Frequently Asked Questions

Most people get licensed in 2-6 months, though some fast-track it in as few as 4 weeks. The biggest variable is your state’s pre-licensing education requirement, which ranges from 40 hours (Massachusetts, Michigan) to 180 hours (Texas).

Phase	Typical Timeline
Pre-licensing education	2-16 weeks
Schedule & pass state exam	1-3 weeks
Background check & application	1-4 weeks
Find sponsoring broker	1-2 weeks

A few things that slow people down:

• Self-paced courses sound great but many people procrastinate. Structured classes with deadlines tend to finish faster.
• Exam scheduling delays happen in busy seasons (spring). Book your slot as soon as you’re eligible.
• Background check backlogs vary by state. States like California can take 6-8 weeks for DOJ processing.

If you’re in a hurry, look at states with lower hour requirements and consider an accelerated online program. Use our timeline estimator for a personalized estimate based on your state.

Plan on spending $500-$1,500 total to get licensed, depending on your state. Here’s where that money goes:

Expense	Typical Range
Pre-licensing course	$200-$700
State exam fee	$50-$100
License application	$50-$300
Background check	$30-$80
E&O insurance (if required)	$200-$400/year

Some costs people forget to budget for: fingerprinting ($25-75), exam prep materials ($50-150), and MLS access fees that kick in once you’re active ($20-50/month through your brokerage).

States on the cheaper end include Michigan and Alaska (40 hours of education). Texas is the most expensive with 180 required hours pushing course costs higher.

Many brokerages offer tuition reimbursement or will cover your startup costs in exchange for a commission split agreement, so ask about that during broker interviews.

Try our cost calculator for a breakdown specific to your state.

Every state requires a criminal background check as part of the licensing process. Most states use FBI fingerprint-based checks, though a few only require state-level screening.

What they look for:

• Felony convictions
• Misdemeanors involving fraud, theft, or dishonesty
• Sex offenses
• Outstanding warrants
• Pending criminal cases

The process:

1. Get fingerprinted at an approved location (IdentoGo/MorphoTrust in most states)
2. Pay the fingerprinting fee ($30-80)
3. Results go directly to your state real estate commission
4. Processing takes 1-4 weeks depending on the state

A criminal record doesn’t automatically disqualify you. Most states evaluate convictions individually, considering the offense type, how long ago it occurred, and evidence of rehabilitation. Some states offer a pre-application review so you can find out where you stand before investing in education.

See our background check FAQ for more details, or check your specific state requirements.

It depends on where you’re licensed and where you want to practice. Unlike nursing, real estate has no national compact system, so each state handles reciprocity differently.

Reciprocity Type	States	What It Means
Full reciprocity	CO, GA, NC, ME, DE	Waive most requirements for out-of-state licensees
Partial reciprocity	~28 states	Bilateral agreements; may waive education but require state exam
No reciprocity	17 states (including CA, AZ, WA)	Must meet full requirements regardless

Key things to know:

• You’ll almost always need to pass the state-specific portion of the exam, even in reciprocal states
• Some states waive education hours but not experience requirements
• California has zero reciprocity—everyone completes all 135 hours, no exceptions

The fastest path to multi-state practice is to get licensed in your home state first, then apply for reciprocity where available. Check our reciprocity checker to see which states honor your license.

Every state requires continuing education (CE) to renew your real estate license, but the hours and topics vary widely.

Aspect	Typical Range
CE hours per cycle	8-45 hours
Renewal cycle	1-4 years
Cost per cycle	$50-$300

Common required topics:

• Fair housing laws (required in most states)
• Agency relationships and ethics
• Contract law updates
• State-specific legal changes

Most states let you complete CE online, which is convenient but watch out for “click-through” courses that don’t actually teach you anything. The better providers include quizzes and real case studies.

A few states worth noting:

• Texas requires 18 hours every 2 years, including legal updates
• New York requires 22.5 hours every 2 years
• California requires 45 hours every 4 years (but you have 4 years to do it)

Don’t wait until the last minute—your license will lapse if you miss the deadline. Some states offer a grace period, but you can’t practice during that window. Check your state’s specific requirements in our CE guide.

The minimum age is 18 in most states, though a handful allow you to start at 19 (Alaska, Nebraska). No state requires you to be older than 19.

Here’s the catch: you can usually start your pre-licensing education before you meet the age requirement. So if you’re 17, you could complete your courses and be ready to take the exam and apply the moment you turn 18.

Other baseline requirements across all states:

• U.S. legal resident or authorized to work
• High school diploma or GED (some states require this, others don’t)
• No disqualifying criminal history

There’s no upper age limit. Plenty of people get into real estate as a second career in their 40s, 50s, and beyond—the flexible schedule and uncapped earning potential make it attractive at any stage. Check your state’s specific requirements for exact details.

In most cases, yes, but it depends on the specifics. No state has a blanket ban on licensing people with criminal records, though some offenses are harder to overcome than others.

Offenses that are most likely to cause problems:

• Fraud, embezzlement, or financial crimes (directly relevant to real estate)
• Felony convictions within the past 5-10 years
• Sex offenses
• Violent felonies

Offenses that are usually manageable:

• Misdemeanors older than 5 years
• DUI/DWI (unless multiple or recent)
• Non-violent offenses with evidence of rehabilitation

What helps your case:

• Time since the conviction (more is better)
• Completion of all sentencing requirements
• Character references
• Proof of rehabilitation (education, steady employment)

Many states—including Texas, Florida, and New York—offer a pre-determination or preliminary review process. You submit your criminal history before investing in education, and the board tells you whether you’re likely to be approved. It costs a small fee ($50-100) but saves you from spending hundreds on courses only to get denied.

Check your specific state requirements for details on how your state handles criminal history.

Yes, most states accept online pre-licensing courses. As of 2026, only a small handful of states require any in-person classroom time, and even those usually allow a hybrid approach.

Format	Pros	Cons
Fully online (self-paced)	Flexible schedule, work at your own pace	Easy to procrastinate, less interaction
Online (scheduled)	Set deadlines keep you on track	Less flexibility
In-person classroom	Structured, networking opportunities	Fixed schedule, commute required
Hybrid	Best of both worlds	Availability varies

Tips for choosing an online course:

• Make sure the provider is approved by your state’s real estate commission—not all online schools are accepted everywhere
• Look for courses with interactive elements, not just walls of text
• Check whether the final exam can be proctored remotely or requires an in-person testing center
• Read recent reviews; course quality varies significantly between providers

The main risk with self-paced online courses is that many people never finish them. If you know you need external accountability, consider a scheduled format or an in-person option. Either way, confirm your course is state-approved before enrolling—we list approved providers in our state guides.