Embarking on a real estate agent career requires meeting certain requirements, but these can vary from state to state. If you’re considering becoming a real estate agent, it’s essential to understand the specific criteria mandated by each state to ensure a smooth journey toward licensure and success. This article provides an overview of the requirements to become a real estate agent in every state, shedding light on the necessary qualifications and steps to kickstart your real estate career.
| State | Requirements | Relevant Link(s) |
| Alabama | -19 years of age or older -US Citizen or proof of permanent residence -Resident of Alabama -No felony or convictions calling ethical and moral compass into question -Must have high school diploma or GED -Must not have had a real estate license or application rejected or revoked in any state in last two years -60 hours of pre-licensing education -Pass state licensing exam | Alabama Real Estate Commission (AREC) |
| Alaska | -19 years of age or older -No felony or convictions calling ethical and moral compass into question -US Citizen or proof of permanent residence -40 hours of pre-licensing education -Pass Alaska licensing exam -Complete 30 hours of post-licensing education | Alaska Real Estate Commission (Dept. of Commerce, Corporations, Business, and Professional Licensing) |
| Arizona | -18 years of age or older -No felony or convictions calling ethical and moral compass into question -US Citizen or proof of permanent residence -Must have high school diploma or GED -Must have a US Social Security Number -90 hours of pre-licensing education and 6 hours of Contract Writing course -Pass Arizona licensing exam -Get fingerprinted | Arizona Department of Real Estate |
| Arkansas | -18 years of age or older -No felony or convictions calling ethical and moral compass into question -US Citizen or proof of permanent residence -Complete 60 hours of pre-licensing education -Pass Arkansas licensing exam -18 hours of post-licensing education | Arkansas Real Estate Commission |
| California | -18 years of age or older -No felony or convictions calling ethical and moral compass into question -US Citizen or proof of permanent residence -Must have US Social Security Number -Complete 135 hours of pre-licensing education -Pass state licensing exam -Get fingerprinted | California Department of Real Estate |
| Colorado | -18 years of age or older -US Citizen or proof of permanent residence -Complete 168 hours of pre-licensing education -Pass state licensing exam -Pass background check and get fingerprinted | Colorado Division of Real Estate |
| Connecticut | -18 years of age or older -US Citizen or proof of permanent residence -Complete 60 hours of pre-licensing education -Pass state licensing exam | Connecticut Real Estate Commission |
| Delaware | -18 years of age or older -Must be US citizen or legal alien -Must have high school diploma or equivalent -Complete 99 hours of pre-licensing education -Pass state licensing exam | Delaware Real Estate Commission |
| Florida | -18 years of age or older -Must have high school degree or equivalent (GED) -US Citizen or proof of permanent residence -Complete 63 hours of pre-licensing education -Submit fingerprints to state -Pass Florida licensing exam | Florida Department of Business and Professional Regulation |
| Georgia | -18 years of age or older -Must have high school diploma or equivalent -US Citizen or proof of permanent residence -Complete 75 hours of pre-licensing education -Pass background check -Pass state licensing exam | Georgia Real Estate Commission & Appraisers Board |
| Hawaii | -18 years of age or older -No felony or convictions calling ethical and moral compass into question -US Citizen or proof of permanent residence -Must have high school diploma or equivalent -Complete 60 hours of pre-licensing education -Sign up for eHawaii to submit an application for license -Pass state licensing exam -Submit application for license | Hawaii Department of Commerce and Consumer Affairs – Real Estate Branch |
| Idaho | -18 years of age or older -Pass background check -US Citizen or proof of permanent residence -Complete 90 hours of pre-licensing education -Get fingerprinted | Idaho Real Estate Commission |
| Illinois | -18 years of age or older -US Citizen or proof of permanent residence -Must have valid Social Security Number -Must have high school diploma or equivalent -Complete 75 hours of pre-licensing education -Apply for the state licensing exam (and pass) -Apply for state licensure | Illinois Division of Real Estate |
| Indiana | -18 years of age or older -US citizen or proof of permanent residence -Must have high school diploma or equivalent -Complete 90 hours of pre-licensing education -Complete post-licensing education | Indiana Professional Licensing Agency – Real Estate |
| Iowa | -18 years of age or older -No felony or convictions calling ethical and moral compass into question -US Citizen or proof of permanent residence -Must not have been denied a real estate license in the past 12 months -Must not have had a real estate license revoked in the past 2 years -Complete 60 hours of pre-licensing education -Pass background check -Pass state licensing exam -Complete post-licensing education | Iowa Professional Licensing Board – Real Estate |
