How to Become a Real Estate Agent: License Requirements by State
Checked against official state sources ·
Every state licenses real estate agents through its own commission or board. The entry-level license goes by different names — salesperson, sales associate, sales agent or broker-salesperson — but the path is similar everywhere: approved pre-licensing courses, a licensing exam (in most states a national portion plus a state-law portion; a few states give one state-written exam), a background check in most states, and a sponsoring broker before you can work.
What varies is the detail: the number of course hours, exam fees and vendors, fingerprinting, post-licensing education and how often you renew. Of the 50 states covered here, 50 require pre-licensing education and 50 require the licensing exam.
The steps most states share
- Meet the basics: usually at least 18 years old with a high school diploma or GED.
- Complete your state's approved pre-licensing courses.
- Pass the licensing exam — in most states a national portion on real estate principles plus a state-law portion; a few states give one state-written exam.
- Complete the background check or fingerprinting your state requires.
- Find a sponsoring broker and apply to your state's real estate commission.
- Renew on schedule and complete post-licensing or continuing education.
Requirements by state
| State | Exam | Training | Term | State fee |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Alabama | Yes | Yes | 2 yrs | Temporary salesperson license: $150. Original research and education fee: $30 (one time). Recovery Fund fee: $30, paid to issue the temporary license as active. Original (permanent) salesperson license: $85 per year or part of a year left in the license period. Source: Code of Alabama 34-27-31 and 34-27-35. |
| Alaska | Yes | Yes | 2 yrs | $370 under 12 AAC 02.360 and 12 AAC 64.073: $200 nonrefundable application fee, $120 license fee for the initial biennial period, and $50 Recovery Fund fee. (The Commission's undated online instruction sheet still lists a $140 license fee and $390 total.) Post-license certification and new license document: $50. |
| Arizona | Yes | Yes | 2 yrs | $60 original salesperson license: $50 license fee plus $10 Real Estate Recovery Fund fee. A fee waiver form is available for some first-time applicants. |
| Arkansas | Yes | Yes | 1 yrs | $50 application fee (residents; non-residents who must test pay $85), then a $50 license fee and a $25 Real Estate Recovery Fund fee when the license is issued. The initial application fee can be waived for applicants who qualify under the Workforce Expansion Act of 2021. |
| California | Yes | Yes | 4 yrs | $350 salesperson license fee and $100 exam fee, paid together as $450 with the combined application (RE 435). Fees are nonrefundable. |
| Colorado | Yes | Yes | First license expires December 31 of the year issued; after that, 3-year cycles | $83 broker application fee, nonrefundable. Activating or transferring a license costs $5. |
| Connecticut | Yes | Yes | Expires May 31 of every even-numbered year | $80 nonrefundable application fee, then a $590 license fee to activate the license ($570 initial license fee plus $20 Real Estate Guaranty Fund fee). |
| Delaware | Yes | Yes | Expires April 30 of each even-numbered year | $149 salesperson initial application fee plus a one-time $25 Real Estate Guaranty Fund fee. Processing fees are nonrefundable. |
| Florida | Yes | Yes | 2 yrs | Rule 61J2-1.011 sets an $11 sales associate application fee and a $46.75 initial license fee. The printable RE 1 application (effective June 2015) lists $62.75 total; DBPR says to pay the fee shown on the application. Military veterans, spouses, and Florida National Guard members may qualify for a fee waiver or discount. |
| Georgia | Yes | Yes | About 4 years; ends in your birth month in the fourth calendar year after activation | $170 license fee, which covers all fees for the first four years of licensure: under GREC Rule 520-1-.04, a $45 activation fee (including $20 for the Real Estate Education, Research, and Recovery Fund) plus the $125 four-year renewal fee. |
| Hawaii | Yes | Yes | All licenses expire December 31 of each even-numbered year (renewal due by November 30), so a first license lasts up to 2 years | Salesperson license fee: $382 if issued in an odd-numbered year, $282 if issued in an even-numbered year (DCCA fee schedule, HAR Title 16 Chapter 53). The exact amount due is printed on your PSI passing score report. License fees are not prorated. |
