relationships, maintenance handling, habitability laws, and Fair Housing Act compliance.
Real Estate InvestmentsInvestment analysis, time-valued money, discounted and non-discounted investment criteria, leverage, tax shelters, and property depreciation.
Residential InspectionProperty condition addendums, inspector-client agreements, inspection tools and procedures, and basics of inspecting plumbing, HVAC, appliances, roofs, gutters, walls, doors, windows, and fireplaces.
Key Reminders for Both SAE and CE
- Submit all required documents to TREC at least 10 days before your renewal deadline
- If you've been appointed as a supervisor, you must also take the 6-hour Broker Responsibility course
- For SAE: Do not repeat the same course within your 2-year period
- Keep track of your course completion certificates for TREC submission
Ready to complete your continuing education? Explore AceableAgent's Texas CE courses or Texas SAE courses to fulfill your requirements on your schedule.
Updated 11/24/25