Online real estate classes in Ohio are the first step to becoming a real estate agent in the Buckeye State. You’re only one 120-hour prelicensing course away from selling cozy homes in Cleveland or modern condos in Cincinnati. And we’ve made choosing real estate classes in Ohio a breeze.
We’ve done our research to help you find the right program for your schedule and your budget. We examined every important feature, including usability, convenience, course design, added perks, and more. Let’s dive in and take a look!
5 Best Real Estate Classes in Ohio for 2023
| Our Top 5 Picks | ||
|---|---|---|
| Best Overall: Hondros College | ||
| Best Value: The CE Shop | ||
| Best for Getting Assc. Degree: Sinclair College | ||
| Best for Exam Prep: Colibri Real Estate | ||
| Best for Continuing Education: Kaplan |
Best Real Estate Classes in Ohio – Helpful Info
Ohio Real Estate Governing Body:
The Ohio Department of Commerce Division of Real Estate and Professional Licensing
Prelicensing Requirements:
120 Hours
Post-licensing Requirements:
20 Hours (in first year)
Continuing Education Requirements:
30 Hours (every 3 years)
Each state’s real estate requirements differ, so we’re simplifying what you need to know about real estate classes in Ohio. First, your 120-hour prelicensing course will cover the following topics:
- Real estate principles and practices (40 hours)
- Ohio real estate law, including instruction in civil rights, housing discrimination and desegregation problems (40 hours)
- Real estate appraisal (20 hours)
- Real estate finance (20 hours)
Next, real estate classes in Ohio must be completed at an institution of higher education that awards a degree. We’ve got you covered. The schools on our list that offer prelicensing courses are all approved by the state of Ohio. Let’s take a look at the kinds of programs real estate schools in Ohio offer to prepare you for your entire career.
Prelicensing Classes
Your first step is to complete the required 120 hours of prelicensing coursework from a two or four-year college before sitting for the Ohio real estate licensing exam. You’ll be able to choose between taking your course online, via livestream, or in a classroom.
Many students prefer the flexibility of a self-paced course to accommodate their busy schedules. Others prefer the accountability of a scheduled class. One of the reasons we get excited about Hondros College is because they offer self-paced, livestream, and in-person course options packed with valuable features.
Exam Preparation
You may feel more confident sitting for the Ohio real estate licensing exam if you’ve spent time studying with high-quality exam prep materials. Exam prep tools are designed to give you the targeted practice you need to stop test anxiety in its tracks.
Colibri Real Estate’s exam prep package, for instance, includes progress exams to check your understanding of core concepts, flashcards to help you study, and practice exams so you feel confident on exam day.
Post-licensing Courses
Within the first year of obtaining your Ohio real estate license, you’ll need to complete 20 hours of post-licensing coursework. You can complete your continuing real estate education at the same secondary institution where you completed your prelicensing Ohio real estate classes or at an Ohio real estate school that offers continuing ed.
Continuing Education
Once you have renewed your real estate license the first time, the state of Ohio requires that you complete 30 hours of continuing education (CE) courses every three years. The 30 hours must include nine hours of classes covering ethics, core law (also known as agency), and civil rights. The other 21 hours are electives.
Now let’s dive into our favorite Ohio real estate schools. We’ll explain our choices and the many reasons we selected their programs as the best real estate classes in Ohio. Let’s get started!
Best Overall Real Estate Classes in Ohio: Hondros College
Hondros College offers:
- Prelicensing Courses
- Exam Prep
- Post-Licensing Courses
- Continuing Education
You’ll receive 120 hours of quality instruction, exam prep materials, post-licensing courses, and networking opportunities with local brokerages. They’re the complete one-stop shop for real estate classes in Ohio, making your journey to becoming a Realtor a piece of cake.
Hondros College Pros | Hondros College Cons |
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Hondros College Pricing
- Career Start Package ($1,799): This first-tier package includes your prelicensing course, four textbooks, a review crammer course, live instructor support, and best of all, a placement guarantee with a local brokerage.
- Set for Success Package ($1,999): With this choice, you’ll receive everything in the previous package, plus CompuCram exam prep, flashcards, a real estate dictionary, and a national exam review webinar.
- Ultimate Real Estate Package ($2,299): With this top-tier package, you’ll get everything in the previous package, plus your 20-hour post-licensing course and a professional membership with the Hondros Alumni Association for access to resources for your entire career.
(Hondros College prelicensing package prices as of December 2022)
BEST FEATURE: Hondros College is the ultimate one-stop shop, whether it’s your post-licensing coursework included in the ultimate package, or the fingerprint background checks included in every package that make applying for your Ohio real estate license that much easier.
ROOM TO IMPROVE: While Hondros College courses are feature-packed, they aren’t the cheapest real estate school on our list. Though we will say, their packages tend to go on sale often. For a slightly more economical option, check out The CE Shop.
BOTTOM LINE: Hondros College is a top provider of online real estate classes in Ohio and they offer a great value for your investment.
