Wondering how to become a real estate agent in Connecticut (CT)? You’ve come to the right place! I’ve narrowed down your real estate education options based on learning format, pricing, career resources, and more to help you find the right fit. This small but mighty list will guide you to a provider that will help you obtain and maintain your license—and maybe even advance your career after some time. Let’s get started!

Want to learn more about the Connecticut licensing process before jumping into school details? I’ve got you covered! Click here to jump to the “How to Get a Real Estate License in Connecticut” section below.

The Close’s Top Picks of Online Real Estate Schools in Connecticut

Our Top Picks
Starting Price
Promo Code
Read More Below
The CE Shop: Best for career resources
$619
TheClose35—Save 35%
The CE Shop ↓
Colibri Real Estate: Best for CE and exam prep
$119
TheClose30—Save 30%
Colibri Real Estate ↓
National Real Estate Institute: Best for structured learning
$325
No promo code
National Real Estate Institute ↓
Freedom Trail Realty School: Best for CT license reciprocity
$229
No promo code
Freedom Trail Realty School ↓

Best for Career Resources: The CE Shop

The CE Shop
Pros
  • Money back guarantee
  • Professional development included in Premium Package
  • Live instruction
Cons
  • No exam prep in basic package
  • No self-paced class option
  • A little more expensive than other options
The Close Score
4
Course Features:
2.5
Value:
2.8
Learning Format & Accessibility:
3.5
Expert Score:
4.6
Help & Support:
4.0
Reputation:
2.1
out
of
5

My Expert Opinion on The CE Shop

The CE Shop has everything you need to get your Connecticut real estate license and kick-start your business. From fulfilling the 60-hour prelicensing course to prepping for your exam, you can complete your requirements start-to-finish in as little as two months. Since The CE Shop is a virtual learning platform, including professional development in the value package is a great option. This puts students in the ProPath Network Builder program where they can learn to build their referral network and long-term business relationships. 

💡Room for improvement: The CE Shop is known for its online learning environment, which can be very convenient for most students. However, some students may need the flexibility of self-paced course options. Adding in a self-paced option may draw in more students that need to complete the course on their own terms.

The CE Shop Cost

The CE Shop courses and website are chock-full of bonus resources. Students can choose from multiple course package options based on their learning needs and budget for their state of Connecticut real estate license education.

Type of Education
Price Range
Standout Features
Prelicensing
$619-$720

  • Exam prep

  • Digital flashcards and study schedule

  • Money back guarantee

Continuing education
$45-$190

  • Individual and packaged courses

  • ProPath Network Builder

  • NAR Ethics course

Exam prep
$79-$135

  • Interactive dashboard

  • Unlimited practice exams

  • Individual lessons per topic

Save 35% when you use promo code “TheClose35

Need to see more before making a decision? Check out this video to see what The CE Shop offers.

Best for CE & Exam Prep: Colibri Real Estate

Colibri Real Estate
Pros
  • Live instructor Q&A
  • Exam Crammer
  • NAR ethics included
Cons
  • No prelicensing or post-licensing courses
  • No license upgrade option
  • No individual CE class options
The Close Score
3.9
Course Features:
3.8
Value:
1.6
Learning Format & Accessibility:
3.5
Expert Score:
4.6
Help & Support:
3.0
Reputation:
2.1
out
of
5

My Expert Opinion on Colibri Real Estate 

When you’re working on your real estate license in CT, it’s important to know what learning style works best for you. Colibri exam prep gives you the option of live or self-paced learning, as well as additional benefits such as instructor Q&A and readiness assessments. The CE course offers a comprehensive package, including the NAR ethics which makes it easy for students to meet the requirement.

💡Room for improvement: While being a go-to resource for exam prep and continuing education is great, many other schools offer prelicensing courses with exam prep included. Students may also be inclined to take their CE where they already took their prelicensing. Therefore, Colibri would benefit by adding prelicensing courses for Connecticut.

Colibri Real Estate Cost

There may not be an abundance of real estate classes in Connecticut; however, Colibri Real Estate is an excellent source for continuing education and exam prep.

Type of Education
Price Range
Standout Features
Continuing education
$119

  • Online, self-paced

  • NAR ethics course

Exam prep
$115-$219

  • Exam crammer webinar

  • Simulated exams

  • Instructor Q&A

Save 30% when you use promo code “TheClose30

Not convinced yet? Check out our walkthrough video for Colibri Real Estate below:

Best for Weekend Classes: National Real Estate Institute

National Real Estate Institute
Pros
  • Livestream classes
  • Weekend and evening class options
Cons
  • No exam prep material included
  • Textbooks must be purchased separately
The Close Score
3.5
Course Features:
1.5
Value:
3.5
Learning Format & Accessibility:
3.0
Expert Score:
4.5
Help & Support:
2.5
Reputation:
1.8
out
of
5

My Expert Opinion on National Real Estate Institute 

National Real Estate Institute (NREI) is a Connecticut-based real estate school that offers live online classes throughout the week and on weekends. It’s a great choice for students who prefer having a set schedule for learning. The school also provides continuing education and exam prep, so you can learn at your own pace for more flexibility. You can also opt for coaching and professional development at an additional cost or upgrade your license if you’re ready to become a broker. 

