Best Real Estate Courses & Schools in Ohio (2026)

2026 Guide · Updated Regularly

Best Real Estate Schools in Ohio

Compare Ohio’s top pre-licensing and continuing education providers — by format, focus, and value — so you can pick the right one whether you’re getting licensed or renewing.

KL Reviewed by Kerry Lucasse, 20-year real estate industry veteran · Updated for 2026
Compare Schools → See Licensing Steps

Ohio at a Glance

Everything you need before you enroll

Pre-license hours required100 hrs
CE hours per renewal cycle30 hrs / 3 yrs
Passing score required70%
Time to complete2–4 mos
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How We Choose What to Recommend

We only recommend courses and providers we believe are genuinely valuable and well-regarded — based on independent research into their curriculum, format, and student support, not on which schools pay us the most. Building Better Agents may earn a commission when you enroll through some of the links on this page, at no additional cost to you. You can read our full Affiliate & Editorial Disclosure for more detail.

Quick Snapshot

All Ohio Schools at a Glance

Jump to any school below for the full breakdown.

SchoolBest ForKey Takeaway
AceableAgentAffordabilityA slick, modern app for studying on the go.
The CE ShopOne-Stop ShopHandles your licensing, continuing ed, and exam prep all in one place.
Colibri Real EstateOverall experienceOnline flexibility with the option to join live classes.
Kaplan Real Estate EducationLive instructionA well-known name with real career development.
Cincinnati StateLocal, accredited optionA public community college with real accreditation.
RealEstateUAudio & commute learnersListen instead of read — audio lessons on the go.

Ohio’s Top Real Estate Schools, Reviewed

Our picks, based on curriculum quality, flexibility, and student outcomes — updated for 2026.

Mobile Self-Paced

AceableAgent

✓ Prelicensing ✓ Continuing Ed ✓ Exam Prep

A genuinely well-built mobile app makes this the easiest option to study on the go, at the lowest starting price of the group. PrepAgent exam prep is included on select packages, plus in-app chat and email support.

Best for affordability
$$$$ budget
See current pricing →
  • State-approved 100-hr pre-license curriculum
  • Lowest starting price of the group
  • PrepAgent exam prep included on select packages
  • Mobile app with audio lessons, self-paced
Where it could improveFewer Ohio-specific classroom touches than a dedicated local school — support runs through chat and email rather than in-person instructors.
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Self-Paced or Live

Colibri Real Estate

✓ Prelicensing ✓ Continuing Ed ✓ Exam Prep

Widely regarded as the easiest platform to navigate, with support by chat, email, or phone during business hours. CompuCram exam prep and continuing education packages are available when you’re ready to renew.

Best for overall experience
$$$$ mid-range
See current pricing →
  • State-approved 100-hr pre-license curriculum
  • CE credits available for renewals
  • CompuCram exam prep available as an add-on
  • Self-paced or livestream formats
Where it could improveBasics package doesn’t include exam prep — that’s a paid add-on. Colibri also doesn’t have a dedicated OH pre-licensing affiliate link yet, so this points to our general enrollment link.
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Online + Live

Kaplan Real Estate Education

✓ Prelicensing ✓ Continuing Ed ✓ Exam Prep

Nearly daily live sessions through the Learning Hub mean you’re never studying entirely alone. The Kaplan Commitment offers continued support if you don’t pass on your first try.

Best for live instruction
$$$$ higher-end
See current pricing →
  • State-approved 100-hr pre-license curriculum
  • Nearly daily live online sessions (Learning Hub)
  • Kaplan Commitment: continued support if you don’t pass
  • Personalized tutoring plus add-on exam prep available
Where it could improveGenerally the most expensive option in this lineup — live sessions also follow a set schedule, less flexible for irregular hours.
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Ohio local Evening, Online, or Hybrid

Cincinnati State

✓ Prelicensing — Continuing Ed — Exam Prep

A genuinely different option: this is a public community college’s Real Estate Certificate program, approved by the Ohio Division of Real Estate, with courses that also count toward an Associate of Applied Business degree if you want to keep building credentials. Since Ohio dropped its requirement that pre-licensing come from a degree-granting school in 2025, this is now optional rather than mandatory — but it’s still a solid, accredited choice.

