How many boards regulate Real Estate Agent / Salesperson?

51 states require a license for Real Estate Agent / Salesperson practitioners. Same-lane licenses to open next: Home Inspector; Real Estate Broker; Amusement Ride Operator.

What schooling do Real Estate Agent / Salesperson boards demand?

On average, states require approximately 104 hours of education or training, with requirements ranging from 40 to 178 hours. For contrast in the same category, open Home Inspector next.

What does a first Real Estate Agent / Salesperson license usually cost?

The average initial licensing fee is $154, ranging from $30 to $296 across states. Fee shape for Amusement Ride Operator is a useful same-lane check.

Can a Real Estate Agent / Salesperson credential move between states?

License reciprocity varies by state. Many states participate in interstate compacts that allow license portability. Check the reciprocity information in the state-by-state details for your specific situation. Compact coverage can differ for Home Inspector even when the boards look similar.

Do Real Estate Agent / Salesperson boards require an exam?

51 out of 51 states require passing an examination to obtain a real estate agent / salesperson license. Exam requirements, names, and formats vary by state, check the state-by-state table above for specifics.

Background checks for Real Estate Agent / Salesperson licensing?

51 out of 51 states require a criminal background check as part of the real estate agent / salesperson licensing process. Background check requirements and disqualifying offenses vary by jurisdiction.

Professions / Real Estate

Occupational licensing · Real Estate · 51 state boards

Real Estate Agent / Salesperson Licensing Requirements by State

Real Estate Agent / Salesperson licensing rules differ by state. According to the National Conference of State Legislatures (NCSL) compilation and responsible state boards (current as of May 15, 2026), this registry compares education hours, initial and renewal fees, exams, background checks and reciprocity notes across 51 boards. Use the table to compare differences, then verify the current rule with the responsible board before applying.

Real Estate Agent / Salesperson across 51 state boards. Nearest coverage peers (51-state band): Home Inspector, Real Estate Broker, Amusement Ride Operator.

By PlainCredential ·Compiled from official state licensing boards

States regulated: 51
Avg initial fee: $154
Require an exam: 100%
Avg education hours: 104

View saved licenses

Board Pathway Strip

Real Estate Agent / Salesperson: 51 boards · ~104 avg pre-licensure hrs · exam on 100% · background check on 100% · avg first fee $154. Same-lane boards: Home Inspector, Real Estate Broker, Amusement Ride Operator.

Pre-licensure hour neighbourhood for Real Estate Agent / Salesperson

Real Estate Agent / Salesperson vs. every tracked profession

Average confirmed pre-licensure education hours, board-sourced state requirements

104 35th of 47 higher than 12 of 47 professions

professions with confirmed education-hour requirements, bucketed by value

Each bar is a band; taller bars hold more professions. The dashed line + filled bar mark this entry. Hover or tap any bar for its full count and share, and where it sits relative to this entry.

Source PlainCredential NCSL and state-board corpus · 2026

Assists clients in buying, selling, and renting properties.

Real Estate Agent / Salesperson initial fees swing $30 (NH) to $296 (CA), a $266 spread across 51 boards ; Home Inspector often lands on a different fee band.

Board thresholds for Real Estate Agent / Salesperson drift board-to-board; the same pattern shows up on Home Inspector and Real Estate Broker in real estate. Methodology notes live on our methods page.

Real Estate Agent / Salesperson states

Bottom quartile, lowest

Real Estate Agent / Salesperson edu hrs

104 hrs

Below median

Real Estate Agent / Salesperson first fee

$154

Above median

Real Estate Agent / Salesperson renewal

$129

Above median

Board gates for Real Estate Agent / Salesperson: exam on 51/51 (100%), background check on 51/51 (100%) , CE on 51/51 (avg 12 hrs/cycle) . Stack that against Home Inspector / Real Estate Broker before calling this license soft or hard.

Other licenses near Real Estate Agent / Salesperson's board count

Coverage band

Hour load

School Bus Driver · 77 avg hrs
Auctioneer · 135 avg hrs
Childcare Center Director · 55 avg hrs

Cheapest vs priciest jurisdiction for Real Estate Agent / Salesperson

A $266 fee spread for the same credential

Initial licensing fees in New Hampshire ($ 30) and California ($ 296) bracket the field, a 9.9× spread for identical practice rights.

