Are you looking for real estate schools to launch your new career in the Bluegrass State? Your journey will start by completing a required 96-hour prelicensing course before sitting for the Kentucky real estate exam.
We’ve chosen our top picks of Kentucky real estate schools to suit every budget, schedule, learning style, and more. If you’re ready for a rewarding and flexible career in real estate, let’s jump in!
5 Best Kentucky Real Estate Schools for 2023
| Our Top Picks | Pricing From | Promo Codes |
|---|---|---|
| Best Overall: Colibri Real Estate | $584 | TheClose25 - Save 25% |
| Best for Online: The CE Shop | $505 | TheClose35 - Save 35% |
| Best for Interactive Study: Kaplan | $399 | KAPRE5 - Save 5% |
| Best Budget School: Kentucky Real Estate College | $395 | |
| Best School for Continuing Education: Kentucky Realtor Institute | $679 |
(Kentucky prelicensing package prices as of October 2023)
Kentucky Real Estate Governing Body:
Kentucky Real Estate Commission (KREC)
Prelicensing Requirements:
96 Hours
Post-licensing Requirements:
48 Hours Within the First Two Years
Continuing Education Requirements:
6 Hours Every Year + a Kentucky Core Course Every 4 Years
If you’re curious about the types of classes that you’ll need to take throughout your real estate career in Kentucky, simply jump into the helpful info section. But if you’re ready to choose your education provider, keep reading to find out why these schools made our top picks.
Best Overall Kentucky Real Estate School: Colibri Real Estate
Colibri Real Estate offers:
- Prelicensing
- Exam prep
- Post-licensing
Colibri Real Estate tops our list because of their expertly designed courses and value-based package options. As an industry leader in the real estate education arena, Colibri Real Estate thinks of everything you’d need to complete your course as efficiently and comfortably as possible. Their online courses are all self-paced, but you’ll get the support of live instructors to help you at any point during your course.
Colibri Real Estate Pricing
In Kentucky, Colibri Real Estate offers three self-paced prelicensing packages.
- The Basics ($584): The Basics package includes your 96-hour prelicensing course, access to instructor support, and three real estate e-books.
- Exam Preparation ($684): On top of the features in the Basics package, enjoy an exam prep package that includes audio reviews of core topics and a Pass or Don’t Pay guarantee.
- Ultimate Learning ($884): You’ll get everything from the previous packages as well as a copy of the course textbook, Q&A sessions with live instructors, webinars, and one year of access to Career Booster Pack to help guide you in your real estate journey.
(Colibri Real Estate prelicensing package prices as of October 2023)
Readers of The Close can SAVE 25% on any Colibri Real Estate prelicensing course in Kentucky. Use promo code TheClose25 at checkout.
Best Feature
Colibri Real Estate provides the best balance of independent study and interactive support. Unlike other schools, they offer more than phone and email access to instructor help, creating Q&A sessions so students benefit from hearing commonly asked questions answered live. Plus, their Exam Crammer webinar series takes test prep to the next level with even more in-depth review of core concepts.
Room to Improve
If we could ask for more, it would be to include exam proctoring for the course exam as part of their prelicensing packages. Currently, Colibri charges $15 per online proctor. However, if you prefer an in-person proctor, it’s your responsibility to find one that meets Kentucky’s criteria. In-person proctors usually set their own prices.
Bottom Line
You won’t be disappointed in Colibri Real Estate’s well-designed courses and easy-to-use online platform.
Best Kentucky Real Estate School for Online: The CE Shop
The CE Shop offers:
- Prelicensing
- Exam prep
- Post-licensing
- Continuing education
The CE Shop is another favorite choice among prospective real estate agents nationwide. Originally known for their extensive variety of continuing education courses, The CE Shop offers everything you need to start your career as a real estate agent in Kentucky. They also boast high student satisfaction rates and license exam pass rates that are higher than the state average.
The CE Shop Pricing
In Kentucky, The CE Shop offers four self-paced, online prelicensing packages compatible with all your mobile devices.
- Courses Only ($505): This straightforward package includes your prelicensing course as well as business e-books, digital flashcards, career resources, a real estate glossary, and a study schedule.
- Standard Package ($569): Enjoy all the features of the courses-only package, but also get Exam Prep Edge, The CE Shop’s exam prep package full of practice questions, and a pass guarantee.
- Value Package ($619): You’ll get everything in the Standard Package plus business-building courses designed specifically for new agents.
- Premium Package ($885): This package includes all the previous features as well as your 48-hour post-licensing course and a textbook.
(The CE Shop prelicensing package prices as of October 2023)
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Best Feature
We’re most impressed by the ease of use across devices of The CE Shop. Being able to switch easily between your laptop at home and your cell phone while you are away means you can utilize any moment to get ahead and finish your course quickly.
Room to Improve
Though The CE Shop offers plenty of helpful features to get you through your online course, you’ll need to work through it independently. They don’t offer extra interactive support like Q&A sessions or study sessions.
