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How to Become a Real Estate Agent in Nebraska (2026 Guide)

Ready to get your Nebraska real estate license?

Becoming a Realtor is an incredible opportunity for entrepreneurs, with nearly limitless growth possibilities. While the thought of going through the whole licensing process may feel a little daunting at first, we have you covered! In this guide we will walk you through the entire process and help you become a real estate agent in Nebraska.

Process: 5 Steps to Get a Real Estate License in Nebraska

Expenses: How Much Does It Cost to Get a Real Estate License in Nebraska?

Pre-License Course: Find the Top-Ranked Real Estate Schools

Choosing a Broker: How to Select the Best Brokerage

Frequently Asked Questions

Woman who is selling homes after she become a real estate agent in Nebraska.

5 Steps to Become a Real Estate Agent in Nebraska

The Nebraska Real Estate Commission (NREC) requires that, in order to become a licensed real estate agent, you must be at least 19 years old, have a high school diploma or equivalent, and pass a criminal background check

01 | Complete the 96-Hour Real Estate Pre-License Course

Sign up with an approved real estate school and take your pre-license courses online, virtual or in person. In the 96-hour Nebraska real estate course, there are three sections you’ll need to complete:

30-hour Real Estate Principles & Practices
30-hour Nebraska License Law
30-hour approved elective course
6-hour Developing Professional Conduct and Ethical Practices

Once completed, there will be a final exam that’s administered for the course. When you pass the course exam, they will issue a “Certificate of Completion” that you can submit when applying for your license.

02 | Complete a Background Check

The NREC will send you fingerprint cards that you’ll use to get your prints made and background check report. It can take 4 to 6 weeks after you’ve summitted your fingerprints for your report to be delivered to the Nebraska Real Estate Commission, so we highly recommend getting this done as soon as possible.

Once NREC reviews your criminal background report, they will email you to confirm that you can take the state license exam or will request more information from you before approving. If you do have a charge on your background report, including DUI charges, we highly recommend that you go through the background check first and ask the real estate commission if you could get a preliminary approval before signing up to take the real estate course. Learn more about Nebraska background checks.

03 | Submit Application for Exam

In order to sit for the Nebraska Real Estate Salesperson Exam, you’ll need to submit payment of $325 ($175 application fee / $150 exam fee) as well as several other documents through their online application portal. Documents include:

Course Completion Certificate: Verification of your 96 hours of real estate coursework through an approved school or university
Education: Copy of High School Diploma, GED or home school equivalent
Criminal or Lawsuit Information on Application Complete
Passport-Type Photograph: Must be taken within the last year, only includes your head and shoulders
Citizenship attestation: As part of the application, you must attest to being a U.S. citizen or lawfully admitted resident

If you would prefer to just mail everything into the real estate commission, you may download the paper application. NREC does recommend that everyone review the paper application first, even if you are submitting online, just to make the application easier, NREC recommends that you print the paper application out so you’ll know exactly what information you’ll need to assemble to complete the online application

Typically, real estate commission will review your application within 48 hours, but you can always check the status with the NREC online portal.

04 | Pass the Nebraska Real Estate Exam

Once your application is approved by the Nebraska Real Estate Commission, you will be able to register for the licensing exam. Pearson VUE administers the exam for NREC (they took over from the previous provider, PSI, back in 2023), so you’ll be able to contact them directly to schedule your examination. Just go to PearsonVUE.com or call 800-819-3966 to get your exam date.

Make sure you study, study, study! Only 60% of people pass on the first try. If you need to, enroll in a real estate exam prep course to make sure you’re 100% prepared. There are 130 multiple choice questions and you’ll have 4 hours to complete the examination. To pass, you need to answer at least 75% of the questions correctly.

FYI: After being notified that you passed the state exam, you must complete the licensing process within 30 days. If you aren’t ready to jump into real estate yet, you just have to complete the license application and state that you want to be “inactive.”

05 | Select a Sponsoring Broker

In order to activate your license, you’ll need to select a broker. Scroll below for tips on what to look for when picking the best real estate brokerage for newly licensed agents.

How Much Does It Cost to Get a Real Estate License in Nebraska?

