How to Become a Real Estate Agent in Utah

Who can apply

• Be at least 18 years old when you apply.
• Have a valid Social Security number.
• Have at least a high school diploma, GED, or equivalent.
• Meet the statutory standards of honesty, integrity, truthfulness, reputation, and competency. Criminal history is reviewed under rule R162-2f-201.
• Complete a fingerprint-based background check.

Step by step

1. Complete 120 hours of sales agent pre-license education at a Division-certified school.
2. Pass the Pearson VUE sales agent exam (national and Utah portions) within one year of finishing the course. Bring your Candidate Education Certifying Document to each attempt.
3. Within 90 days of passing both portions, create a UtahID (use the email you tested with) and apply in the Division's online system, uploading documents as PDFs.
4. Complete fingerprinting using the instructions and forms the Division emails 1 to 2 business days after you apply.
5. Affiliate with a Utah principal broker. You cannot conduct transactions until you are affiliated and the Division has the paperwork.
6. Before your first renewal, take the 12-hour New Agent Course.

Official application →

Training and exam

Training: 120 hours of sales agent pre-license education at a Division-certified pre-license school, following the Division's Principles and Practices curriculum. The education must be completed within the 12 months before you apply for the license. Out-of-state education may be waived in whole or part on review (allow 30 days); active Utah State Bar members may have education waived.

Exam: Pearson VUE (Utah candidate handbook, July 2024). National portion: 80 scored items plus 5 pretest items. Utah state portion: 50 scored items plus 5 to 10 pretest items. You get 4 hours total. Passing is a scaled score of 70 on each portion. Fee: $69, paid at booking. If you fail one portion, retake only that portion within 6 months or you must retake the whole exam. Wait 24 hours before rebooking. Apply for the license within 90 days of passing both portions.

What it costs in Utah

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

The Division of Real Estate says new sales agent applications currently take about 30 days; a specialist emails you if there are questions or once the license is approved.

What other sites get wrong about Utah

After you're licensed

Renewal: Licenses are valid for two years. Renew online through your UtahID during the window that opens 45 days before the last day of your expiration month; finish CE by the 15th of the renewal month. On-time sales agent renewal: $102 ($60 renewal, $32 fingerprint processing, $10 Rap Back; the last two are not charged if already enrolled in Rap Back). First renewal: the 12-hour New Agent Course, one 3-hour mandatory course, and 3 more hours of core or elective CE. Later renewals: 18 hours, including core topic hours (the renewal page says at least 6; the sales agent education page says 9), one 3-hour mandatory course, and the rest core or elective. Inactive renewals need no CE.

Good to know in Utah

Principal broker: Under Utah Code 61-2f-302, an inactive sales agent may not conduct transactions until affiliated with a principal broker and the required documents are filed. A sales agent may be affiliated with only one principal broker at a time.

Deadlines: Apply within 90 days of passing both exam portions and within 12 months of finishing pre-license education. Missing the exam deadline means retesting; missing the education deadline means retaking the course.

Out-of-state licensees: Candidates licensed in another state may need only the Utah state portion, but must first get a waiver from the Division. Waivers are not applied retroactively.

Late renewal: If you renew within 30 days after expiration, complete the 18 CE hours and pay a $50 late fee plus the renewal fee. After 30 days the license becomes expired-inactive: from 31 days to 12 months, pay a $100 reinstatement fee plus renewal and/or activation fees ($15 activation with a brokerage). After 12 months you must relicense as an original applicant.

Sources

• Utah Division of Real Estate — Sales Agent
• Utah Division of Real Estate — Education Requirements for Sales Agents
• Utah Division of Real Estate — Active Sales Agent / Broker On Time Renewal
• Utah Division of Real Estate — Real Estate Fee Schedule
• Utah Code 61-2f-302 — Affiliation with a principal broker
• Pearson VUE — Utah Real Estate Candidate Handbook (July 2024)
• Pearson VUE — Utah Real Estate Content Outlines