New Hampshire

$30 initial licensing fee

Renewal cycle: 2 years

California

$296 initial licensing fee

Renewal cycle: 2 years

Real Estate Agent / Salesperson boards vs Home Inspector / Real Estate Broker - state table

51 states

State	Edu. Hours	Exam	Init. Fee	Renewal	Cycle	CE Hrs	Lic. Fee	Process	Same-board peer
Alabama	84	Yes	$114	$97	2 yrs	12	$210	4 wks	Also Glazier · Interior Designer
Alaska	61	Yes	$70	$62	2 yrs	12	$300	4 wks	Also General Contractor · Insurance Agent
Arizona	157	Yes	$255	$209	2 yrs	12	$200	4 wks	Also Marriage and Family Therapist · Notary Public
Arkansas	74	Yes	$96	$82	2 yrs	12	$140	3 wks	Also Insurance Agent · Locksmith
California	178	Yes	$296	$242	2 yrs	12	$350	6 wks	Also Optician (Dispensing) · Pharmacy Technician
Colorado	159	Yes	$260	$213	2 yrs	12	$200	4 wks	Also Professional Engineer (PE) · Respiratory Therapist
Connecticut	135	Yes	$212	$175	2 yrs	12	$285	5 wks	Also Registered Dietitian / Nutritionist · Secondary School Teacher
Delaware	118	Yes	$180	$149	2 yrs	12	$100	3 wks	Also Respiratory Therapist · Septic System Installer
District of Columbia	120	Yes	$185	$153	2 yrs	12	$240	5 wks	Also Registered Dietitian / Nutritionist · Secondary School Teacher
Florida	127	Yes	$198	$164	2 yrs	12	$89	3 wks	Also Electrician · Fire Sprinkler Installer
Georgia	104	Yes	$154	$129	2 yrs	12	$170	3 wks	Also Farrier / Horseshoer · Hearing Aid Specialist
Hawaii	150	Yes	$243	$200	2 yrs	12	$279	5 wks	Also Nail Technician · Pest Control Applicator
Idaho	59	Yes	$66	$59	2 yrs	12	$160	3 wks	Also Physical Therapist · Psychologist
Illinois	169	Yes	$278	$228	2 yrs	12	$150	4 wks	Also Radiologic Technologist · School Counselor
Indiana	101	Yes	$147	$123	2 yrs	12	$60	3 wks	Also Registered Dietitian / Nutritionist · Secondary School Teacher
Iowa	66	Yes	$81	$71	2 yrs	12	$165	3 wks	Also Pharmacist · Process Server
Kansas	65	Yes	$77	$68	2 yrs	12	$120	3 wks	Also Debt Collector · Elevator Installer
Kentucky	78	Yes	$103	$88	2 yrs	12	$130	3 wks	Also Elementary School Teacher · Funeral Director / Embalmer
Louisiana	142	Yes	$227	$187	2 yrs	12	$90	3 wks	Also Court Reporter / Stenographer · Elementary School Teacher
Maine	44	Yes	$37	$36	2 yrs	12	$100	3 wks	Also HVAC Technician · Licensed Professional Counselor
Maryland	133	Yes	$209	$172	2 yrs	12	$90	3 wks	Also Home Inspector · Licensed Practical Nurse (LPN)
Massachusetts	129	Yes	$201	$167	2 yrs	12	$150	4 wks	Also Hair Braider · Land Surveyor
Michigan	106	Yes	$158	$132	2 yrs	12	$88	3 wks	Also Landscape Architect · Medical Assistant
Minnesota	89	Yes	$125	$106	2 yrs	12	$110	4 wks	Also Marriage and Family Therapist · Notary Public
Mississippi	82	Yes	$110	$94	2 yrs	12	$150	3 wks	Also Mortgage Loan Originator · Paramedic
Missouri	87	Yes	$121	$103	2 yrs	12	$125	3 wks	Also Massage Therapist · Occupational Therapist
Montana	146	Yes	$234	$193	2 yrs	12	$140	3 wks	Also Nail Technician · Pest Control Applicator
Nebraska	63	Yes	$74	$65	2 yrs	12	$200	4 wks	Also Occupational Therapist · Pharmacist
Nevada	164	Yes	$270	$221	2 yrs	12	$345	5 wks	Also Psychologist · School Bus Driver
New Hampshire	40	Yes	$30	$30	2 yrs	12	$150	4 wks	Also Painter (Contractor) · Physical Therapist
New Jersey	131	Yes	$205	$169	2 yrs	12	$160	4 wks	Also Pest Control Applicator · Plumber
New Mexico	148	Yes	$238	$196	2 yrs	12	$270	5 wks	Also Pharmacy Technician · Professional Engineer (PE)
New York	122	Yes	$189	$157	2 yrs	12	$50	4 wks	Also Registered Dietitian / Nutritionist · Secondary School Teacher
North Carolina	102	Yes	$150	$126	2 yrs	12	$100	4 wks	Also Nail Technician · Pest Control Applicator
North Dakota	55	Yes	$59	$53	2 yrs	12	$130	3 wks	Also Notary Public · Pesticide Applicator (Commercial)
Ohio	112	Yes	$169	$140	2 yrs	12	$90	3 wks	Also Registered Dietitian / Nutritionist · Secondary School Teacher
Oklahoma	68	Yes	$85	$74	2 yrs	12	$200	4 wks	Also Roofer · Sign Language Interpreter
Oregon	172	Yes	$284	$232	2 yrs	12	$300	4 wks	Also Sign Language Interpreter · Tow Truck Operator
Pennsylvania	119	Yes	$183	$152	2 yrs	12	$107	4 wks	Also Sign Language Interpreter · Tow Truck Operator
Rhode Island	144	Yes	$231	$190	2 yrs	12	$115	4 wks	Also Funeral Director / Embalmer · HVAC Technician
South Carolina	70	Yes	$88	$76	2 yrs	12	$75	3 wks	Also Landscape Architect · Medical Assistant
South Dakota	51	Yes	$52	$47	2 yrs	12	$225	3 wks	Also Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW) · Medical Lab Technician
Tennessee	93	Yes	$132	$111	2 yrs	12	$91	4 wks	Also Professional Engineer (PE) · Respiratory Therapist
Texas	114	Yes	$172	$143	2 yrs	12	$205	4 wks	Also School Counselor · Substitute Teacher
Utah	80	Yes	$107	$91	2 yrs	12	$157	4 wks	Also Veterinarian · Athletic Agent
Vermont	46	Yes	$41	$39	2 yrs	12	$150	4 wks	Also Childcare Center Director · Dietetic Technician
Virginia	97	Yes	$139	$117	2 yrs	12	$170	4 wks	Also Taxi/Ride-Share Driver · Arborist / Tree Surgeon
Washington	154	Yes	$249	$204	2 yrs	12	$146	4 wks	Also Certified Public Accountant (CPA) · Dental Assistant
West Virginia	80	Yes	$107	$91	2 yrs	12	$100	3 wks	Also Glazier · Interior Designer
Wisconsin	85	Yes	$118	$100	2 yrs	12	$75	3 wks	Also Dental Hygienist · Esthetician
Wyoming	48	Yes	$45	$42	2 yrs	12	$135	3 wks	Also Home Health Aide · Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW)

