Champions School of Real Estate Texas vs TREA: A Side-by-Side CE Comparison

Champions School of Real Estate just closed its Fort Worth campus. If you were planning to renew your CE there in person, that plan is done. As of April 2026, TREA is now the only local brick-and-mortar TREC-approved CE option in Fort Worth.

So if you are shopping for CE providers right now, here is an honest side-by-side. No fluff. Just the stuff that matters when your license deadline is coming up fast.

Quick Comparison: TREA vs Champions School for Texas CE

The Fort Worth Campus Closure: What It Actually Means

Champions School has been a big name in Texas real estate education for decades. However, big name does not mean local anymore - at least not in Fort Worth.

Their Fort Worth campus closed in April 2026. That is not a rumor. That is a fact. Consequently, if you live or work in the Fort Worth area and want to renew CE in a classroom setting, Champions is no longer an option.

TREA was born in Fort Worth. We still have a local campus. That matters if you learn better in person, want to ask questions face-to-face, or just like knowing there is a human being you can call.

Furthermore, TREA is one of only five TREC-approved providers in Texas offering Legal Update I and Legal Update II in both classroom and online formats. That gives you flexibility most providers simply cannot match.

Pricing Breakdown: TREA Is 32% Less for a Full Renewal

Let's talk money. Because this is a real cost for working agents.

Champions School's "Online Interactive" product for a full 18-hour CE renewal runs $99. TREA's Hall Pass bundle covers all 18 hours for $75. That is a $24 difference - or about 32% less.

If you just need one or two courses, TREA individual courses start at $7.49. You only pay for what you need.

Over a two-year renewal cycle, that price gap adds up. Moreover, there is no quality tradeoff - TREA courses are TREC-approved, written by working Texas professionals, and designed to be useful, not just checkbox-filling.

TREC Credit Posting Speed: 3 Seconds vs 1-3 Business Days

This one is underrated. Most agents do not think about it until they need it.

When you finish a CE course, TREC needs to receive and record your credit before your license renewal can process. Some providers use standard batch uploads - meaning your credit sits in a queue and gets posted 1-3 business days later.

TREA uses a direct API connection to TREC. When you complete a course, that credit posts in 3 seconds. Not next Tuesday. Not after you call to follow up. Right now.

If you are cutting it close on your renewal deadline - and a lot of agents are - that difference is not trivial. Three seconds means you can finish your last course and submit your renewal application the same day.

Refund Policy: TREA Gives You Full Refunds and You Keep Earned Hours

TREA's refund policy is simple. If you are not happy, you get a full refund. No questions. No forms. No negotiations.

And here is the part that actually matters: you keep the CE hours you already earned. If you finished four hours before deciding it was not for you, those four hours stay on your TREC record. That is real money staying in your pocket instead of having to repurchase completed work.

That kind of policy only exists when a provider is confident in what they are selling. We are.

Who Each Provider Is Best For

To be fair: Champions School is a legitimate TREC-approved provider with a long track record. They are a solid choice if you are outside the Fort Worth area, do not need a classroom option, or have an existing account with them.

TREA is the better fit if you want any of the following:

• Lower price on a full 18-hour renewal
• A Fort Worth classroom option for Legal Update I or other courses
• Instant TREC credit posting after course completion
• A full refund with no penalty if you change your mind
• A locally-run provider that actually answers the phone

Most Fort Worth-area agents who have tried both tend to stay with TREA. The price and the speed alone are usually enough. Add in the local campus and it is an easy call.

Ready to Switch? Start Here.

If you want to knock out your full renewal for $75, grab the Hall Pass bundle. If you want to try before you commit, take the free 2-hour personality class first - no payment required, no catch.

Your license does not care which school you use. It cares that you renew on time, with approved hours, at a price that does not sting. TREA handles all three.