Getting a real estate license involves five simple steps. Start by learning the real estate license requirements for your specific state, then take your prelicense classes, take some practice tests, pass your state exam, and finally, register your license with your state.
In this article, we’ll walk you through how to get your real estate license step-by-step. We’ll give you a simple path to follow and detail the cost and time requirements. Finally, we’ll provide critical resources to help you successfully launch your new career. Let’s get started!
1. Look Up Your State’s Prelicensing Education Requirements
Cost: Free
Time commitment: Five minutes
Helpful resource: The Close State Requirements Look-up Tool
Required Real Estate Prelicensing Class Hours by State (Updated in August, 2021)
Prelicensing Classes Required: 60 Hours
Prelicensing Classes Required: 40 Hours
Prelicensing Classes Required: 90 Hours
Prelicensing Classes Required: 60 Hours
Prelicensing Classes Required: 135 Hours
Prelicensing Classes Required: 168 Hours
Prelicensing Classes Required: 60 Hours
Prelicensing Classes Required: 99 Hours
Prelicensing Classes Required: 63 Hours
Prelicensing Classes Required: 75 Hours
Prelicensing Classes Required: 60 Hours
Prelicensing Classes Required: 90 Hours
Prelicensing Classes Required: 75 Hours
Prelicensing Classes Required: 90 Hours
Prelicensing Classes Required: 60 Hours
Prelicensing Classes Required: 60 Hours
Prelicensing Classes Required: 96 Hours
Prelicensing Classes Required: 90 Hours
Prelicensing Classes Required: 55 Hours
Prelicensing Classes Required: 60 Hours
Prelicensing Classes Required: 40 Hours
Prelicensing Classes Required: 40 Hours
Prelicensing Classes Required: 90 Hours
Prelicensing Classes Required: 60 Hours
Prelicensing Classes Required: 48 Hours
Prelicensing Classes Required: 60 Hours
Prelicensing Classes Required: 60 Hours
Prelicensing Classes Required: 90 Hours
Prelicensing Classes Required: 40 Hours
Prelicensing Classes Required: 75 Hours
Prelicensing Classes Required: 90 Hours
Prelicensing Classes Required: 75 Hours
Prelicensing Classes Required: 75 Hours
Prelicensing Classes Required: 45 Hours
Prelicensing Classes Required: 120 Hours
Prelicensing Classes Required: 90 Hours
Prelicensing Classes Required: 150 Hours
Prelicensing Classes Required: 90 Hours
Prelicensing Classes Required: 45 Hours
Prelicensing Classes Required: 60 Hours
Prelicensing Classes Required: 116 Hours
Prelicensing Classes Required: 90 Hours
Prelicensing Classes Required: 180 Hours
Prelicensing Classes Required: 120 Hours
Prelicensing Classes Required: 40 Hours
Prelicensing Classes Required: 60 Hours
Prelicensing Classes Required: 90 Hours
Prelicensing Classes Required: 180 Hours
Prelicensing Classes Required: 72 Hours
Prelicensing Classes Required: 54 Hours
Each state has unique requirements, so your first step in getting a real estate license is to learn how many prelicensing class hours you’ll need to complete before being eligible to sit the licensing exam in your state. Wondering how to get your real estate license in your state? Simply choose your state from the dropdown list above, and find out how many real estate prelicensing education hours of study are required by your state’s regulatory body.
“Come to class with your thinking cap on. Real estate licensing courses cover everything from business fundamentals to fair housing, and even the states with the most relaxed requirements still ask students to learn a lot in a short period of time.”
2. Take A Real Estate Prelicensing Education Course
Cost: Between $120 and $500, depending on your state
Time commitment: Between 40 and 180 class hours, depending on your state
Helpful resource: Best Online Real Estate Schools
The next step is to complete the number of prelicensing education class hours required by your state. You can fulfill these hours in a physical classroom with other students and an instructor or remotely with an online class at your own pace, on your schedule.
We suggest online classes for completing your prelicensing course requirements. Online classes are generally cheaper than a local, in-person class; plus, they’re much more convenient, and they allow you to work at your own pace. Our favorite online provider for getting these requirements knocked out is Real Estate Express. They offer prelicensing classes in just about every state, as well as packages that include test prep and a “Pass or Don’t Pay” guarantee.
If you want to learn more about other options, check out our full-length review and video walk-through of Real Estate Express, as well as our guide of the top online real estate schools here.
3. Take Some Real Estate Licensing Practice Tests
Cost: Varies; usually about $99
Time commitment: One to two weeks
Helpful resource: 7 Hacks for the Real Estate Practice Exam (+ Free Mini-test)
Once you’ve completed your real estate prelicensing course, you’re free to take the actual exam whenever you’d like. However, we recommend that you devote some time to taking practice exams.
Taking standardized tests can be difficult, especially if it’s been a year or 10 since you were last in school. Even if you feel confident in your understanding of the concepts and knowledge needed to be successful, it’s a great idea to practice applying that knowledge a couple of times before sitting for the actual exam.
Most of the providers on our top online real estate schools list also offer some test prep and practice tests. Make sure to take full advantage of this feature. The Exam Prep Master feature on Real Estate Express has 17 full-length practice exams to prepare you for the real thing.
“When I was preparing for my licensing exam, I took over 20 practice tests. I found that the questions were almost always the same, just worded differently. Seeing that level of consistency from test to test gave me direction on what I needed to study more and confidence that I was going to perform on test day.”
4. Pass Your State’s Real Estate Exam
Cost: Varies by state; usually about $75
Time commitment: 3 hours
Helpful resource: Cambridge Coaching’s “7 Essential Tips for ANY Standardized Test”
Once you’ve completed your state’s prelicensure requirements and prepped with some practice tests, it’s time to take your licensing exam.
