Texas Real Estate CE 2026-2027: What Agents Need to Know Before Renewal
Your Texas real estate license renewal is coming up, and the 2026-2027 cycle brings a few important changes. Whether you're a sales agent or a broker, knowing what you need — and when you need it by — is the difference between a smooth renewal and a stressful scramble.
Here's what every Texas real estate agent needs to know about CE in 2026-2027.
Quick Summary
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18 total CE hours required every two years for sales agents
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11 mandatory hours: Legal Update I (4 hrs), Legal Update II (4 hrs), Contract-related coursework (3 hrs)
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7 elective hours: Your choice from TREC-approved providers
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Brokers: Must also complete the 6-hour Broker Responsibility course starting January 1, 2026
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CE deferral option: Pay $200 for an extra 60 days to complete your CE
- First renewal: Requires ~90 additional hours of SAE coursework
The 18-Hour Breakdown
Every Texas real estate sales agent must complete 18 hours of continuing education every two-year renewal cycle. Those 18 hours break down like this:
| Course Type | Hours | Mandatory? |
|---|---|---|
| Legal Update I | 4 | Yes |
| Legal Update II | 4 | Yes |
| Contract-related coursework | 3 | Yes |
| Electives | 7 | Your choice |
| Total | 18 |
Legal Update I covers changes to Texas real estate statutes, TREC rules, agency relationships, fiduciary duties, water rights, and fair housing law. TREC rewrites this curriculum every two years to reflect what changed in law and practice.
Legal Update II covers TREC-promulgated contract forms, listing and buyer agreements, promulgated addenda, and the current enforcement environment.
The 3-hour contract course goes deeper into Texas contract mechanics — what the promulgated forms actually say, why the addenda exist, and what happens when something goes sideways in a transaction.
The 7 elective hours are yours to pick from any TREC-approved elective offering.
What's New for Brokers in 2026
This is the biggest change for the 2026-2027 cycle. Effective January 1, 2026, all active brokers must take the 6-hour Broker Responsibility course — regardless of whether they supervise other agents.
Previously, this course was only required for brokers who sponsored sales agents. That's changed. If you hold a broker license and your renewal date falls in 2026 or later, the Broker Responsibility course is now part of your required CE.
For brokers, your 18 hours now look like this:
| Course Type | Hours |
|---|---|
| Legal Update I | 4 |
| Legal Update II | 4 |
| Contract-related coursework | 3 |
| Broker Responsibility | 6 |
| Electives | 1 |
| Total | 18 |
That leaves you with only 1 hour of true elective choice. Plan accordingly.
First Renewal: The Extra Requirement
If this is your first renewal, the rules are different. First-time renewing agents must complete a total of 270 qualifying education hours by the end of their first two-year licensing period.
Your initial 180 pre-license hours count toward this total, so you need approximately 90 additional hours of SAE (Sales Apprentice Education) coursework. You must also complete a 30-hour Real Estate Brokerage course.
Important: SAE cannot be deferred. Unlike regular CE, there's no deferral option for first-time renewal education.
The Deadline: Know Your Date
Texas real estate licenses renew every two years, and the deadline is the last day of the month in which your license was initially issued. TREC sends a renewal notice about 90 days before your expiration date, but the reminder is a courtesy — not a guarantee.
The 2026-2027 Legal Update I and II courses must be completed by 11:59 PM Central Time on December 31, 2027.
Pro tip: Complete your CE at least 10 days before your expiration date so processing delays don't push you past the deadline. Don't wait until the last month — if there's any issue with your CE completion records, you want time to resolve it before your license lapses.
The CE Deferral Option (If You're Running Short)
If you can't complete your CE by your expiration date, TREC offers a CE Deferral option.
- Pay the $200 deferral fee before your expiration date
- You can renew your license in Active Status
- You get 60 extra days to complete your education
- Current deadline for deferral extensions is 10/30/2026
This is a safety net, not a strategy. Don't rely on it unless you absolutely have to.
What Happens If You Miss the Deadline
Missing your renewal deadline creates headaches and penalties:
- Starting October 1, expired licenses are immediately set to inactive
- All broker affiliations are terminated
- You cannot legally practice real estate until you complete your requirements and renew
- After two years, you must reapply and retake the exam
Don't wait for the October 1 deadline — if your license expires without completed CE, you're done practicing until you fix it.
How to Renew in 3 Steps
Renewing your Texas real estate license comes down to three moves:
1. Complete your continuing education. Finish all 18 CE hours (or 24 for brokers) and make sure your provider reports them to TREC.
2. Submit your renewal application. Renew online through the REALM Portal, which is the fastest route.
- Sales agents: $110
- Individual brokers: $218
If you've never submitted fingerprints to TREC, you'll also need a fingerprint-based background check before your renewal clears.
Frequently Asked Questions
How many CE hours do Texas real estate agents need?
Sales agents need 18 hours every two years: 4 hours Legal Update I, 4 hours Legal Update II, 3 hours contract-related coursework, and 7 electives.
Do brokers have extra requirements?
Yes. Starting January 1, 2026, all brokers must complete the 6-hour Broker Responsibility course in addition to the 18 hours.
What is the CE deferral fee?
A $200 fee you can pay before your expiration date to get 60 extra days to complete your CE. You can renew in Active Status while you finish your education.
Can I take all 18 hours online?
Yes. TREC-approved online courses count toward CE requirements, including Legal Updates and electives.
What if I don't complete my CE by the deadline?
Your license becomes inactive. You cannot practice real estate until you complete your requirements and renew. After two years, you must reapply and retake the exam.
What's the deadline for the 2026-2027 Legal Updates?
The 2026-2027 Legal Update I and II courses must be completed by December 31, 2027.
The Bottom Line
The 2026-2027 CE cycle is straightforward: 18 hours for sales agents, 24 for brokers (including the new Broker Responsibility course). The smart move is to plan early, take Legal Updates first, and check your TREC profile before submitting your renewal.
Complete your CE at least 10 days before your expiration date, and you'll avoid the $200 deferral fee and the stress of an inactive license.
Time2Renew offers TREC-approved CE courses for the 2026-2027 cycle — Legal Updates I and II, contract courses, and electives — all online and self-paced.