Real Estate Broker License: Education Requirements For Your License Renewal

Before you can take your real estate career to the next level, you will need to earn your real estate broker license. This is an entirely separate licensing procedure, different from earning the real estate agent’s license. Every state has its own requirements and guidelines, so it is important to understand exactly what is expected of you from the state you are trying to be licensed in before you get started. 

There are a number of different courses that suggest that you are able to complete all of the required education. Before applying for these courses, it is important to be sure that they are accepted by the real estate commission in the state you are applying in.

Experience and Education Requirements 

Before you can apply for a real estate broker’s license, you have to have two years of active experience as an agent. This experience must be completed in the 96 months before applying for a license. If you are a licensed broker in another state, the time for the prior experience is dropped down to 36 months instead of 96 months. Your license from the other state must be valid at the time of application for the new broker’s license. 

There is also an education requirement for the real estate broker license. There is a required 270 classroom hours of core real estate courses as well as an additional 30 hour real estate brokerage course that is mandatory before applying for the license exam. An additional 630 hours in related courses is suggested. 

A Bachelor’s Degree or higher from an accredited college or university will satisfy all of the requirements of these related courses. A copy of the transcript must be submitted when applying for the real estate broker license. 

A change was made in September of 2010, which ended the pre-approved education evaluation, instead requiring the applicant to provide an education course completion form during the license application procedure. It is important to know that the courses that you have completed are accepted by the commission before you start the application process. There are a number of ways to check that all of the courses that you have taken are valid.

Background Checks and Investigations 

Before an applicant can take the brokerage license exam, a full background check and investigation must be completed. Included in the history check will be a review of student loan payment history. If there is a default on student loans, the application will be denied and the exam will not be given. 

Once the application is completed and all fees are paid, the exam must be taken and passed within six months of the date on the application.