There are several expenses involved when working to become a real estate agent in Nebraska:

Licensing Expense	Estimated Cost
96-Hour Nebraska Pre-License Course	$350–$800
Examination Application Fee	$150
Salesperson License Application	$175
Original Salesperson License Fee	$90
Fingerprinting and Background Check	Approximately $40–$50
Errors and Omissions Insurance	Approximately $125–$650
Exam Prep Materials (optional)	$25–$150

Estimated Cost Including Optional Exam Prep: $955–$2,065

As of January 1, 2026, Nebraska requires aspiring salespersons to complete 96 hours of approved pre-license education. This includes three 30-hour courses and a six-hour course covering professional conduct and ethical practices. You can review the current requirements through the Nebraska Real Estate Commission.

Active Nebraska real estate licensees must also maintain errors and omissions insurance. Your cost will depend on whether you purchase an individual policy, enroll in the state group program or receive coverage through your brokerage.

More Costs to Expect as a New REALTOR®

Getting your Nebraska real estate license is only the beginning. You should also prepare for post-license education, association dues, MLS access, brokerage fees and other expenses associated with building your new business.

Additional Expense	Estimated Cost
12-Hour Post-License Course (Course 7000, due within 180 days)	$70–$200
Continuing Education (18 hours every two years)	$75–$200
License Renewal (every two years)	$180
REALTOR® Association Dues	Approximately $650–$750 annually
Association Application Fee	Approximately $150
Multiple Listing Service (MLS)	Approximately $35 monthly
SentriLock or Supra eKey	Approximately $180–$300 annually
Brokerage Joining Fee	$0–$500
Monthly Brokerage Fee	$0–$350 per month
Business Cards and Signage	Varies
Marketing and Advertising	Varies

Examples of Nebraska REALTOR® association dues:

Please note that these fees are typically due when you activate your license with a brokerage, so plan ahead!

REALTOR® Association	Estimated Cost
Omaha Area Board of REALTORS®	Approximately $650+ annually, plus a $150 new-member application fee
REALTORS® Association of Lincoln	Contact the association for current membership pricing
Nebraska REALTORS® Association	State dues are generally collected through your local association

PLEASE NOTE: The Great Plains Regional MLS serves much of the greater Omaha and Lincoln area. Its published 2026 agent-subscriber fee is approximately $35 per month. MLS, lockbox and association charges may be billed separately, so always ask for a complete new-member cost breakdown before joining.

Estimated Total Cost to Become a Real Estate Agent in Nebraska: $2,400–$4,250

This first-year estimate includes licensing, E&O insurance, required post-license education, typical association dues, MLS access, an electronic key and possible brokerage joining fees. It does not include monthly brokerage fees, advertising or other optional marketing expenses. REALTOR® membership is not required to hold a Nebraska real estate license, although your brokerage may require association and MLS membership.

Real estate broker teaching pre-licensing class to aspiring Realtors

Find the Top Nebraska Real Estate Schools

To get your real estate license, you’ll have to attend a school that’s approved by the Nebraska Real Estate Commission. There are at least a dozen approved real estate schools throughout the state. Most are online, others in person, and a few do a combination of the two. Please note that some of the school links below are affiliate links. If you enroll through one of these links, we may earn a commission at no additional cost to you.

Here are a few of the most popular Nebraska schools:

Colibri Real Estate (online + exam prep bundles)
Kaplan Real Estate Education (online + instructor support)
The CE Shop (online)
REsults Coaching (online, webinar or classroom)
Randall School of Real Estate (Omaha)
PrepAgent (exam prep tool and simulated tests)

To find which course is best for your schedule, budget and/or learning style check out this guide:

REAL ESTATE SCHOOL COMPARISON GUIDE >

PRO TIP: When shopping for the best online real estate schools in Nebraska, you’ll want to compare pricing, but there are a few other things you will need to take into consideration. If the course is 100% online, do they offer any phone support if you have questions or need help with a particular subject? Do they highlight their “pass rate” on their website so you can see how many students pass the state exam on the first try? Do they offer any guarantees, study guides, or practice tests?

How to Select a Nebraska Real Estate Brokerage

In Nebraska, you must affiliate with a real estate brokerage in order actively help home buyers and sellers. This is often referred to as the “sponsoring broker” or “managing broker.” Aligning with the right brokerage firm can be key to your success when you are a newly licensed real estate agent.

When researching and meeting with different brokerages, keep in mind that many are independently owned franchises. So one Keller Williams Realty or RE/MAX office could be completely different from another that’s just 10 minutes down the road. The culture, training, support team, and sometimes even the fees and commission splits can vary from franchise to franchise.

