why do i need a pre-licensing course for real estate

by Abby Kling 8 min read

In order for prospective licensees to gain the requisite knowledge of the industry and get a real estate license, they must take pre-licensing courses from a state-approved real estate school. The purpose of these courses is to help students gain knowledge, have a successful career, and pass the state and national portions of the real estate exam.

All salesperson applicants must receive basic real estate pre-license training. The education requirement helps ensure hopeful real estate agents are prepared to take the Texas real estate exam and start representing clients.

Full Answer

What classes do you need to get a real estate license?

Successful completion of three college-level courses is required to qualify for a real estate salesperson examination:

  • Real Estate Principles, and
  • Real Estate Practice, and
  • One course from the following list: Real Estate Appraisal Property Management Real Estate Finance Real Estate Economics Legal Aspects of Real Estate Real Estate Office Administration General Accounting Business Law ...

What does the real estate pre-licensing course consist of?

The Key Realty School Nevada Real Estate Pre Licensing Home Study course consists of physical textbooks, audio and internet course study material. Students are provided with course materials enabling the student to review and understand the curriculum required to pass the Nevada real estate licensing exam.

Are high school diplomas required for real estate licenses?

You must be 18, have a high school diploma or the equivalent, pass a background check, and complete 40 hours of pre-license education before taking the real estate exam. You must then complete 15 hours of continuing education every two years afterwards.

What is the best online real estate license course?

rather than online via an E-Book or PDF. The textbooks also serve as a great study aid when students are preparing to take the state licensing exam. Although the courses only satisfy the requirements of the Texas Real Estate Commission, they can be ...

How hard is it to get a real estate license in Texas?

Is the Texas real estate exam hard? Well, given that on average 62% of agents (28,975 passed / 46,699 taken) pass the licensing exam on the first try, as of May 10, 2022 it's safe to say it's not an easy test. Aceable, however, currently holds one of the highest pass rates in Texas.

How long does it take to get your real estate license in Texas?

Texas students are required to take 180 hours of Pre-Licensing coursework to become a licensed real estate agent. These 180 hours are broken down into six 30-hour courses that cover a wide range of topics that will educate the candidate and prepare them for their career.

What should I learn to get into real estate?

What Topics Are Included in the Real Estate Pre-Licensing Courses?Modern Real Estate Practice.Real Property.Home Ownership.Real Estate Brokerage and Law of Agency.Fair Housing Laws.Ethics of Practice as a Sales Agent or Broker.Legal Descriptions.Contracts.More items...•

Can I get my real estate license online in Texas?

To get a Texas real estate license online, you must first complete six courses for a total of 180 credit hours from a state-approved school: Next, you need to apply online using TREC's online application service. Finally, you must pass the exam with a score of 70% or higher.

How can I make money in real estate without a license?

5 Ways To Earn Money In Real Estate Without A LicenseTax Lien Investing. What if I told you that the infomercials that you see on late-night TV about buying tax delinquent properties for pennies on the dollar … are actually true? ... Property Inspections. ... Wholesaling. ... Bird Dogging. ... Rental Leasing.

How much does a realtor make in Texas?

The National Association of REALTORs found the median gross income of Realtors was $43,330 in 2020. Meanwhile, according to Indeed, a median real estate salary in Texas falls around $93,000 per year and can go as high as over $100k.

What is the difference between a realtor and a real estate agent?

In fact, Realtors are real estate agents. The difference is that Realtors join the National Association of Realtors (NAR), which holds them to a higher standard of ethics than real estate agents must abide by”. According to the NAR, about half of all real estate agents in the United States are certified Realtors.

How hard is the real estate exam?

Real estate exams are designed to be difficult to pass, so they can weed out people who are not going to be skilled agents. Though the pass rate varies based on the state exam, they hover around 50% across the country. This means only about half of the people who take a state licensing exam pass.

Is being a real estate agent worth it?

One of the most underrated benefits of becoming a real estate agent is the reward. Agents have the power to help people achieve their dreams. They help sellers get the best price possible for their property and often assist them with their next steps. It's rewarding to work with home buyers and home sellers.

What courses are required for Texas real estate license?

The required pre-licensing education consists of all of the following courses:Principles of Real Estate I (30 hours)Principles of Real Estate II (30 hours)Law of Agency (30 hours)Law of Contracts (30 hours)Promulgated Contract Forms (30 hours)Real Estate Finance (30 hours)

What is the best way to get a real estate license in Texas?

6 Steps to Get Your Texas Real Estate LicenseStep 1: Meet the TREC Criteria. ... Step 2: Take a Pre-Licensing Education Class. ... Step 3: Apply for your Texas Sales Agent License. ... Step 4: Submit your fingerprints. ... Step 5: Pass the Texas real estate licensing exam. ... Step 6: Find a Sponsoring Broker.

