Texas Broker License Renewal – the 18 Hours, the 6-Hour Rule, and the Fastest Way Through
The short answer
Renewing a Texas broker license takes 18 CE hours every 2 years – same total as an agent – but since January 1, 2026, every renewing broker’s 18 must include the 6-hour Broker Responsibility course. Not just sponsoring brokers. Everyone.
Your 18 as a broker:
| Requirement | Hours |
|---|---|
| Legal Update I | 4 |
| Legal Update II | 4 |
| Broker Responsibility | 6 |
| Contract-related courses | 3 |
| Electives | 1 |
| Total | 18 |
The two ways to buy it
- Dean’s List – $85. Everything: both Legal Updates, the contract trilogy, Broker Responsibility, and a stack of electives. One purchase, whole renewal.
- Broker Responsibility alone – $45 (TREC #10191-RENE, 6 hours) if you have the rest of your hours elsewhere.
Both post to TREC in about 3 seconds when you finish. TREC gives providers 7-10 days; we never saw the point of making a broker wait.
What renewal costs a broker (with TREC’s fees)
| Item | Cost |
|---|---|
| 18 CE hours (Dean’s List, everything) | $85 |
| TREC broker renewal fee (on time) | $217 |
| Late renewal, under 90 days | $253 |
| Late renewal, 90 days to 6 months | $289 |
| CE Deferral Fee if hours are not done at renewal | $200 extra |
TREC’s late math punishes waiting. The CE side is the only part you fully control – and it is the cheapest line on the table.
The Jan 1, 2026 change, in one paragraph
Before 2026, brokers who did not sponsor agents were exempt from Broker Responsibility. That exemption is gone. If you renew a broker license in 2026 or later, the 6-hour course is in your 18. TREA’s version (TREC #10191-RENE, provider #10010-CEP) is textbook-style correspondence with interactive quizzes – no passing-score stress, finish at your own pace.
First broker renewal after upgrading from agent?
If you just upgraded from sales agent to broker, your renewal uses the 18-hour CE requirement above – the SAE rule applies only to a sales agent’s FIRST license renewal. Once you hold the broker license, this page is your checklist.
Frequently asked questions
Do all Texas brokers have to take Broker Responsibility now?
Yes. Since January 1, 2026, every renewing broker takes the 6-hour Broker Responsibility course, whether or not they sponsor agents.
Is Broker Responsibility on top of the 18 hours?
No. It counts inside the 18: 4 + 4 + 6 + 3 + 1 elective = 18.
How much does it cost to renew a Texas broker license?
TREC’s on-time renewal fee is $217. CE runs $85 for everything at TREA, including Broker Responsibility.
How fast do the hours post to TREC?
About 3 seconds after you finish each course.