Real Estate Agent Licensing Requirements in all Fifty States

Every state in the US has different requirements for getting a real estate license.  This article gives a brief description of what is required in each state to get your real estate license.  Every state requires some form of education and a test that must be passed before you can get your real estate license.  You must also work under a broker when you get your license.  State requirements for education vary from 20 credit hours of classes to over 200 hours of classes.  Almost all the education can be taken online now, but that is not always the best way to get your real estate license.

Are there different types of agents and brokers in each state?

Every state has a different system for licensing real estate agent and real estate brokers.  In most states there are real estate sales people and real estate brokers.  A real estate sales person must work under a real estate broker in order to be an active licensee.  To become a broker most states requires a certain amount of time as a sales person as well as more education and testing.  Some states have different names for brokers and sales people like Colorado, which calls beginning agents broker associates and has employing brokers or independent brokers.

Here is a great article on how to choose the best broker to work for.

How Hard is it to get a real estate license?

I am located in Colorado, which has one of the more stringent real estate licensing requirements.  Agents in Colorado have to take over 160 hours of education, pass two tests, pass a background check and get fingerprinted.  Most states have under 100 hours of education required and some have less than 40 hours required to get your real estate license.  Many states let you substitute real estate courses at a college for real estate prelicense education.  Many states also let you skip the prelicense education if you have completed law school or passed the bar exam.  States have some type of continuing education required after you get your real estate license.

What are the real estate license requirements in every state?

Below you will find every state listed with the requirements for getting an entry level real estate license.  Many states require back ground checks, fingerprints and a high school diploma.  Whether you will pass a background check is very subjective in each state.  Many states say you can’t have a felony, but each case will be looked at for extenuating circumstances.  If you are already licensed in one state, most states also greatly reduce the education requirements to get a license in their state.  If it seems like a hassle to get a real estate license, remember real estate agents can make a lot of money!

What are the real estate license requirements in:

Real estate license in Alabama:

To obtain a Alabama real estate license you must be a U.S. citizen or lawful permanent resident, be at least 19 years old, show proof of high school graduation or a GED, no felonies, not had a real estate application or license rejected or revoked in any state within the past two years, successfully completed approved 60 credits of prelicense Alabama real estate courses and pass real estate license exams.

Licensees must also complete a 30-hour real estate agent training in Alabama within the first twelve months of getting their license.

Real estate license in Alaska:

Alaska has three different types of real estate licenses: a sales person, broker and broker associate.  The sales person must work under a broker and is required to have 40 prelicense credit hours of classes plus pass the real estate exam.  You must be 19 years of age to obtain a real estate license in Alaska and people with felonies must have served their full sentence.

Real estate license in Arizona:

If you want a real estate license in Arizona you must be 18 years of age and complete 90 hours of prelicense education.  You must pass the state and real estate school exams plus be of high moral character.

Real estate license in Arkansas:

In Arkansas you must be 18 years old and take 60 hours of prelicense education.  You also have to take a background check, which is assessed on a case-by-case scenario.

Real estate license in California:

In California the real estate license applicants are only required to take three real estate classes, which can be taken at a college or private real estate school.  Applicants must also show proof of honesty and truthfulness.  Conviction of any crime can result in disqualification.

Real estate license in Colorado:

In Colorado you must take 162 credit hours of classes before you can take the state exams.  You must also pass a background test and be finger printed.

Real estate license in Connecticut:

In Connecticut you must take 60 hours of real estate classes before you can take the exam for a sales person.  Brokers must take 120 hours of education and have 2 years experience as a salesperson.

Real estate license in Delaware:

Licensees in Delaware must complete 99 hours of real estate classes before they can take the state exam.

Real estate license in District of Columbia:

In the District of Colombia you must take 60 hours of prelicense education before getting your real estate license.

Real estate license in Florida:

In Florida you must take 63 credit hours of prelicense courses and be at least 18 years of age as well as have a high school diploma or its equivalent.

being at least 18 years of age and having a high school diploma or its equivalent.

Real estate license in Georgia:

To get a salesperson license in Georgia you must take 75 hours of approved prelicensure real estate courses, or complete 10 quarter hours or 6 semester hours of approved education courses at an accredited college or university.  You must also be 18 years of age and pass a background check.

Real estate license in Hawaii:

In Hawaii you must be 21 years old and pass a real estate prelicensing course.  Hawaii does not list how many credit hours their course is, but after some research it appears to be about 60 hours worth of classes.

Real estate license in Idaho:

In Idaho you must be 18 years of age and take 90 hours of prelicense education before you can take the state exam.

Real estate license in Illinois:

In Illinois you must be 21 years old and having either a high school diploma or a GED.  The prelicense real estate education requirement is 45 hours and in some cases applicants as young as 18 may be accepted.

Real Estate license in Indiana:

Indiana requires anyone wanting a real estate license to be 18 years old and to not have been convicted of a crime that indicates they may  endanger the public.  You must take 54 credit hours of prelicense classes and pass the state exam.