How many questions are on the real estate exam in Texas?

For salespersons, there is a National exam that contains 85 questions and a State exam that contains 40 questions. For brokers, there is a National exam that contains 85 questions and a State exam that contains 60 questions.

How many hours of training is required to become a real estate agent?

Each package contains 135 hours of pre-license courses, which is the amount typically required to take the licensing exam.

What do you get after passing the real estate exam?

After you complete the pre-licensing courses, you’ll receive a printable certificate that you can present to receive your license after passing the exam. Key topics include: Real estate finance. Real estate practice. Real estate principles.

How many online courses are there for real estate?

The following 6 online real estate courses can be used toward the hours of instruction required to take the real estate license exam.

What is the Center for Realtor Development?

The Center for Realtor Development focuses on post-license continued education to help students earn certifications for niche markets, such as green or global real estate.

Is exam prep free?

An interactive Exam Prep program is included free of charge, and you’ll even get a built-in math guide to help you brush up on the skills needed to succeed in the industry.

How long does it take to get a real estate license?

Depending on the pre-licensing program you choose and your dedication to your studies, the process of obtaining your real estate license could take weeks or months. The requirements for real estate licensing vary widely from state to state. Some states require a certain level of education, and/or a certain number of credit hours in real estate ...

What are the requirements for a broker license?

Other eligibility requirements that differ from state to state include: 1 Education requirements 2 Hours of coursework minimums 3 On-the-job training requirements 4 Exam pass rates 5 Proof of employment with a sponsor or managing broker/brokerage 6 Errors and omissions insurance

Is there a checklist for real estate?

There is no national standard real estate licensing checklist. Each state sets its own requirements. You may face residency restrictions, requirements for pre-licensing coursework, and a lot of paperwork.

Can a third party administer real estate?

In most cases, a third party—not your real estate licensing school—will administer your licensing exam. Your local real estate board should be able to direct you to the appropriate testing center. It’s important that you confirm that the testing center you’re using has been approved to administer the test.

How many hours of continuing education do you need to get a Texas license?

In Texas, for example, agents have to complete at least 18 hours of continuing education before their license can be renewed.

Do real estate classes count towards credits?

There’s a good chance they aren’t approved by the state’s real estate commission, and therefore any classes they offer won’t count towards the required credits. Be sure to check if they are accredited before committing.

Is real estate course easier than other courses?

The process of completing the required real estate courses is easier for some than others. Here are a few insights that can help things go as smoothly, quickly and cheaply as possible.

Do real estate courses end when you get a license?

The Courses Don’t End When You Get a License. In the real estate industry, there’s a little thing called real estate continuing education. Agents have to continue educating themselves after getting a license to keep said license.

How to complete real estate licensing?

The real estate licensing curriculum can be completed in a variety of ways, from live classroom locations around the state to textbook home-study and online options. To help you through this level of the real estate curriculum, schools add value to the courses with tools like study guides, study groups, instructor office hours, drill and practice questions, and exam prep courses.

What is required to become a real estate agent?

Becoming a real estate agent requires a license that is regulated by the state in which you wish to sell, buy, lease, or manage real estate. Each state differs on certain aspects of the licensing process, including how much education is required, what topics are included in the required prelicensing education, the fees involved, ...

How long does it take to pass the real estate salesperson exam?

This state’s real estate salesperson exam consists of 150 multiple-choice questions. You have 3 hours and 15 minutes to complete the exam. You must score 70% or better to pass.

How many credit hours are required for real estate?

Real Estate Principles (45 credit hours): Become successful in your field by understanding key topics, such as time management, the listing and selling process, property valuation, closing the sale, escrow procedure, taxes, financing, and more. Topics include: Land Descriptions and Subdivisions; Acquisition and Transfer of Real Property; Liens and Encumbrances; Leases; Contracts; Unlawful Discrimination; Agency and Business Principles; Ethics.

How many hours are required for real estate practice?

Real Estate Practice (45 credit hours): A real estate license does not come with an operating manual, so we have created a course that focuses on what it really takes to succeed in the business. This course will expand your knowledge of the industry in an engaging and effective forum.

How long do you have to wait to take the final exam for a license?

Per this state’s regulatory body, you must wait 18 days between course final exam attempts. Failure to successfully complete you course’s final exam can delay your licensing. All college-level (licensing) final exams will be open-book and consist of 100 multiple-choice questions.

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Our courses offer everything you need for your education. Select your education and license type below to start.

What is Pre-Licensing Education?

