Resources for Real Estate Licensing

Real estate licensing for beginners can give you the knowledge to start or expand your real estate career. In the United States, individuals can’t legally sell real estate without obtaining real estate license training.

Real estate licensing guidelines are state-specific. This means that there’s no such thing as a national real estate license, although you may occasionally see real estate license classes marketed as being national. To learn more about real estate licensing for beginners, you should:

1. Understand how to obtain real estate licensing.

2. Find a real estate license school that meets state requirements.

3. Enroll in a real estate course to continue your education.

Take the necessary steps to meet real estate licensing requirements

Each state has its own specific guidelines on how to obtain real estate licensing. While the requirements will vary, each state sets requirements minimum age of students, education and experience, application and costs and a range of other criteria. Some states require a specialization in commercial real estate before obtaining a commercial real estate license, while others don't. It's also important to note that real estate licensing requirements can change and the criteria you read about last year may have since changed.

Enroll in a state approved real estate license school

States establish the number of required hours of real estate license training and the type of acceptable real estate license course programs. Some states allow students to enroll in online real estate licensing course programs, while others may not. One common element across all states is the requirement of enrolling in a state approved real estate license school.

Keep your real estate licensing active

Real estate laws and regulations are ever-changing. Every state except New Jersey requires real estate professionals to attend continuing education real estate license classes. These courses are required to maintain an active license. Each state determines whether or not a real estate license course will be approved for continuing education credit.

• When determining which real estate license school to attend, it's important that you thoroughly evaluate the cost, convenience and inquire about the school's pass rate, or the percentage of students who successfully pass the state real estate licensing exam.