Best Real Estate Classes in Ohio for Value: The CE Shop
The CE Shop offers:
- Prelicensing Courses
- Exam Prep
- Post-Licensing
- Continuing Education
The CE Shop has considerable experience providing quality online education. They’ve teamed up with Davis College to offer Ohio prelicensing courses. Whether you sign up for classes through The CE Shop or Davis College, you’ll receive the same program.
The CE Shop has expanded its courses offerings to keep pace with competitors. Not only do they have a lot of experience in online education, but their online platform is also sleek, with easy-to-use features that make navigating your online course a breeze.
The CE Shop Pros | The CE Shop Cons |
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The CE Shop Pricing
The CE Shop offers four packages for those enrolling in online real estate classes in Ohio:
- Basic Package ($1,425): Far from basic, this package includes your prelicensing course, digital flashcards, and a study schedule to prepare you for the Ohio real estate exam. Printed resources also provide interview tips and advice on finding your real estate niche.
- Standard Package ($1,485): You’ll enjoy everything in the basic package, plus their Exam Prep Edge that covers both state and national real estate knowledge, and a pass guarantee. This means The CE Shop will refund your exam fee if you don’t pass the Ohio real estate license test.
- Value Package ($1,525): On top of everything in the Standard Package, you’ll receive business-building courses designed for new real estate agents in Ohio.
- Premium Package ($1,705): This top-tier package includes all the above features, bundled with your 20-hour post-licensing course to complete your first license renewal.
(The CE Shop prelicensing package prices as of December 2022)
Readers of The Close can save 30% on any prelicensing real estate classes in Ohio offered by The CE Shop Use promo code TheClose30 at checkout.
BEST FEATURE: We definitely appreciate that The CE Shop offers packages at more affordable prices, and they also tend to offer sales on their packages year-round, bringing your cost down even lower.
ROOM TO IMPROVE: While The CE Shop will allow you to check off your prelicensing course requirements, the school won’t help you get a job. The college doesn’t offer any networking opportunities for Ohio real estate students. By contrast, Hondros College has campuses in Cleveland, Columbus, Cincinnati, and other Ohio locations, as well as job placement services.
BOTTOM LINE: The CE Shop’s solid reputation for online learning paired with career resources makes them an excellent choice for self-paced courses.
Best Real Estate Classes in Ohio for Earning College Credit: Sinclair College
Sinclair College offers:
- Prelicensing Courses
When you enroll in Sinclair College, you can take your Ohio real estate prelicensing classes while earning college credit (or an associate degree). This allows you to finance the rest of your college education while working the flexible schedule of an Ohio real estate agent!
Sinclair College provides three options for completing your Ohio real estate prelicensing courses. The first two options are short-term technical certificate programs called Ohio Real Estate Sales Associate and Real Estate Sales Professional. With these, you’ll earn college credit hours while fulfilling Ohio’s real estate prelicensing class requirements.
The third option is Sinclair College’s Eagle Program, which leads you to an associate degree in Real Estate within 15 months. Along the way, you’ll also learn what you need to know to sit for the Ohio real estate exam.
Sinclair College Pros | Sinclair College Cons |
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Sinclair College Pricing
- Ohio Real Estate Sales Associate Short-Term Technical Certificate ($1,407): Complete 120 hours of required prelicensing classes while also earning nine hours of academic credit. Pricing is for Montgomery County residents and includes tuition, fees, and textbooks.
- Ohio Real Estate Sales Professional Short-Term Technical Certificate ($136.03/hour of academic credit): Complete 120 hours of required prelicensing classes while also earning 18 hours of academic credit. Program includes communication courses and a computer class to learn how to present yourself professionally.
- Associate of Applied Science in Real Estate ($136.03/hour of academic credit): An associate degree program encompassing more than 60 academic credit hours of study, including the knowledge you’ll need to pass the Ohio real estate salesperson exam.
(Sinclair College prelicensing package prices as of December 2022 for residents of Montgomery County)
BEST FEATURE: Sinclair College allows you to get your real estate license while you complete your college degree. While real estate agents in Ohio don’t necessarily need a college degree, this unique option isn’t available through any other Ohio real estate school on our list.
ROOM TO IMPROVE: Sinclair College doesn’t offer exam prep sessions for the Ohio real estate exam or employment networking opportunities. If you’re looking for a school that targets your real estate career, consider our top pick, Hondros College.
BOTTOM LINE: If you’re looking for a creative way to fund your college education, become a real estate agent in Ohio by earning your associate’s degree in real estate from Sinclair College.
Can You Be a Part-time Real Estate Agent? (+ Free Guide & Videos)
Best Real Estate Classes in Ohio for Exam Prep: Colibri Real Estate
Colibri Real Estate offers:
- Exam prep
Colibri Real Estate is a leader in the real estate education space. Even though you can’t take your online real estate classes in Ohio through Colibri Real Estate, you can use their top-notch exam prep materials to pass the Ohio licensing exam.