Best for local, accredited learning
$$$$ budget
See current pricing →
  • State-approved 100-hr pre-license curriculum through an accredited public college
  • Evening, online, or hybrid course formats
  • Coursework applies toward an Associate of Applied Business degree
  • Eligible for federal financial aid
Where it could improveNo continuing education or standalone exam prep offered — and evening class scheduling is far less flexible than a true self-paced online course.
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Audio-First, Self-Paced

RealEstateU

✓ Prelicensing — Continuing Ed — Exam Prep

A genuinely different approach: short audio lessons designed to be listened to like a podcast during your commute, workout, or daily chores, each with a written transcript to follow along. A strong fit if reading through a course isn’t your preferred way to learn.

Best for audio & commute learners
$$$$ budget
See current pricing →
  • State-approved 100-hr pre-license curriculum
  • Audio-first lessons with written transcripts
  • Self-paced, accessible 24/7 on any device
  • 12 months to complete the course
Where it could improveNo confirmed continuing education offering in Ohio — you may need a second provider when it’s time to renew, and no standalone exam prep product either.
View Course

New to all this? If terms like “self-paced,” “hybrid,” or “livestream” are throwing you off, we’ve put together a quick glossary to clear things up.

Choosing the Right Course (and Understanding the Terms)

Every real estate course uses slightly different language — self-paced, livestream, hybrid — and picking the right one comes down to a few key factors: format, pass-rate transparency, refund policy, and support. We’ve put together a full breakdown of what to look for, plus a glossary of common course terms, on our dedicated guide: What to Look for When Choosing a Real Estate Course →

Already finished your pre-licensing course and wondering if a standalone exam prep product like ExamScholar or PrepAgent is worth adding before test day? We break that down here too: Is Real Estate Exam Prep Worth It? →

Ohio Real Estate Schools: Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

How many pre-licensing education hours does Ohio require?

Ohio requires 100 hours across four courses: Real Estate Principles and Practices (40 hrs), Ohio Real Estate Law (40 hrs), Real Estate Appraisal (10 hrs), and Real Estate Finance (10 hrs). This was reduced from 120 hours under House Bill 238, effective April 9, 2025 — you may still see outdated 120-hour figures on older sites and even some school pages.

How long does it typically take to complete a pre-licensing course in Ohio?

Studying online at your own pace, the 100-hour requirement can often be finished in 4 to 12 weeks. Add time for your background check (which can take 4 to 8 weeks on its own) and finding a sponsoring broker, and most people are licensed within 2 to 4 months total.

How difficult is the Ohio real estate exam?

Most agents describe it as challenging — the first-time pass rate is around 72%. The exam has 120 questions, 80 national and 40 Ohio-specific, and you’ll need a minimum score of 70% to pass.

What if I fail the real estate exam in Ohio?

You only need to retake the portion you failed. You’ll submit a retake application with a new $81 fee, plus the retake exam fee itself: $46 for just the national portion, $43 for just the state portion, or $66 for both.

How many times can I retake the Ohio real estate exam?

You can retake it as many times as needed within a one-year window from when you receive your scheduling information from PSI.

How many questions are on the Ohio real estate exam?

120 multiple-choice questions: 80 on the national section and 40 on the Ohio-specific section. You’ll have 3 hours to complete it, administered by PSI.

What’s the passing score on the Ohio real estate exam?

70% overall.

Does Ohio still require pre-licensing courses to come from a college?

No, not anymore. House Bill 238 eliminated the requirement that real estate schools be affiliated with a degree-granting institution, effective April 9, 2025. This opened the market to more independent providers and is expected to bring prices down over time.

Are there any free practice tests I can take?

Most Ohio-approved pre-licensing courses include practice exams as part of the coursework. For additional free practice questions, check YouTube for study walkthroughs, or ask your course provider whether sample questions are available before purchasing standalone exam prep.

What are some tricks to pass the Ohio real estate exam?

Take as many practice exams as you can — repetition is what turns recognition into recall. Most first-time failures happen on the state-specific section, so give real weight to Ohio Real Estate Law (civil rights, disclosure requirements, and state-specific regulations) rather than treating it as a smaller afterthought to the national portion.


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