| Kansas | -18 years of age or older -Must have high school diploma or equivalent -US Citizen or proof of permanent residence -Complete 60 hours of pre-licensing education -Pass state licensing exam | Kansas Real Estate Commission |
| Kentucky | -18 years of age or older -Must have high school diploma or equivalent -US Citizen or proof of permanent residence -Complete 96 hours of pre-licensing education -Pass background check -Pass state licensing exam | Kentucky Real Estate Commission |
| Louisiana | -18 years of age or older -Must have high school diploma or equivalent -US Citizen or proof of permanent residence -90 hours of pre-licensing education -Pass background check -Pass state licensing exam -Complete additional post-licensing education | Louisiana Real Estate Commission |
| Maine | -18 years of age or older -Must have high school diploma or equivalent -US Citizen or proof of permanent residence -55 hours of pre-licensing education -Pass background check -Pass state licensing exam | Maine Office of Professional and Financial Regulation – Real Estate Commission |
| Maryland | -18 years of age or older -Must have high school diploma or equivalent -US Citizen or proof of permanent residence -60 hours of pre-licensing education -Pass state licensing exam -Pass background check | Maryland Real Estate Commission |
| Massachusetts | -18 years of age or older -Must have high school diploma or equivalent -US Citizen or proof of permanent residence -40 hours of pre-licensing education -Pass state licensing exam -Get approved by state board of Real Estate Brokers and Salespersons | Board of Registration of Real Estate Brokers and Salespersons |
| Michigan | -18 years of age or older -Must have high school diploma or equivalent -US Citizen or proof of permanent residence -Must have valid Social Security Number -40 hours pre-licensing education -Pass licensing exam -Submit application to the states regulatory commission (Michigan Department of Licensing and Regulatory Affairs (LARA)) | Michigan Board of Real Estate Brokers and Salespersons |
| Minnesota | -18 years of age or older -Must have high school diploma or equivalent -US Citizen or proof of permanent residence -90 hours pre-licensing education -Pass background check -Pass state licensing exam | Minnesota Department of Commerce – Real Estate Licensing |
| Mississippi | -18 years of age or older -Must be a resident of Mississippi -60 hours of pre-licensing education -Apply for a state license -Pass state licensing exam -Complete 30 hours of post-licensing continuing education | Mississippi Real Estate Commission |
| Missouri | -18 years of age or older -Must have high school diploma or equivalent -US Citizen or proof of permanent residence -72 hours of pre-licensing education -Pass background check -Pass state licensing exam | Missouri Real Estate Commission |
| Montana | -18 years of age or older -Must have high school diploma or equivalent -US Citizen or proof of permanent residence -70 hours of pre-licensing education -Pass state licensing exam | Montana Board of Realty Regulation |
| Nebraska | -19 years of age or older -Must have high school diploma or equivalent -US Citizen or proof of permanent residence -66 hours of pre-licensing education -Pass background check -Pass state licensing exam | Nebraska Real Estate Commission |
| Nevada | -18 years of age or older -Must have high school diploma or equivalent -US Citizen or proof of permanent residence -120 hours of pre-licensing education -Submit fingerprints and pass background check -Pass state licensing exam -Submit licensing application to Nevada Real Estate Division | Department of Business and Industry – Nevada Real Estate Division |
| New Hampshire | -18 years of age or older -Must have high school diploma or equivalent -US Citizen or proof of permanent residence -40 hours of pre-licensing education -Pass state licensing exam -Submit a licensing application to the New Hampshire Real Estate Commission | NH Real Estate Commission |
| New Jersey | -18 years of age or older -Must have high school diploma or equivalent -US Citizen or proof of permanent residence -75 hours of pre-licensing education -Pass state licensing exam | New Jersey Real Estate Commission |
| New Mexico | -18 years of age or older -Must have high school diploma or equivalent -US Citizen or proof of permanent residence -90 hours of pre-licensing education -Pass state licensing exam -Pass background check and submit fingerprints | New Mexico Real Estate Commission |
| New York | -18 years of age or older -Must have high school diploma or equivalent -US Citizen or proof of permanent residence -Have no felony convictions -75 hours of pre-licensing education -Pass state licensing exam | New York Department of State – Real Estate Licensing |
| North Carolina | -18 years of age or older -US Citizen or legal alien -75 hours of pre-licensing education -Pass state licensing exam -Complete post-licensing continuing education | North Carolina Real Estate Commission |
