Texas Property Tax Consultant exam: what's on it and how to prepare
The Texas Property Tax Consultant exam is the competency exam you take to register with the Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation (TDLR) as a property tax consultant. It is given by PSI. This guide covers the format, the content outline, the references it is based on, and the steps to registration, all drawn from the official PSI bulletin, the Texas Occupations Code and TDLR's rules.
| Scored questions | 50 (plus 5 unscored pretest questions) |
|---|---|
| Time | 80 minutes (plus 10 minutes for the unscored questions) |
| Passing score | 70% correct |
| Exam fee | $43 (PSI) |
| Format | Multiple choice, closed book, at a PSI test center |
| Tax Code edition | 2025 Texas Property Tax Code (for exams starting April 1, 2026) |
Exam content outline
Every scored question comes from one of these 14 areas. Appraisal alone is more than half of the exam. Each square is one scored question.
- Appraisal26 of 50
- TDLR Laws and Rules2 of 50
- Ch. 1 General Provisions2 of 50
- Ch. 6 Property Tax Administration2 of 50
- Ch. 11 Taxable Property and Exemptions3 of 50
- Ch. 21 Appraisal and Assessment / Situs1 of 50
- Ch. 22 Renditions and Reports2 of 50
- Ch. 23 Appraisal Methods and Procedures2 of 50
- Ch. 25 Local Appraisal2 of 50
- Ch. 26 Assessment1 of 50
- Ch. 31–32 Collections, Delinquency, Liens2 of 50
- Ch. 41 Local Review2 of 50
- Ch. 41A Binding Arbitration1 of 50
- Ch. 42 Judicial Review2 of 50
The references the exam is based on
The bulletin lists four references. You can't bring them into the exam.
- Texas Occupations Code, Chapter 1152 (Property Tax Consultants), the statute that governs registration and conduct.
- 16 Texas Administrative Code, Chapter 66 (Registration of Property Tax Consultants), TDLR's rules on education, exams, renewal and responsibilities.
- Texas Property Tax Code, published by the Texas Comptroller of Public Accounts. Starting April 1, 2026, exams reference the 2025 edition.
- The Appraisal of Real Estate, 13th edition (2008), The Appraisal Institute, for the appraisal questions.
What each area covers
Appraisal (26 questions)
Expect the three approaches to value (sales comparison, cost and income), highest and best use, land valuation, depreciation, capitalization rates and income math, personal property, and the basics of mass appraisal and ratio studies. A solid share of these questions involve arithmetic: net operating income, cap rates, depreciation and adjustments.
Texas Property Tax Code (22 questions)
Each tested chapter gets one to three questions. The heaviest are Chapter 11 (taxable property and exemptions, 3), followed by Chapters 1, 6, 22, 23, 25, 31–32, 41 and 42 at 2 each. Chapters 21, 26 and 41A have 1 each. Deadlines, percentages and who-does-what questions are common.
TDLR laws and rules (2 questions)
Registration requirements, education and continuing education, and a registrant's responsibilities under Occupations Code Chapter 1152 and 16 TAC Chapter 66.
Steps to become a registered property tax consultant
- Meet the general requirements. Under Occupations Code §1152.155 you must be at least 18, hold a high school diploma or equivalent, pay the required fees, and have a Texas place of business or designate a Texas resident as your agent for service of process.
- Complete 40 classroom hours. 16 TAC §66.20(d) requires at least 40 hours of approved education: 8 hours on laws and rules, 16 hours on appraisal and valuation, 8 hours on property tax consulting, and 8 hours on ethics. Licensed real estate brokers, sales agents and appraisers have a separate path under §1152.155(b) and §1152.156(a)(2).
- Apply to TDLR. Once you meet the eligibility requirements, PSI sends an eligibility notice with instructions for scheduling the exam.
- Pass the exam with a score of at least 70%.
- Keep it current. Renewals require 24 hours of continuing education (8 law and rules, 4 ethics, 6 appraisal, 6 property tax consulting) under 16 TAC §66.25(c).
Requirements change. Confirm current details with TDLR before you apply.
How to study for it
- Weight your time like the exam does. Put roughly half your study time into appraisal, especially the math, then work through the Tax Code chapters.
- Learn the numbers. Deadlines, percentages and dollar thresholds are easy points if you've drilled them and easy misses if you haven't.
- Use the current Tax Code. Several amounts changed in 2025, including homestead exemption amounts and the business personal property exemption. Study from the 2025 edition.
- Take full timed exams. 50 questions in 80 minutes is about 96 seconds per question. Practice at that pace and review every miss.
Practicing with Texas License Prep
The practice pack is built around the outline above. Here is what it includes.
- Timed practice exams
- 50 questions in 80 minutes, drawn area by area to match the PSI outline. Flag questions to come back to, then review every answer after you submit.
- Study by topic
- Pick appraisal subtopics or Tax Code chapters and see the explanation right after each question. Redo only the ones you missed.
- A source for every answer
- Each explanation names the Tax Code section, TDLR rule or appraisal reference, with the document and page, so you can check it yourself.
- Progress by topic
- See which chapters cost you points and how your exam scores change over time. Progress follows your access key to any device.
- Quick-reference sheet
- Deadlines, dollar amounts, appraisal formulas, ratio study standards and TDLR rules on two printable pages, each with its citation.
- New questions first
- Exams give you questions you haven't seen before repeating any, so scores measure what you know rather than what you remember.
Try 10 free questions or get access for $49.
Frequently asked questions
How many questions are on the Texas Property Tax Consultant exam?
50 scored questions plus 5 unscored pretest questions, according to the PSI Candidate Information Bulletin revised January 14, 2026.
How long is the exam?
80 minutes for the 50 scored questions, plus 10 minutes for the 5 unscored questions.
What score do I need to pass?
70% correct. 16 TAC §66.20 sets the passing standard for the property tax consultant examination at a score of at least 70 percent.
How much does the exam cost?
The PSI bulletin lists the Property Tax Consultant examination fee as $43. TDLR application and registration fees are separate.
Is the exam open book?
No. The bulletin lists the references as closed book.
What is the biggest part of the exam?
Appraisal: 26 of the 50 scored questions (52%). The other 24 cover TDLR laws and rules and 13 chapters of the Texas Property Tax Code.
Which version of the Tax Code do the practice questions use?
The 2025 Texas Property Tax Code, which PSI says the exams reference starting April 1, 2026. Law questions are checked against the Comptroller's 2025 edition.
Do practice exams count toward the 40 hours of required education?
No. Registration requires 40 classroom hours from TDLR-approved courses. Practice exams are a review tool to use alongside that education, not a replacement for it.
Will this help with the Senior Property Tax Consultant exam?
The senior exam covers the same subject areas with 100 scored questions, so the material overlaps. The timed practice exams here are built to the 50-question Property Tax Consultant outline.
Sources
- PSI Services, Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation Property Tax Consultant Candidate Information Bulletin, revised January 14, 2026 (psiexams.com)
- Texas Occupations Code §§1152.155–1152.157 (statutes.capitol.texas.gov)
- 16 Texas Administrative Code §§66.20 and 66.25 (Texas Secretary of State)
- TDLR, Property Tax Consultant Examination Information (tdlr.texas.gov)
Texas License Prep is not affiliated with TDLR or PSI. This guide is a study resource, not legal advice.