| Idaho | Yes | Yes | First license runs 1 year plus the months up to your next birthday (no more than 2 years); renewals are for 2 years | Individual broker/salesperson initial license fee: $135 (DOPL fee table effective January 1, 2026). Idaho Code § 54-2070 also sets a $20 fee on each original or renewed 2-year license for the education and recovery funds; DOPL's fee table does not say whether it is included in the $135. |
| Illinois | Yes | Yes | Expires April 30 of an even-numbered year; a broker first licensed on or after November 1, 2025 expires April 30, 2028 | Initial broker license application fee: $150 (68 Ill. Adm. Code 1450.130). A broker first licensed within the first renewal period pays no initial renewal fee and receives a license that runs to the second renewal deadline. Card payments carry a processing fee. |
| Indiana | Yes | Yes | 3 yrs | Broker license application fee: $60, plus an online processing fee. All fees are nonrefundable and nontransferable. |
| Iowa | Yes | Yes | Up to 3 years: the year issued counts as a full year, and the license expires December 31 of the third year | Salesperson license fee: $125 (481 IAC 2009.1), for the original license or a renewal. |
| Kansas | Yes | Yes | 2 yrs | $210 total paid to the Commission: $15 application fee and $70 background check fee (paid together as $85 with the pre-licensure application), plus the $125 license fee. The $125 license fee may be refunded if the application is withdrawn or denied. Under 2025 HB 2280, these fees are waived for qualifying military spouses who live or plan to live in Kansas. |
| Kentucky | Yes | Yes | Renews every 2 years; all licenses are due by March 31 of each even-numbered year | Initial sales associate license: $130 if becoming active, or $120 if going directly into inactive status. Under 201 KAR 11:210 this includes the nonrefundable $60 original license fee and $60 Real Estate Recovery Fund fee. |
| Louisiana | Yes | Yes | Renewed every year; every license expires December 31 | $90 due with Application Part A: $45 initial license fee, $10 Research and Education Fund fee, $10 Recovery Fund fee and $25 application processing fee. Fees are nonrefundable; applications and fees are valid for 1 year. E&O premiums are extra. |
| Maine | Yes | Yes | 2 yrs | $121 total, payable to the Maine State Treasurer: $100 application/license fee and $21 criminal records check fee. |
| Maryland | Yes | Yes | 2 yrs | Original salesperson license: $98, which includes a $20 Guaranty Fund payment (fee schedule effective April 27, 2026). Checks are deposited before the application is processed. |
| Massachusetts | Yes | Yes | First license lasts 2 to 3 years and expires on your birthday; after that, every 2 years on your birthday | Application fee: $31 (PSI bulletin). License fee: paid in eLIPSE after you pass; it is prorated by your birth date (the Board lists the salesperson initial license fee as $103–$150 on its reciprocity page). Renewal: $103. |
| Michigan | Yes | Yes | 3 yrs | $88 new salesperson application fee, which includes the 3-year license fee. Renewal: $78 every 3 years. |
| Minnesota | Yes | Yes | Initial license runs 12 to 24 months, then renews every 2 years by June 30 | Initial salesperson license: $110 per Commerce's application page (the August 2025 licensing guide gives $100 plus the technology surcharge, including $30 for the real estate education, research and recovery fund). Renewal: $60 plus the technology surcharge. |
| Mississippi | Yes | Yes | Temporary license is valid 1 year; the permanent license then renews on the cycle MREC sets (annual or biennial by law) | $100 salesperson application fee to MREC, which also covers the 1-year license if you pass (state law caps it at $100). Renewal fee is capped by statute at $60 per year. |
| Missouri | Yes | Yes | All salesperson licenses expire September 30 of even-numbered years; the current period runs Oct 1, 2026 – Sept 30, 2028 | $100 salesperson license application fee (non-refundable). Renewal: $65 per 2-year period. |
| Montana | Yes | Yes | 1 yrs | $80 application/licensing fee. Renewal: $80 active or $40 inactive, each year. |
| Nebraska | Yes | Yes | First license expires December 31 of the year it is issued; after that, 2-year renewals | $175 license application fee and $90 original salesperson license fee (covers the current calendar year only; not prorated). Renewal: $180 for 2 years. |
| Nevada | Yes | Yes | First license is valid 1 year (ending the last day of the month it was issued); renewals after that last 2 years | $140 salesperson license fee (Form 501 rev. 08/01/2025 and Form 549 rev. 07/25/2025; credit cards carry a 2% convenience fee). Renewal: $195. |
| New Hampshire | Yes | Yes | 2 yrs | Salesperson application fee: $99 (OPLC fee page); renewal is also $99. The Commission's administrative rules still list $90. |
