How to Get a Real Estate License in 8 Steps

因此，您决定成为房地产经纪人？恭喜！是时候上班了。的re were more than1.46 million realtors in the U.S.as of 2020, and that number is only increasing with the住房市场狂热在2021年。Selling real estate is an attractive career for many people because of the flexibility, autonomy, and of course — pay. Realtors, on average, earn a salary close to the US average ofa little more than $80k。然而,amou几乎没有限制nt of money a realtor can make. Once a real estate agent completes the licensing requirements in their state, the sky is truly the limit.

成为一个州的代理商的过程，资格，成本和时间表各不相同，因此必须确切地了解开始这一激动人心的职业需要什么。在本文中，我们将带您浏览您应该期望的一切。让我们准备开始销售房地产。

房地产License FAQ

1.房地产经纪人赚多少钱？

根据美国劳工统计局的说法, Real Estate Agents earned an average of $83,886.

2. How long does it take to become a licensed real estate agent?

根据您州的房地产许可要求，通常包括40-150多个小时的正规教育以及学习和坐在许可考试中，它可能需要三到六个月的时间才能获得房地产许可。

3. How much does a real estate license cost?

的cost of a real estate license can vary depending on where you take your required education course, which can cost anywhere from $300 to $1,000. Additionally, your real estate license application, fingerprinting, and background check, and state licensing exam fees will usually run you between $100-$200, so you should budget for $500-$1,200 total.

4. Can I get a real estate license online?

Yes, some states have online courses for completing your prerequisites. However, most states require the exam to be completed in person through a third-party exam provider.

5. Where do I take the real estate license exam?

根据您的州，将有指定的城市和测试中心，您可以参加房地产许可考试。申请考试后，您的当地房地产委员会将为您提供这些详细信息。

6. What’s the difference between a real estate agent and a realtor?

A real estate agent is a licensed real estate sales professional who is recognized by the state in which they work. AREALTOR® is a trademarked term used to describe a licensed real estate agent who has been accepted into the National Association of Realtors. Only those who are members of the NAR can be considered realtors.

How To Get a Real Estate License

1. Research your state’s licensing and education requirements.

First, get your bearings. The requirements for pre-licensing courses and licensing applications are different in every state. Check with your real estate commission to understand what's required to obtain your license.

大多数州都需要：

• College-level education on real estate basics including titles, deeds, contracts, and property ownership
• Permanent residency in the state of the license application
• 最低18岁或以上的年龄
• 犯罪背景调查

可以亲自和在线上课，但是您的课程和学校必须得到您州房地产许可机构的批准。在购买房地产学校之前，请确保已获得您的州认可和承认。

房地产License Reciprocity

If you're already a licensed real estate agent who’s moving across state lines, see if your new state has areciprocity agreementwith the state where your license was issued. If a reciprocity agreement exists, you may already meet the pre-licensing requirements. This doesn't mean you don't need a license in your new state — but you might be able to skip a step or two in the licensing process.

For example, Idaho has reciprocity agreements with Wyoming, Oregon, and Montana. If you have an Idaho real estate license, you're not required to take real estate pre-licensing courses if you're applying for a license in one of the other three states. You are, however, required to take state-specific portions of the exam in Wyoming, Oregon, and Montana.

Other parts of the country have reciprocity agreements in place as well —read this guideto learn more about these agreements if you're interested in taking your real estate license across state lines.

Your pre-licensing requirements might also be less if you have a degree in real estate or if you’re a licensed attorney.

2. Complete the education requirements.

成为房地产经纪人需要时间和金融投资。这意味着您需要在开始之前了解预算需要什么资源。bob体育苹果系统下载安装

For example, some pre-licensing schools meet for a set number of classes over several weeks, while others allow you to move through courses at your own pace. Know what your options are, and choose the one that's right for your lifestyle and schedule. Likewise, the cost of pre-licensing courses vary per school and state, but you can expect to pay between $200 and $1000 for your courses.Here’s a quick guide to the number of hours each state requires for prerequisite education for a real estate license:

3. Apply for the real estate licensing exam in your state.

Once you feel comfortable with the information you’ve learned in your real estate courses, it’s time to apply to take the exam. This step usually requires the payment of an application fee and registering for the test through a third party, likePSI Exams。

Many states do not require you to have completed all your required education hours before applying for the exam. This can speed up the time it takes you to earn your license because you can complete your credit hours while waiting for your exam application to be approved.

Note: Don’t confuse this step with applying for your license — you’ll do that after you pass the real estate licensing exam.

4. Pass your state licensing exam.

Sounds easy enough, right? There’s a reason each state requires education before you can sit for the real estate license exam. By ensuring that you’re adequately prepared for the exam, your chances of passing are much higher than if you guessed your way through the test.

