The official Texas Real Estate Candidate Handbook is a free PDF from Pearson VUE. The edition checked here is September 2026, publication 094400, revision 08/2026. Use the official handbook link above. If that address changes, find it under Downloads on the Pearson VUE Texas program page.
This independent guide is for Texas sales-agent candidates. Check the exam label before using a table. TREC and Pearson VUE decide your licensing and testing requirements.
Which Texas real estate exam PDF should I download?
Start with the handbook for exam arrangements and the content outlines for study coverage. Pearson also links a separate study reference list. Save the documents with different filenames so you can find the right one later.
| Document | Use it for |
|---|---|
| Candidate handbook PDF | Exam procedures. Use the reading map below. |
| Content outlines PDF | Tested topics, scored-item weights and pretest counts. |
| Study reference list PDF | Suggested reading. This one-page list is dated May 2017 and does not replace the current outline. It says TREC and Pearson do not endorse particular study materials. |
The official downloads are available without a Pass Texas account. To check a saved copy later, reopen Pearson's program page and compare the linked document's edition and effective dates. A filename such as “2026 study guide” on another website does not establish which source it uses.
Where do I find each rule in the handbook?
Printed page numbers and your PDF viewer's page counter differ. This map uses the edition identified above; each link opens at the PDF page. Some viewers ignore page links, so use the counter or search the document if needed.
| You need | Printed page | PDF page |
|---|---|---|
| Eligibility and reservations | 3–4 | 6–7 |
| Payment and cancellations | 5 | 8 |
| Accommodation requests | 6 | 9 |
| Identification and arrival | 7 | 10 |
| Timing, results and retakes | 8–9 | 11–12 |
| Testing-room restrictions | 9–10 | 12–13 |
| Math guidance and examples | 11–18 | 14–21 |
| Appended exam outlines | Separate outline numbering | 22 onward |
Use this to return to a rule quickly after reading the full handbook. Do not limit your review to the pages in the table.
Which outline applies to the Texas sales-agent exam?
Use the salesperson National outline effective March 1, 2025 and the Texas Sales Agent State Law outline effective January 1, 2026. The latter has six areas. A broker table follows it and includes case studies; that is a different exam.
The outlines specify 80 scored National items plus 5 pretest items, and 40 scored State items plus 10 pretest items. Pretest answers do not affect your score. For the topic weights and matching lessons, use our exam topic guide.
Why do some sources say 125 questions and others 135?
The handbook's printed page 8 lists 125 items for “Both,” but its separate 85 and 50 rows add to 135. The outlines also imply 135. That is an unresolved source inconsistency, not a different passing standard. Confirm appointment details with Pearson; our exam-format guide separates scored items, pretest items and timing.
How should I use the handbook before my exam?
Make two short lists: arrangements you must confirm and subjects you need to practice. Keep them separate. Knowing a booking rule does not show whether you can apply an agency or contract rule to a new question.
Before you book: check your TREC record
TREC's current instructions say to obtain your REALM pre-license education number, complete the required 180 qualifying hours, and upload the records before submitting the license application. Creating the education account is a separate step. Wait for TREC's exam-scheduling instructions after its education review.
For fingerprints, TREC currently emails scheduling instructions after your application moves from Submitted to In Review. The handbook describes an older eligibility-letter sequence. Follow TREC's current instructions for your application. Our application walkthrough explains the different numbers and records.
Before test day: confirm the practical details
- Compare your name. Pearson's program page says your registered legal name must match your government-issued ID. Resolve a mismatch before the appointment.
- Open the ID policy. Read the linked identification page in the handbook with your actual documents beside you. Check their signatures and expiration dates.
- Check your reservation. Save the date, location and confirmation. Use the scheduling guide if you need booking help.
- Review access needs early. Use the accommodations guide before choosing an appointment.
- Plan your bag. Compare your calculator and belongings with the testing-room rules and finish with the exam-day checklist.
Budget separately for the exam appointment: TREC's fee schedule effective September 1, 2026 lists $58, paid to the exam provider. Confirm checkout before paying; see the full licensing cost guide for the other expenses.
After your result: choose the next useful step
Keep the report and your application dates together. If you need another attempt, use the failed-exam guide to plan around your failed portion and current eligibility. After passing, use the next-steps guide to check licensing and sponsorship tasks.
Is reading the candidate handbook enough to prepare?
Use the handbook to organize your preparation, then test what you can do with each subject. A useful personal checkpoint is whether you can explain a rule, apply it to an unfamiliar situation, and explain why a tempting alternative is wrong. Simply remembering a sample answer does not show all three.
- Choose one outline entry. For example, intermediary practice.
- Read the matching lesson. Write a short explanation in your own words.
- Try fresh questions without notes. Start with our free topic practice.
- Explain each miss and guess. Record the rule or fact you overlooked, then try a different example later.
This is a suggested study routine, not an official readiness score or a promise of passing.
Texas real estate candidate handbook FAQ
Do I need to pay or enter an email to get the official PDF?
No. Open the official program page and choose the handbook under Downloads. You do not need to join Pass Texas to use that resource.
Is the TREC candidate handbook different from the Pearson VUE handbook?
People often use “TREC candidate handbook” when looking for Pearson's Texas exam document. Use the official PDF linked here, then check TREC's own site for your application requirements and record status.
What if the official handbook link will not open?
Go to Pearson's Texas program page, find Downloads, and reopen the handbook there. If the PDF downloads instead of displaying, open it with your device's PDF reader. Avoid substituting an undated copy from another site.
Is Pearson's Study Guide download a full exam-prep course?
No. The linked one-page reference list names suggested materials and legal sources. Check current editions and use the content outlines to decide what to cover.
Can I use the handbook during the licensing exam?
No. Books and reference materials are prohibited in the examination room. Review the official room policy before test day.
Official sources and review scope
We checked these live sources on October 19, 2026. The reading map belongs to the edition named above. This page explains how to find and use the documents; our linked guides maintain their own review dates. Pass Texas does not issue or host the official handbook.
- Pearson VUE candidate handbook, publication 094400. September 2026 cover; revision 08/2026 in the opening pages.
- Pearson VUE exam content outlines, publication 094401. Revision 01/2026. Salesperson National effective March 1, 2025; Sales Agent State effective January 1, 2026.
- Pearson VUE study reference list, publication 094405. Dated May 2017. A reference list, not a current exam syllabus.
- Pearson VUE Texas program page. Official download directory, scheduling, test-center search and support.
- TREC sales-agent application instructions. Current REALM, education, fingerprinting and eligibility sequence.
- TREC fee schedule. Effective September 1, 2026. Examination payment goes to the exam provider.
Educational exam-prep guidance only. Pass Texas is not affiliated with or endorsed by TREC or Pearson VUE. Recheck the official documents and your appointment instructions before acting.