Want to obtain an Illinois Real Estate License?  Here's How.

In Illinois, exams, licensing, and continuing education for real estate agents are governed by the Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation.  In order to obtain an Illinois real estate license,  an applicant must first pass a state exam and meet the procedures for real estate licensing outlined in the Real Estate License Act of 2000

Each applicant shall:

Be at least 21 years of age, be of good moral character and have graduated from high school or obtained the equivalent of a high school degree.

The minimum age of 21 shall be waived for any person seeking a license as a real estate salesperson who has attained the age of 18 and can provide evidence of  successful completion of at least 4 semesters of post-secondary school study as a full time student or equivalent with major emphasis on real estate courses, at a school approved by the Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation.

All applicants for a real estate salesperson license must meet the following educational requirements:

Successfully complete a 45-class-hour Real Estate Transactions course at a real estate school approved by the Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation or;

Be admitted to practice law by the Illinois Supreme Court or;

Be a resident of another state that has a reciprocal agreement with Illinois and meets the requirements of reciprocity.

 All applicants for a real estate broker license must meet the following educational requirements:

Successfully complete at least 120 classroom hours, 45 of which shall be those hours required to obtain a salesperson license.  75 hours as approved by the Illinois Department of Professional and Financial Regulation as follows:

Mandatory Courses (45 hours)
Brokerage Administration (15 hours)
Contracts and Conveyances (15 hours)
Advanced Principles 2000 (15 hours)

Elective Courses (30 hours - any two listed below)
Real Estate Appraisal (15 hours)
Property Management (15 hours)
Financing (15 hours)
Sales and Brokerage (15 hours)
Farm Property Management (15 hours)
Real Property Insurance (15 hours)
Other approved electives (15 hours)  or;

Be admitted to practice law by the Illinois Supreme Court or;

Be a resident of another state that has a reciprocal agreement with Illinois and meets the requirements of reciprocity.

 Every person making application for an original license as a salesperson or broker must personally take and pass a written examination authorized by the Illinois Department of Professional and Financial Regulation.