How to Become a Real Estate Agent in Idaho

Who can apply

• Be an individual at least 18 years old.
• Show proof of graduation from an accredited high school or its equivalent, or a general education certificate.
• Not have certain recent license revocations or criminal convictions; felony and revocation cases may ask the Commission for an exemption review.
• Pass a fingerprint-based national criminal history check.
• Name the Idaho designated broker you will be licensed under (only one Idaho broker at a time).

Step by step

1. Complete 90 hours of prelicense education: Salesperson Prelicense Module 1 (45 hours) and Module 2 (45 hours), with 100% attendance and 70% or higher on each course final exam.
2. Register and pay for the Pearson VUE salesperson exam, and book a Pearson VUE fingerprint appointment (or mail a hard card).
3. Pass both the national and Idaho state portions of the exam.
4. Check through the Commission's online services that your fingerprints were approved; no notice is sent.
5. Apply online for the salesperson license within 1 year of the first exam portion you passed, pay the $135 initial fee, and name your designated broker.
6. Get errors and omissions (E&O) insurance in place before your designated broker activates your license.

Official application →

Training and exam

Training: 90 hours of Commission-approved prelicense education: Salesperson Prelicense Module 1 (45 hours, real estate fundamentals) and Module 2 (45 hours, listing, selling, buying and closing). Courses must be finished within the 3 years before the application date, with 100% attendance and a final course exam score of 70% or higher. Delivery can be live classroom, Zoom, or self-paced online through Commission-certified providers. Holders of an active license of the same type in another state may request a written waiver of the prelicense courses.

Exam: Given by Pearson VUE. Salesperson exam: national/general portion with 80 scored items (plus 5 unscored pretest items), 150 minutes; Idaho state portion with 40 scored items (plus 5–10 pretest items), 90 minutes; 4 hours in total. Passing scaled score: 70 on each portion. Fee: $83 per attempt, paid when you book (not at the test center), nonrefundable. If you pass one portion, you only retake the other, but you must pass both and apply within 1 year of the first passed portion or retake both. No limit on retakes; wait 24 hours before rebooking. Active licensees from another state may request a waiver of the national portion but must pass the Idaho portion.

What it costs in Idaho

Fixed amounts are set by the state. Items marked “your quote” are priced by private sellers, so enter what you’re quoted.

How long it takes

Idaho DOPL says to allow at least 10 business days to process your application, and fingerprint results can take 1 to 6 weeks to arrive.

What other sites get wrong about Idaho

After you're licensed

Renewal: Licenses renew every 2 years; you may renew up to 60 days early, and the application must be received by 5 p.m. Mountain time on the expiration date. To renew on active status for the first time, a salesperson must complete 2 Commission core courses plus the post-license course (12 hours, including the 8-hour Post License Fundamentals course). Later active renewals need 2 core courses plus 12 hours of continuing education, and E&O insurance must be in force. Renewal fees are $0 under a DOPL fee holiday that began January 1, 2026, with no set end date. Starting October 30, 2026, DOPL is moving individual licenses to expire on the licensee's birthday instead of the end of the birth month (2026 renewals expire in 2028). An expired license can be renewed within 1 year with a $25 late fee; after that it terminates.

Good to know in Idaho

Designated broker: Your license must be tied to an Idaho designated broker's company; the broker adds you through the Commission's online system and activates your license.

E&O insurance: You do not need E&O coverage to apply, but it must be in effect before your license is activated, and it must be kept current with no grace period.

Fingerprints: You may apply after your fingerprint appointment, before results return. Results usually take 1–6 weeks and are valid for 6 months.

Out-of-state licensees: A person with an active license in another state may submit a written request to waive the prelicense education and the national exam portion; the Idaho state portion is still required.

Sources

• Idaho DOPL — Real Estate Commission (fees effective January 1, 2026)
• Idaho DOPL — Real Estate Commission FAQs and Consumer Information
• Idaho DOPL — Real Estate Education: Applicants
• Idaho DOPL — Board News: transition to biennial licensure beginning October 30, 2026
• Idaho Code § 54-2012 — Qualifications for licensure
• Idaho Real Estate License Law and Rules (July 2025 booklet)
• Pearson VUE — Idaho Real Estate Candidate Handbook
• Pearson VUE — Idaho Real Estate Hard Card Fingerprint Process