Real Estate License from Virginia to Texas: Does It Transfer? (2026)
Does Texas accept a Virginia real estate license?
No — Texas has no reciprocity or endorsement path for Virginia 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 any exams it requires that you have not already passed.
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Same data, interactive — with share link and board links.
Verdict
Full re-application
There is no transfer mechanism from Virginia into Texas — not because of anything about Virginia; 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's different between Virginia and Texas
Computed from both states' verified data rows, in both directions, and from the route every other origin gets into Texas. Exam notes are our summary of each board's published rules, with sources below.
- Route, each way
Virginia to Texas (this page): Full re-application.
Texas to Virginia (the reverse move): Full reciprocity.
The two directions differ: Virginia and Texas do not give each other's licensees the same route.
- Does coming from Virginia matter?
Coming from Virginia does not change the answer: every origin (the other 49 states and DC) gets the same result for a move into Texas.
- Application fee
Texas lists $206 for an out-of-state applicant and Virginia lists $230 for the reverse move; neither may be the full cost.
- Pre-license education
Texas's first-time-applicant standard is 180 hours of pre-license education; Virginia's is 60.
Texas's is 120 education hours higher than Virginia's.
- Exam rules on record
Texas and Virginia carry different exam notes (our summaries, below); any state law or jurisprudence exam is listed with each state's requirements.
- Texas (this move): 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
- Virginia (the reverse move): Salesperson reciprocity applicants are waived from the National portion and must pass only the State portion of the Virginia salesperson examination
What changes, Virginia → Texas
| Virginia (current) | Texas (destination) | |
|---|---|---|
| Pre-license education | 60 | 180 |
| Application fee | $230 (salesperson license application fee (form A490-0225SLIC), non-refundable; excludes PSI exam and fingerprint/background 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) |
| Processing time | Board does not publish a processing-time range; a complete application must be on file within 45 days of the background check | TREC publishes live application processing dates rather than a fixed estimate |
| Licensing authority | Virginia Real Estate Board - Department of Professional and Occupational Regulation (DPOR) | 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 any required exams you have not already passed — a national exam you passed often still counts, as can prior out-of-state licensure toward experience.
- Submit the standard (new applicant) application with fees listed above, and allow for the processing time shown there.
- Allow TREC publishes live application processing dates rather than a fixed estimate.
Official links
Related guides
Frequently asked questions
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), plus the cost of the required pre-license education.
Can I keep selling in Virginia after I'm licensed in Texas?
Yes — real estate licenses stack. Keep the Virginia 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)
- Virginia DPOR - Real Estate Board (FAQ: licensure by reciprocity) ↗ (accessed 2026-07-21)
- Virginia DPOR - How to Apply for a Salesperson/Broker License (RE_Process.pdf) ↗ (accessed 2026-07-21)
- Virginia DPOR - Salesperson License Application (form A490-0225SLIC, fee schedule) ↗ (accessed 2026-07-21)
Reviewed by the License Reciprocity Editorial Team · verified against primary sources 2026-07-21
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