The information contained below is designed to provide a summary of the minimum education, experience, and examination requirements established by the Department of Financial and Profession Regulation.

The information provided below can be found on the Department of Financial and Profession Regulation’s website. However, we recommend you contact the Department of Financial and Profession Regulation for more detailed information and for any changes which may have occurred.

Salesperson Prelicense

To be eligible for licensure, one must

• Be at least 21 years old or 18 year old*
• Have graduated from high school or obtained the equivalent of a high school degree
• Have successfully completed the 45-class hour Real Estate Transactions course and final exam
• *If you are at least 18 years of age, you have to have successfully completed at least 4 semester of post-secondary school study as a full time student or the equivalent, with major emphasis on real estate courses, at a school approved by the Department of Financial and Professional Regulation.
• Pass a course and state final exams
• Submit application and associated fees

Broker Prelicense

All applicants for a brokers license must meet the following criteria

• Must be at least 21 years old
• Have completed at least 120 hours, 45 of which shall be those required to obtain a salespersons license AND 15 hours in the following courses: Brokerage Administration, Contracts and Conveyances, and Advanced Principles 2000 AND 30 hours in any two 15 hour approved Elective courses
• For applicants who currently hold a valid real estate salespersons license, give satisfactory evidence of having completed at least 75 hours in real estate courses, not including the courses that are required to obtain a salesperson’s license inclusive of 15 hours in the following courses: Brokerage Administration, Contracts and Conveyances, and Advanced Principles 2000 AND 30 hours in any two 15 hour approved Elective courses
• Pass all course and state final exams
• Submit application and associated fees.

Illinois has reciprocity with following states: Colorado, Connecticut, Georgia, Indiana, Iowa, Kentucky, Missouri, Nebraska, South Dakota, and Wisconsin.

List of approved prelicense providers

List of approved continuing education providers

Continuing Education/License renewal

• Salespersons must renew their license by April 30 of every odd numbered year (ex. April 30, 2007, April 30, 2009, etc).
• Brokers must renew their license by April 30 of every even numbered year (ex. April 30, 2008, April 30, 2010, etc.)
• All CE courses require a proctored final exam
• Salespersons must complete the following educational requirements:
  • If the Salesperson was licensed on or before April 30, 2007, 12 hours of CE is required (6 hours core/6 hours mandatory
  • If the Salesperson was licensed between May1, 2007 and April 30, 2008, 6 hours of CE is required (3 hours core/3 hours elective)
  • If the Salesperson was licensed on or after May1, 2008, no CE is required for this renewal period
• Brokers must complete the following educational requirements:
  • Brokers licensed on or before 4/30/2006 OR Brokers previously licensed as Salesperson, must complete 18 hours of CE (6 hours of core/6 hours of elective/6 hours of the Broker Management Course)
  • Brokers licensed between 5/1/2006 and 4/30/2007, if NOT previously licensed as a Salesperson, must complete 12 hours of CE (3 hours of core/3 hours of elective/6 hours of the Broker Management Course)
  • Brokers licensed on or after 5/1/2007 and not previously licensed as a Salesperson must complete the 6 hours Broker Management Course

  NOTE: Brokers must take the Broker Management Course within 180 days of receiving their license.