Requirements to Become a Real Estate Broker in Illinois
To obtain a broker license in Illinois you need to:

1. Complete the education requirements. You must complete a 120-hour, Real Estate transactions course. A candidate can't accrue an additional 45-class hour of credit by repeating the Real Estate Transactions course. Of those 120 hours, you must complete 75 class hours of broker courses at a real estate school approved by the DPR in the following manner:
   
   

   Requirements to Become a Real Estate Broker in Illinois Courses Required Time Brokerage Administration 15 hours Contracts and Conveyances 15 hours Advanced Principles 2000 15 hours TOTAL   45 hours

   
   

   Elective Courses (30 hours from any two listed) Courses Time Real Estate Appraisal 15 hours Property Management 15 hours Financing 15 hours Sales and Brokerage 15 hours Farm Property Management 15 hours Real Property Insurance 15 hours Other approved elective 15 hours TOTAL   30 hours

   
   If you are a licensed Illinois real estate salesperson it is presumed you have already completed the 45 hour Real Estate Transactions course and only need the 75 hours of broker courses.
2. Proof of graduation from high school or equivalent.
3. Pass the Illinois real estate license exam. You will need to pass a multiple choice exam with a score of 75% or better.
4. File an application with required fee. The application must include the certification of a passing score on the exam, a properly issued sponsor card, a check for the license.

Effective May 1, 2011, Illinois will have two new license categories under a revised Real Estate Act. Read the Real Estate License Update FAQ for more information on upcoming changes.

If you have additional questions about licensing, we recommend you call the Illinois Division of Professional Regulation at (217)524-6735 or click here.

If you are an agent licensed in another state, you need to:

1. Contact the State of Illinois Division of Professional Regulation to determine if Illinois has a reciprocal licensing agreement with the state in which you are actively licensed.
2. Submit a Reciprocity Application with the supporting documents and application fee.
3. Be actively licensed in the reciprocal state for a minimum of two years.
4. Pass the Illinois state supplemental exam. You will need to pass a multiple choice exam with a score of 75% or better.

Illinois Broker Real Estate License Exam Information
Illinois real estate license applicants must pass a computerized exam administered by AMP Assessment Centers.

To register your exam, you must have completed the education requirement. AMP will require the following to schedule an examination:

• Personal information - legal name, address, phone, SSN, date of birth
• Exam specifics - exam type, preferred date, and test center location
• Real estate education program completed- your school name and code and date of graduation
• Examination fee- The examination fee for salespersons and brokers is $49.

For more information, click here to view AMP ’s website, which includes exam reservation guidelines, and a list of all AMP test center locations and hours of operation.

Upon arriving at the test center, you’ll need to show two forms of identification, one with a current photograph and an original Uniform Real Estate Transcript bearing an embossed seal to the test administrator. Then a brief online tutorial will familiarize you with the computerized testing system before you answer the multiple-choice questions.

You will have 3 1/2 hours to complete the exam. Be sure to attempt to answer every question. A minimum score of 75% is required to pass the real estate exam. Your score will be available immediately. If you pass the examination, you will receive a score report/licensure application, an applicant sponsor card, 45-day permit and instructions for applying for a license. If you answer “yes” to any candidate screening question, 2, 4-10, you will not receive a 45-day permit sponsor card. You must follow the license instructions and provide any required documentation when you submit your application for licensure.

Candidates are allowed up to three attempts to pass the examination. After failing the third attempt, you are required to retake the following education and the entire examination:

• Broker with an active salesperson license – retake the 75 hour broker pre-license education; or
• Broker without a salesperson license – retake the 120 hour broker pre-license education

Read the Illinois Real Estate Candidate Handbook for more information.