Real Estate License Requirements
Real Estate Licensing Requirements (All 52 States)
No matter where you live in the United States, you must be licensed to operate as a real estate agent.
Did you know that each state has its own requirements? No need to worry. We have made it easier with the master chart below breaking down the real estate license requirements for every state!
It can be a confusing and an overwhelming process researching all of the information out there. Not too mention frustrating… But there is help for finding this information in this article!
There are many choices when it comes to real estate schools who help you prepare for the final state exam. You can also choose to study on your own, but there are still minimum requirements that must be met.
Real Estate License Requirement Chart
We have broken this chart into 6 categories:
- State. This is obviously the state of choice in which you are looking to obtain licensure in.
- Classroom Hours. This is the minimum amount of classroom hours you must complete online or in class.
- Estimated Costs. This is the estimated costs for your state exam as well as license / background, etc. **This doesn’t include the cost for schooling.
- Age. Minimum age you must be in order to obtain a real estate license.
- Education Requirements. This is foundational requirements such as high school, GED and even any college requirements.
- Restrictions. A person also must meet certain eligibility conditions, such as background checks. If someone has a criminal background of any kind, you must know and understand what your state says on this matter.
Real Estate Classroom Hour Requirements
| STATE | CLASSROOM HOURS |
| Alabama | 60 hrs pre-license/30 hrs w/ 12 months |
| Alaska | 40 hrs pre-license |
| Arizona | 90 hrs pre-license |
| Arkansas | 60 hrs pre-license/6 hr. class on writing contracts |
| California | 135 hrs pre-license or Complete three college-level courses in specified real estate related topics |
| Colorado | Does not issue a general real estate salesperson license |
| Connecticut | 60 hrs pre-license |
| Delaware | 99 hrs pre-license |
| District of Columbia | 60 hrs pre-license |
| Florida | 63 hrs pre-license |
| Georgia | 75 hrs pre-license |
| Hawaii | 45 hrs pre-license |
| Idaho | 90 hrs pre-license |
| Illinois | Does not issue general salesperson license |
| Indiana | Does not issue general salesperson license |
| Iowa | 96 hrs pre-license |
| Kansas | 60 hrs pre-license |
| Kentucky | 96 hrs pre-license |
| Louisiana | 90 hrs pre-license |
| Maine | 55 hrs pre-license |
| Maryland | 60 hrs pre-license |
| Massachusetts | 40 hrs pre-license |
| Michigan | 40 hrs pre-license |
| Minnesota | 90 hrs pre-license |
| Mississippi | 60 hrs pre-license |
| Missouri | 72 hrs pre-license |
| Montana | 60 hrs pre-license |
| Nebraska | 60 hrs pre-license |
| Nevada | 90 hrs pre-license |
| New Hampshire | 40 hrs pre-license |
| New Jersey | 75 hrs pre-license |
| New Mexico | Does not issue a general real estate salesperson license |
| New York | 75 hrs pre-license |
| North Carolina | Does not issue a general real estate salesperson license |
| North Dakota | Does not issue a general real estate salesperson license |
| Ohio | 120 hrs pre-license |
| Oklahoma | 90 hrs pre-license |
| Oregon | Does not issue a general real estate salesperson license |
| Pennsylvania | 60 hrs pre-license |
| Rhode Island | 45 hrs pre-license |
| South Carolina | 60hrs pre-license or or hold a Juris Doctor, Bachelor of Laws degree, or a baccalaureate degree with a major in real estate from an accredited college or university |
| South Dakota | Does not issue a general real estate salesperson license |
| Tennessee | Does not issue a general real estate salesperson license |
| Texas | Complete pre-licensing education of at least 12 semester hours, or equivalent classroom hours, of postsecondary education related to real estate |
| Utah | 120 hrs pre-license. Be a Utah attorney, or have equivalent education |
| Vermont | 40 hrs pre-license |
| Virginia | 60 hrs pre-license |
| Washington | Does not issue a general real estate salesperson license |
| West Virginia | 90 hrs pre-license |
| Wisconsin | 72 hrs pre-license or 10 semester-hour credits in real estate at an accredited higher education institution |
| Wyoming | 30 hrs pre-license |
Real Estate License Estimated Costs
| STATE | ESTIMATED COSTS |
| Alabama | $71/Exam – $150/License |
| Alaska | $100/Exam – $530/License |
| Arizona | $60/Exam – $75/License |
| Arkansas | $125/Exam – $75/License |
| California | $60/Exam – $245/License |
| Colorado | |
| Connecticut | $52/Exam – $385/License |
| Delaware | $69/Exam – $25/Guaranty |
| District of Columbia | $61/Exam – $240/ License |
| Florida | $36.75/Exam – $89/License |
| Georgia | $25/Crime Report – $170/License |
| Hawaii | $68/Exam – License Fee (changes annually) |
| Idaho | $75/Exam – $160/License |
| Illinois | $45 Exam – $125/License |
| Indiana | $35/Exam – $39.25/License |
| Iowa | $92/ Exam – $125/License |