The format of this exam varies by state, but most states now administer a computer-based exam. All the information about your state’s exam, including your closest examination site, will be available on your state’s licensing and regulatory affairs website.
To visit your state’s website for more information, choose from the list below.
Real Estate Commission Websites (by State)
Since the exam takes about two hours in most states, plan on setting aside either your morning or your afternoon so you can get there early and won’t feel rushed.
“If you’re nervous about the test itself, don’t worry, you’re not alone. Standardized tests can be challenging for some students, even if you know the material back to front. Cambridge Coaching offers a fantastic tip list for how students can prepare for any standardized test; make sure to review it in the days leading up to your test date.”
5. Register Your Real Estate License With Your State
Cost: Varies by state; typically less than $150
Time commitment: 30 minutes to complete paperwork, one to two weeks for confirmation
Helpful resource: What’s the Best Real Estate Company to Work for?
After you pass your state’s licensing exam, the final step necessary to becoming a full-fledged real estate professional is to register your status with your home state. This process generally requires a form and a registration fee to be mailed or electronically submitted to your state’s real estate licensing board.
“Some states require you to be signed with a brokerage before they’ll actually issue you a license to practice real estate. If you’re in a state like this, you’ll need to have a brokerage lined up before you can complete this step. Need some suggestions on which brokerage to join? Check out my article on the best real estate companies to work for.”
FAQs About How to Get Your Real Estate License
Pursuing your license to become a real estate agent is a big decision, and it often comes with questions. Here are some of the most common questions we hear from those considering a career in real estate.
If you have a question that we don’t answer here, please feel free to ask us in the comment section.
Are there legal requirements for getting a real estate license?
All applicants must fulfill some legal requirements. Requirements change slightly depending on the state you’re in, so make sure to double-check with your state’s licensing and regulatory affairs commission to make sure you know every requirement.
Generally, the eligibility requirements for real estate licensure are as follows:
- Be 18 years of age or older
- Be legally allowed to work in the United States
- Have no pending criminal indictments against you
- Have no criminal convictions for violent or home invasion-related offenses
It’s important to point out that the last two qualifying criteria, related to an applicant’s criminal background, are determined in most states on a case-by-case basis. A conviction doesn’t necessarily disqualify an applicant, but trying to hide something in the application process almost certainly would.
Determining eligible candidates involves a character component: act with integrity, own your mistakes, and make a fresh start.
Is getting a real estate license worth it?
Yes. The personal and financial upsides to real estate can be huge if you’re willing to put in the effort to build a business. On average, full-time real estate agents working 40+ hours a week who have two or more years of experience earn more than $50,000 a year. The top 10% of agents in the U.S. earn an average income of more than $110,000.
Apart from the financial opportunities, becoming a real estate professional gives you personal freedom and control over when you work, how much you work, and how you want to structure your leisure time.
As a real estate agent, you are your own boss, which means you can take as much or as little vacation time as you’d like. Real estate agents love this field for the independence and control over their success that it provides.
If you want to test drive a real estate career before quitting your day job, consider starting part-time first.
Is it hard to get a real estate license?
No. Obtaining your real estate license is very straightforward. All you need to do is devote some time and effort to fulfilling your prelicensing education requirements, study for and pass the exam, and then register your license with your state.
Even for those who don’t have a business background, have limited sales experience, or struggle with standardized tests, getting a real estate license is easy.
How long does it take to get a real estate license?
The time it takes to go from nothing to fully licensed will depend mainly on your state’s requirements. You can expect to go through six weeks to six months of prelicensing training.
Here’s are some example timelines for three different states:
Texas: Texas requires 180 hours of prelicensing hours. Most online applicants need about eight weeks to complete these hours online. Add to that another week for test prep, a week for finding a brokerage, and a week for application submission and approval, and the entire process takes about three months from start to finish.
California: California requires 135 hours of prelicensing hours. Most online applicants take about six weeks to complete these online. Add to that another week for test prep, a week for finding a brokerage, and a week for application submission and approval, and the licensure process takes just shy of two months to complete. However, the entire process will take closer to six months in California due to mandatory educational waiting periods.
New York: New York requires a 75-hour prelicensure class, which typically takes about four weeks to complete online. Add to that another week for test prep, a week for finding a brokerage, and a week for application submission and approval, and the entire process takes about seven weeks from start to finish.
How much does it cost to get a real estate license?
The cost of getting your real estate license varies by state. You’ll need about $1,200 to cover all the costs, including your prelicensure class and test prep, the exam fee, local membership application fee, and membership dues.
Your MLS membership will vary by your locality; we’ve estimated it at $600 for each state. Here’s a detailed breakdown of how you should expect to spend that $1,200.
| Texas | California | New York | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Prelicense Class | $484 | $119 | $239 |
| Test Prep | $99 | $99 | $99 |
| Exam Fee | $54 | $60 | $15 |
| Application | $290 | $254 | $55 |
| MLS Membership | $600 | $600 | $600 |
| NAR Membership | $150 | $150 | $150 |
| TOTAL | $1,677 | $1,282 | $1,158 |
Note: Prelicensing and test prep costs were estimated using the offering of Real Estate Express.
How to Get a Real Estate License: Final Thoughts
Getting a real estate license is your first step to a new and fulfilling career. Real estate professionals wear a lot of hats. We are marketers, property experts, contract and negotiation experts, and community advocates. But we all start with the licensing process.
Are you a newly licensed agent or someone considering getting a real estate license? Share your experiences and leave your questions in the comments below.