💡Room for improvement: National Real Estate Institute doesn’t include extra features in its packages, like textbooks, exam prep, or live tutoring. Adding in study groups or including exam prep in the course packages would make its education offerings more competitive. 

National Real Estate Institute Cost

NREI is among the more affordable options to obtain your real estate license in Connecticut with prelicensing courses as well as CE and exam prep.

Type of Education
Price Range
Standout Features
Prelicensing
$325-$540

  • Live virtual classroom

  • Multiple class dates

  • Instructor support

Continuing education
$40-$60

  • Online, self-paced

  • Individual class options

Broker prelicensing
$325

  • Live virtual classroom

  • Course materials included

Exam prep
$30-$69

  • Online, self-paced

  • Practice QBank

  • Performance tracker

Best for CT License Reciprocity: Freedom Trail Realty School

Freedom Trail Realty School
Pros
  • Ability to get a Massachusetts license and simply apply to the state for a CT license
  • New England-based company
  • Unlimited on-demand access
Cons
  • Massachusetts license required
  • Only CT prelicensing offered, no broker or CE education
  • 14-day refund policy
The Close Score
3.4
Course Features:
5.0
Value:
1.5
Learning Format & Accessibility:
1.0
Expert Score:
3.0
Help & Support:
3.5
Reputation:
3.0
out
of
5

*Massachusetts scores were adjusted for CT since Freedom Trail is a MA school only offering real estate license reciprocity for CT. “Value” is based on available courses and pricing, with points deducted for only offering prelicensing via reciprocity.

My Expert Opinion on Freedom Trail Realty School

Freedom Trail Realty School is a great choice for students who are licensed in MA and want reciprocity in Connecticut, Rhode Island, and even New Hampshire! You can obtain all these licenses for the price of just one prelicensing course, without the need for additional tests or coursework. This is the ultimate New England licensing if you live in an area that borders all of these states. So, if your goal is to dominate these areas, you can get all of this from your Freedom Trail prelicensing education.

💡Room for improvement: The downside is that it’s not directly a Connecticut school. It only offers salesperson prelicensing CT reciprocity for Massachusetts licensees. It could improve by becoming a premier CT school and offering competitive packages for continuing education and broker prelicensing. 

Freedom Trail Realty School Cost

Freedom Trail offers four package options with tiered pricing. The higher the tier, the more packed with features. Higher-level packages offer more exam preparation tools than lower-tier packages.

Type of Education
Price Range
Standout Features
Prelicensing
$229-499

  • Exam prep and digital flashcards

  • Six to 12-month access (depending on package level)

  • Livestream and on-demand options

  • Study guides, planners, and practice questions

  • Networking, job board, and recruiting

How to Get a Real Estate License in Connecticut

Step 1: Meet Requirements

  • You must be at least 18 years old.

  • You must be a US citizen or lawfully admitted resident.

  • You must possess a high school diploma or GED.

Step 2: Complete Prelicensing Courses
Step 3: Take the Real Estate Exam

  • There are 110 multiple-choice questions and you have 2.75 hours to complete the exam.

  • The cost is $59 per attempt.

  • List of approved proctor locations.

  • You need at least a 70% passing score.

  • You have one year to apply for your license after passing the exam.

Step 4: Apply for Your License

  • You need your passing score document.

  • Submit your prelicense transcript.

  • Fill out the application.

  • Pay the $80 application fee.

  • Include your managing broker sponsor card when you have it.

Step 5: Get Fingerprints & Background Check

  • Pay the $75 fee and submit a background check.

  • Fingerprints are not required as part of the process towards earning a Connecticut real estate salesperson license.

Step 6: Pick a Sponsoring Brokerage
Step 7: Start Your Real Estate Career

How We Selected the Best Online Real Estate Schools in Connecticut

In terms of our methodology at The Close, our team of licensed real estate professionals, writers, and editors created a weighted rubric that involves evaluating each school. Our experts have done hours of research to analyze dozens of real estate schools to determine the best for our readers. The features we explored are essential for students to become successful agents and brokers in the real estate industry. 

Our detailed criteria included the following: 

  • Course Features (25%)
    • This comprises items that assist agents and brokers in completing their education, like pass and refund guarantees, career and instructor support, coaching, training, interactive study groups, and course extensions.
  • Value (20%)
    • Pricing and availability of coursework are important factors to assess. This accounts for real estate school offerings in prelicensing, post-licensing, continuing education, broker prelicensing, and exam prep. 
  • Learning Format & Accessibility (20%)
    • Real estate professionals must consider the best format for their learning, which includes self-paced, on-demand video, livestream, and in-person classes. Also, accessibility via multiple devices, like computers, tablets, and mobile devices, determines the convenience for users. 
  • Expert Score (15%)
    • The Close closely reviews each course for standout features, details, ease of use, and the value for money spent from a real estate expert’s perspective. 
  • Help & Support (10%)
    • If students need additional support, knowing the customer service options through phone, email, live chat, and ticket system is necessary. 
  • Reputation (10%)
    • This examines the reputation of each real estate school through the lens of current and past students, reviewing the customer reviews and popularity of each provider. 

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)




Your Take

Now that we’ve reviewed how to become a real estate agent in Connecticut, you can move forward with confidence when choosing your real estate school and get ready to ace your exam. At The Close, we’re committed to providing you with tools and strategies to start your career and boost your business. Where do you plan to take your coursework? Let us know in the comments!