TREC License Renewal Courses: What’s the Difference Between SAE and CE?
About the Author: Nicole Schnell
A Texas real estate agent license expires every two years and must be renewed with the Texas Real Estate Commission (TREC). Renewing sales agents and brokers are first required to take either Sales Agent Apprentice Education (SAE) courses or Continuing Education (CE) courses. Although both types of courses are intended to inform and educate, they are intended for different types of license renewals and come with different requirements. So, which course do you need to take to renew your TREC real estate license?
Check out our chart below to see the differences between SAE and CE courses, and then enroll in your license renewal courses with License Classroom today!
| SAE Courses | CE Courses | |
|---|---|---|
| Course Purpose | SAE courses are for agents renewing their license for the first time. These courses build upon the foundational education from pre-licensing courses. | CE courses are for agents and brokers who have already renewed their license at least once. These courses include ongoing education with advanced topics, industry updates, and business development. |
| Hours Required |
98 hours of SAE courses are required. If you have been made a supervisor by your broker, you will also need to take 6 hours of Broker Responsibility. You must take a minimum of 3 days (72 hours) to complete each 30-hour segment, but no more than 12 hours at a time. |
18 hours of CE courses are required. If you are a designated broker or have been made a supervisor by your broker, you will also need to take 6 hours of Broker Responsibility.
You may complete your courses as quickly as you would like. |
| Course Content | SAE coursework includes: – 30 hours of Real Estate Appraisals – 30 hours of Real Estate Investment – 30 hours of Real Estate Brokerage – 8 hours of Legal Update I and IISupervising agents must take the 6-hour Broker Responsibility course in addition to their 98 hours of SAE. |
CE coursework includes: – 8 hours of Legal Update I and II – 3 hours of contract-related courses – 7 hours of electivesSupervising agents and designated brokers must take the 6-hour Broker Responsibility course as part of their 18 hours. |
| Course Deadlines | SAE courses may be started as soon as 3 days after passing the initial licensing final exam. It is best to finish the courses at least 10 days prior to the license expiration date to allow TREC time to process your application.
SAE courses are not deferrable, and you cannot renew your license for the first time without them. |
CE courses may be started any time between your last renewal and upcoming license expiration. It is best to finish the courses at least 10 days prior to the license expiration date to allow TREC time to process your application.
CE courses may be deferred for a $200 fee, or you may renew on inactive status. However, completing CE education more than 60 days after your license expires will incur an additional $250 late fee. |
| Proctoring Requirements | TREC requires all SAE course final exams to be proctored by a 3rd party. License Classroom courses include 100% online proctoring at no additional cost. | Proctoring is not required for CE courses. |
| Pricing | SAE packages start at $279, and individual courses start at $25.
Be on the lookout for special sales to enroll at a discounted price! |
CE Packages start at $69, and individual courses start at $25.
Be on the lookout for special sales to enroll at a discounted price! |
Sign Up with License Classroom Today!
Enroll in License Classroom’s SAE or CE courses today and complete your TREC license renewal in no time at all. Our highly informative, interactive, and easy-to-use online courses cover essential topics, including ethics, contracts, business planning, finance, marketing, technology, and more. Satisfy TREC’s renewal requirements while honing the valuable skills necessary for a successful real estate career.
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