Managing your license with the Texas Appraiser Licensing and Certification Board (TALCB) is getting easier. The agency is developing a new license management system called the Real Estate and Appraiser License Management Portal, or REALM Portal. The REALM Portal will help prospective and current license holders go paperless and apply for or manage real estate licenses all online, 24/7. You'll also be able to:

• Save and return to your application when you're ready.
• Request a fitness determination online before applying for a license. 
• Upload your documents within the system (no more separate emails to TALCB).
• Make payments securely online.
• Track the status of your applications.
• Track your appraiser continuing education (ACE) hours. 
• File complaints, resulting in faster processing.

Key REALM Portal Dates and To-Dos

December 2 at 5 p.m. CT: Deadline to Use the Current License System

If you need to manage your real estate license, this is the deadline to do so in the current license management system. Submit all your materials, including paying any fees that are due, in the current system by 5 p.m. CT December 2. We will move that new information into the REALM Portal. Otherwise, you can wait to manage your license when the REALM Portal launches December 10.

What Appraisers Should Do Now

• Renew your license now if you are expiring in November, December, or January 2026.
• Make sure your email address is up to date so that you receive your account activation email for the REALM Portal.
• Make any changes to your account before December 2 or wait until after the December 10 launch date for the REALM Portal.
• Accept or decline any AMC Panel invitations before December 2. Open invitations will not be transferred to the REALM Portal. The AMC will need to send a new invitation in the REALM Portal.
• Make changes to your relationships before December 2. Supervisors and trainees should manage their relationships before December 2. You will not have access to make changes until after December 10.

What AMCs Should Do Now

• Renew now if your AMC is expiring in November, December, or January 2026.
• Make sure your email address is up to date so you receive the REALM Portal account activation email.
• Make any changes to your account before December 2 or wait until after the December 10 launch date for REALM.
• Review your open panel invitations and ensure appraisers accept or decline them before December 2. You will not have online access to add or remove panelist between December 2 to December 10. Any unaccepted invitations will not transfer to the REALM Portal, and the AMC will need to issue new invitations.
• Export your list of panelists from the Versa Online Services account before December 2, so you’ll have a record of your approved panelists during the system transition period.

What Applicants Should Do Now

• Submit all documents needed to cure deficiencies by November 30. Items submitted after this date will not be processed until after December 10.
• Make sure your email address is up to date so you receive the REALM Portal account activation notice. All application activity will occur in the REALM Portal after December 10.
• Make any changes to your account before December 2 or wait until after the December 10 launch date for the REALM Portal.
• Make changes to your relationships before December 2. Supervisors and trainees should act now, otherwise you will have to wait until after December 10.

December 2 at 5 p.m. CT through December 9: Transition Period

This is the transition period for moving license holder data from the current system into the REALM Portal. Online license management services will be unavailable. Staff will not have access to either database during this time and will not be able to enter data or make changes on a license holders' behalf.

What to Know About The Transition Period

• TALCB is open for business as usual, aside from our regular holiday schedule.
• You can reach us by phone or email.
• You'll still have access to contract forms, articles, FAQs, and more information at trec.texas.gov and talcb.texas.gov.
• The license holder search and disciplinary history search will still be online, just not updated while we move data from our old system into the REALM Portal.

Make Sure You're Ready for the REALM Portal Activation Email

On December 10, when the REALM Portal launches, you will receive an email from no-reply@trec.texas.gov outlining how to activate and create your new REALM Portal account. This important email will be delivered to your email address of record. If your email address is missing or not current, you will not receive the information you need to activate your new REALM Portal account.

Do You Have Multiple Licenses With TREC and TALCB?

Do not register multiple times with different email accounts. 

• If you use the same email address of record to manage all of your licenses (e.g., inspector and broker; certified general appraiser and broker; business entity and broker) all your accounts will show up once you register for the REALM Portal with that email address and you will not need additional identifiers.
• If you use different email addresses for each license type, you can either update your email address of record to be the same for each type, or you will need to use additional details within your activation email to connect your licenses to one primary account. Only register using one email address and plan to connect the other licenses with a unique identifier in your activation email.

How Do I Update My Email Address of Record?

If you need to update your email address, it is essential to do so before December 2, 2025.

First, log in to your current account.

• From the Quick Start Menu page, click on the down arrow from the “Change your license information and manage relationships” category.
• Click on “Change/Verify Contact Information,” then click “Select.”
• Click on the “Next” tab after reading the information on the “Change/Verify Contact Information” introduction page.
• Verify your information and make any necessary updates. Click “Next” when done.
• Verify the information on the Application Summary page and click “Submit.”
• On the Attestation page, by selecting “Yes,” you certify that the email address is accurate and true.

December 10: REALM Portal Launch

On December 10, you will receive an email at your email address of record with instructions on how to activate your account.

 

Video Hub

What License Holders Need To Know

The REALM Portal will serve as the new online home for all TREC-TALCB license management. Everyone will use the same system, but the tools you'll access depend on your license type. The following is an overview of what each group can do in the REALM Portal once it's live.

