Do Real Estate Agents Get Drug Tested?

One benefit of a career in real estate is that you get to be your own boss. You must work for a brokerage when you start out, but you’re in charge of your own schedule, marketing, and record keeping.

Life as an entrepreneur comes with many benefits, but it is also a challenge in self-accountability. Real estate agents have to be organized, fastidious, and, most of all, responsible.

Will I get drug tested as a real estate agent?

No. As a real estate agent, you do not have to submit to regular drug testing. Unlike other jobs, real estate allows you to make independent decisions about your own privacy.

At no point in the real estate licensing process, either — from qualifying education courses to the background check — must prospective agents complete a drug test.

Can brokerages drug test as part of the hiring process?

They legally can, but few do. Less than 0.5% of real estate agents reported a mandatory drug test as part of the hiring process.

For instance, none of these high-profile brokerages drug test:

• Keller Williams Realty
• Compass
• eXp Realty
• Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices
• Redfin

What if I have a drug-related conviction?

Be sure to check your state’s rules. If you live in Texas, for instance, you’ll have to meet the Texas Real Estate Commission’s (TREC) requirements for “honesty, trustworthiness, and integrity.” TREC reserves the right to deny applicants a license if they do not meet these standards.

Felonies and misdemeanors related to illegal substances may prohibit you from attaining a license. If you live in Texas have a drug-related charge on your record, you should fill out a Fitness Determination (FD) form.

Once you submit an FD form to TREC, they will reach out to inform you whether or not you are eligible for a real estate license. That way, you won’t have to wait until the end of the process to find out.

For more information, see our article about getting a real estate license with a felony.