Cheapest / fastest Real Estate Agent / Salesperson boards (then check Home Inspector)

Fee and processing extremes for Real Estate Agent / Salesperson. Same-lane peers Home Inspector and Real Estate Broker can land on different boards even when the practice looks similar.

Lowest Real Estate Agent / Salesperson fee

1. New York
$50
2. Indiana
$60
3. South Carolina
$75
4. Wisconsin
$75
5. Michigan
$88

Highest Real Estate Agent / Salesperson fee

1. California
$350
2. Nevada
$345
3. Alaska
$300
4. Oregon
$300
5. Connecticut
$285

Fastest Real Estate Agent / Salesperson process

1. Arkansas
3 wks
2. Delaware
3 wks
3. Florida
3 wks
4. Georgia
3 wks
5. Iowa
3 wks

What to do with this

Real Estate Agent / Salesperson is regulated in 51 states -- here's how to use that before you act.

Real Estate Agent / Salesperson ranks #35 of 47 professions by average pre-licensure education hours -- see how it compares to similar roles. Browse all professions
#75 of 97 professions by number of states requiring a license -- see which states are strictest overall. State burden rankings
Initial fees for Real Estate Agent / Salesperson range from $30 (NH) to $296 (CA) -- check whether your license transfers before assuming you'd need to pay again. Reciprocity guide

Requirements are compiled from NCSL and Institute for Justice research and verified against state board sites where possible; always confirm current rules with the licensing board before relying on any single row.

Data sources

Every figure on PlainCredential is rendered directly from NCSL and state occupational- licensing board data, no number is typed in by an editor. Real Estate Agent / Salesperson requirements from NCSL and state board schedules: 51 rows, no hand-typed figures. See our editorial standards & corrections policy, the methodology behind these numbers, or report a data error.