The job of a real estate salesperson is unlike any other “sales job” in the world. It doesn’t involve pressuring unsuspecting customers to make an impulsive purchase. In this business, customers are educated and versed in the same subject that they expect you to be an expert on. So if you want to be successful … you better know your stuff!

To represent buyers and sellers of real estate, you must obtain your seller’s license. You can find the licensing requirements at your state’s Real Estate Commission. In Texas, the requirements are a bit stricter than in most states.

The education required to obtain your salesperson license in Texas:

1) Principles of real estate (60 class hours – core)

2) Agency Law (30 teaching hours – core)

3) Contract Law (30 teaching hours – core)

4) An additional basic course of your choice (30 hours of class – basic)

5) Another four semester hours (60 class hours) in core courses OR related courses acceptable to the commission. If you have a bachelor’s or higher degree from an accredited university, this requirement is met.

If you count all the “class hours”, it can seem a LOT. However, these can be taken online and completed fairly quickly. Some of the online schools include Kaplan Professional Schools, Champions School of Real Estate, Spencer Training and Testing Development, and many more. Just make sure the education provider you choose is accepted by the commission, which you should find on the commission’s website. After completing your educational requirements, you will need to pass the licensing exam. The exam is difficult for some because it is designed to trick you. Why? Who knows … For most people, the exam is easily passed after studying. Also, there are some reviews that can be purchased (usually for $ 100 or so) that have questions almost identical to the exam itself, making it much easier to pass.

Once you pass the exam, you are officially a real estate agent, but not a real estate agent. To become a real estate agent, you must become a member of your local Board of Realtors, which costs you a membership fee. As you will quickly learn, all the courses, quizzes, and exams you took never taught you HOW to get your business up and running. You will be asked to hang up your license with a licensed broker and they will either have a generic training program (which will teach you little) or someone with experience in the business will teach you what you need to know to get started. It is essential that you understand that your success is COMPLETELY UPON YOU in this business, so don’t expect to pass the exam and get Bravo’s “Million Dollar Listing” the next day (which, by the way, is just a TV show) . Eventually you will discover your niche and that is when you will start to see results. You can’t be antisocial as a real estate agent, so lose the insecurities and get out there!