Ed Neuhaus 
Thinking about getting your broker license? The path just got longer. Experience requirements doubled. Education caps changed. And there’s a new course requirement that applies to everyone.
If you were planning to get your broker license based on the old rules, recalculate. The 2026 changes under SB 1968 significantly raised the bar.
A quick note: I’m not your broker (yet), and this isn’t legal advice. Always verify with your sponsoring broker and TREC directly before making changes to your practice. That said, if your broker isn’t walking you through this stuff, you might want to ask yourself why.
Lets break down the new requirements and what they mean for your career planning.
The Big Change: Experience Points Doubled
The minimum experience points required for a broker license increased from 360 to 720. That’s double.
Experience points are earned through transactions. The exact calculation varies by transaction type, but roughly speaking, you’re looking at twice as many deals before you qualify.
For context, 360 points could be accumulated in 2-3 productive years for a busy agent. 720 points takes longer. You’re looking at 4-5+ years for most agents, depending on volume.
Education Credit Changes
Real estate-related education credit from a bachelor’s degree is now capped at 300 hours. Previously, education could count for more.
The flip side: education above the 720 experience point threshold can now count. So additional coursework isn’t wasted, but it can’t substitute as much for transactional experience.
The message is clear: TREC wants brokers to have substantial real-world experience, not just classroom hours.
Broker Responsibility Course Required
Here’s a change that affects everyone, not just aspiring brokers.
The Broker Responsibility Course is now required for:
- All broker license applicants (must complete before licensure)
- All brokers at every renewal (regardless of whether you sponsor agents)
- All delegated supervisors
Previously, the Broker Responsibility Course was required for brokers who sponsored agents. Now it’s required for all brokers, period. Even if you get your broker license and never sponsor anyone, you take this course every renewal.
Experience Point Calculation Updates
The way experience points are calculated changed in some areas.
Property Management Points
Property management experience calculation was adjusted. If property management is part of your path to a broker license, verify the current calculation with TREC. The rules changed.
Delegated Supervision Points
The calculation for delegated supervision changed from 12 points per month to 3 points per transaction. This can actually help in some cases. If you’re supervising agents on a productive team, the per-transaction model may accumulate points faster than the monthly model.
Check my delegated supervisor guide for details on this change.
How Long Does It Actually Take?
Let me give you some rough math.
A typical transaction earns around 6-12 experience points depending on type and your role. Let’s say 8 points average for simplicity.
- 720 points ÷ 8 points per transaction = 90 transactions
- 90 transactions ÷ 20 transactions per year (reasonable full-time production) = 4.5 years
That’s assuming consistent production. Part-time agents will take longer. High producers might get there faster. But we’re talking multiple years of experience before you can even apply.
Plus you need the education requirements. Plus you need to pass the broker exam. Plus you need the Broker Responsibility Course completed.
Is It Worth It?
Here’s the honest question agents should ask: do you actually want to be a broker, or do you want the status?
Being a broker means:
- Liability for your sponsored agents’ actions
- Compliance requirements
- Supervision responsibilities
- Required continuing education (including the Broker Responsibility Course)
- Administrative overhead
If you want to run a brokerage or build a team with agents you supervise, a broker license makes sense. The 720 point requirement ensures you have enough experience to handle that responsibility.
If you just want to be a high-performing individual agent, do you need a broker license? Not necessarily. Many of the best agents in Texas operate as sales agents under a broker. The title doesn’t determine your income or success.
Alternative Paths
Not sure the broker path is for you? Consider alternatives.
Stay as a Sales Agent
There’s no shame in being a successful sales agent forever. Top producers who never get broker licenses outearn most brokers. Focus on what makes you money: transactions.
Join a Team Without Supervision Responsibility
Teams offer support and resources without requiring you to take on supervision duties. You can be on a team without being the designated supervisor.
Become a Delegated Supervisor
If you want leadership experience without the full broker commitment, becoming a delegated supervisor lets you supervise others under your broker’s license. You’ll need the Broker Responsibility Course, but you don’t need the 720 points.
Planning Your Timeline
If you’re committed to the broker path, start tracking now.
Verify Your Current Points
Log into the TREC REALM Portal and check your current experience points. TREC tracks your transactions. Make sure your records are complete and accurate.
Understand Your Timeline
Based on your current points and typical production, estimate when you’ll hit 720. Build your career plan around that timeline.
Start the Broker Responsibility Course
You need to complete it before licensure anyway. Taking it early helps you understand what broker supervision involves. It’s good preparation.
Consider the Exam
The broker exam is harder than the sales agent exam. Give yourself time to prepare. Some agents take prep courses. Don’t assume you can wing it.
Ed’s Take
I’ve been a broker for years. I sponsor agents. I’ve built a brokerage. It’s rewarding, but it’s also a lot of responsibility.
The increased requirements make sense. 720 points means you’ve seen a lot of transactions, handled a lot of problems, learned from a lot of situations. That experience matters when you’re responsible for other agents’ conduct.
My advice: don’t rush to become a broker for status reasons. Get your broker license when you have a clear business reason for it. When you want to open your own shop. When you want to build a team and sponsor agents. When the additional responsibility aligns with your goals.
If you’re not sure, keep producing as a sales agent. Build your experience. The option will be there when you’re ready.
Questions?
The broker path is a significant career decision. If you’re thinking about it, you should have support from someone who’s been through it.
Have questions about whether the broker path makes sense for you or how to plan your timeline? Reach out to me. I’m happy to share perspective from having built a brokerage, even if you’re not one of my agents. Yet.
