Champions Real Estate Online vs TREA: Which Is Better for Texas CE?

Your license renewal is due. You have maybe three hours to knock it out. So you Google "Texas real estate CE online" and Champions Real Estate School pops up. You have heard of them. You figure -- good enough.

But wait. Before you hand over $99, there is a real comparison worth reading. Because Champions and TREA are both TREC-approved. However, they are not the same on the things that actually matter to a busy agent: price, how fast your hours post to TREC, what happens if something goes wrong, and whether you can still walk into a classroom in Fort Worth.

Here is the actual breakdown.

Quick Comparison: Champions Real Estate Online vs TREA

Category	Champions Online	TREA
18-Hour CE Price	$99 (Online Interactive)	$75 (Hall Pass bundle)
TREC Credit Posting	1-3 business days (batch)	~3 seconds (direct API)
Refund Policy	Standard cancellation terms	Full refund, no questions, you keep earned hours
Fort Worth Classroom	Closed April 2026	Open -- only local TREC-approved option
Legal Update I & II	Online only	Online AND classroom
Individual Course Price	Varies by product tier	From $7.49 per course

Pricing: TREA Is 32% Less for 18 Hours

Champions charges $99 for their "Online Interactive" CE product. That covers your 18-hour CE renewal requirement.

TREA's Hall Pass bundle covers the same 18 hours for $75. That is a 32% savings. Straightforward math.

Additionally, if you only need one or two specific courses to round out your hours, TREA's individual courses start at $7.49. That kind of flexibility does not exist at Champions -- you are buying a product tier, not picking individual courses.

So if you are a numbers person, TREA wins on price. There is no ambiguity here.

TREC Credit Posting: 3 Seconds vs 3 Business Days

This one matters more than most agents realize -- especially if you finish your hours close to a deadline.

TREA posts in 3 seconds. The moment you complete a course, TREA's system hits the TREC API directly. Your credits appear in your TREC record almost immediately. No waiting. No checking back Monday morning to see if it went through.

Champions uses standard batch posting. That typically means a 1-3 business day delay before your hours appear in the TREC system. If you finish your CE on a Friday afternoon and your license expires that weekend -- that delay is a real problem.

For most agents, the difference is invisible. But for anyone cutting it close? The gap is significant.

Fort Worth Campus: Champions Closed, TREA Is Still Here

In April 2026, Champions Real Estate School closed their Fort Worth campus. That is not speculation -- it is done.

If you have been a Champions classroom student in Fort Worth, that option is gone. TREA is now the only TREC-approved brick-and-mortar CE provider operating in Fort Worth.

That matters for a few reasons. First, some agents genuinely learn better in a classroom. Second, TREA is one of only five providers in Texas offering Legal Update I and Legal Update II in both classroom and online formats. That combination is rare. Most online-only providers do not offer the classroom option at all anymore -- because most of them never had a physical location.

TREA has been in Fort Worth for years. The campus is still open. If you want to sit in a room with other agents and a live instructor, TREA is your only local option right now.

Refund Policy: TREA Has a Hard Guarantee

TREA's refund policy is simple: full refund, no questions asked, and you keep any CE hours you already earned. That is not a standard cancellation window -- it is an actual student-first guarantee.

Champions has standard cancellation terms. They are not unreasonable. But they are not the same as "full refund, keep your hours."

If you start a course, realize it is not what you expected, and want out -- TREA will refund you. You are not locked in.

Course Quality: What "Online Interactive" Actually Means

Both TREA and Champions offer online CE courses approved by TREC. Both satisfy your renewal requirements. That part is equal.

The difference is in how the courses are built and who built them. TREA courses are written by David Offutt, a licensed TREC-approved CE instructor who has been in the real estate and insurance industry in Texas for years. The content is direct, practical, and built for agents who do not have three hours to waste on filler.

Champions is a large institution. Their courses are built to serve a wide audience across the state. They are competent. However, they are not written specifically for the working agent who wants to get through required hours efficiently and actually learn something useful along the way.

If your CE requirement feels like a chore, TREA's format is designed to make it feel less like one.

TREC Approval: Both Qualify

One thing worth saying directly: both Champions and TREA are fully TREC-approved CE providers. Any hours you complete with either provider count toward your Texas real estate license renewal. There is no gray area there.

The comparison on this page is not about legitimacy -- it is about which provider actually serves the busy Texas agent better on price, speed, flexibility, and local access. TREA wins on all four.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Champions Real Estate online CE approved by TREC?

Yes. Champions Real Estate School is a TREC-approved CE provider. Their online courses satisfy Texas real estate license renewal requirements.

How much does Champions Real Estate online CE cost?

Champions charges $99 for their Online Interactive CE product, which covers your 18-hour renewal requirement. TREA's Hall Pass bundle covers the same 18 hours for $75 -- 32% less.

Did Champions School close their Fort Worth campus?

Yes. Champions Real Estate School closed their Fort Worth location in April 2026. TREA is now the only TREC-approved brick-and-mortar CE provider operating in Fort Worth.

How fast does TREA post CE credits to TREC?

TREA posts CE credits to TREC in approximately 3 seconds via a direct API connection. Champions uses standard batch posting, which typically takes 1-3 business days for hours to appear in the TREC system.

Does TREA offer a refund if I change my mind?

Yes. TREA offers a full refund with no questions asked. You keep any CE hours you already completed before requesting the refund.

Can I take Texas real estate CE in a classroom instead of online?

Yes -- but your local options have shrunk. TREA is currently one of only five providers in Texas offering Legal Update I and Legal Update II in both classroom and online formats. After the Champions Fort Worth campus closure, TREA is the only local classroom CE option in Fort Worth.

Bottom Line

If you are choosing between Champions Real Estate Online and TREA for your Texas CE renewal, the numbers favor TREA. You pay less, your hours post faster, and you have a real refund guarantee. Plus, if you want a classroom, TREA is now the only option left in Fort Worth.

Ready to knock out your CE? Start your 18-hour CE renewal with TREA for $75 with the Hall Pass bundle. Or take the free 2-hour personality class and see how TREA teaches before you commit to anything.

Smarter. Faster. CE.