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Illinois Real Estate License Requirements

How to Become a Real Estate Agent in Illinois


Quick Overview:

You’ll need to be 18 years of age or older and possess a high school diploma or GED. Then you must:

  1. Complete 75 Hours of State-Approved Pre-Licensing Education
  2. Pass the Course Final Exam
  3. Pass the Illinois Real Estate Broker Examination
  4. Select an Illinois-Based Sponsoring Broker
  5. Complete the Broker License Application

BUY YOUR ILLINOIS PRE-LICENSING

How to Get a Real Estate License in Illinois

The Illinois Division of Real Estate requires all prospective agents to complete the following steps to become licensed in the Prairie State. Follow the steps below to get started with your real estate career.

1. Complete 75 Hours of Approved Real Estate Pre-Licensing Education

The first step in earning your real estate license is to complete the
75-hour Pre-License course from an approved real estate school. If you’re unsure whether you’re ready to enroll in online courses and embark on a new career, a free trial can give you an idea of what to expect.

2. Pass the Course Final Exam(s)

After completing the 75 hours of approved real estate Pre-Licensing coursework, you must pass the course’s final exam(s). Some exams consist of 20 questions while others may have up to 50. The course’s final exam will present 100 national questions and 70 state-specific questions. Regardless, a score of 75% or greater is required to pass and move on to the next steps.

3. Pass the Illinois Real Estate Examination

Once the course exams have been passed the education requirement has been satisfied, it’s time to pass the state Broker license exam. The Illinois Real Estate Broker Licensing Exam, which is scheduled through and administered by PSI, consists of a 100-question national portion and a 40-question state portion.

Per the Illinois candidate handbook, test takers have 150 minutes to complete the national section and 90 minutes to complete the state-specific portion. The exam fee is $58. Those seeking an additional advantage on test day may want to consider using Illinois-specific Exam Prep, which significantly improves chances of passing the Illinois Real Estate Broker Exam on the first try.

4. Select an Illinois-Based Sponsoring Broker

The state requires that license applicants partner up with an Illinois-based sponsoring brokerage firm. All real estate Brokers in Illinois, regardless of where they are in their career, must operate on behalf of a managing broker.

5. Complete Your Illinois Broker Application

The last step in acquiring your license is to apply. The
State of Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation allows for applicants to submit everything online via an eLicense account. The application fee is $125.


Quick Facts:

Common Questions About Getting Your Illinois Real Estate License

1. How much does it cost to get your real estate license in Illinois?

The cost of a real estate Broker license can vary considerably depending on the price of your Illinois real estate classes and different types of fees for your licensing, etc. An individual can typically expect to pay $522-$872 to get an active Illinois real estate license.

Average Course Tuition $339-$689
Exam Fee $58
Application Fee $125
Total $522-$872

2. How long does it take to get a real estate license in Illinois?

The specific amount of time to complete your 75 hours of licensing can vary depending on how long each task takes you and how long you take to complete Pre-Licensing courses. Different credit hours and requirements of each brokerage will affect each Salesperson differently.

Student Learning Pace Time Period
Full-Time Student (40 hours a week) 2 weeks
20 Hours a Week 4 weeks
10 Hours a Week 7.5 weeks
5 Hours a Week 15 weeks

3. If I get a real estate license in Illinois, where else can I work?

  • Alabama
  • Colorado
  • Delaware
  • Georgia
  • Florida
  • Kansas
  • Kentucky
  • Maine
  • Mississippi
  • Missouri
  • Virginia
  • Washington 

The above list is not comprehensive. Please refer to
this guide for more information on reciprocity.

4. How much money can I make as an Illinois real estate agent?

According to Indeed.com, the average salary for an Illinois real estate broker is $106,730.


Illinois Real Estate Post-Licensing Requirements

Illinois real estate Post-License education requirements are that you complete 45 hours of
Post-Licensing education courses within the first two years of receiving your real estate license. All new Broker licensees must complete this step, in the industry it is sometimes referred to as the “PLE” (Post-Licensing Education).


Illinois Real Estate Continuing Education Requirements

All licensed agents are required to maintain common knowledge in their field. For real estate Brokers in Illinois, this requirement is
12 hours of approved Continuing Education courses. At least one of these hours must be a sexual harassment training.