| North Dakota | -18 years of age or older -Must have high school diploma or equivalent -US Citizen or proof of permanent residence -90 hours of pre-licensing education -Submit application and criminal history record -Pass state licensing exam | North Dakota Real Estate Commission |
| Ohio | -18 years of age or older -Must have high school diploma or equivalent -US Citizen or proof of permanent residence -Must uphold good moral standing -Must have no criminal convictions that implicate ethical or moral issues -Must have no civil rights law violations in the past two years -120 hours of pre-licensing education -Pass state licensing exam | Ohio Real Estate Commission |
| Oklahoma | -18 years of age or older -US Citizen or proof of permanent residence -Must be deemed a person of good moral character and standing by the Oklahoma Real Estate Commission -90 hours of pre-licensing education -Pass state licensing exam | Oklahoma Real Estate Commission |
| Oregon | -18 years of age or older -Must have high school diploma or equivalent -US Citizen or proof of permanent residence -150 hours of pre-licensing education -Submit fingerprints -Pass state licensing exam | Oregon Real Estate Agency |
| Pennsylvania | -18 years of age or older -Must have high school diploma or equivalent -US Citizen or proof of permanent residence -Must have a letter of recommendation vouching for good moral standing -75 hours of pre-licensing education -Pass state licensing exam -Complete Pennsylvania Salesperson Application | Pennsylvania Real Estate Commission |
| Rhode Island | -18 years of age or older -Must have high school diploma or equivalent -US Citizen or proof of permanent residence -45 hours of pre-licensing education -3 hour class on Lead Paint -Obtain and submit criminal history record (CHR) -Pass state licensing exam | State of Rhode Island Department of Business Regulation – Real Estate |
| South Carolina | -18 years of age or older -Must have high school diploma or equivalent -US Citizen or proof of permanent residence -90 hours of pre-licensing education -Pass state licensing exam | South Carolina Real Estate Commission |
| South Dakota | -18 years of age or older -Must have high school diploma or equivalent -US Citizen or proof of permanent residence -116 hours of pre-licensing education -Pass background check -Pass state licensing exam | South Dakota Department of Labor & Regulation – Real Estate Commission |
| Tennessee | -18 years of age or older -Must have high school diploma or equivalent -US Citizen or proof of permanent residence -Must be a resident of Tennessee for at least 45 days -90 hours of pre-licensing education -Must pass background check -Pass state licensing exam | Tennessee Real Estate Commission |
| Texas | -18 years of age or older -Must have high school diploma or equivalent -US Citizen or proof of permanent residence -Must be a legal resident of Texas -Must meet TREC’s qualifications of honesty, trustworthiness, and integrity -180 hours of pre-licensing education -Pass background check -Submit fingerprints -Pass state licensing exam | Texas Real Estate Commission |
| Utah | -18 years of age or older -Must have high school diploma or equivalent -US Citizen or proof of permanent residence -Must have no felony convictions in prior 5 years -Must have no misdemeanor convictions in prior 3 years that are a result of fraud, theft, deceit, misrepresentation, or dishonesty -120 hours of pre-licensing education -Pass state licensing exam | Utah Division of Real Estate |
| Vermont | -18 years of age or older -Must have high school diploma or equivalent -US Citizen or proof of permanent residence -Must be a resident of Vermont -40 hours of pre-licensing education -Pass state licensing exam -Complete post-licensing education | Vermont Office of Professional Regulation: Real Estate Brokers & Salespersons |
| Virginia | -18 years of age or older -Must have high school diploma or equivalent -US Citizen or proof of permanent residence -60 hours of pre-licensing education -Pass state licensing exam -Submit fingerprints | Virginia Department of Professional and Occupational Regulation: Real Estate |
| Washington | -18 years of age or older -Must have high school diploma or equivalent -US Citizen or proof of permanent residence -90 hours of pre-licensing education -Pass background check -Pass state licensing exam | Washington State Department of Licensing: Real Estate Commission |
| West Virginia | -18 years of age or older -Must have high school diploma or equivalent -US Citizen or proof of permanent residence -90 hours of pre-licensing education -Pass background check -Pass state licensing exam | West Virginia Real Estate Commission |
| Wisconsin | -18 years of age or older -Must have high school diploma or equivalent -US Citizen or proof of permanent residence -72 hours of pre-licensing education -Pass state licensing exam | Wisconsin Department of Safety and Professional Services: Real Estate Brokers |
| Wyoming | -18 years of age or older -Must have high school diploma or equivalent -US Citizen or proof of permanent residence -54 hours of pre-licensing education -Pass background check -Pass state licensing exam | Wyoming Real Estate Commission & Certified Appraiser Board |
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