The Illinois Department of Financial & Professional Regulation’s (IDFPR) Division of Real Estate issues real estate broker licenses to individuals meeting the criteria below. There is no “salesperson” or “agent” license in Illinois.
Meet IDFPR minimum qualifications
Minimum Age: 18
Minimum Education: High School Diploma or GED
Identification: SSN or Individual Taxpayer Identification Number AND government-issued photo ID
Questions about this information or obtaining a Residential Leasing Agent or Managing Broker license should be sent to [email protected].
Ready to start your real estate career?
Illinois REALTORS® offers comprehensive education programs to help you obtain your real estate license. Our courses are designed to provide you with the knowledge and skills needed to succeed in the real estate industry.
Why take Illinois REALTORS® education?
Expert Instructors
Learn from experienced professionals who are experts in the field.
Flexible Learning Options
Choose from online, in-person, or hybrid courses to fit your schedule.
Comprehensive Curriculum
Our courses cover all the essential topics, including real estate principles, laws and practices.
Supportive Community
Join a network of aspiring and established real estate professionals.
Enroll in our pre-license course today and take the first step towards a rewarding career in real estate!
Frequently Asked Questions
If you do not pass the licensing exam after completing your courses, you may retake the exam up to three times (on different days). If you do not pass the exam on the fourth attempt, you must retake the pre-license coursework before registering again for the exam.
Email [email protected] for more information on retaking the education.
Students must complete the full 75 hours of pre-license education, and have transcripts for both classes, before registering for the State & National licensing exam.
Once deemed eligible by the test administrator, PSI, students then register as CANDIDATES for the exam through PSI’s exam portal. More information is available in the PSI Candidate Handbook.
We recommend the ExamSmart and Leap Online Exam Prep programs. ExamSmart does have a free try before you buy option. Leap offers a National-only portion here or a State-only portion here. They both offer a randomized variety of questions, much like those on the State & National licensing exam.
PSI offers a self-assessment and a sample exam available in the PSI Store. Here is the link to the PSI handbook which answers a lot of the questions regarding the exam layout.
You can apply for a real estate license after completing your pre-license education and passing the state and national licensing exam. Education options range from 2-week accelerated classes to 6 months online, self-guided learning.
Pre-License courses expire 180 days from the date of purchase.
If you do not pass the state exam after completing your courses, you may retake the exam three times. If you do not pass the exam on the fourth attempt, you must retake the pre-license coursework before registering again for the exam.
Illinois REALTORS® provides cost-effective paths to get an Illinois real estate broker license. Your individual costs will depend upon which courses you choose whether you select add-on products such as exam preparation tools, and how many exam fees you must pay.
Example:
Online Pre-License Package with ebook – $519
State Examination Fee – $58
Initial License Application Fee – $150
Be prepared for additional start-up costs and the ongoing expenses of doing business such as membership fees, ad costs, license renewal fees, and other operating expenses.
