(a) Renewal application.
  (1) A real estate license expires on the date shown on the face of the license issued to the license holder.
  (2) If a license holder intends to renew an unexpired license, the license holder must, on or before the expiration date of the current license:
    (A) file a renewal application through the online process on the Commission's website or on the applicable form approved by the Commission;
    (B) submit the appropriate fee required by §535.101 of this chapter (relating to Fees);
    (C) comply with the fingerprinting requirements under the Act; and
    (D) except as provided for in subsections (g) and (h) of this section, satisfy the continuing education requirements applicable to that license.
  (3) The Commission may request additional information be provided to the Commission in connection with a renewal application.
  (4) A license holder is required to provide information requested by the Commission not later than the 30th day after the date the Commission requests the information. Failure to provide information is grounds for disciplinary action.
(b) Renewal Notice.
  (1) The Commission will deliver a license renewal notice to a license holder three months before the expiration of the license holder's current license.
  (2) If a license holder intends to renew a license, failure to receive a license renewal notice from the Commission does not relieve a license holder from the requirements of this subsection.
  (3) The Commission has no obligation to notify any license holder who has failed to provide the Commission with the person's mailing address and email address or a corporation, limited liability company, or partnership that has failed to designate an officer, manager, or partner who meets the requirements of the Act.
(c) Timely renewal of a license.
  (1) A renewal application for an individual broker or sales agent is filed timely if it is received by the Commission, or postmarked, on or before the license expiration date.
  (2) A renewal application for a business entity broker is filed timely, if the application and all required supporting documentation is received by the Commission, or postmarked, not later than the 10th business day before the license expiration date.
  (3) If the license expires on a Saturday, Sunday or any other day on which the Commission is not open for business, a renewal application is considered to be filed timely if the application is received or postmarked no later than the first business day after the expiration date of the license.
(d) Initial renewal of sales agent license. A sales agent applying for the first renewal of a sales agent license must:
  (1) successfully complete the additional educational requirements of §535.55 of this chapter (relating to Education and Sponsorship Requirements for a Sales Agent License) before the sales agent files the renewal application; and
  (2) fulfill the continuing education requirements of §535.92(a)(1), (a)(2), and (a)(4) of this chapter (relating to Continuing Education Requirements), if applicable.
(e) Renewal of license issued to a business entity. The Commission will not renew a license issued to a business entity unless the business entity:
  (1) has designated a corporate officer, an LLC manager, an LLC member with managing authority, or a general partner who:
    (A) is a licensed broker in active status and good standing with the Commission; and
    (B) completes any applicable continuing education required under §535.92 of this chapter;
  (2) maintains errors and omissions insurance with a minimum annual limit of $1 million per occurrence if the designated broker owns less than 10 percent of the business entity; and
  (3) is currently eligible to transact business in Texas.
(f) Renewal and pending complaints.
  (1) The Commission may renew the current license of a license holder that has a complaint pending with the Commission, provided the license holder meets all other applicable requirements of this section.
  (2) Upon completion of the investigation of the pending complaint, the Commission may suspend or revoke the license, after notice and hearing in accordance with the Administrative Procedure Act, Chapter 2001, Texas Government Code.
(g) Renewal on inactive status.
  (1) A license holder may renew a license on inactive status.
  (2) A license holder is not required to complete continuing education courses as a condition of renewing a license on inactive status, but must satisfy continuing education requirements before returning to active status.
(h) Renewal with deferred continuing education.
  (1) A license holder may renew an active license without completion of required continuing education and may defer completion of any outstanding continuing education requirements for an additional 60 days from the expiration date of the current license if the license holder:
    (A) meets all other applicable requirements of this section; and
    (B) pays the continuing education deferral fee required by §535.101 of this chapter at the time the license holder files the renewal application with the Commission.
  (2) If after expiration of the 60 day period set out in paragraph (1) of this subsection, the Commission has not been provided with evidence that the license holder has completed all outstanding continuing education requirements, the license holder's license will be placed on inactive status.
  (3) Credit for continuing education courses for a subsequent licensing period does not accrue until after all deferred continuing education has been completed for the current licensing period.
(i) Late Renewal.
  (1) Subject to the requirements of this subsection and §1101.451(e) of the Act, a license holder may late renew a license after the expiration date of that license if:
    (A) the license has been expired for less than six months.
    (B) the license holder files the application to renew on a form approved by the Commission for that purpose; and
    (C) the license holder submits the required fees under §535.101 of this chapter.
  (2) Provided the license holder meets all the requirements of paragraph (1) of this subsection, the Commission will renew the license on inactive status.
(j) License Reinstatement.
  (1) If a license has been expired for more than six months, a license holder may not renew the license.
  (2) A license holder may reinstate an expired license if the license holder:
    (A) has held an individual broker or sales agent license in this state within the two years preceding the date the reinstatement application is filed;
    (B) submits the required fees under §535.101 of this chapter; and
    (C) satisfies the Commission as to the applicant's honesty, trustworthiness, and integrity.
  (3) An applicant for reinstatement is not required to take an examination.
  (4) Provided the license holder meets the requirements of paragraph (2) of this subsection, the Commission will reinstate:
    (A) a broker license on active status if the continuing education that would have been required for a timely renewal during the two years preceding the date the application is filed is completed, except as provided in paragraph (5) of this subsection
    (B) a sales agent license on inactive status.
  (5) A broker may file an application to reinstate a license on inactive status under this subsection.
(k) Reactivation of a license on inactive status under this section is governed by Subchapter L of this chapter (relating to Inactive License Status).
(l) Denial of Renewal. The Commission may deny an application for renewal of a license if the license holder is in violation of the terms of a Commission order.
(m) Renewal of license for military service member. A license holder on active duty in the United States armed forces is entitled to two years of additional time to renew an expired license without being subject to any increase in fee, any education or experience requirements or examination if the license holder:
  (1) provides a copy of official orders or other official documentation acceptable to the Commission showing that the license holder was on active duty during the license holder's last renewal period; and
  (2) pays the renewal application fee in effect when the previous license expired.

Source Note: The provisions of this §535.91 adopted to be effective January 1, 1976; amended to be effective July 20, 1981, 6 TexReg 2291; amended to be effective June 1, 1990, 15 TexReg 876; amended to be effective August 19, 1991, 16 TexReg 4284; amended to be effective July 18, 1994, 19 TexReg 5089; amended to be effective July 16, 1996, 21 TexReg 6235; amended to be effective September 1, 2000, 25 TexReg 6507; amended to be effective October 4, 2001, 26 TexReg 7541; amended to be effective January 1, 2004, 28 TexReg 9544; amended to be effective September 1, 2004, 29 TexReg 8293; amended to be effective July 1, 2006, 31 TexReg 4197; amended to be effective December30, 2007, 32 TexReg 9994; amended to be effective January 1, 2011, 35 TexReg 11689; amended to be effective November 1, 2011, 36 TexReg 7330; amended to be effective September 9, 2012, 37 TexReg 7176; amended to be effective January 1, 2015, 39 TexReg 9669; amended to be effective January 1, 2016, 40 TexReg 8242; amended to be effective August 28, 2017, 42 TexReg 4307; amended to be effective December 11, 2019, 44 TexReg 7707; amended to be effective March 16, 2021, 46 TexReg 1642; amended to be effective October 1, 2023, 48 TexReg 2952