Texas real estate agents looking to fulfill their continuing education requirements will have a unique opportunity to serve the state’s veteran community while earning credits in 2026. Texas Land Commissioner and Veterans Land Board (VLB) Chairwoman Dawn Buckingham has announced the continuation of a free one-hour elective course approved by the Texas Real Estate Commission (TREC).
The specialized course offers REALTORS® valuable insights into the various VLB programs designed specifically for Texas veterans, active military members, and their spouses. It covers comprehensive information about home and land loan programs that many agents might otherwise miss when working with veteran clients.
What’s in the Course?
For real estate professionals navigating Texas’s competitive housing market, understanding veteran benefits can be a crucial differentiator. The free VLB course covers fundamentals of the home loan program including eligibility requirements, property types, loan options, new construction guidelines, and participating lenders.
Additionally, the curriculum delves into the VLB Land Loan Program, explaining details such as minimum land size requirements, maximum loan amounts, minimum down payment needs, and the pre-qualification process. The course also addresses common issues that can delay loan closings — practical knowledge that can help agents better serve veteran clients.
For those seeking more extensive training on veteran benefits, a more comprehensive 3-hour “Texas Vet VLB Bootcamp” (Course No. 34568) is also available through Texas REALTORS® in a virtual format.
Meeting CE Requirements
Texas real estate licensees must complete 18 hours of continuing education during each two-year license cycle. This includes 8 mandatory hours of TREC Legal Update I and II courses, with the remaining hours fulfilled through electives like the VLB offering.
Brokers face additional requirements, including a 3-hour Contracts course and, where applicable, a 6-hour Broker Responsibility course.
The timing of this announcement aligns with TREC’s preparation for the 2026-2027 cycle. The commission has already begun listing approved CE courses with non-elective manuals for Legal Update I and II for that period, along with Broker Responsibility materials for 2025-2026.
A Personal Touch
Behind the technical aspects of the program stands Rodney Washington, Marketing Specialist and Veteran Resource Coordinator for the Texas Veterans Land Board. Washington, who hosts TREC Virtual Workshop Events, has been quoted reaching out directly to REALTORS® and lenders to bridge the gap between veteran benefits and housing professionals.
The continuation of this educational initiative reflects Texas’s ongoing commitment to its veteran community — ensuring that those who served have knowledgeable real estate professionals to guide them through their unique homebuying journey.
With housing markets remaining challenging across the state, the specialized knowledge offered through this continuing education opportunity could make a significant difference for veterans utilizing their earned benefits to secure homes in Texas.
