- TX-PREI on this site refers specifically to the TREC State Portion of the Professional Inspector exam, administered by Pearson VUE.
- The state exam has 30 multiple-choice questions (25 scored, 5 pretest) with 45 minutes and a passing threshold of 19 correct.
- Licensing Law and General Provisions together make up the bulk of scored items - 9 and 8 questions respectively out of 25.
- This state portion is separate from the National Home Inspector Examination (NHIE); when taken separately, national comes first.
What TX-PREI Actually Stands For
On this site, TX-PREI stands for the Texas Professional Real Estate Inspector Exam (TREC State Portion) - the state-specific examination that candidates for the Professional Inspector license in Texas must pass through Pearson VUE. If you've encountered other explanations of "TX-PREI" tied to different certifying bodies, different fees, or different pass rates, those come from unrelated credentials that happen to share similar letters. Everything on txpreiexam.com refers exclusively to the Texas Real Estate Commission's state examination for aspiring Professional Inspectors.
Understanding this distinction matters because the exam content, question count, and scoring rules are unique to this state portion. For a broader introduction to the credential itself, see What Is TX-PREI? and the companion piece TX-PREI Meaning, which unpack the terminology in more depth.
TREC, Pearson VUE, and Why the Distinction Matters
The Texas Real Estate Commission (TREC) is the licensing authority that sets the requirements, rules, and standards of practice inspectors must know. Pearson VUE is the testing vendor that actually administers the Professional Inspector state examination at computer-based test centers. This split matters practically: TREC controls eligibility, licensing law, and renewal; Pearson VUE controls exam-day logistics, scheduling, and the outline document that defines question allocations.
The Pearson VUE state outline for this exam lists September 2, 2014 as its effective date, and that outline remains the document linked from the inspector testing page today. Candidates preparing for the state portion should treat that outline - not general home inspection material - as the authoritative source for what the 25 scored questions can cover.
If you're still mapping out what this credential requires end-to-end, TX-PREI Requirements 2026: Eligibility, Prerequisites & How to Qualify walks through the qualification path in more detail than we cover here.
Exam Format: 30 Questions, 45 Minutes, 19 to Pass
The state portion is a closed-book, computer-based multiple-choice exam with 30 total questions: 25 are scored and five are unscored pretest items used to evaluate future exam content. Candidates have 45 minutes to complete all 30 questions. Because pretest items are indistinguishable from scored ones during the exam, every question must be treated as if it counts.
To pass, Professional Inspector candidates must answer 19 of the 25 scored questions correctly. That threshold, and how it's calculated, is explained more fully in TX-PREI Passing Score 2026: Exactly What You Need to Pass.
Key Takeaway
With only 45 minutes for 30 questions, pacing yourself to roughly 90 seconds per question leaves a small buffer for flagging and reviewing uncertain answers before time runs out.
What Test Day Requires
Testing happens at a Pearson VUE test center under closed-book conditions. Candidates must bring two unexpired signature IDs, including one primary government-issued photo ID, and the names on both must match the exam registration exactly. Calculators are permitted but must not support alphabetic characters - a detail that trips up candidates who bring a standard scientific or graphing calculator with letter keys.
The Five State-Portion Domains
The state exam outline organizes its 25 scored questions across five content domains. Three domains focus on Texas-specific exclusions and unique reporting requirements within the Standards of Practice, while two focus on law and rules governing the profession itself.
Domain 1: Structural Systems - Texas SOP Exclusions and Unique Reporting Requirements
Covers how the Texas Standards of Practice diverge from general structural inspection norms, including what must and must not be reported for foundations, framing, and related components.
- Know which structural conditions are explicitly excluded from required reporting under Texas SOP
Domain 2: Electrical Systems - Texas SOP Exclusions and Unique Reporting Requirements
Focuses on Texas-specific electrical reporting rules that differ from generic inspection training, including exclusions inspectors must recognize.
- Distinguish standard electrical inspection practice from Texas-mandated exceptions
Domain 3: Mechanical Systems - Texas SOP Exclusions and Unique Reporting Requirements
Addresses HVAC and mechanical component reporting nuances unique to the Texas SOP.
- Identify mechanical items excluded from standard reporting obligations
Domain 4: Licensing Law - Chapter 1102, Texas Occupations Code
The largest domain on the exam, drawing 9 of the 25 scored questions. This tests direct knowledge of the statute governing inspector licensure in Texas.
- Study Chapter 1102 provisions on licensing, discipline, and inspector conduct
Domain 5: General Provisions - TREC Rules, Chapter 535, Subchapter R
The second-largest domain, drawing 8 of the 25 scored questions. Covers TREC's administrative rules specific to real estate inspectors.