Bottom Line
Choose The CE Shop if you’re looking for a seamless online learning experience across multiple devices.
SAVE 35% on The CE Shop courses using promo code TheClose35
Best Kentucky Real Estate School for Interactive Learning: Kaplan
Kaplan offers:
- Prelicensing
- Exam prep
- Post-licensing
- Continuing education
Kaplan has a reputation for quality education and a long track record for preparing students for standardized tests. So, their instructors know how to ensure you walk away with a solid understanding and ace your license exam. They offer online self-paced course options in Kentucky, all with a variety of helpful features.
Kaplan Pricing
In Kentucky, Kaplan offers three online, self-paced prelicensing packages, starting with a basic package all the way to one that offers a variety of career resources.
- Kentucky Real Estate Principles ($399): This package includes your prelicensing course and access to an interactive study group to cover content in live webinars.
- Kentucky Real Estate Principles Online Course Package with Exam Prep ($429): Enjoy all the features of the previous package plus get Kaplan’s national and state exam prep online courses.
- Career Launcher Package ($629): This all-inclusive package has everything from the above packages as well as the Real Estate Acceleration Live Online Course with professional coaching aimed to help you launch your real estate career.
(Kaplan prelicensing package prices as of October 2023)
Best Feature
The best Kaplan feature is access to a live interactive study group. And since Kaplan has been providing quality real estate education and exam prep for years, we’re assuming you’ll only get the best from their live online coaching too.
Room to Improve
Kaplan focuses on providing you with the features they think matter most: quality courses, exam prep, and interactive methods to ensure you understand the course effectively. As a result, they don’t add extra features like printed copies of textbooks or a pass guarantee.
Bottom Line
Kaplan is a great choice for anyone looking for interactive and live components to their course.
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Best Kentucky Real Estate School for Students on a Budget: Kentucky Real Estate College
Kentucky Real Estate College offers:
- Prelicensing
- Exam prep
- Post-licensing
- Continuing education
- Broker prelicensing
Kentucky Real Estate College made our list because they squeeze in the most affordable price on average across all stages of your real estate education. Plus, they’re one of two schools on our list that offer broker prelicensing courses in Kentucky, should you want to make a change to becoming a managing broker in the future.
Kentucky Real Estate College Pricing
Kentucky Real Estate College offers three feature-rich prelicensing packages for prospective agents.
- Lite ($395): This package includes your 96-hour prelicensing course, instructor support, practice exams, quizzes, and case studies. If you’d like to include the Proctor Pro, it will cost you an extra $36 for three proctored final exam attempts.
- Essentials ($465): You’ll get all the features of Lite, a course e-book, a state exam prep e-book, and the Proctor Pro.
- Ultimate ($595): This includes all the features of previous packages, a national exam prep e-book, real estate math e-book, access to MathMaster+ and PerryPrep+, and your 48-hour post-licensing course.
(Kentucky Real Estate College prelicensing package prices as of October 2023)
Best Feature
Kentucky Real Estate College stands firm with its low-cost packages while including all the basic features students need. Often, schools offer only your course at their lowest price, but Kentucky Real Estate College includes exam prep, instructor support, and even a math class. You’ll even find their Ultimate package really affordable, with the post-licensing course already included.
Room to Improve
Since Kentucky Real Estate College is a local school, we’d prefer it if they also offered scheduled online or in-person classes for students who prefer live instruction.
Bottom Line
Kentucky Real Estate College is perfect for anyone who doesn’t want to break the bank and still get a lot of add-ons in their course package.
Best Kentucky Real Estate School for Continuing Education: Kentucky Realtor Institute
Kentucky Realtor Institute offers:
- Prelicensing
- Exam prep
- Post-licensing
- Continuing education
- Broker prelicensing
Kentucky Realtor Institute is a dependable local institution that offers comprehensive real estate education across your entire career. You’ll get a deeper understanding of Kentucky real estate law and the industry from local experts and professionals with decades of experience. The school holds itself to a high standard when it comes to delivering quality education that will leave you with lifelong knowledge.
Kentucky Realtor Institute Pricing
Kentucky Realtor Institute offers the required 96-hour prelicensing course in two parts (Part A and B) across three package options.
- The Silver Study Package ($679): This online package includes your course split into Part A: Modern Real Estate Practices (60 hours) and Part B: Kentucky License Law (36 hours), with your proctored exam and quizzes included. You’ll also complete a course project to help you gain a deeper understanding of the concepts.
- The Gold Study Package ($749): You’ll get everything from the Silver Study package plus a copy of the textbook, study guide, and copy of the Kentucky Realtor Institute License Law Manual.
- The Platinum Study Package ($849): This offers all of the previous packages’ features plus exam prep materials that include thousands of practice questions, videos, audio lessons, flashcards, live online webinars, and an e-book.