| Kansas | $82/Exam – $100/License |
| Kentucky | $75/Exam – $70/License |
| Louisiana | $85/Exam – $45/License |
| Maine | $85/Exam – $100/License |
| Maryland | $90/Exam – $115/License |
| Massachusetts | $97/Exam – $103/License |
| Michigan | $79/Exam – $88/License |
| Minnesota | $65/EXam – $110/License |
| Mississippi | $75/Exam – $150/License |
| Missouri | $52/Exam – $90/License |
| Montana | $106/Exam(subject to change) – $122.50/License |
| Nebraska | $285/Exam – $90/License |
| Nevada | $100/Exam – $125/License |
| New Hampshire | $45/Exam – $160/License |
| New Jersey | $95/Exam – $270/License |
| New Mexico | |
| New York | $15/Exam – $50/License |
| North Carolina | |
| North Dakota | |
| Ohio | $60/Application Fee |
| Oklahoma | $60/Exam – $75/Provisional/$165/Initial License |
| Oregon | |
| Pennsylvania | $54/Exam – $107/License |
| Rhode Island | $70/Exam – $100/License |
| South Carolina | $63/Exam – $75/License |
| South Dakota | |
| Tennessee | |
| Texas | $54/Exam – $350/License |
| Utah | $66/Exam – $152/License |
| Vermont | $115/Exam – $50/License |
| Virginia | $60/Exam – $170/License |
| Washington | |
| West Virginia | $96/Exam – $100/License |
| Wisconsin | $82//Exam – $75/License |
| Wyoming | $114/Exam – $300/License |
Real Estate License Age Requirements
| STATE | AGE |
| Alabama | 19 |
| Alaska | 18 |
| Arizona | 18 |
| Arkansas | 18 |
| California | 18 |
| Colorado | |
| Connecticut | 18 |
| Delaware | 18 |
| District of Columbia | 18 |
| Florida | 18 |
| Georgia | 18 |
| Hawaii | 18 |
| Idaho | 18 |
| Illinois | |
| Indiana | |
| Iowa | 18 |
| Kansas | 18 |
| Kentucky | 18 |
| Louisiana | 18 |
| Maine | 18 |
| Maryland | 18 |
| Massachusetts | 18 |
| Michigan | 18 |
| Minnesota | 18 |
| Mississippi | 18 |
| Missouri | 18 |
| Montana | 18 |
| Nebraska | 19 |
| Nevada | 18 |
| New Hampshire | 18 |
| New Jersey | 18 |
| New Mexico | |
| New York | 18 |
| North Carolina | |
| North Dakota | 18 |
| Ohio | 18 |
| Oklahoma | 18 |
| Oregon | |
| Pennsylvania | 18 |
| Rhode Island | 18 |
| South Carolina | 18 |
| South Dakota | |
| Tennessee | |
| Texas | 18 |
| Utah | 18 |
| Vermont | 18 |
| Virginia | 18 |
| Washington | |
| West Virginia | 18 |
| Wisconsin | 18 |
| Wyoming |
Real Estate License Education Requirements
| STATE | EDUCATION REQUIREMENTS |
| Alabama | High School Diploma or equivalent |
| Alaska | High School Diploma or GED |
| Arizona | High School Diploma or GED |
| Arkansas | High School Diploma or GED |
| California | High School Diploma or GED |
| Colorado | |
| Connecticut | High School Diploma or GED |
| Delaware | High School Diploma or GED |
| District of Columbia | High School Diploma or GED |
| Florida | High School Diploma or GED |
| Georgia | High School Diploma or GED |
| Hawaii | High School Diploma or GED |
| Idaho | High School Diploma or GED |
| Illinois | |
| Indiana | |
| Iowa | High School Diploma or GED |
| Kansas | High School Diploma or GED |
| Kentucky | High School Diploma or GED |
| Louisiana | High School Diploma or GED |
| Maine | High School Diploma or GED |
| Maryland | High School Diploma or GED |
| Massachusetts | High School Diploma or GED |
| Michigan | High School Diploma or GED |
| Minnesota | High School Diploma or GED |
| Mississippi | High School Diploma or GED |
| Missouri | High School Diploma or GED |
| Montana | High School Diploma or GED |
| Nebraska | High School Diploma or GED |
| Nevada | High School Diploma or GED |
| New Hampshire | High School Diploma or GED |
| New Jersey | High School Diploma or GED |
| New Mexico | High School Diploma or GED |
| New York | High School Diploma or GED |
| North Carolina | |
| North Dakota | High School Diploma or GED |
| Ohio | High School Diploma or GED |
| Oklahoma | High School Diploma or GED |
| Oregon | |
| Pennsylvania | High School Diploma or GED |
| Rhode Island | High School Diploma or GED |
| South Carolina | High School Diploma or GED |
| South Dakota | High School Diploma or GED |
| Tennessee | |
| Texas | High School Diploma or GED |
| Utah | High School Diploma or GED |
| Vermont | High School Diploma or GED |
| Virginia | High School Diploma or GED |
| Washington | |
| West Virginia | High School Diploma or GED |
| Wisconsin | |
| Wyoming |
Real Estate License Restrictions
| STATE | RESTRICTIONS |
| Alabama |
No felonies or crime of moral turpitude. Be trustworthy and competent to transact business; be a U.S. citizen, permanent resident alien, or legally presiding in the United States.Not have had a real estate application or license rejected or revoked in another state within the past two years
|
| Alaska | Not be under indictment or felony (fraud, theft) or seven years have elapsed since conviction and serving sentence. |
| Arizona | No crimes of moral turpitude. Not be convicted of a felony and incarcerated, on parole, or on probation for the conviction |
| Arkansas | Have good reputation for honesty, trustworthiness, and integrity; and have demonstrated no record of unprofessional conduct. Complete criminal history background check |
