How to Become a Real Estate Agent in Oregon

Fast-Track Your Career: How to Become a Real Estate Agent in Oregon

Ready to capitalize on Oregon’s thriving housing market from Portland to Bend? Earning your Oregon real estate broker license is closer than you think.

With 150 hours of required coursework—available fully online or through flexible hybrid formats—Oregon provides a comprehensive, structured foundation for new agents. Simply complete your accredited classes, pass the state PSI exam, submit your background check, and team up with a sponsoring Principal Broker.

Follow our step-by-step roadmap below to get your Oregon real estate license and start closing deals today.

We’ll cover:


5 Steps to Get a Real Estate License in Oregon

The Oregon Real Estate Agency (OREA) has a few requirements to become a broker. You must be at least 18 years old and have a high school diploma (or equivalent). If you meet the prerequisites, you can complete the following steps:

STEP 1 | Apply First + Get Your Applicant ID

  • Oregon flips the usual order: before you take any coursework, you’ll create an account in OREA’s eLicense system and submit a broker license application along with a $300 nonrefundable application fee. This starts your background check and generates the Applicant ID number your school will need.

STEP 2 | Complete the 150-Hour Broker Pre-License Course

  • Give your Applicant ID number and full name to an OREA-approved real estate school. Oregon requires 150 hours of pre-license education — one of the highest hour requirements in the country. Once you finish, your school will report your completion and make you eligible to schedule your exam with PSI.

STEP 3 | Schedule + Pass the Oregon Real Estate Exam

  • Once your school flags you as eligible, schedule your exam online or by phone with PSI. The exam fee is $75 per attempt.
  • The exam has 130 scored questions: 80 national questions (150 minutes) and 50 Oregon-specific questions (90 minutes). You need at least 75% on each section to pass. Your exam scores and background check clearance are each valid for one year, so don’t let too much time pass before finishing your application. See our FAQs section to learn more.

STEP 4 |  Find a Sponsoring Principal Broker

  • In order to activate your license, your new principal broker will need to add your pending license to their business in eLicense. Keep reading below for tips on what to look for when picking a brokerage.

STEP 5 |  Final Review + License Issued

  • Once your exam scores, background check clearance, and principal broker affiliation are all in place, OREA completes a final review of your application. Since you already paid your application fee in Step 1, there’s no additional fee here — just the final approval before you’re officially licensed.

How Long Does It Take to Get a Real Estate License?

Once you decide to become a real estate agent in Oregon, you’re probably excited and want to get started immediately.  Before you leave your current position, it’s important to understand how long the process can take.  Here is what an average timeline looks like:

  • 1 to 2 weeks to submit your application and receive your Applicant ID
  • 8 to 10 weeks to complete your 150-hour Oregon pre-licensing course
  • 1 to 2 weeks to get your state real estate exam scheduled
  • 3 to 4 weeks for your fingerprint background check to clear
  • 1 to 3 weeks to interview and select a sponsoring principal broker

While this timeline may seem a little daunting, there are a few ways to expedite things. First, taking an online course is the way to go.  Instead of attending scheduled in-person classes, you can learn at your own pace online.  We also highly recommend submitting your application and getting your fingerprints scheduled right away, since the background check tends to be the biggest bottleneck in Oregon.  All in all, it’s realistic to become a real estate agent in Oregon in about 3 to 6 months, mostly due to the 150-hour education requirement.


Cost to Get a Real Estate License in Oregon

There are several fees involved when working to become a real estate agent in Oregon…

  • License Application Fee – $300 (nonrefundable, paid before your course)
  • Pre-License Real Estate Course – $350 to $800
  • State Exam Fee – $75
  • Fingerprinting / Background Check – about $40 to $60
  • State exam prep courses or materials – $25 to $150 (optional)

** Total Cost to Get Licensed = $765 to $1,235


More Costs to Expect as a Brand New Realtor

Getting a license is just the beginning! What many aspiring agents don’t always realize is that there are several other expenses to consider when you become a real estate agent in Oregon. Keep in mind you are officially opening your own business, so there are always start-up costs involved.

To follow are some of the most common expenses in Oregon:

  • Continuing Education (30 hours, due every 2-year renewal cycle, including a 26–27 hour Broker Advanced Practices course for first-time renewers) – $200 to $400
  • License Renewal Fee (every 2 years) – $300
  • National and Local Board of Realtors / Examples:
  • Multiple Listing Service (MLS) – about $150 to $175 quarterly
  • SentriLock or Supra eKey to show homes – $100 to $200 annually
  • Business cards and signage – varies
  • Marketing materials and advertising – varies
  • Brokerage joining fee – $0 to $500 (average is about $250)
  • Monthly Brokerage fee – ranges from $0 to $350 monthly

** Total Cost to Become a Real Estate Agent in Oregon = $1,665 to $3,035

WHAT EXPENSES TO EXPECT AS A NEW REALTOR >>

Oregon Real Estate School Options

To get your real estate license, you’ll have to attend a school that’s approved by the Oregon Real Estate Agency. There are dozens of approved real estate schools throughout the state. Most are online but a few have live classes.