Real Estate license in Iowa:

In Iowa you must be 18 years old and pass a background check.  You only have to take 36 credit hours of prelicense classes, before taking the state exam.

Real Estate license in Kansas:

You must be 18 years old and have a high school diploma or its equivalent.  You only need 30 hours of prelicense classes before taking the exam in Kansas.

Real Estate license in Kentucky:

In Kentucky you must be 18 years old, have a high school diploma or its equivalent and pass a background check.  The education requirement is 96 credit hours before you can take the state exam.

Real Estate license in Louisiana:

In Louisiana you must be 18 years old and have a high school diploma or it’s equivalent.  You must take 90 hours of prelicense education before you can take the state exams.

Real estate license in Maine:

In Maine you must be 18 years old, have a high school diploma or GED and have notarized recommendations from at least 3 persons stating that the applicant has a good reputation.  You must take 55 hours of prelicensing requirements before taking the real estate license exams.

Real estate license in Maryland:

In Maryland you must be 18 years old and of good character and reputation.  You must take 60 hours of prelicensing education before you can take the real estate license exam.

Real estate license in Massachusetts:

In Massachusetts you have to be 18 years old and take 24 credit hours of classes before you can take the state exam.

Real estate license in Michigan:

In Michigan you must be 18 years old and take 40 hours of prelicense education before you can take the state exams.

Real estate license in Minnesota:

In Minnesota you must take three real estate classes to get your license.  Only the first class has to be passed before you can take the state test and the other two classes must be passed within on year.

Real estate license in Mississippi:

in Mississippi you must be 18 years old and a bono fide resident of Mississippi.  You must pass 60 hours a prelicense education before taking the state exam.

Real Estate license in Missouri:

In Missouri you can get your license in a variety of ways.  You must be 18 and complete 48 hours of classes or be a licensed attorney or be granted a one time sitting for the exam by the commission.

Real Estate license in Montana:

In Montana you must be 18 years old and have passed the 10th grade.  You also have to take 60 hours of prelicense education before taking the real estate test.

Real Estate license in Nebraska:

In Nebraska you must be 18 years old and have a high school diploma or GED.  You must take 60 hours of continuing education before taking the state real estate exam.

Real Estate license in Nevada:

In Nevada you must take 90 hours of prelicense education before taking the state real estate exam.

Real Estate license in New Hampshire:

In New Hampshire you must be 18 and complete 40 hours of prelicense education before taking the real estate exam.

Real Estate license in new Jersey:

In New Jersey you must be 18 years old and have a high school diploma or GED.  You must pass 75 hours of prelicense classes before taking the real estate exam.

Real Estate license in New Mexico:

In new Mexico you must be 18 years old and a legal resident of the United States. You must pass 90 hours of prelicense classes before taking the state real estate exam.

Real Estate license in New York:

In New York you must be 18 years old and take 75 hours of prelicense education before passing the state real estate exam.

Real Estate license in North Carolina:

In North Carolina you must take 75 hours of prelicense classes before you can take the state real estate exam.

Real Estate license in North Dakota:

In North Dakota you must be 18 years old and take 45 credit hours of prelicense education.  The test can be taken before you finish the 45 hour prelicense education, but you must finish the education within one year.

Real Estate license in Ohio:

In Ohio you must be 18 years old and be honest and upright citizen.  If you have had a felony you may be denied a real estate license.  The applicant must pass a state real estate test and then complete 30 hours of education.

Real Estate license in Oklahoma:

In Oklahoma you must be 18 years old and of good moral character.  You must take 90 hours of prelicense education before taking you real estate exams.

Real Estate license in Oregon:

In Oregon you must be 18 years old and have a high school diploma or GED.  You must take 150 hours of prelicense education before taking the Oregon real estate exams.

Real Estate license in Pennsylvania:

In Pennsylvania you must take 60 credit hours of prelicense education or have a major in real estate from a four-year college.

Real Estate license in Rhode Island:

In Rhode Island you must be 18 years old and complete 45 hours of prelicense credits before you can take the state real estate test.

Real Estate license in South Carolina:

In South Carolina you must be 18 years old and have a high school diploma or equivalent.  You must complete 60 hours of prelicense education before taking the state real estate exam.  After passing the exam you must also take an additional 30 hours of post license education within the first year of being an agent.

Real Estate license in South Dakota:

In South Dakota you must be 18 years old and complete 116 hours of prelicense education before you can take the state real estate exams.

Real Estate license in Tennessee:

In Tennessee you must be 18 years old and complete 60 hours of prelicense education before taking the real estate exam.

Real Estate license in Texas:

In Texas you must complete 210 hours of prelicense education before you can take the real estate exam.

Real Estate license in Utah:

To get your license in Utah you must be 18 years old and complete a background check.  You must complete 120 hours of prelicense education before taking the Utah real estate exam.

Real Estate license in Vermont:

To get your real estate license in Vermont you must be 18 and complete 40 hours of prelicense education before passing the state real estate tests.

Real Estate license in Virginia:

In Virginia you must be 18 years old and complete 60 hours of prelicense education prior to taking the state license exams.

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