QUICK ANSWER

Budget $206 for the original online sales agent application, $58 for one Pearson VUE exam reservation, and $37 for new TREC fingerprints when required. That totals $301 with new fingerprints, or $264 without a new fingerprint charge. Education, optional exam prep and retakes are separate. TREC's fee schedule effective December 15, 2025 still displays $43 for the exam, while Pearson's September 2026 handbook lists $58. Confirm the live charges before paying.

VERIFY BEFORE YOU PAY

These are the fees to apply, test, and get fingerprinted, not exam content. The application fee is set by TREC, the exam fee by Pearson VUE, and the fingerprint fee by the fingerprint vendor. All can change. This page reflects the TREC fee schedule effective December 15, 2025, but confirm the current amounts on the official TREC fee schedule before you submit anything.

Dec 15, 2025
fee schedule effective date
$206
online application total
$58
exam fee, per attempt (Pearson VUE)
$301
baseline with new TREC fingerprints

TREC's fee schedule gives you the government and fingerprint charges. Pearson's handbook supplies the exam reservation fee used below. Here is the breakdown, who receives each payment, and what the figures do not cover.

What changed on December 15, 2025?

TREC updated its published fee schedule effective December 15, 2025. The application and fingerprint figures on this page reflect that schedule. The exam fee comes from Pearson VUE's September 2026 handbook. The most relevant TREC charge for a new candidate is the sales agent application fee, paid when you apply.

A fee schedule update is routine housekeeping, but it is the kind of detail that an old blog post or course handout gets wrong. The safe move is to treat the current TREC fee schedule as the authority and confirm the numbers there before you pay. The fee update is one of several 2026 changes, so for the full roundup see what changed for the Texas exam in 2026.

Current fee breakdown

The baseline covers one original sales agent application and one exam reservation. Add the fingerprint charge only if you have not previously been fingerprinted for TREC. Education and optional preparation are separate.

Here is the breakdown, with who you pay each fee.

Fee Amount Paid to When
Online sales agent license application total $206 TREC When you apply
Exam fee $58 Pearson VUE Each time you schedule the exam
Fingerprinting and background check $37 IDEMIA When new TREC fingerprints are required
Baseline with new TREC fingerprints $301 Multiple payees One exam reservation
Baseline without a new fingerprint charge $264 TREC and Pearson VUE One exam reservation

This is the cost to apply, get fingerprinted, and sit the exam once. Education and optional preparation cost extra. Previously submitted TREC fingerprints can remove the fingerprint charge.

What the $206 online application total includes

The $206 online total combines the base application fee with the Texas.gov processing price, the Texas A&M Real Estate Research Center fee, and a Real Estate Recovery Trust Account contribution.

You pay this as one amount, but it is built from a few pieces.

  • The base application fee that funds TREC's processing.
  • The Texas.gov, or Texas Online, processing price for paying through the state portal.
  • The Texas A&M Real Estate Research Center fee, which funds real estate research.
  • The Real Estate Recovery Trust Account contribution, which helps fund consumer recovery claims.

You do not itemize these when you pay. They are bundled into the single application fee on the schedule.

Fees TREC does not charge: exam and fingerprinting

The $58 exam fee is paid to Pearson VUE, not TREC, and you pay it for each attempt. The conditional fingerprint fee, $37, is paid to the fingerprint vendor, not TREC. Only the application fee goes to TREC.

This trips people up, so keep the payees straight.

  • The exam fee, $58, goes to Pearson VUE when you schedule your test. If you retake a portion, you pay it again.
  • The conditional fingerprint fee, $37, goes to the fingerprint and background-check vendor at your appointment.
  • The $206 online application total goes to TREC through the state application process.

For how the exam fee works when you reschedule or retake, see rescheduling or canceling your Pearson VUE exam.

What these fees do not include: your education

The $301 in baseline fees with new TREC fingerprints does not include your 180 hours of pre-license education, which is the single largest cost of getting licensed. Course tuition is separate and is paid to your education provider.

The fees on this page are the smaller part of the total. The 180-hour qualifying education is the big line item.

  • Pre-license education: your largest cost, paid to a TREC-approved provider.
  • Application, exam, and fingerprint fees: the roughly $301 baseline above.
  • Possible extras: retakes, late fees, or a sponsoring broker's costs.

For the full cost picture, see how much a Texas real estate license costs.

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Retakes and other fees

The $58 exam fee applies to each attempt, so a retake costs another $58. TREC also charges other fees for things like license renewal and form filings, which are listed on the same fee schedule.

The fees on this page are the ones a first-time candidate hits. A few others can come up.

  • A retake costs another $58 to Pearson VUE, per attempt.
  • License renewal has its own fee later, after you are licensed.
  • Other TREC filings, such as certain forms or status changes, have their own fees on the schedule.

If a fee is not listed here, check the TREC fee schedule, which is the complete list.

Frequently Asked Questions

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

How much is the Texas real estate sales agent application fee?

The current TREC schedule lists a $206 total for an original online sales agent application. That total includes the base application charge and listed add-ons. Confirm the live schedule before you apply.

How much does the Texas real estate exam cost?

The exam fee is $58, paid to Pearson VUE, and you pay it for each attempt. A retake is another $58.

How much is fingerprinting for a Texas real estate license?

About $37, paid to the fingerprint and background-check vendor at your appointment. It is not a TREC fee.

What is the total baseline cost in fees to get licensed?

$301 with new TREC fingerprints, or $264 without a new fingerprint charge, combining the $206 application fee, the $58 exam fee, and $37 for new TREC fingerprints when required. This does not include your 180 hours of pre-license education, which is the largest cost.

When did TREC change its fees?

TREC's current fee schedule is effective December 15, 2025. Because fees can change, confirm the live schedule before you pay.

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Sources and Methodology

Fee publications rechecked October 4, 2026. The TREC fee schedule effective December 15, 2025 is the source for the $206 original online sales agent application total and its component charges, plus the conditional $37 fingerprint charge. Pearson VUE's September 2026 Texas Candidate Handbook lists $58 per sales agent exam reservation. TREC's fee schedule still displays $43. Both sources were checked October 4, 2026. Confirm the amount in Pearson VUE checkout before paying. The broader licensing guidance was reviewed August 12, 2026. The live fee schedule and vendor checkout control the amount you pay.

This post is educational content for Texas real estate sales agent candidates. It is not legal, tax, or licensing advice. Fees are set by TREC, Pearson VUE, and other vendors and can change at any time, so confirm the current TREC fee schedule and Pearson VUE fees before you apply, pay, or test.