(Kentucky Realtor Institute prelicensing package prices as of October 2023)
Best Feature
Kentucky Realtor Institute leaves no stone unturned when it comes to ensuring you know the ins and outs of local real estate. Plus, their continuing education course options are by far the most extensive, so you can enjoy the quality of their courses without the high price tag of some of their other program options.
Room to Improve
You’ll need to invest in the priciest package from Kentucky Realtor Institute to get exam prep, unlike other schools. Although their exam prep package is one of the most comprehensive, you’ll have to decide whether it’s worth the cost for you in the long run.
Bottom Line
If you’re looking for lifelong learning from a reputable local school, then Kentucky Realtor Institute is for you.
How We Selected the Best Kentucky Real Estate Schools
To come up with this list of the best Kentucky real estate schools, our team at The Close scored each school using a weighted rubric based on the following criteria:
Read more about our methodology here.
Kentucky Real Estate Schools: Helpful Info
Before you start your 96-hour prelicensing course with a school that’s approved in the state of Kentucky, it’s helpful to understand the various real estate programs you’ll encounter throughout your career.
Prelicensing Courses
Your prelicensing course is your first step to becoming a licensed real estate agent. In Kentucky, the local real estate commission requires you to complete a proctored final exam before moving on to the license exam.
Exam Preparation
Once you’ve completed your prelicensing course and your course exam, it will be time to prepare for your license exam. Start by reviewing your course material, and if you feel you need more practice, consider an exam prep package from an online real estate school.
Exam prep packages offer targeted support and practice so you can walk confidently into your license exam. They often include valuable tools like flashcards, study schedules, practice questions, and simulated exams. One of our favorite picks is Colibri Real Estate, since they offer a Live Exam Crammer Series where you can sit in on live webinars to help you study.
Post-licensing Courses
You’ll need to complete a 48-hour post-licensing course within the first two years of getting your Kentucky real estate license. It’s common for agents to return to the school with which they completed their prelicensing course for their post-licensing classes if they enjoyed the school’s features.
Both The CE Shop and Kentucky Real Estate College offer post-licensing courses in their prelicensing packages, making them a one-stop shop for the first leg of your real estate career in Kentucky.
Continuing Education
Kentucky has two sets of continuing education (CE) requirements. Every year, you must complete six hours of continuing education courses by the end of the calendar year. Additionally, you must complete a six-hour Kentucky core course every four years.
When it comes time to renew your license, we recommend Kentucky Realtor Institute’s many continuing education package options. They make it convenient and easy to complete your CE hours, and offer the Kentucky core course so you can renew all in one place.
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Kentucky Real Estate Schools FAQs
Have more questions? Scroll down for answers to the most frequently asked questions about getting a real estate license and choosing a real estate school in Kentucky. Don’t forget to add your own question to the comments section. We’d love to hear from you!
How do I get a real estate license in Kentucky?
You must be at least 18 years old and have a high school diploma or GED in order to obtain a real estate license in the state of Kentucky. After that, you’ll enroll in a 96-hour prelicensing course and sit for the state license exam. After passing the Kentucky real estate license exam, you must complete a background check. And before you know it, you’ll be applying for your Kentucky salesperson license. For more information, click here to read our guide on getting your real estate license in Kentucky.
How much does a Kentucky real estate license cost?
In Kentucky, getting a real estate license costs roughly $1,000. Your prelicensing course makes up about half the cost of getting your license, and prices will vary depending on your course package. Besides your course, there are a few one-time administrative fees, such as for your license exam ($100), background check ($18-$50), and license application ($130).
How much does a real estate agent in Kentucky earn?
According to The Close’s salary information database, the average real estate sales agents in Kentucky make $69,704, which isn’t that far from the national average of $73,985. Remember that, as a commission-based career, there’s virtually no limit to your income as a real estate agent. While newer agents may earn less in the first years of their career, agents who bring more experience to the job can make more.
How long does it take to become a real estate agent in Kentucky?
It usually takes prospective agents two to four months to get their real estate license in Kentucky. Most of the time spent getting your license will be in your 96-hour prelicensing course. If you enroll in a scheduled full-time course, you can usually complete your classes pretty quickly.
You might take longer if you decide to work online at your own pace. Self-paced courses, on the other hand, provide you the freedom to fit learning into your busy schedule at work and home. You’ll have to decide how to choose the course that works best for you.
How many Realtors are there in Kentucky?
According to the National Association of Realtors’ data, there are 13,273 Realtors in Kentucky. This is a very slight increase from the previous month, and a 0.13% increase from this time last year.
What’s the average home price in Kentucky?
According to Zillow, home values in Kentucky rose 3.4% from this time last year, reaching $197,657. Home values in larger cities, such as Lexington, have risen even more: up 5.5% to $288,909.
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Bringing It All Together
We hope our handy guide made choosing a Kentucky real estate school a walk in the park. At The Close, we focus on breaking down tips and advice from experts into actionable steps that you can take at any stage of your career. Have any additional thoughts or questions? Leave us a comment below!
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