| California | No convictions. Demonstrate honesty and truthfulness |
| Colorado | |
| Connecticut | Have good reputation for honesty, truthfulness, and fair dealing; and be competent to transact business |
| Delaware | No criminal or pending criminal charges related to real estate or fraud. Nor drug, alcohol or mental incompetence charges. |
| District of Columbia | No convictions that bear upon fitness to be licensed. Not have had license application denied in the past year, be under license suspension, or have had license revoked in past three years |
| Florida | Good reputation for honesty, truthfulness and fair dealings |
| Georgia | No felonies or crime of moral turpitude. 2-5 years since terms have been satisfied. |
| Hawaii | Possess reputation for competency, honesty, truthfulness, financial integrity, and fair dealing |
| Idaho | No felony conviction, no real estate license revoked for fraud, dishonesty in past five years |
| Illinois | |
| Indiana | |
| Iowa | No real estate application rejected within the past 12 months or real estate license revoked in the past two years |
| Kansas | Have a good reputation for honesty, trustworthiness, integrity, and competency to transact business |
| Kentucky | Be trustworthy and competent to transact business |
| Louisiana | Have a good reputation for honesty, trustworthiness, integrity, and competence to transact business |
| Maine | Have a good reputation for honesty, truthfulness, fair dealing |
| Maryland | Be of good character and reputation; Submit credit report |
| Massachusetts | Be of good moral character |
| Michigan | May be required to provide proof of business experience, competence, and good moral character |
| Minnesota | No real estate license revoked within two years of the application date |
| Mississippi | Trustworthy and competent to transact business |
| Missouri | Be of good moral character; have a good reputation for honesty, integrity, and fair dealing; and be competent to transact business |
| Montana | Honest, trustworthy, and competent to transact business; and have completed 10th grade or its equivalent |
| Nebraska | Submit fingerprints for national criminal history background check |
| Nevada | Have a good reputation for honesty, trustworthiness, integrity; and be competent to transact business |
| New Hampshire | Have a good reputation for honesty, trustworthiness, and integrity |
| New Jersey | Be of good moral character and able to prove honesty, trustworthiness, and integrity |
| New Mexico | |
| New York | Trustworthy, and competent to transact business |
| North Carolina | |
| North Dakota | Have good reputation for honesty, truthfulness, financial integrity, and fair dealing; and be competent to transact business |
| Ohio | Be honest, truthful, and of good reputation |
| Oklahoma |
Be of good moral character; Submit to a national criminal history record check. Any specified serious crime (e.g., murder), at least 20 years must have passed since completing all terms and conditions 2. Felony involving forgery, fraud, or a similar offense, at least 10 years 3. Any other felony, at least five years
|
| Oregon | |
| Pennsylvania | Have a good reputation for honesty, trustworthiness, integrity, and competence to transact business |
| Rhode Island | Have good reputation for honesty, trustworthiness, integrity, and competency |
| South Carolina | Submit to a credit report to demonstrate creditworthiness |
| South Dakota | |
| Tennessee | |
| Texas | Must be a U.S. citizen or lawfully admitted alien; and demonstrate competence, honesty, trustworthiness, and integrity |
| Utah |
Prove honesty, integrity, truthfulness, reputation, and competency. Submit fingerprints and consent to a criminal background check. No felony convictions within 5 years or misdemeanor involving fraud, misrepresentation, theft, or dishonesty within the previous three years
|
| Vermont | |
| Virginia | Have good reputation for honesty, truthfulness, fair dealing, and competency to transact business |
| Washington | |
| West Virginia | Be trustworthy, of good moral character, and competent to transact business |
| Wisconsin | Competent to transact business. Not have been convicted of a felony |
| Wyoming | Have a good reputation for honesty, trustworthiness, integrity, and competence to transact business. Submit fingerprints for a criminal history record background check |
It Pays To Know What Each State’s Real Estate License Restrictions Are
All 52 states require a person to have a certain number of hours of pre-licensing education which prepares you to take the state license exam. There are also multiple fees, such as licensing applications, exam fees and the varying costs from state to state.
Much luck in getting your real estate license! And if you’re considering online, take a look at Real Estate Express below.
For your convienence, we included a PDF download. Here is your Real Estate License Requirement Checklist for all of the USA.
