NOVEMBER 2, 2023 – Becoming a real estate broker can be the start of an exciting and profitable career. With a broker license, you can create and advertise property listings, and you can even open a real estate company and employ licensed agents if you choose to do so.
So, how do you get a real estate broker license? Thankfully, becoming a licensed real estate broker only involves a few simple steps you have to get through.
Steps to Become a Licensed Real Estate Broker
States may have specific requirements but the basic steps to getting a real estate brokerage license are the same.
1. Take an Approved Real Estate Sales Course
The journey to becoming a licensed real estate broker starts with going to school. Don’t worry; you’re not enrolling in a two or four-year college program. Instead, you are signing up for several hundred hours of classroom time. Yes, it can seem like going back to school at first, but the process is ultimately faster, and you don’t have to stay in a dorm, which is always appreciated.
The total number of hours can vary by state—for example, Texas requires 900 hours of coursework. After completing the state-approved course, you can get your real estate license. You must become a real estate agent before going for your broker license.
2. Take the Real Estate Licensing Exam
After successfully completing the coursework, it’s time to take an exam. Passing the exam means you are a licensed real estate agent in your state.
Remember that your real estate license is only valid in the issuing state. In other words, if you’re a licensed real estate agent in California, you can’t start showing and closing on homes in Maine, so you’ll need to take the exam again. This means if you move to another state, you also need to retake the exam—however, you can skip the coursework as the information you learned will still be relevant, although a refresher never hurts.
3. Get Experience in the Industry
Before you can start the process of getting a real estate brokerage license, you will need to have experience in the industry. Some states, like California, require all brokers to start as real estate agents, and others, like Texas, also require at least four years of experience as a real estate agent.
During your time as an agent, try to accomplish all aspects of the job. Some states also use a points system to determine your eligibility for a broker license.
4. Go Back to Class
After you have the required hours, experience, points, and certifications for a broker license, you can apply to take a state-approved real estate broker course.
Make sure the course you sign up for is state-approved, which typically applies to online courses that are typically formatted to meet a state’s specific requirements.
5. Pass the Real Estate Broker Exam
After you make it through the broker classes, the exam is the final hurdle. Check with your local real estate governing agency to find information on testing locations and times. You typically cannot take the test online, and you’ll need to schedule an appointment and show up in person.
Good Luck on Becoming a Licensed Real Estate Broker
After you’ve met all of the requirements that are set out and passed the real estate broker exam, your new real estate license and certificate can proudly hang up on the wall.
Now, all that’s left to do is get out there, find your perfect agency to partner with, and start listing and advertising properties for sale!