How to Become a Real Estate Agent

Real estate is one of the few careers where you can be fully self-employed, set your own schedule, and earn an income that scales with your effort — all without a four-year degree. Here’s exactly how to get started.

1. 1 Meet Your State’s Basic Requirements

   Before anything else, confirm you meet the minimum eligibility requirements in your state. Requirements vary, but most states share the same core criteria.

   • Be at least 18 years old (19 in some states)
   • Hold a high school diploma or GED
   • Be a legal U.S. resident
   • Pass a criminal background check (felonies may disqualify you in some states)

   💡 Tip: Visit your state’s real estate commission website (e.g., TREC in Texas, DRE in California) to find the exact requirements and approved course providers for your state.
2. 2Complete Your Pre-Licensing Education

   Every state requires you to complete a state-approved real estate pre-licensing course before you can sit the exam. The number of required hours varies widely by state.

   Texas 180 hours

   California 135 hours

   New York  77 hours

   Florida 63 hours

   Courses cover real estate law, contracts, financing, ethics, and property management. You can take them online (self-paced) or in-person at a real estate school. Popular providers include Colibri Real Estate, The CE Shop, and Kaplan.

   💡 Cost: Pre-licensing courses typically cost $150–$500 depending on your state and provider. Online is usually cheaper and more flexible.
3. 3 Pass the Real Estate Licensing Exam

   After completing your coursework, you’ll schedule and sit for your state licensing exam. The exam has two parts, a national portion and a state specific portion and is administered by a third-party testing provider (usually Pearson VUE or PSI).

   • National portion: ~80–100 questions covering real estate principles, practices, and law
   • State portion: ~30–50 questions on your specific state’s laws and regulations
   • Passing score is typically 70–75% in most states
   • You can retake the exam if you don’t pass — most states allow unlimited attempts within a set window

   💡 Study tip: Use practice exams heavily in the final two weeks. Sites like PrepAgent and Real Estate Exam Scholar offer thousands of practice questions with explanations.
4. 4 Choose a Sponsoring Broker

   You cannot practice real estate independently as a new agent — your license must be held under a licensed real estate broker. This is called “sponsoring,” and it’s a legal requirement in every state.

   When evaluating brokerages, consider:

   • Commission split — typical splits range from 50/50 to 90/10 (agent/broker) for new agents
   • Training & mentorship — especially important in your first year
   • Brand reputation — major franchises (Keller Williams, RE/MAX, Coldwell Banker) vs. boutique local brokerages
   • Fees — some brokerages charge desk fees, E&O insurance, and tech fees
   • Culture & support — will you have access to leads, marketing tools, and a mentor?
5. 5 Submit Your License Application

   Once you’ve passed your exam and secured a sponsoring broker, submit your license application to your state’s real estate commission. This is typically done online.

   • Completed license application form
   • Proof of completed pre-licensing education
   • Exam score certificate from the testing provider
   • Sponsoring broker’s information and signature
   • Application fee (usually $50–$200)
   • Background check authorization (fingerprinting may be required)

   ⏱ Timeline: Most states process applications within 1–4 weeks. Some states offer expedited processing for an additional fee.
6. 6  Join the NAR & Your Local MLS

   To call yourself a REALTOR® (a trademarked term), you must join the National Association of REALTORS® (NAR) through your local association. This also gives you access to the Multiple Listing Service (MLS) — the database of all listed properties in your area, which is essential for your work.

   • NAR membership: approximately $150–$200/year at the national level
   • State and local association dues are separate (typically $200–$500/year total)
   • MLS access fees: $25–$100/month depending on your market
7. 7 Build Your Business & Close Your First Deal

   You’re licensed, now the real work begins. Real estate is a relationship-driven business. Your first clients will almost always come from your personal network, so start there.

   • Announce your new career on social media and via email to everyone you know
   • Set up a professional profile on Zillow, Realtor.com, and Google Business
   • Create a simple website with your listings and contact info
   • Start farming a neighborhood — become the local expert in one area
   • Ask every satisfied client for a referral and a Google review
   • Attend open houses, local events, and networking groups to build your sphere

   💡 Reality check: Most new agents take 3–6 months to close their first deal. Budget accordingly. plan to have 6 months of living expenses saved before going full-time.