Holding an Inactive Texas Real Estate License: What It Costs and What You Can Do

What does inactive mean for a Texas license?

Inactive means your license exists but is not tied to a sponsoring broker. A sales agent license must be sponsored to be used. TREC says plainly that you cannot engage in real estate brokerage activity with an inactive license, and its guidance states that doing so is a violation that can bring sanctions.

That covers the work that makes a person a licensed agent: negotiating a deal between third parties, listing a property, or showing homes as an agent. If you are unsure whether a task counts, ask your broker or TREC before you do it.

Why would an agent go inactive?

Agents go inactive for many ordinary reasons, and none of them is a mark against you.

• You are between brokerages and have not picked a new one yet.
• You are taking time away for family, health or a different job.
• You want to keep the license alive while you decide about a career change.
• You are waiting out a short stretch before a move to Texas or away from it.

What does it cost to renew an inactive license?

TREC's page on renewing a sales agent license says you may renew on inactive status without completing CE, and it gives no separate dollar amount for inactive renewal. The fee schedule effective September 1, 2026 lists the sales agent renewal fee, and the table has no separate row for inactive renewal. Always look at the live fee page before you pay.

Here is what the fee schedule lists for a sales agent renewal (checked October 29, 2026).

Do you pay a different amount to stay inactive?

TREC does not publish a separate "inactive" renewal row in the sales agent table. Fees can change, so read the current page before you renew.

Separately, some brokerages charge their own fees to hold a license. That is a private business term, not a TREC fee. Ask any brokerage you are considering whether it charges anything to keep your license with it, and ask for the answer in writing.

Do you need continuing education to stay inactive?

No. TREC states you may renew on inactive status without completing CE. That is the main reason some agents renew inactive when they cannot finish their hours.

The CE comes due later. TREC says that to return to active status you must complete the required CE, and the hours are counted back two years from the date you apply. Sales agents need 18 hours in each two-year period: Legal Update I (4 hours), Legal Update II (4 hours), contract-related coursework (3 hours) and electives (7 hours).

What if you renew active but have not finished CE?

TREC's FAQ says you must pay a $200 CE deferral fee, or renew in inactive status. The deferral gives 60 more days after the expiration date to finish the hours. This is not a general renewal fee.

If you are close to the deadline and short on hours, compare the two paths. Paying the deferral fee keeps you active but puts you on a clock. Renewing inactive costs no deferral fee but stops all brokerage work until you finish CE and return to active.

What happens if you let the license expire?

A Texas sales agent license must be renewed every two years. TREC's renewal page says that if you late renew, up to six months after your expiration date, the license is renewed on inactive status. You may not defer CE with a late renewal.

After six months, reinstatement is available up to two years past expiration. After that, you must reapply and pass the exam. Do not rely on memory for these dates. Put your expiration date on your calendar.

How do you return an inactive license to active status?

TREC lays out the steps in REALM, its online portal. In short, the order is below.

• Finish the required CE and confirm it appears on your record in License Holder Search.
• Log in to REALM and open My Records.
• Find your license and choose Amendment in the Action column.
• Pick Return to Active Status as the type of change request.
• Agree to the certification, review the fee and submit the fee and request.
• Find a sponsoring broker. TREC says a sales agent needs an active sponsorship with a Texas broker before doing licensed work.

Can you still earn money while inactive?

TREC's guidance says an agent can be paid a commission or referral fee after the license becomes inactive or expires, as long as the license was active when the brokerage activity took place. The payment has to follow the rules about who may pay you. Confirm the details with your broker, and use an attorney for legal questions.

That does not let you work new deals while inactive. It only speaks to money earned from work you did while active.

What should you ask a brokerage before you go inactive with them?

If you plan to park your license, ask these questions first.

• Do you charge anything to hold an inactive license?
• What is the process and the timing to move me back to active?
• If I leave with pending deals, how will any commission be handled?
• Where do you keep my records, and can I get copies?
• Will you give me the answers in writing?

Where do you go next?

If you are changing brokerages, read how to change your sponsoring broker through REALM. If you want the basics, see how to hang your license and how to activate an inactive license. You can also compare your options in our guide to switching brokerages.

How The Bauer Group fits

The Bauer Group is a Frisco brokerage welcoming licensed DFW agents. Opportunities are earned, not guaranteed. If you are ready to move from inactive to active and want to talk it through, you can start on the join page.

Education only, not legal, tax or financial advice. Confirm licensing rules and fees with TREC. Last reviewed October 29, 2026.