Are you thinking about starting a new career and getting your real estate license? Prior to enrolling in an online real estate course, you'll need to save up some money and consider some of the expenses of becoming a real estate agent.
Costs to Consider When Starting a Real Estate Career
1. Pre-License Real Estate Classes and Training
The first cost to consider when planning your new career is the cost to enroll in a pre-license course at an accredited real estate school. You'll need to complete your courses before you can take and pass the real estate exam.
The cost of your education will depend on how many credit hours are required by your states' real estate commission and whether you decide to take your education online or in a classroom. Some states like Colorado require 168 hours of pre-license education. Other states like Georgia require 75 hours of education, and states like Alabama, require only 60 hours.
Estimated Total Cost: $350+
2. Real Estate Exam Fee and Licensing Fee
The next cost to consider is the license application fee, the cost of a background check and fingerprints, the state exam fee, and the cost of the license itself. Each of these varies depending on your state's requirements, the examination provider, and where you get your fingerprints taken.
Application Fee: $25-$30
Fingerprints & Background Check: $100-$125
State Exam: $50
Real Estate License: $150
Estimated Total Cost: $350-$400
Additional costs to consider are real estate broker fees, membership fees for REALTORS®, business expenses, and marketing costs, however, these vary are almost entirely independent of the state you wish to obtain your license in.
In this analysis, we will not be taking into consideration the additional fees associated with getting a license mentioned above. The costs outlined below are averages and are subject to change at any time. Additionally, our analysis is based on the cost to get a Salesperson license and not a broker license. A broker license usually costs more than a salesperson license due to additional education requirements and state licensing fees.
Learn About the Steps to Get Licensed
Education & Licensing Fees for Each State
Alabama
License Fee: $220
Pre-License Education: $300-$400
Total: $600
Alaska
License Fee: $355
Pre-License Education: $375
Total: $730
Arizona
License Fee: $300
Pre-License Education: $400
Total: $700
Arkansas
License Fee: $197
Pre-License Education: $400
Total: $597
California
License Fee: $400
Pre-License Education: $400
Total: $800
Colorado
License Fee: $615
Pre-License Education: $500
Total: $1,115
Connecticut
License Fee: $305
Pre-License Education: $450
Total: $755
Delaware
License Fee: $89
Pre-License Education: $600
Total: $689
Florida
License Fee: $150
Pre-License Education: $200
Total: $350
Georgia
License Fee: $170-$340
Pre-License Education: $350
Total: $540-$690
Hawaii
License Fee: $85
Pre-License Education: $650
Total: $739
Idaho
License Fee: $160
Pre-License Education: $600
Total: $760
Illinois
License Fee: $125
Pre-License Education: $450
Total: $575
Indiana
License Fee: $121
Pre-License Education: $550
Total: $671
Iowa
License Fee: $125
Pre-License Education: $425
Total: $575
Kansas
License Fee: $75
Pre-License Education: $225
Total: $400
Kentucky
License Fee: $192
Pre-License Education: $400
Total: $592
Louisiana
License Fee: $120
Pre-License Education: $350
Total: $470
Maine
License Fee: $121
Pre-License Education: $450
Total: $571
Maryland
License Fee: $110
Pre-License Education: $300
Total: $410
Massachusetts
License Fee: $103
Pre-License Education: $350
Total: $453
Michigan
License Fee: $88
Pre-License Education: $250
Total: $338
Minnesota
License Fee: $175
Pre-License Education: $600
Total: $775
Mississippi
License Fee: $135
Pre-License Education: $250
Total: $385
Missouri
License Fee: $201.05
Pre-License Education: $400
Total: $601.05
Montana
License Fee: $135
Pre-License Education: $400
Total: $535
Nebraska
License Fee: $285
Pre-License Education: $400
Total: $685
Nevada
License Fee: $245
Pre-License Education: $250
Total: $495
New Hampshire
License Fee: $225
Pre-License Education: $360
Total: $585
New Jersey
License Fee: $160
Pre-License Education: $360
Total: $520
New Mexico
License Fee: $240
Pre-License Education: $700
Total: $940
New York
License Fee: $70
Pre-License Education: $350
Total: $420
North Carolina
License Fee: $96
Pre-License Education: $475
Total: $571
North Dakota
License Fee: $230
Pre-License Education: $450
Total: $680
Ohio
License Fee: $60
Pre-License Education: $999
Total: $1,059
Oklahoma
License Fee: $116
Pre-License Education: $425
Total: $541
Oregon
License Fee: $300
Pre-License Education: $375
Total: $675
Pennsylvania
License Fee: $107
Pre-License Education: $350
Total: $457
Rhode Island
License Fee: $100
Pre-License Education: $325
Total: $425
South Carolina
License Fee: $123
Pre-License Education: $500
Total: $623
South Dakota
License Fee: $225
Pre-License Education: $1,000
Total: $1,225
Tennessee
License Fee: $133
Pre-License Education: $500
Total: $633
Texas
License Fee: $320
Pre-License Education: $475
Total: $795
Utah
License Fee: $152
Pre-License Education: $450
Total: $602
Vermont
License Fee: $100
Pre-License Education: $300
Total: $400
Virginia
License Fee: $170
Pre-License Education: $500
Total: $670
Washington
License Fee: $146.25
Pre-License Education: $400
Total: $546.25
West Virginia
License Fee: $196
Pre-License Education: $550
Total: $746
Wisconsin
License Fee: $144
Pre-License Education: $325
Total: $469
Wyoming
License Fee: $480
Pre-License Education: $400
Total: $880
The cost to get licensed varies from state-to-state, however, you should always consider the initial costs, which include:
- License Application Fee
- Background Check
- Examination Fee
- Pre-License Education
While some states like Florida and New York are relatively inexpensive, other states like Ohio and Wyoming can cost you over $1,000 due to the cost of pre-license education and licensing fees.
Written and Published by: VanEd