| New Jersey | Yes | Yes | All licenses run on a 2-year term; the current term ends June 30, 2027 | $160 total at licensure: $100 license fee, $50 application fee and $10 Guaranty Fund (payable to the State Treasurer of New Jersey; no personal checks). |
| New Mexico | Yes | Yes | 3 yrs | $270 for a 3-year associate broker license, plus a $30 recovery fee charged on initial and renewal applications. |
| New York | Yes | Yes | 2 yrs | $65 for the 2-year salesperson license (nonrefundable). |
| North Carolina | Yes | Yes | 1 year; all licenses expire June 30, so the first term can be shorter | $105 application fee, charged again for each exam attempt. |
| North Dakota | Yes | Yes | 1 year; licenses renew annually for the calendar year | $150 application fee plus a credit history fee (listed as $11.25 at checkout; NDREC's cost list shows $13), and a one-time $20 Real Estate Education, Research and Recovery Fund payment when the license is issued. |
| Ohio | Yes | Yes | 3 yrs | $81 salesperson examination application fee, paid to the Division. |
| Oklahoma | Yes | Yes | 12 months for the provisional license; later licenses run 36 months | $35 application fee, plus a $100 provisional sales associate license fee after you pass the exam. |
| Oregon | Yes | Yes | First term 13 to 24 months, ending in your birth month; then 24 months | $300 nonrefundable broker license application fee. |
| Pennsylvania | Yes | Yes | Up to 2 years; all licenses expire May 31 of even-numbered years | $97 initial fee ($72 license fee plus $25 application fee). |
| Rhode Island | Yes | Yes | 2 yrs | $140 license fee (payable to RI General Treasurer) plus $25 to the Real Estate Recovery Account. |
| South Carolina | Yes | Yes | 2 yrs | $25 application fee, plus a $50 initial license fee after you pass the exam. |
| South Dakota | Yes | Yes | 2 yrs | Broker associate application fee: $225 (non-refundable, check or money order). Renewal: $125 every two years. $15 extra if you were previously associated with another firm. Recovery fund or education fees are not listed on the Commission's fee page. |
| Tennessee | Yes | Yes | 2 yrs | Initial affiliate broker application: $91. Renewal: $75 every two years. Transfer to a new firm: $25. |
| Texas | Yes | Yes | 2 yrs | Original sales agent application: $206 total ($150 base, $6 Texas Online, $40 Texas A&M Real Estate Research Center, $10 Real Estate Recovery fee). Fees are non-refundable. |
| Utah | Yes | Yes | 2 yrs | Sales agent new application: $154 (non-refundable), per the Division's posted fee schedule, which is labeled effective until December 31, 2025; no newer schedule was posted. |
| Vermont | Yes | Yes | 2 yrs | Salesperson license application: $100 (non-refundable). Biennial renewal: $200. Source: 26 V.S.A. 2255. |
| Virginia | Yes | Yes | 2 yrs | Initial salesperson license by examination: $230 ($210 fee plus a $20 Recovery Fund assessment), non-refundable (18VAC135-20-15, effective April 1, 2026). Activation or transfer: $90. Since July 1, 2026, DPOR says certain fees also include a separate Technology Fee of $7.25 per year (2026 House Bill 30, in place through June 30, 2030), so check the current total on the application. |
| Washington | Yes | Yes | 2 yrs | Original broker license: $233, which includes a mandatory $20 research fee. Printed license by mail: $5 (self-printing is free). |
| West Virginia | Yes | Yes | 1 year; every license must be renewed by June 30 each year | Salesperson/broker exam application fee: $25. Salesperson license fee: $75 for the initial and each later license. Online payments through WV.gov include $5 per application and $3 per renewal. Paper submissions of online transactions carry a $10 processing fee ($35 for a paper renewal). |
| Wisconsin | Yes | Yes | Renews by December 14 of each even-numbered year; a first license runs only until the next such date | Real estate salesperson initial credential fee: $75. Renewal: $75. Veterans fee waivers and initial credential fee reductions may apply. |
| Wyoming | Yes | Yes | First license expires December 31 of the year issued; after that, 3-year renewals | Original salesperson license: $300 (non-refundable, not prorated). Recovery fund: $20. Admin fee for the group E&O program: $15. Paper processing fee: $25. Each transfer, active status request or name change: $30. Expedited issuance (2 business days): $150 extra. |
More states are added only once their rules are checked against the state's own commissioning office.
General information, not legal advice. Fees and rules change — confirm with your state's commissioning office before you apply.