Houston City College Helps Students Earn Real Estate Credentials Before High School Graduation

Houston City College 's  (HCC’s) dual-credit real estate program is helping local high school students get a jump start on careers in the region's growing real estate industry by allowing them to complete the required pre-licensing coursework for a Texas real estate sales agent license before graduating from high school. Texas requires 180 hours of qualifying education across six courses as part of the licensing process.

During a recent appearance on HCCTV's Up 2 the Minute, Juan Crawford, Ph.D., Houston City College division chair for banking, finance, real estate, marketing, paralegal, and translation and interpretation programs, highlighted how the Houston region's continued growth is driving demand for housing and creating career opportunities in real estate.

That demand is helping fuel interest in HCC's dual-credit real estate program, which allows students to complete the coursework required for a Texas real estate license while earning both high school and college credit. The program comes at a time when the Houston metropolitan area continues to experience significant population growth. Metro Houston added nearly 200,000 residents in 2024, bringing the region's population to approximately 7.8 million and making it one of the nation's fastest-growing major metropolitan areas. The growth is helping drive continued demand for housing and real estate services.

The program is offered through select local high schools and designated HCC campuses, including Eastside. Students complete six required courses during their junior and senior years before moving into exam preparation and a 16-week internship designed to provide hands-on industry experience.

Beyond preparing students for careers in real estate, the program introduces concepts related to homeownership, personal finance and wealth-building that many people do not encounter until adulthood.

"At 18, they know what a mortgage is. I did not know what a mortgage was at 18," Dr. Crawford said."They would know the difference between buying a house and renting a house. They would know about wealth, building equity and controlling their future."

The dual-credit program also provides students with an alternative pathway into the workforce while keeping the door open for continued education. Participants can earn industry credentials, gain practical experience and develop professional skills before graduating from high school.

Crawford said helping students recognize the possibilities available to them through education and career training is one of the program's most rewarding outcomes.

"To be able to encourage someone who is 18 years old that there are these possibilities is fulfilling," Dr. Crawford said. “That’s really life changing."

Learn more about HCC Real Estate programs at hccs.edu/real-estate.