Real Estate License from Illinois to Texas: Does It Transfer? (2026)
Last verified: 2026-07-21 · source: Texas Real Estate Commission (TREC) ↗
No — Texas has no reciprocity or endorsement path for Illinois real estate license holders. You must apply to the Texas Real Estate Commission (TREC) as a new applicant and meet Texas's full licensing requirements, including its exams.
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Verdict
Full re-application
There is no transfer mechanism from Illinois into Texas — not because of anything about Illinois; Texas recognizes no state's licenses. The path is the new-applicant track with your experience as an accelerant: the pre-license education can usually be completed online before you move, the exam draws on knowledge you use daily, and your transaction history means the coursework reads as review. Budget months, not weeks, and start the education first.
What changes, Illinois → Texas
| Illinois (current) | Texas (destination) | |
|---|---|---|
| Training hours | 75 | 180 |
| Application fee | $150 ($150 non-refundable endorsement application fee for the Broker profession ($175 for Managing Broker); separate from PSI endorsement-exam fees and 30-hour course tuition.) | $206 (Sales Agent original application total: $150 filing + $40 Texas A&M Real Estate Research Center + $6 Texas.gov + $10 Recovery Trust Account = $206; separate exam (~$43 Pearson VUE) and fingerprint (~$38.25) fees apply) |
| Processing time | IDFPR does not publish a stated processing time for endorsement applications | TREC publishes live application processing dates rather than a fixed estimate |
| Licensing authority | Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation (IDFPR) — Division of Real Estate | Texas Real Estate Commission (TREC) |
The destination column is what you must satisfy — Texas sets the rules for this move.
Step by step
- Review Texas's initial-licensure requirements on the Texas Real Estate Commission (TREC) website (linked below).
- Expect to meet Texas's education/experience requirements and pass its required exams — prior out-of-state licensure may still count toward experience.
- Submit the standard (new applicant) application with fees ($206 (Sales Agent original application total: $150 filing + $40 Texas A&M Real Estate Research Center + $6 Texas.gov + $10 Recovery Trust Account = $206; separate exam (~$43 Pearson VUE) and fingerprint (~$38.25) fees apply)).
- Allow TREC publishes live application processing dates rather than a fixed estimate.
Official links
Related guides
Frequently asked questions
Does Texas accept a Illinois real estate license?
No — Texas has no reciprocity or endorsement path for Illinois real estate license holders. You must apply to the Texas Real Estate Commission (TREC) as a new applicant and meet Texas's full licensing requirements, including its exams.
Which exams will I take moving from Illinois to Texas?
The National portion of the Texas Sales Agent exam may be waived only for an applicant who holds an active license in a state participating in ARELLO national exam accreditation (submit a license history so TREC can determine eligibility); the Texas State-law portion of the exam AND the full 180 hours of qualifying education are still required of every applicant.
What does the move cost?
$206 (Sales Agent original application total: $150 filing + $40 Texas A&M Real Estate Research Center + $6 Texas.gov + $10 Recovery Trust Account = $206; separate exam (~$43 Pearson VUE) and fingerprint (~$38.25) fees apply) (Sales Agent original application total: $150 filing + $40 Texas A&M Real Estate Research Center + $6 Texas.gov + $10 Recovery Trust Account = $206; separate exam (~$43 Pearson VUE) and fingerprint (~$38.25) fees apply), plus the cost of the required pre-license education.
Can I keep selling in Illinois after I'm licensed in Texas?
Yes — real estate licenses stack. Keep the Illinois license active (renewals and CE continue separately) and you hold both; many border-market agents do exactly this.
Sources
Primary sources only — official boards and compact commissions. Data last verified 2026-07-21.
- TREC - Become a Real Estate Sales Agent (education, exam, and FAQ 'Does Texas have reciprocity with any other state?') ↗ (accessed 2026-07-21)
- TREC - Fee Schedule (effective Dec 15, 2025) ↗ (accessed 2026-07-21)
- IDFPR — Real Estate Brokerage page ('Endorsement Process becomes effective January 1, 2026 ... replaces a Reciprocal Process previously in place with specific states') ↗ (accessed 2026-07-21)
- IDFPR — Real Estate Application for Licensure by Endorsement (Broker $150 / Managing Broker $175; 30-hour endorsement course; endorsement exam on Illinois law) ↗ (accessed 2026-07-21)
- IDFPR — 30-Hour Real Estate Broker Pre-License Endorsement Course Curriculum (12-10-2024) ↗ (accessed 2026-07-21)
- IDFPR — Broker 75-Hour Pre-License Curriculum (60 hours topics + 15 hours applied) ↗ (accessed 2026-07-21)
Reviewed by Billy Reiner, Editor · verified against primary sources 2026-07-21
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