Real Estate Licensing FAQs

17 March 2022

How to Become a Real Estate Agent:

Pre-Licensing Requirements: Pre-licensing requirements vary from state to state but many require that the candidate has reached a majority, is a US citizen, can pass a background check, and has taken and passed a state certified Pre-Licensing course that covers the national and state specific concepts.

Pass the Pre-License course exam: The next step in the process would be to pass your pre-license class exam.  Although licensing requirements vary by state, the average real estate pre-license candidate will be required to complete 30 to 150 hours of coursework and must become knowledgeable about local, state, and national real estate laws and practices.  Many states give a student a limited number of attempts to pass before eligibility to sit for the state exam to acquire the license.  The final pre-license course exam will most likely mirror the state exam topics. 

Register for and Pass the State exam:  Every state has different requirements in terms of number of questions on each exam, number of questions in each content area, number of questions and content of the state portion of the exam, and passage rate.  Each  state’s real estate commission will have the required information.  The test does require a fee and some states allow for a student to continually test as long as the student is willing to pay for the test.  Some states, however, limit the number of times a student can test.  Most states provide the exam in a multiple choice format and impose a reasonable time limit.  Some states require a student to pass both the national and state specific sections of the test, while other states are only concerned with a student’s combined score.  KJMETHOD is designed to assist you with the NATIONAL PORTION.

Find a Broker: All potential new agents should interview brokers to find the appropriate one. Most states require agents to work exclusively for a sponsoring broker.  All brokers are not created equal and there are many options, including traditional brokerages, cloud-based brokerages, transaction brokerages, limited service brokerages, property management brokerages.  The key is to make a list of important items and question the broker relating to those items.  It is also important to ask the same questions at each broker interview. 

Continuing Education: Depending on the state, agents are often required to continue their education by taking CE courses throughout their career.  Most states require proof that the CE courses were taken prior to every renewal period. 

When can I expect to get my license?

How much time it will take you to acquire a real estate license depends entirely on you.  Most states have pre-license courses and state exams very often.  So, scheduling won’t be a problem.   Once you have passed your coursework, you should register for your state exam as soon as possible so that you don’t forget the information.  While pre-licensing courses can be as little as two weeks to several months, you can only decide which schedule works best for you. 

KJMETHOD has helped at least 4 students pass their state exam within 22 days from the start of the pre-license course.

What is the real estate exam prep program?

A real estate exam prep course is THE best way to ensure a passing score on the first try.  At KJMETHOD, we give you a road map to success.  Too many students cannot pass their state exams even after passing the pre-license course.  In fact, many people don't pass on the 1st attempt.  Many students have no idea how to manage the significant amount of information required or how to take the tricky exam.  KJMETHOD will not only explain the concepts in easy to understand terminology, it will make the information more manageable, and give you test taking tips to help you succeed.   Rather than taking the state exam over and over again to the tune of thousands of dollars, why not let the KJMETHOD coach you to get a passing score?

Can I take the real estate pre-licensing course online?

Generally, yes!  Many states allow you to take your real estate class online or virtually with an instructor.  Virtual classes seem to help students manage the material better, because a student can immediately ask a question when he doesn’t understand.  Online, however, does allow a student to work at her own pace without having to attend class at a specified time. 

Reminder – only take pre-license courses from certified schools in your state. 

What is the real estate licensing test like?

In most states, the licensing test has multiple-choice questions divided into two portions:

The National Real Estate portion tests the candidate on general real estate principles and practices.

The State portion tests the candidate on real estate concepts specific to the state where the candidate is applying for a license.

All questions on the exam are specifically designed to test your understanding and knowledge in two areas: real estate vocabulary and the application of that vocabulary in the context of a question or general practice.  The questions tend to be simple vocabulary or situation-based.  Either way, a prep course like the KJMETHOD will have you tackling the NATIONAL PORTION questions in no time.

How do I take the real estate exam?

Again, this depends on the state.  In general, to be eligible to apply to take the state real estate exam, you have to complete a state-approved pre-licensing course, which can also be taken in many formats.  Courses are conducted in person, online, and virtual.  Some can be completed in as little as 2 weeks.  After taking and passing the pre-license course, one can apply to take the respective state exam in a state-approved location.

What is the process of becoming a real estate agent?

To become eligible to take your state’s real estate licensing exam, you must first complete the pre-licensing process which incorporates taking and passing a state approved pre-license course.  The specific requirements regarding course format, the minimum number of hours required before you can schedule an exam, and exam passing scores are state-specific.

After completing the pre-licensing course, a candidate must apply for the state exam.  Some states require a fingerprint scan and a background check.  Most state exams have two portions – the national real estate concepts and the specific state real estate concepts.  Some states require that you pass both sections of the test to receive a license and some states only require that the student receive a combined passing score.  Once a candidate passes the state exam, he will submit his application, along with a sponsoring broker form, to obtain a real estate license.

How long do I wait for the results from the exam?

This one varies widely by state but many states have digital result capability so the candidate finds out their results immediately.  Check your specific state for more information.

What happens after I pass the real estate exam?

Most states require you to activate your real estate license within a certain period of passing the exam. If this period expires, you might have to retake the exam all over again.

What happens if I fail the real estate exam?

Your score report will indicate your results, including specific content areas missed, along with instructions on the reapplication process.  Study this information carefully.  It will help to know where your weaknesses are.  Every state allows at least one re-take, but you will have to schedule another appointment. As noted above, failing one portion (national or state-specific) of the exam doesn’t necessarily mean you’ve failed the whole exam.  Many states will allow you to simply take the portion of the exam you failed.  Other states only require a minimum combined score. 

The state requirements regarding passing are all over the map.  Some require additional education if you fail a certain number of times within a certain period of time.  Some, however, allow a candidate to take the test as often as the candidate wishes, as long as she has passed the pre-license course.

Is my real estate license valid everywhere in the US?

No. There is no national real estate license.  Each state has different rules for obtaining and maintaining a Real Estate license in its state.  A licensee may obtain multiple licenses to practice in multiple states, but no licensee is allowed to practice in a state where she is unlicensed.  Further, some states have reciprocity between them which allows agents moving between states, an ability to obtain a license in the new state more easily.  It is best to check state laws regarding reciprocity availability and the minimum requirements for it.  The process could be as simple as transferring the license over from one state to the other. 

Real Estate Licensing Information by State

• Alabama Real Estate License
• Arizona Real Estate License
• California Real Estate License
• Colorado Real Estate License
• Connecticut Real Estate License
• Florida Real Estate License
• Georgia Real Estate License
• Illinois Real Estate License
• Indiana Real Estate License
• Iowa Real Estate License
• Kentucky Real Estate License
• Louisiana Real Estate License
• Maryland Real Estate License
• Massachusetts Real Estate License
• Michigan Real Estate License
• Minnesota Real Estate License
• Missouri Real Estate License
• Nevada Real Estate License
• New Jersey Real Estate License
• New York Real Estate License
• North Carolina Real Estate License
• Ohio Real Estate License
• Oklahoma Real Estate License
• Oregon Real Estate License
• Pennsylvania Real Estate License
• South Carolina Real Estate License
• Tennessee Real Estate License
• Texas Real Estate License
• Utah Real Estate License
• Virginia Real Estate License
• Washington Real Estate License
• Wisconsin Real Estate License