的test will include approximately 100 multiple choice questions and cover national and state principles and laws. While the minimum score for passing differs per state, many require a minimum of a 70% score to earn your license. The licensing exam will take between 1.5 and 3.5 hours to complete. Be prepared to pay an exam fee between $15 and $100.

Make sure you obtain an official real estate transcript or certification of completion from your school and a copy of your exam score to include in your real estate license application — which brings us to our next step...

5. Apply for your real estate license.

Once you've successfully passed the exam, you’ll need to submit your test results, license application, and application fees. License application fees will cost between $50 and $250, and you might be required to undergo a background check which will cost between $40 and $100.

检查您所在州的房地产委员会，以找出申请之前是否需要发生错误和遗漏（E＆O）保险。E＆O保险可以保护房地产经纪人免受房地产工作而提起的财务损失和诉讼。有时，您的经纪人会向您出售E＆O保险。如果没有，则可能需要在提交申请之前获取它。

In every state, you must be at least 18 years old and have either a GED or high school diploma to apply for a real estate license. Also, you should be authorized to work in the United States, and many states require you to be an in-state resident.

Once you've submitted your application, your license will take between one week and two months to process.

6.找到房地产经纪人。

You have your license. Great! But that might not mean you can start selling houses right away. Most states require you to work with a real estate broker who sponsors your first two to three years as an agent.

房地产经纪人只是房地产经纪人工作的代理商或办公室。因为您可能需要经纪人来产生收入，所以在培训课程毕业之前找到经纪人是一个好主意。选择经纪时需要考虑的几件事：

的Three Types of Brokerages

您为工作的经纪人决定了您所做的工作类型和量，您将获得的培训和指导以及公司文化您每天都有一部分。bob全站app这是三种常见类型的经纪人：

1. National Franchises

National franchises like Keller Williams Realty, RE/MAX LLC, and Coldwell Banker provide structured training, instant name recognition, and more resources for new agents.

2. Boutique-Style Brokerages

Smaller or local brokerages may provide personalized training and more room for growth and advancement.

3. Virtual Brokerages

SaaS — or Software as a Service — has ushered in a new type of real estate brokerage that's entirely online. Benefits of working with a virtual brokerage include higher commission splits (more on that below), lower desk fees (desk rent you pay to your brokerage), and better technology.

Company Culture

您需要喜欢您的工作地点和与谁，所以这里有几个问题要问：

• Does the brokerage require additional courses or training?
• Do they offer a mentorship program for new agents?
• Do they require hours of "floor time" or work for other agents?
• How are leads distributed?
• Will you be required to do all your own marketing?

三种常见类型的佣金结构

Before accepting an offer from a brokerage, make sure you understand their commission structure. Here are three common structures:

1. Traditional Split Plans

您将获得50％的佣金，而您的经纪人将获得另一半。这些计划通常伴随着低或没有桌面费用。

2. High-Split Plans

You get a higher percentage of the commission — anywhere from 70% to 100% — but these commission plans are usually accompanied by high monthly desk fees.

3. Hybrid Plans

这些计划结合了上面列出的两个计划的属性。混合计划通常会在年初为代理商提供70％的分配，当代理商达到某些货币目标时，该率将其提高到100％。

Additionally, some larger franchises charge "franchise fees" ranging from 5% to 8%. Ask potential employers whether additional fees are taken out of your commission, so you understand exactly what you're signing up for.

7.加入全国房地产经纪人协会（NAR）。

您已经获得了许可证并找到了赞助经纪，所以您是房地产经纪人，对吗？仍然（有点）错误。虽然没有法律上的必要，但您必须加入National Association of Realtors(NAR) to call yourself a REALTOR®.

This designation is also required if you wish to participate in most Multiple Listing Services — also known as MLS — which allow you to see other realtor's listings.

If you aren't a member of NAR, you claim the title of real estate agent and are legally able to work in the field, but your earning potential is limited without access to the MLS.

8.定期续签许可证。

获得房地产许可证是很多工作，所以不要忘记续订它。检查您所在州的要求，以查看您的许可证何时到期。通常是每两四年。

许多州要求代理人完成一定数量的课程小时，以便有资格续签 - 每隔几年在8到90个课程之间。这些额外的课程确保您了解不断发展的国家和州市场和法规。

Check with your state's licensing office to learn their renewal requirements so you're not scrambling to fit 90 hours of coursework into the four days before your license expires.

Your Real Estate License Is At Your Fingertips

成为房地产经纪人是一个巨大的决定，需要时间，关注和奉献精神。但是，结果几乎是无限的赚钱潜力，也有一天成为您自己的老板的可能性 - 这两件事使许多销售人员打勾。Realtor Alicia Turneroffers this advice to new agents, "Success doesn't happen overnight, so stay committed and consistent — it'll definitely pay off!" Sound like something you're interested in? Get started today.

本文不构成法律意见。的steps required to obtain a real estate license may differ from state to state, so you should seek your own legal advice to ensure you follow the correct process.