State Licensing FAQs

To qualify for an Illinois Real Estate Broker’s license under Category A, applicants must: 

1. Be at least 18 years old; 

2. Have graduated from high school or obtained the equivalent of a high school degree (GED); and 

3. Have successfully completed the required curriculum of 75 class hours of Real Estate courses at a real estate school approved by the Department of Financial and Professional Regulation in the following manner: 

• Broker Pre-License Topics (60 hours) 

• Broker Pre-License Applied Real Estate Principles-Interactive (15 hours) 

THE UNIFORM REAL ESTATE TRANSCRIPT IS VALID FOR TWO YEARS FOLLOWING THE COMPLETION OF PRE-LICENSE COURSES. TWO YEARS IS BASED UPON THE COMPLETION DATE FOR EACH OF THE PRE-LICENSE COURSES. COURSES MUST BE COMPLETED WITHIN TWO YEARS OF THE EXAM DATE. 

For individuals holding a real estate license in another state, here are the steps to determine eligibility for reciprocity. 

To qualify for an Illinois Real Estate Broker license under Category D, applicants must: 

1. Be at least 18 years old; and 

2. Hold an active broker’s license, or equivalent by examination in a state that has a reciprocal agreement with the Department of Financial and Professional Regulation. 

Here is the link that lists the reciprocal states. 

Reciprocity candidates do not need to upload documents prior to scheduling. Reciprocity candidates can go online to pay and schedule their examination. No prior eligibility is required. Candidates applying for licensure on the basis of reciprocity must take the IL Broker Reciprocity exam. Go here to access the DFPR reciprocity application. 

For questions, please email FPR.RealEstate@Illinois.gov.

It costs $58 to take the exams.  

NOTE: EXAMINATION FEES ARE NOT REFUNDABLE OR TRANSFERABLE. Your examination fee will be forfeited if you do not test within 1 year of the date your examination fee is received by PSI.