To get a real estate license, you complete state-approved pre-licensing coursework, pass a two-part licensing exam, affiliate with a sponsoring broker, and submit a license application with fingerprints and fees to your state’s real estate commission. The whole process usually takes two to six months, depending on how fast you move through the coursework and clear the background check. Expect to spend somewhere between a few hundred dollars and roughly a thousand on education, exams, and application costs combined.
The steps follow a consistent pattern across the country, but the specifics (hours required, fee amounts, renewal cycles) are set by each state. Confirm the exact numbers with your state’s real estate commission before you spend money.
Do You Meet the Basic Requirements
Every state sets a minimum age for licensure. In most it’s 18; a handful require 19. You also need a high school diploma or GED. Both are hard cutoffs with no waiver.
A criminal record doesn’t automatically disqualify you, but it can. State commissions look at whether a conviction relates to the duties of a licensee, and crimes involving fraud, theft, dishonesty, or sexual offenses are the ones most likely to lead to denial. If something is on your record, most states let you request a preliminary determination before you spend time and money on coursework. One rule holds everywhere: failing to disclose a conviction on the application is almost always worse than the conviction itself.
Finish Pre-Licensing Education
Before you can sit for the exam, you have to complete a pre-licensing course from a provider approved by your state’s real estate commission or department of licensing. Required hours run from 60 at the low end to 180 at the high end. The coursework covers property law, agency relationships, contracts, fair housing, and real estate finance. Expect to pay $200 to $600 for the course itself, with online and in-person formats widely available.
Only approved providers count. A generic real estate course from an unapproved school won’t satisfy the requirement no matter how many hours you log. When you finish, the provider issues a certificate of completion or official transcript, which you’ll need for exam registration and your license application. Keep it.
Pick a provider on the strength of its exam prep, not just price. The national first-time pass rate on the licensing exam sits around 61%, meaning roughly four in ten first-timers fail. Good practice tests and prep materials make a real difference.
Pass the Licensing Exam
The exam has two sections: a national portion covering general real estate principles, and a state-specific portion on local laws and regulations. Both are multiple choice, administered at approved testing centers (often run by vendors like PSI or Pearson VUE). The typical passing threshold is 70% on each section, though the exact number varies.
Fail one section and pass the other, and most states let you retake only the section you failed. Retakes carry an additional exam fee, and there’s usually a short waiting period between attempts, from a few days to a couple of weeks. After a set number of failed attempts, some states require additional coursework before you can try again.
Watch the clock after you pass. Many states give you a limited window, often 60 days to a few months, to submit your license application. Miss it and your scores expire. You take the test again.
Choose a Sponsoring Broker
A new salesperson can’t operate independently. You have to affiliate with a licensed broker who takes legal responsibility for supervising your work, and your license won’t be issued without that broker’s name and license number on your application. This isn’t a formality.
Treat the broker choice as a real business decision. Commission splits commonly run from 70/30 to 90/10 in the agent’s favor, with newer agents usually starting at the lower end. Some brokerages add monthly desk fees or technology fees that range from nothing to $150 or more; others fold those costs into a larger commission share.
Look past the split. Training programs, mentorship, lead generation, and the brokerage’s standing in your market all shape how quickly you close your first deal. A 50/50 split at a firm that hands you warm leads and real training often beats a 90/10 split at a firm that gives you a desk and wishes you luck.
Submit the License Application
Most states run applications through an online portal operated by the real estate commission or department of licensing. You’ll upload your education certificate, ID, sponsoring broker information, and fingerprint clearance. Have everything ready before you start the submission; partial applications stall in review.
The application asks for residential and employment history, usually covering the last five years, plus any other professional licenses you’ve held and any disciplinary actions in other fields. Answer honestly. Commissions cross-reference what you report against your background check, and a discrepancy is a fast path to denial.
Fingerprinting
Fingerprinting goes through an authorized vendor, and the prints are sent to state police and the FBI for a criminal history review. The vendor fee generally runs $30 to $75, though some states tack on processing fees. You’ll get a receipt or clearance code to include with your application.
Application and Exam Fees
Application fees range widely by state, from around $25 up to roughly $300. Exam fees are separate, typically $50 to $100 per attempt. These charges are non-refundable whether you pass or not, so budget for the full range before you start.
After You Pass
Once the commission clears your application and verifies your exam scores, it issues your license. In many states the physical license is sent to your sponsoring broker’s office for display, and you’ll receive a pocket card or digital credential to carry during showings and client meetings.
Your broker has to update their roster with the state to reflect your affiliation before you can do any licensed work. That includes advertising. Running a social media ad or handing out business cards before your license is active and your affiliation is on record is a violation in every state, and it’s the kind of mistake that can derail a brand-new career.
Keep the License Active
Getting licensed is the first step. Keeping it in good standing has its own set of requirements.
Post-Licensing Education
Many states require a separate block of post-licensing education during your first renewal cycle, on top of standard continuing education. It covers practical topics that pre-licensing courses barely touch, like working with buyers, listing presentations, and real-world contract negotiation. Required hours and deadlines vary, but miss the deadline and your license typically lapses. Post-licensing applies only to the first renewal; continuing education picks up for every cycle after that. Don’t confuse the two.
Continuing Education and Renewal
Licenses renew on a regular cycle, usually every two to four years. Renewal requires completing a set number of continuing education hours, generally 12 to 45 per cycle, covering updates to state law, ethics, fair housing, and newer practice areas. A full renewal CE package from an online provider typically costs $40 to $140.
Miss the deadline and most states offer a grace period with a higher renewal fee, often 150% of the standard cost. You cannot do any licensed work while your license is expired, even during the grace period. Let it lapse long enough and you may face additional coursework or a retest to reinstate.
A Few Things Worth Knowing Early
Several states require errors and omissions insurance as a condition of holding an active license, and many brokerages require it even where the state doesn’t. E&O covers claims from mistakes, oversights, or alleged negligence in your work, like failing to disclose a material defect. The average annual premium for an individual agent runs roughly $750 for a standard policy with $1 million in per-claim coverage, though some brokerages offer group policies that bring the per-agent cost down. Ask before buying your own.
A state license lets you practice. It does not make you a REALTOR®. That title belongs to the National Association of REALTORS®, and only NAR members can use it. The practical reason most agents join is access to the Multiple Listing Service, which is typically controlled by local REALTOR® associations. Without MLS access you’re cut off from the main database where properties are listed and cooperating commissions are offered.1National Association of REALTORS®. How to Become a REALTOR
If you plan to work across state lines or move, reciprocity rules vary. Some states accept an active license from any other state without repeating pre-licensing coursework; others require co-brokering with a local agent, or offer no reciprocity at all and send you back to the start.2National Association of REALTORS®. License Reciprocity and License Recognition Even states with full reciprocity almost always require you to pass their state-specific exam section.