Build a TREC-approved online real estate course in Texas

Texas spells out how a distance qualifying course behaves, down to what happens when a student misses a quiz question. The provider must verify the student is the one doing the work, keep an instructor reachable, and proctor a closed-book final. Vaylo Studios builds that platform for your school, under your name.

Get a quote for your courseRead the TREC rules

What TREC requires of an online course

Texas Real Estate Commission (TREC). Summarized from the rule text, with the citation for each so you can check it yourself.

  1. 01

    Distance, classroom or a combination

    22 TAC 535.62(b)(6)

    A qualifying course may be classroom, distance education, or a combination. A combined course must be at least 50% classroom.

  2. 02

    Topic quizzes that gate the next topic

    22 TAC 535.62(b)(7)

    Each topic needs a quiz of at least three questions, plus a scenario exercise for every 10 credit hours or less. In distance delivery the student cannot move on until every quiz question is right, and a wrong answer gets the rationale and a follow-up question.

  3. 03

    Hours backed by evidence

    22 TAC 535.62(b)(3) and (c)

    The course needs enough content for the hours claimed, shown by word-count studies, student time studies or another method TREC accepts. A course certified by a distance learning certification center the Commission accepts is deemed to meet hour verification.

  4. 04

    Identity, instructor access and completion

    22 TAC 535.65(g)(2)

    The provider ensures the student completing every topic, quiz and exercise is the one getting credit, through an identity verification process TREC accepts. A qualified instructor must be available in a timely way and responsible for answers and grading rationale.

  5. 05

    Closed-book, proctored finals

    22 TAC 535.65(h); 22 TAC 535.62(b)(8)

    Finals are closed book and proctored by provider staff or an acceptable third party, present or monitoring through technology the Commission accepts. No final before the coursework is done, and passing is 70%. The course needs at least four versions of the final.

  6. 06

    CE: a new delivery method is a new application

    22 TAC 535.72(b)(3), (g)(3) and (i)

    Adding distance delivery to an approved CE course takes a new application, and the course cannot run until written notice of approval arrives. The CE exam is proctored or computer administered under conditions the Commission accepts, with 70% to pass.

How the platform is built to it

Your course, on your site, under your name. Every requirement above is a feature, not a promise in the application.

Topic gating with a remediation loop

Quizzes lock the next topic until every answer is correct. A miss shows the rationale and serves a related follow-up question from the bank, the way 535.62(b)(7) describes it.

Identity checks across the whole course

Identity is verified at enrollment and rechecked through quizzes and exercises, so the record shows the same person did the work and took the credit.

Instructor channel with a paper trail

Students reach a qualified instructor inside the course. Response times and grading rationale are logged, which covers both instructor duties in 535.65(g)(2).

Remote proctored final with four versions

The final opens only after all modules are complete, runs closed book under remote proctoring, rotates across at least four versions, and scores against 70%.

Time study and reviewer documentation

Word counts and real student time data export per topic for the hour evidence. We also prepare the reviewer access instructions and the descriptions of identity, time and instructor verification that the CE application asks for.

The path to TREC approval

  1. 1

    Choose how hours will be verified: word-count or time studies reviewed by TREC, or certification from a distance learning certification center the Commission accepts. TREC's CE application names IDECC.

  2. 2

    File a separate application for the distance delivery method, even if the classroom version is already approved.

  3. 3

    On the CE application, give TREC staff access instructions and describe identity verification, time verification and instructor access, with a question bank of at least four questions per credit hour and a timed outline.

  4. 4

    Pay the fees. The CE forms list a $50 base fee and a $10 per hour distance delivery fee, waived when the course carries a current IDECC approval.

  5. 5

    Do not offer the course until written notice of approval from the Commission arrives.

The terms

We are building one right now for a state-approved online school in Virginia, in English and Spanish, on the same terms.

One flat fee
Quoted per course before any work starts. No hourly billing and no surprise line items.
Final payment on approval
The last payment is due when the regulator approves the course, so the platform has to pass review before it is paid for in full.
No per-student fees
You keep what every enrollment pays. Nothing is skimmed per seat, per certificate or per month of traffic.
You own it
The platform, the code and the student records are yours outright, on your site and under your brand.

Questions schools ask

Does TREC require IDECC certification for an online course?

It is one route, not a mandate. A certified course is deemed to meet the hour verification requirement and the CE application fee is waived, but a provider can instead support hours with word-count or time studies.

Can a Texas student take the final exam at home?

Yes, if the proctor can monitor the student through technology the Commission accepts. The exam stays closed book either way, and it cannot open before the coursework is done.

Is a Zoom class distance education under TREC rules?

No. Classroom rules apply when instructor and students can see and hear each other, including through technology. A technology-delivered class over 20 students needs a monitor at the broadcast site and proctors at remote sites.

How long does a student have to retake a failed qualifying final?

The retake has to happen no later than the 90th day after the original class concludes. For CE the rule allows one retake within 30 days.

How do you charge for a Texas build?

Each course is one flat fee. You pay the last part when TREC approves the course, there are no per-student fees, and the code belongs to you. We are building one right now for a state-approved online school in Virginia, in English and Spanish, on the same terms.

Price your TREC course

Tell us the course and how you teach it now. You get a flat price back by email, and a list of what the application will ask about the platform.

Or email [email protected]

Sources

Read from the sources above on October 15, 2026. Rules change, so confirm the current text with TREC before you apply. This page is not legal advice.

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