We also highly recommend looking into virtual or cloud-based brokers. Several are perfect for new agents, especially those that are starting as part-time agents. You often have support after traditional business hours, live classes are recorded so you can learn at your own pace.

20 QUESTIONS TO ASK POTENTIAL BROKERS >

PRO TIP: Don’t worry about commission splits, focus on SUPPORT. When you first get licensed, many agents are looking for a brokerage firm with the best commission splits or lowest monthly fees. We would highly recommend that you make the financials #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 offer a special training program for rookies? Who will help when you have questions? Will you have a dedicated real estate mentor?

How to Become a Real Estate Agent in Nebraska: Frequently Asked Questions

How is Nebraska’s 96-hour pre-licensing education structured, and can I take it online?

Yes, you can complete all 96 hours online through a provider approved by the Nebraska Real Estate Commission (NREC). The required curriculum is divided into four distinct courses:
30-Hour Real Estate Principles & Practices (#0040)
30-Hour Nebraska Real Estate License Law (#0047R)
30-Hour Approved Elective (e.g., Real Estate Finance, Property Management, or Real Estate Law)
6-Hour Developing Professional Conduct & Ethical Practices (#0003)

State-approved real estate schools offer these courses via self-paced distance learning or live virtual webcasts. Once you pass your school’s final exams, you receive completion certificates required for your state application.

Do I apply to NREC before or after scheduling my licensing exam?

You must apply directly to NREC and receive eligibility clearance BEFORE scheduling your exam. The required sequence is:
(1) Complete all 96 pre-licensing hours and obtain your course certificates.
(2) Submit your Salesperson Application for Real Estate License to NREC along with state application fees.
(3) Undergo fingerprinting for state and federal criminal background checks via the Nebraska State Highway Patrol.
(4) Wait for NREC to review your application and issue an Exam Authorization / Eligibility Notice.
(5) Use your authorization to register and book your test date with the designated testing vendor.

How is the Nebraska real estate licensing exam structured, and what score do I need to pass?

The Nebraska Salesperson Exam consists of 130 total scored questions (plus 5–10 unscored pre-test questions) with a 4-hour time limit:
National Portion: 80 questions (2.5-hour time limit).
State Portion: 50 questions (1.5-hour time limit).

You must achieve a score of at least 75% on both sections independently to pass (minimum 60/80 on National and 38/50 on State). If you pass one section but fail the other, you only need to register and retake the failed section.

How difficult is the state real estate exam?

The average pass rate in Nebraska is only 60%, so the real estate licensing examination is not easy! The salesperson exam consists of 130 questions; 80 national and 50 state-specific questions. All questions are multiple-choice, and you’ll have four (4) hours to complete the licensing exam.

What if I fail the Nebraska 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! If you fail one portion (i.e. state or national), you only need to retake the failed portion. The cost is $95 and you can take the exam as many times as you need, but you have to pass both portions within 90 days of passing the first portion. If you aren’t able to pass both the state and national portion within the 90 days, you must retake the entire exam again.

TIP: We highly recommend that you sign up for an exam prep course to make sure you pass both sections in the 90 day window. PrepAgent or Exam Prep Scholar are great options, offering practice / simulated tests and other study and testing materials.

How long does it take to become a real estate agent in Nebraska?

For most, it will take between 4 to 6 months. If you take the real estate pre-license course online, you can expedite the process. We also recommend getting your background check submitted as soon as you start the real estate course, as that can take up to 6 weeks. If you stay focused, it is possibly to get your license in about 8 to 10 weeks, but be prepared for it to take a few months.

What is Nebraska’s strict 30-day post-exam deadline and 180-day post-licensing requirement?

You face two important deadlines after taking your test:
30 Days to Finalize Application: By Nebraska statute, after passing the licensing exam, you must complete all remaining licensure requirements—including securing broker sponsorship and submitting proof of Errors & Omissions (E&O) insurance—within 30 days.
180 Days for Post-Licensing Education: Within 180 days of license issuance, you must complete a mandatory 12-hour Post-Licensing course covering practical skills like writing contracts, completing listing agreements, and transaction risk management.

***Failing to submit proof of post-licensing education within 180 days results in your license being placed on inactive status.

What are the best real estate brokerage firms in Nebraska?

While there aren’t any official reports on the the “best” brokerages in Nebraska, we’ve created a detailed school comparison guide that breaks down the pros and cons of each of the most popular real estate schools and courses in Nebraska.