What is QE?
Those applying to obtain their real estate license must complete 180 hours of qualifying courses. Once you receive your license, you must complete an additional 90 hours of Qualifying Education (QE), 4 hours in TREC Legal Update I, and 4 hours in TREC Legal Update II within your first two years of licensure. If you have been made a supervisor by your broker you must also complete the 6-hour Broker Responsibility course to renew. QE courses are offered in 30-hour increments. After you submit certificates of completion for all of your QE requirements and pay your license renewal fee, you then enter CE status for license renewal.
Need QE? Learn more about GRI or online courses.
What is CE?
Continuing education (CE) is required for all real estate license holders to maintain licensure after they complete QE requirements.
How many CE hours do I need to renew my license?
You need 18 hours of CE credit every two years to renew your license. Eight (8) of these 18 hours must be the required TREC Legal Update I and TREC Legal Update II courses, which offer 4 CE hours each. Three of these 18 hours must meet the TREC contract compliant course requirement. If you have been made a supervisor by your broker, you must also complete the 6-hour Broker Responsibility Course. The remaining hours are considered elective credit. You can take any elective CE courses but nothing twice in the same two-year license renewal period. Licensing is under the purview of the Texas Real Estate Commission. For the most up to date information on licensing requirements, please visit trec.texas.gov.
Can I renew my license even if my CE isn’t showing up yet?
Yes, but TREC will assess a $200 fine for trying to renew before completing your education requirements. You can pay a CE Deferral Fee before the expiration date, which allows you to remain active for 60 days after your expiration date to complete CE requirements. 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. You cannot renew an expired license until CE requirements are met and you have paid the CE Deferral Fee. While the course provider has up to 10 days to submit the course information to TREC, it’s up to you to ensure the appropriate credit is on your education record before you attempt to renew.
Why aren’t the courses I’ve taken showing up on my education record on the TREC site?
When you take an SAE course, it is your responsibility to submit the certificate of completion to TREC regardless of the type of credit you need. You must do this for the course to appear on your education record and to obtain credit. When you take a CE course, the course provider must submit required documentation to TREC on your behalf. All providers have 10 days to submit CE documentation to TREC.
I know that the National Association of REALTORS® requires that Code of Ethics training be completed every three years. Do any classes I took fulfill this requirement?
If you successfully completed the TREC Legal Update II during 2019, you’ve satisfied the National Association of REALTORS® requirement. If you attended an approved Code of Ethics class since January 1, 2019, you have satisfied your REALTORS® requirement.You can check your status on the NAR website.
How often must I take Ethics?
A REALTOR® must take the REALTOR® Code of Ethics course once every three years to satisfy the NAR requirement. The TREC Legal Update I and TREC Legal Update II courses must be taken every two years under TREC CE education status in order to renew your license. TREC Legal Update II will not satisfy NAR’s requirement, and the NAR Code of Ethics course will not satisfy TREC’s Legal II Update requirements.
How do I fulfill the TREC Contracts course requirement?
- The rule takes effect February 1, 2021. If you renew your license before that date (even if you don’t expire until after February 1) you do not have to satisfy this requirement with your current renewal.
- You do not have to take all three hours in one class.
- Qualifying courses (like GRI: Contracts to Closing) will not satisfy this requirement.
- Agents who have never renewed their license are not required to complete a contracts CE class.
- Don’t assume the class meets the contracts course requirement even if it has “contracts” in the title:
- The Find a Course page has a filter to find classes offered through the Texas REALTORS® provider that will meet the contracts course requirement. The “Contracts Course (TREC Compliant)” filter will provide a list of upcoming compliant courses.
- TREC has a filter on their “Approved Real Estate CE Courses” page where you can find classes by provider that comply with the contracts requirement.
Can I take the TREC Legal Update courses online?
Yes.
Are brokers who received an CE exemption required to take the TREC Legal Update courses?
No. But as Texas REALTORS®, brokers must still meet the National Association of REALTORS® triennial ethics requirement by completing NAR’s Code of Ethics course through NAR.realtor, or by completing one of the approved Code of Ethics courses Texas REALTORS® offer.
How can I determine how much credit a course offers?
Courses typically advertise the amount of CE credit offered.
How do I register for a course I found on your website?
Most of our courses are delivered through local associations across the state. Usually, you can find registration information under each course on our Find a Course page. Or, you can contact your local association about course availability and registration.
I want my local association to offer a particular course, but I don’t see it listed. Why not?
Each local association determines which courses to offer and at what price, and scheduling courses is at their discretion. The best approach is to contact your local association, inquire about the course, and make your request known. Encourage your colleagues to call too. The more demand an association hears for a particular course, the more likely they are to offer it.
How do I earn credit for a GRI course?
You must complete and pass the course with a 70. Your GRI course credit will then be submitted to TREC. If you miss part of a course you have 90 days from the last class day to make up the missed portion and take the exam. Make-up fees typically apply. Texas REALTORS® posts GRI course certificates of completion in the My Education module, which can be accessed through your Dashboard.
How do I attain the GRI designation?
You must attend all three GRI courses (in no particular order) and pass each exam with a 70. There is no time limit to complete the GRI, but you may need to provide proof that you have taken a course(s) if more than five years have lapsed. There is no fee to become a GRI designee.
How do I earn the TAHS?
The Texas Affordable Housing Specialist is a certification developed by Texas REALTORS® consisting of 12 CE hours pertaining to affordable-housing issues. Four of those 12 hours must be the United Texas course. The other 8 hours of coursework may change periodically as the market and industry change. Visit this page for more information on TAHS and affordable housing.
What are the ABR requirements?
The Accredited Buyer Representative (ABR) is a nationally recognized designation that acknowledges REALTOR® dedication to successfully representing buyer clients in real estate transactions. The requirements include transaction experience in addition to coursework. Visit rebac.net for more information on ABR.
Why aren’t my designations showing up on my al10669.com profile?
The list of credentials after your name derives from the National Association of REALTOR® and Texas REALTORS®. If you do not see a designation or program you attended from either of these entities, please contact Texas REALTORS® at 512-480-8200.
Are there education courses offered at the Winter Meeting and Conference? What is the cost?
There are lots of educational opportunities—many with CE—offered at the Texas REALTORS® Winter Meeting in Austin and annual conference, which changes location every year. With small exception, the cost for courses is included in your registration fee. Remember that space is limited.
What is the Texas REALTORS® Leadership Program?
The Texas REALTORS® Leadership Program is designed to cultivate future leaders for participation and involvement at the local, state, and even national level. The program consists of eight modules typically held once per month. It aims to educate and encourage participants to undertake leadership roles, and instruct them on how to best use and manage their assets and resources to effect change and make a difference.
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