Colibri Real Estate’s exam prep is all about individualizing your experience so you don’t waste any time. They provide custom exams that are tailored to the areas you need review. On top of it all, they’re so confident about their exam prep package that if you don’t pass your license exam on the first try, they’ll give you your money back.
| Colibri Real Estate Pros | Colibri Real Estate Cons |
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Colibri Real Estate Exam Prep Pricing
- Real Estate Exam Prep for Ohio Salespersons ($99): This exam prep package includes digital flashcards, practice exams, custom simulated exams, and a pass guarantee.
(Colibri Real Estate Exam Prep package prices as of December 2022)
BEST FEATURE: It’s easy to offer hundreds of practice questions, but Colibri Real Estate’s guarantee is a game-changer. How prepared you are for your license exam normally relies on your own motivation and study habits, but Colibri Real Estate is so confident their exam prep design is effective, they guarantee you’ll pass your license exam the first time.
ROOM TO IMPROVE: Our only complaint is that we’d like to see another exam prep package option. Real estate agents moving in from out of state may only need to review the state portion of the license exam, for example.
BOTTOM LINE: Taking tests can feel intimidating, but thorough preparation takes the anxiety out of the Ohio real estate licensing exam. That’s why we recommend exam prep resources from Colibri Real Estate.
Best Real Estate Classes in Ohio for Continuing Education: Kaplan
Kaplan offers:
- Exam Prep
- Continuing Education
While Kaplan doesn’t offer the prelicensing courses you must take to earn your Ohio real estate license, we encourage you to consider it when you’re ready to renew your license. Kaplan offers on-demand and online courses for Ohio real estate agents. If you’re in a time crunch and need to recertify, Kaplan can help you do it quickly.
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Kaplan Pricing
Kaplan offers two license renewal packages for Ohio agents. Both include all you need to keep working as a real estate agent for three additional years.
- Ohio 30-Hour Complete CE Package – Online ($199): Satisfy all your CE requirements to renew your Ohio real estate license with this self-paced online package.
- Ohio CE Courses On Demand ($24-$58): Chose which CE courses interest you the most by selecting them piecemeal. Options include Today’s Real Estate Event Marketing, Why Bad Things Happen to Good Houses, and our favorite: Liars, Cheaters, and Thieves: Averting Client Catastrophe.
(Kaplan Prelicensing Package Prices as of December 2022)
Readers of The Close can save 5% off Kaplan Real Estate Education classes using promo code KAPRE5.
BEST FEATURE: Since they’re not a degree-granting institution, Kaplan can’t offer prelicensing courses for Ohio real estate students. But they’ve invested a lot of energy into providing high-quality CE courses for Ohio real estate agents. Many of their classes are state-specific, and they offer them in two easy-to-consume formats.
ROOM TO IMPROVE: If you compare Kaplan’s continuing education packages to those offered through The CE Shop, you’re going to spend a lot more with Kaplan. Even though The CE Shop’s continuing education courses are more affordable, Kaplan is the only real estate school in Ohio to offer on-demand video courses.
BOTTOM LINE: Kaplan knows how to design effective course material in an easy-to-understand format so students spend their valuable time learning what’s most important.
Best Real Estate Classes in Ohio – FAQs
Have more questions about real estate schools in Ohio? We’ve provided some additional information about online Ohio real estate classes, timelines, costs, and more. If you have a question we didn’t answer, tell us in the comment section below!
Which online real estate school is the best?
Even though Hondros College is our choice as the top real estate school in Ohio, the other real estate schools on our list are excellent options with different features and benefits.
Learn more about national online real estate schools from our buyer’s guide.
How do I get my real estate license in Ohio?
To become a real estate salesperson in Ohio, you need to obtain a background check, take the 120 hours of prelicensing courses, pass the Ohio real estate licensing exam, and then find a broker to hire you.
Read How to Get an Ohio Real Estate License to learn all the details. Then, get started by enrolling in an online real estate school based on our recommendations above.
How long does it take to become a real estate agent in Ohio?
It takes at least three months to get a real estate license in Ohio. Even though some schools (like Sinclair College) claim students can complete the material within eight weeks, the application process may tack on an additional few weeks before your Ohio real estate license is finalized.
How hard is it to pass the Ohio real estate exam?
The Ohio salesperson exam consists of 80 questions about national real estate matters and 40 state-specific questions. To pass, you must get at least 70% correct on each section.
How many Realtors are there in Ohio?
According to the National Association of Realtors’ November 2022 data, there are 37,336 Realtors in Ohio. This is a very slight increase from the previous month, and a half a percent more than this time last year.
How much do real estate agents make in Ohio?
It all depends on the number of deals and the commission splits, but according to Indeed.com, the average real estate agent in Ohio made $74,564 in 2022, which is 21% below the national average.
What’s the average home price in Ohio?
According to Zillow, home values in Ohio rose almost 12% in 2022, reaching $216,875. In larger cities, the values are slightly higher. In Columbus, for example, the median home value is $243,452 and Cincinnati’s is $230,676.
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Bringing It All Together
It’s a really interesting time to start your exciting new career in Ohio. We hope our guide helped you narrow down your search for the right real estate school. Have additional questions? Leave a comment below!
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