Pre-Licensing is the regulatory education required by each state’s real estate commission for getting your license and working in the real estate industry. Our interactive online courses make it easy while preparing you for your career.

Take a Look Inside Our Courses

We work hard to offer you the most innovative and convenient way to get your real estate license through our interactive course delivery system. See for yourself how simple it can be.

What is the purpose of real estate courses?

The purpose of these courses is to help students gain knowledge, have a successful career, and pass the state and national portions of the real estate exam. However, each state has different requirements for licensing education including the total number of required credit hours and the topics presented in each course.

What is a real estate closing course?

This course covers the basic skills necessary to properly close a real estate transaction, including responsibilities from the contract through and after the closing, plus accounting for all funds received and disbursed as well as a comprehensive review of the legal documents prepared by the broker.

What is real estate principles?

The real estate principles course (referred to in CO as Law and Practice) covers the national portion of real estate pre-licensing principles (those areas which are common to all states). You will learn the basic principles of real estate, real estate law, and the practice of real estate.

How many hours does a Florida real estate agent need?

The Florida Real Estate Commission (FREC) requires one courses: 3-Hour Sales Associate (FREC 1) for a total of 63 hours.

How many hours does Texas Real Estate require?

The Texas Real Estate Commission (TREC) requires six courses: Principles of Real Estate 1, Principles of Real Estate 2, Real Estate Finance, Law of Contracts, Law of Agency, & Promulgated Contract Forms for a total of 180 hours.

How many hours do you need to take a real estate course?

Each course must be at least 45 class/clock hours or 3 semester hours. Proof of course completion, including a monitored, final written examination, is required for course approval. You must complete a Real Estate Brokerage course. In addition to a Real Estate Brokerage course, you must complete either:

How long do you have to be a salesperson to apply for a job?

submit verification of experience (actively engaged as a salesperson for 36 of the 48 months preceding application).

How many hours do you need to renew your real estate license in Texas?

Before you renew your real estate license for the first time in Texas, you need to complete a total of 270 qualifying real estate course hours, as well as eight hours of TREC legal update courses. The good news is that your 180 hours of pre-licensing courses count toward this total!

What is the difference between continuing education and post license?

While post-license education and continuing education sound similar, the most substantial difference between the two is simply the time frame they’re complete in. You need to complete post-licensing courses prior to the first renewal of your real estate license.

What is post license?

Post-licensing is used synonymously with post-license education. It’ s the state-mandated education requirements for new real estate sales agents or brokers.

How long does it take to get a Florida sales associate license?

Each must complete an exam, but if you are a sales associate, you only need to complete 45 hours of post-license courses within 18-24 months.

What are the requirements to get a real estate license?

Many states require background checks, fingerprints, and a high school diploma. Whether or not you will pass a background check or certain requirements of moral character is very subjective in each state. Many states say that you cannot have a felony: look into the requirements for your own state for more specifics on this. If you are already licensed in one state, most states also greatly reduce the education requirements to get a license in their state. If it seems like a hassle to get a real estate license, remember real estate agents can make a lot of money!

How many hours do you need to take to get a real estate license in California?

In California, real estate license applicants must be at least 18 and are required to take three real estate classes for a total of 135 hours, which can be taken at a college or private real estate school.

How many hours of continuing education do you need to get a real estate license in Delaware?

Licenses expire April 30 th on even years, and you must complete between 0-21 hours of post license education for the first renewal period depending on when you received your license. After the first renewal period, 21 hours of continuing education are required by each renewal period of two years.

How many hours of real estate classes are there?

These three courses include Real Estate Principles (45 hours), Real Estate Practices (45 hours), and a choice of one more course from an approved list for the last 45 hours. Applicants must also show proof of honesty and truthfulness and must submit fingerprints for a background check.

How old do you have to be to get a real estate license in Alabama?

You must be a U.S. citizen or lawful permanent resident, be at least 19 years old, show proof of high school graduation or GED, have no felonies, have not had a real estate application or license rejected or revoked in any state within the past two years, successfully completed 60 credits of approved pre-license Alabama real estate courses, and pass the state’s real estate license exam.

How old do you have to be to take the real estate exam in Kentucky?

Kentucky: You must be 18 years old, have a high school diploma or equivalent, and pass a background check. The education requirement is 96 credit hours before you can take the state exam, or 6 credit hours in real estate courses from an accredited college.

How old do you have to be to become a real estate agent?

You must be 18 years old and have either a high school diploma or GED. To become a real estate agent, you must complete 75 hours of the pre-license broker course, pass a background check, and then pass the exam. After licensing, 45 hours of post-licensing education is required along with 24 hours of continuing education every two years.

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