Appraisers

Appraisers will use the REALM Portal to:

• Renew or upgrade a license
• Submit continuing education (CE) and qualifying education (QE) coursework
• Track experience logs and pending applications
• Manage supervisory and trainee relationships
• Update personal and business contact information

Appraisal Management Companies (AMCs)

AMCs will use the REALM Portal to:

• Submit AMC registration applications.
• Renew your AMC registration.
• Review, approve, and manage your appraiser panel.
• Manage your AMC registration.
• Update business and contact information.
• Update primary contact and AMC contact.
• Submit annual ASC National Registry Reporting.

Education Providers

TREC-TALCB-approved education providers will have access to the same features, including all provider and course applications being processed and managed online. This also means all documentation typically required with those applications will be submitted through the new online format. Education providers will also be able to:

• Paying fees online.
• Benefit from faster processing times, built-in timed outlines, and content outlines for course applications.
• Renew provider and course approvals
• Update provider and course information
• Track application status and approval history.

In preparation for the REALM Portal launch, course numbers will change. Education providers will receive new course numbers for all courses. The new numbers will be emailed to providers in early December. These numbers are necessary for updating course information online and within the CE posting system. 

Frequently Asked Questions

Here are the questions license holders have about the REALM Portal transition. The list is organized by topic.

REALM Portal Basics

What is the REALM Portal?

It’s the Real Estate and Appraiser License Management (REALM) Portal—a modern online licensing system created to simplify the way TREC-TALCB real estate professionals manage their license.

Why is TREC-TALCB switching to a new system?

The REALM Portal offers a more secure, user-friendly experience with modern features that make managing your license faster and easier—from online renewals to updating personal information.

How will the REALM Portal benefit license holders?

In a nutshell, the REALM Portal will allow for fully digital license management. This includes an entirely online experience for license application and renewals. Supporting documents can also be uploaded in the REALM Portal and complaints can be filed, all in one place.

What can I do in the REALM Portal?

You can renew your license, update your contact information, track CE, manage your application, and view your license history—all in one place.

Access and Account Setup

Will TREC-TALCB be shut down for two weeks?

No. There will be a transition period starting December 2 at 5 p.m. CT through December 9, 2025, when online license management services and the Posting System will be unavailable. The agency will be open for business as usual during this time.

How can I access the REALM Portal?

You will receive an email at your account of record with the agency with instructions on how to activate your REALM Portal account on December 10.

Do I need to create a new account?

Yes. All users must create a new REALM Portal account once the system launches. Your existing login credentials will not carry over.

How do I create a new account?

If you are already in TREC-TALCB's current system, you will receive an email from the agency with a link to activate your REALM Portal account and instructions for linking your current license or application. If you are a new applicant or need to submit a complaint, please follow the instructions for how to create an account on the REALM Portal website once it launches.

Licenses and Numbers

Do I need to reapply or resubmit my information?

No. Your existing license information and application records will automatically transfer to the REALM Portal.

Will my license expiration date or renewal cycle change?

No. Your license expiration date and renewal schedule will remain the same.

Will my license number look different in the REALM Portal?

As part of the transition to the new REALM Portal, license numbers will include a short letter code after the existing number to identify the license type. For example, if your certified residential appraiser license number was 1234 in the old system, it will now appear as 1234-CR in the REALM Portal. These letters help quickly identify the type of license you hold and will be printed on your official license documents.
So, your original license number will remain the same—only the added letters are new.

What are the new suffixes that will be added to existing license numbers?

Beginning with the launch of the REALM Portal, all license numbers will include a license-type suffix. This suffix will appear after your license number (example: 123456-SA) and will also be printed on your license. These suffixes help clearly identify the type of license you hold in the new system. Below are the suffixes assigned to each license type.

TREC Real Estate License Types: 

• Sales Agent: SA
• Broker: B
• Business Entity Broker: BE
• Business Broker (REO): BB
• Easement or Right-of-Way Agent: EA
• Easement or Right-of-Way Business: EB
• Business Entity License: BENT

TREC Inspectors ​

• Apprentice Inspector: AI
• Real Estate Inspector: RI
• Professional Inspector: PI

TALCB License Types

• Appraiser Trainee: T
• Certified General Appraiser: CG 
• Appraisal Management Company: AMC
• Certified Residential Appraiser: CR
• Licensed Residential Appraiser: LR
• Qualifying Education Provider: AQP
• Continuing Education Provider: ACEP

Will I receive a new license with the suffix added?

Yes. Your updated license, including the new license-type suffix, will be available for download directly within the REALM Portal once you activate your account. You can access and print your updated license at any time.

Education Providers

Will a separate course application need to be submitted for each delivery method?

No. Providers will submit a single course application for multiple delivery methods.

Are the fees changing for provider or course applications?

No, the application fees are not changing for providers and courses. However, a 3% Texas Online Fee will be assessed for all provider and course applications beginning December 10, 2025.

Support

Are there any tutorials or help guides?

Yes. Step-by-step video tutorials and quick-start guides are available on the TREC and TALCB websites and in the REALM Portal Video Hub. These websites will be continue to be updated with new helpful content.

Who do I contact if I have trouble accessing or using the REALM Portal?

Contact TREC's or TALCB's team for assistance.

Last updated November 21, 2025. This page will continue to be updated with new information as TREC-TALCB staff prepares for the new licensing system’s rollout.