- Understand Subchapter R rules on inspector responsibilities and procedures
The official scored-item allocations across the five domains are 2, 3, 3, 9, and 8 out of 25 questions, with Licensing Law being the single largest domain. That weighting alone should shape how you divide study time - a topic explored in full in TX-PREI Exam Domains 2026: Complete Guide to All 5 Content Areas.
| Domain | Scored Questions (of 25) |
|---|---|
| Structural Systems - Texas SOP Exclusions | 2 |
| Electrical Systems - Texas SOP Exclusions | 3 |
| Mechanical Systems - Texas SOP Exclusions | 3 |
| Licensing Law - Chapter 1102 | 9 |
| General Provisions - TREC Rules, Subchapter R | 8 |
Getting to the Testing Center: Eligibility and Routes
Before scheduling the state exam, candidates must meet TREC's eligibility rules: be at least 18 years old, be a U.S. citizen or lawfully admitted, satisfy honesty, trustworthiness, and integrity requirements, and complete fingerprinting and background checks. Only after TREC authorization is granted can a candidate register with Pearson VUE.
There are two alternative education paths, not cumulative requirements - meaning you complete one or the other, not both:
- Substitute-education route: 194 total hours, consisting of 154 coursework hours plus a 40-hour practicum.
- Alternative sponsored route: 134 coursework hours, combined with 12 months active as a Real Estate Inspector during the preceding 24 months and 175 supervised inspections.
Applicants must complete their application within one year, and if taking the national and state exams separately, the national examination (NHIE) must be taken before the state exam. Passing results on either exam remain valid for one year, so timing your applications and study schedule matters. For a deeper walkthrough of eligibility mechanics, see TX-PREI Requirements 2026: Eligibility, Prerequisites & How to Qualify, and for exact scheduling windows, check TX-PREI Exam Dates 2026: Testing Windows, Deadlines & Scheduling.
Fees, Renewal, and Ongoing CE
TREC Rule 535.210 sets a $120 base application fee for the Professional Inspector license, with a $60 base fee for timely renewal. Online-system processing charges apply separately from these base fees. Active licensure also requires at least $100,000 per-occurrence professional liability insurance, or another form of qualifying financial responsibility.
Once licensed, renewal happens every two years and requires 32 continuing education hours: eight non-elective hours covering legal, ethics, standards-of-practice, and report-writing topics, plus 24 elective hours, with no more than 16 hours permitted in any single subject. A full cost breakdown, including how these fees compare across the licensing lifecycle, is available in TX-PREI Certification Cost 2026: Complete Pricing Breakdown.
Scheduling Your Study Around the Domain Weights
Because Licensing Law (9 questions) and General Provisions (8 questions) together account for 17 of the 25 scored items, an efficient study plan front-loads these two domains rather than treating all five equally. A simple four-week structure reflects that imbalance:
Licensing Law - Chapter 1102
- Read through licensure, discipline, and conduct provisions
- Drill practice questions targeting this 9-question domain
General Provisions - TREC Rules, Subchapter R
- Study inspector-specific administrative rules
- Cross-reference rule citations against practice items for this 8-question domain
Structural, Electrical, and Mechanical SOP Exclusions
- Compare Texas SOP exclusions against general inspection norms for each system
- Focus on reporting-requirement edge cases across all three smaller domains
Timed Review and Full Simulation
- Run full 30-question timed simulations at 45 minutes
- Revisit weak domains identified through missed practice questions
This kind of weighted approach is discussed at length in TX-PREI Study Guide 2026: How to Pass on Your First Attempt. If you want a sense of how difficult candidates generally find the closed-book format and time pressure, How Hard Is the TX-PREI Exam? Complete Difficulty Guide 2026 covers that in more detail, and TX-PREI Pass Rate 2026: What the Data Shows looks at what's publicly known about outcomes.
Running full-length timed simulations on our practice test platform before test day is one of the most direct ways to confirm your pacing holds up under the 45-minute limit. A quick-reference companion like TX-PREI Cheat Sheet 2026: One-Page Review of Must-Know Facts can also help during final review sessions.
Who Actually Needs This Exam
This state portion is required for anyone pursuing the Professional Inspector license in Texas - typically individuals building a home inspection business or joining an inspection firm that requires full licensure. It is not a general home-inspection certificate; it's a state-mandated gatekeeper tied directly to TREC licensure. If you're weighing whether pursuing this license fits your career goals, Is the TX-PREI Certification Worth It? Complete ROI Analysis 2026 and TX-PREI Jobs both explore the practical side of that decision, while TX-PREI Salary Guide 2026: Complete Earnings Analysis covers earnings considerations for licensed inspectors.
For candidates who want structured coursework leading up to the exam, TX-PREI Training outlines how the coursework hours fit into either eligibility route described above.
FAQ
No. On txpreiexam.com, TX-PREI refers exclusively to the Texas Professional Real Estate Inspector Exam (TREC State Portion) administered via Pearson VUE. Other sources may use similar letters for unrelated credentials with different fees, formats, or governing bodies.
No. The state portion and the NHIE are separate exams with separate content. When taken separately, the national exam must be completed before the state exam.
There are 30 total questions - 25 scored and 5 unscored pretest items - administered in 45 minutes. Candidates must answer 19 of the 25 scored questions correctly to pass.
Licensing Law (Chapter 1102, Texas Occupations Code) is the largest domain, accounting for 9 of the 25 scored questions, followed by General Provisions (TREC Rules, Subchapter R) with 8 questions.
After three failures, candidates must complete either a 20-hour Texas Law module or a 24-hour Texas Standards of Practice module before TREC will authorize another attempt.