Texas license lookup / Exam guides / Property tax appraiser and collector
The Texas property tax professional exams
Property tax appraisers, collectors and assessor-collectors register with TDLR and move up through classes by exam. The appraiser exams are closed book; the collector exams are open book. From 1 April 2026 all reference the 2025 Texas Property Tax Code.
Based on PSI's candidate bulletin dated 13 January 2026 · Reviewed 9 October 2026
The exam at a glance
| Exam | Questions | Time | To pass | Fee | Format |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Appraiser Class III | 100 scored + 5 | 220 min + 10 | 70% | $71 | Closed book |
| Appraiser Class IV (RPA) | 150 scored + 10 | 330 min + 30 | 70% | $100 | Closed book |
| Collector Class III (RTC) | 80 scored + 5 | 120 min + 10 | 70% | $52 | Open book |
| Assessor-collector Class IV (RTA) | 150 scored + 10 | 210 min + 20 | 70% | $52 | Open book |
"+ N" is extra time or questions for unscored items, which PSI includes to trial new questions. Exam fees are paid to PSI, separately from TDLR's license application fee.
What is on it: appraiser Class IV, RPA (150 items)
| Topic | Items | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Mass appraisal | 30 | 20% |
| Cost approach | 23 | 15% |
| Income approach | 23 | 15% |
| Sales comparison approach | 20 | 13% |
| Personal property | 17 | 11% |
| Texas property tax law | 15 | 10% |
| Texas property tax system | 7 | 5% |
| Ethics | 5 | 3% |
| General appraisal | 5 | 3% |
| USPAP | 5 | 3% |
What is on it: assessor-collector Class IV, RTA (150 items)
| Topic | Items | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Current and delinquent tax collections | 50 | 33% |
| Texas property tax system | 23 | 15% |
| Basics of assessment | 20 | 13% |
| Property tax law | 20 | 13% |
| Truth-in-taxation | 19 | 13% |
| Collection litigation | 8 | 5% |
| Agricultural change of use penalty | 5 | 3% |
| Ethics | 5 | 3% |
The Class III exams
The appraiser Class III exam (100 items) covers the three approaches to value, personal property, the tax system, ethics and USPAP. The collector Class III exam (80 items) is weighted to current and delinquent collections (35 items). Continuing education after registration is covered in the requirements table.
Scheduling and exam day
- Eligibility first. TDLR reviews your application, then PSI emails you that you are eligible and how to book. You cannot book before that.
- Booking. Online through your PSI account, or by phone; your name must match your government ID exactly.
- On the day. PSI's TDLR bulletins ask you to arrive 30 minutes early with one valid government photo ID; late arrivals are turned away and lose the fee.
- Cancelling. Cancel or reschedule at least two days ahead through PSI, or the fee is forfeited.
- Results. Scores are given at the test center. PSI gives failing candidates a diagnostic report by topic, which is the best study guide for a retake.
Before and after the exam
- License statistics and renewal for this trade
- Renewal calculator for once you are licensed
- All exam guides and pass rates
For context: Texas has 4,154 active licenses of this type in the public TDLR file dated 20 September 2026.
Questions
How long is the Texas RPA (appraiser Class IV) exam?
150 scored questions plus 10 unscored, in 330 minutes plus 30, closed book. 70% passes.
Sources
PSI Services, candidate information bulletin dated 13 January 2026. Exam fees, formats and outlines change when PSI reissues a bulletin: the bulletin sent with your eligibility notice is the one that applies to you.
Independent site, not affiliated with TDLR or PSI. We do not sell courses or practice tests.
Cite this page
PermitPulled (2026). The Texas property tax professional exams. Retrieved from https://permitpulled.com/exams/property-tax-professional-exams-texas
Figures compiled from the public TDLR license file and published under CC BY 4.0. Attribution required.