Here are a few of the most popular:

When shopping for the best online real estate schools, you’ll want to compare pricing, but there are a few other things you will need to consider:

  • Do they share their “pass rate”? This will tell you what percentage of their students passed the state exam on the first try.
  • Does the school offer any guarantees if you don’t pass? For example, one school will pay the fee for you to retake the state exam.
  • Are practice tests given to the students or is there any additional charge?
  • Do they offer a separate exam prep course or a weekend cram course?


How to Select an Oregon Real Estate Broker

In Oregon, you must affiliate with a principal broker in order to actively help home buyers and sellers. Picking the right brokerage to work with can be key to your success as a newly licensed agent.

IMPORTANT QUESTIONS TO ASK WHEN CHOOSING A BROKER >>

While many newly licensed agents are looking for the best commission splits when shopping for brokers, we would highly recommend that you make that #2 or #3 on your list. The most important thing you should look for in a brokerage is how they support brand new real estate agents. Do they have a formal training program? Will you have at least 3 people you can reach out to if you have questions? Are they available outside traditional business hours? Do they have mentors – and what exactly will the mentors do to assist you? All important things to consider when you are ready to become a real estate agent in Oregon!

Oregon Real Estate License: Frequently Asked Questions

Is the Oregon estate real estate exam hard?

The exam has 130 scored questions: 80 national (150 minutes) and 50 Oregon-specific (90 minutes), and you’ll need at least 75% on each section to pass. Your results are typically available the same day, or within a few days.

What if I fail the real estate exam?

It’s not uncommon for people not to pass the exam on the first try, so don’t be too hard on yourself! You can retake either section, and it costs the same $75 fee per attempt. Just keep in mind your original exam scores and background check clearance are only valid for one year, so don’t let too much time pass before you finish the process.

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

Most students complete the licensing process in 2 to 4 months. If you choose a self-paced online school, you can complete the mandatory 150-hour coursework in as little as 6 to 8 weeks. Exam scheduling and background check processing through the Oregon Real Estate Agency (OREA) usually add another 2 to 3 weeks.

Can I get an Oregon real estate license if I have a misdemeanor or felony on my record?

Having a criminal record doesn’t automatically disqualify you. When you apply in Step 1, you’ll answer background questions honestly, and OREA reviews each applicant’s criminal records check individually. Nondisclosure is one of the most common reasons for denial, so it’s important to be upfront rather than hope something gets missed. If you have concerns, we’d recommend contacting OREA directly before investing in a pre-license course.

I have a real estate license in another state. Does Oregon offer reciprocity?

Oregon has reciprocal agreements with Alabama, Georgia, Nebraska, South Dakota, and Alberta, Canada — but “reciprocity” here doesn’t mean a shortcut. Even with a reciprocal license, you still have to complete all of Oregon’s education and exam requirements; there are no waivers. If you’re licensed anywhere else, contact OREA directly since specific requirements can vary.

How much do Oregon real estate agents make each year?

According to Indeed.com, the average Oregon real estate agent makes about $98,853 a year. Keep in mind real estate agents are commission-based, so your actual earnings depend heavily on how many homes you sell and the price points in your market — the Portland metro area tends to run close to the state average.
PRO TIP: To calculate how many homes you’ll need to sell, look up the average home sales price in your city (just google it!). For example, if the median sales price in your area is $500,000 and you earn 2.5% commission on a sale, your gross commission would be about $12,500 per sale. To earn the Oregon average, you’d have to sell about 8 homes.

What score do I need to pass the Oregon real estate exam?

You must score at least 75% on both the National and Oregon State-specific portions of the broker exam. Administered by PSI, the test features 130 scored questions (80 national and 50 state-specific) plus a few unscored experimental questions.

What happens if I fail one or both parts of the Oregon broker exam?

If you pass one section but fail the other, you only need to retake the section you failed. You can reschedule your exam through PSI after paying the retake fee. Passing scores on individual sections remain valid for up to one year.

What are the basic eligibility requirements for an Oregon broker license?

To apply for a Real Estate Broker license in Oregon, you must:
– Be at least 18 years old.
– Hold a high school diploma, GED, or equivalent.
– Create an eLicense account with OREA to get an Applicant ID.
– Complete 150 hours of OREA-approved broker coursework.
– Pass a state background check and fingerprinting.
– Associate with an active Oregon Principal Broker.