QUICK ANSWER

Yes. Texas sales agent candidates must pass both the national and state portions, and the portions are scored separately. If you pass one and fail the other, Pearson VUE says you retake only the failed portion while your application remains active. TREC also says each passed section is valid for one year from the date you passed it, including when you reapply before that result expires.

EXAM PREP ONLY

This guide explains the Texas sales agent pass-both rule and how a passed portion is kept on retake. It is not legal or licensing advice. The rules come from the Pearson VUE Texas Real Estate Candidate Handbook and TREC, which can change. Verify the current handbook and TREC before you rely on a deadline.

Both
portions required, scored separately
Keep it
a passed portion is retained on retake
1 year
validity from each section's passing date
3
consecutive failed exams trigger extra education

The pass-both rule sounds harsh until you learn the part that protects you: a passed portion does not disappear the moment you miss the other one.

Do you have to pass both portions of the Texas real estate exam?

Yes. You must pass both the national portion and the Texas state portion. They are scored separately, so there is no combined or averaged score.

The handbook is explicit that you must pass both the state and national portions. Each has its own cut score: 56 of 80 scored items on national and 28 of 40 on state. For the full scoring detail, see what the passing score is.

One exception: if you hold an active license in another state and passed an ARELLO-approved national exam, TREC may waive the national portion, leaving only the Texas state portion to pass.

What happens if you pass one and fail the other?

You keep the portion you passed and retake only the portion you failed while you remain eligible. A passing national score is not erased because you missed the state portion, and the reverse is also true.

This is the rule candidates most want to hear. The handbook says candidates who fail need to retake only the portion they failed. So if you walk out having passed national and failed state, your national pass stands and you reschedule just the state portion.

That changes how you should study for the retake. Pour your time into the failed half. If one portion keeps beating you, work through how to pass the section you keep failing.

How long does a passed portion stay valid?

TREC Rule §535.57 says each portion's result is valid for one year from the date you passed that portion. Separately, a sales agent application remains open for one year from its filing date.

Those are two different clocks:

  • Application clock: You normally have one year from filing to complete the licensing requirements under that application.
  • Passed-section clock: A national or state pass remains valid for one year from its own passing date.

If your application expires, the passed section does not automatically disappear. TREC's FAQ says that when you reapply less than one year after passing one section, you do not have to retake that section. Check the exact filing, expiration, and passing dates in your records before scheduling.

The two clocks in one example

Suppose you filed your application on January 10 and passed National on October 20. The application clock reaches one year first, on January 10 of the next year. The National result has its own one-year window through October 20.

Date What it controls
January 10, application filed The current application normally expires one year later
October 20, National passed The National result remains valid for one year from this date
Before the National result expires Reapply in time if the original application expired, then finish State

This example is for understanding the rule, not calculating your personal deadline. Use the exact dates in your REALM record and score report.

There is no third one-year sponsorship clock

The application and passed-section deadlines do not create a general one-year deadline to find a broker. Once TREC issues a license, an inactive license may remain inactive indefinitely if you renew it and pay the required fees on time. You cannot perform brokerage services while inactive, but sponsorship itself is not a third one-year exam clock.

How retakes work

To retake the failed portion, wait at least 24 hours, then reschedule with Pearson VUE and pay the current $43 sales examination fee. You retake only the failed portion while you remain eligible.

A few mechanics from the handbook:

  • You must wait 24 hours before scheduling a re-examination, and retakes cannot be booked at the test center.
  • The sales examination fee, $43, is paid at the time of each reservation.
  • The current state appointment shows 50 items: 40 scored questions plus 10 unscored pretest questions.

Use the diagnostic feedback on your score report to target the content areas you missed before you rebook.

Three consecutive failed exams, then extra education

TREC Rule §535.57 applies when an applicant fails the examination three consecutive times. After that third consecutive failed examination, the applicant cannot test again or submit a new application until completing additional qualifying real estate education:

  • 30 hours when the third failed examination includes a failed national portion or a failed state portion.
  • 60 hours when both portions are failed on the examination that triggers the rule.

Then you submit your course completion documents and a copy of the third failed score report to TREC. Pearson VUE says to allow 5 to 7 business days for processing and reauthorization. The three-attempt rule guide explains the paperwork, and the failed-exam guide covers eligibility edge cases.

PROTECT YOUR PASSED HALF

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What if the application expires?

You may reapply and must meet the requirements in effect for the new application. Your passed section can still count if its one-year validity period has not expired.

TREC's FAQ gives the practical test: if you reapply less than one year from the date you passed a section, you do not retake that section. If more than one year has passed, that result has expired. This is why both your application date and each passing date belong on your retake calendar.

Frequently Asked Questions

For quick answers to every common Texas exam question, see the Texas real estate exam FAQ.

Do you have to pass both the national and state portions in Texas?

Yes. Both the national portion and the Texas state portion must be passed, and they are scored separately. There is no averaging between them.

If I pass one portion, do I have to retake it?

No. Pearson VUE says you retake only the failed portion while your application is active. If you must reapply, TREC says an unexpired section result remains valid for one year from its passing date.

How long is a passed portion good for?

One year from the date you passed that section. Your application has its own one-year filing window, so track both dates.

Do I have one year after passing to find a sponsoring broker?

No general one-year sponsorship deadline applies. TREC says a license may remain inactive indefinitely if it is renewed on time. You cannot perform brokerage services until an active Texas broker sponsors you.

How many times can I retake the Texas exam?

TREC's rule applies after three consecutive failed examinations. Before retesting or filing a new application, you must complete 30 additional qualifying hours if one portion was failed on the triggering examination or 60 hours if both were failed.

How much does it cost to retake one portion?

The sales examination fee is $43 per appointment, paid when you reschedule. You retake only the failed portion, and you must wait at least 24 hours before booking the retake.

Can I average my national and state scores to pass?

No. The portions are scored independently, and you must reach the passing standard on each one. A strong score on one portion cannot offset a failing score on the other. See how many you can miss.

FINISH BOTH HALVES

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Sources and Methodology

TREC Rule §535.57 controls the one-year validity of each passed section and the additional education required after three consecutive failed examinations. TREC's inactive-status guidance confirms that an inactive license may remain inactive indefinitely when renewal fees are paid on time. The Pearson VUE handbook supports the failed-portion retake, 24-hour scheduling wait, score-report, and processing details. The cut scores and national-portion waiver process also come from official Texas exam materials. Rules, fees, and deadlines can change, so verify your record with TREC and Pearson VUE before relying on a deadline.

Official source links

This post is educational content for Texas real estate sales agent candidates. It is not legal, tax, or licensing advice. Pass requirements, retake rules, fees, and deadlines can change, so confirm the current Pearson VUE Texas Real Estate Candidate Handbook and TREC requirements before you register, retest, or rely on a deadline.