How to Become a Real Estate Agent in Arizona
Thinking about getting your real estate license?
Excellent choice! Arizona has one of the strongest real estate markets in the country, thanks to the booming aerospace industry. Both local and national investors are scooping up property left and right over the last decade. As you can imagine, the hottest markets include Phoenix, Scottsdale, Flagstaff, and Tucson.
We’re going to share everything you need to know about getting your license and how to become a real estate agent in Arizona, including:
5 Steps to Get Your Arizona Real Estate License
The Arizona Department of Real Estate (ADRE) has some basic requirements to get your license. You have to be at least 18 years old, have a high school diploma or GED and pass a background check. If you meet the basic requirements, there are just five steps to becoming a real estate agent in Arizona:
STEP 1 | Complete Your Arizona Real Estate Pre-License Education (96 Total Hours)
- You’ll have to complete the 90 hour pre-licensing course as well as a 6 hour contract writing course with a school that’s approved by ADRE.
STEP 2 | Sign up and pass the state real estate exam with a score of at least 75%
- The licensing exams are in person and proctered by PearsonVue.
STEP 3 | Complete a background check
- You’ll have to submit your fingerprints to the Arizona Department of Public Safety. You can get your AZDPS Fingerprint Clearance Card Application by contacting the Department of Public Safety at (602)223-2279. You can also click here to print one.
- When completing the background check application, please use black or blue ink and triple-check it to make sure everything is accurate. When you submit everything, make sure to include 1) your DPS application for fingerprint clearance card form, 2) fingerprint card and 3) Fee of $67.
STEP 4 | Submit your application to the Arizona Real Estate Commission (ADRE) and be sure to include:
- Salesperson Application & Fee
- Pre-License Course Completion Certificate
- Arizona Exam Score Report (you’ll receive a copy from PearsonVue)
- Disciplinary Actions Disclosure Form
- Disclosure Document Checklist Form *if applicable
- DPS issued AZ Fingerprint Clearance Card (Front & Back)
- 6 Hour Introduction to Contract Writing Course Certificate
- More details at: https://azre.gov/licensees/original-licensing-information
STEP 5 | Select a sponsoring brokerage to officially activate your license
- The Designated Broker you select must access the ADRE online system to approve the hire before you can officially start selling homes. Scroll down and you’ll find some important tips on selecting the best Arizona broker for newly licensed agents.
Finding the Best Real Estate Schools in Arizona
To become a real estate agent in Arizona, you’ll have to attend a school that’s approved by the Arizona Department of Real Estate (ADRE). This includes your 90-hour pre-licensing course as well as a 6-hour contract writing course. Some are online, others in a classroom setting, and a few do a combination of the two. Please note that a few of the schools are our affiliate partners, so we may earn a commission, at no additional cost to you.
Here are a few of the most popular:
- AceableAgent – online, unique mobile app for on-the-go users
- Colibri Real Estate — online
- The CE Shop – online
- Arizona School of Real Estate & Business
- American Academy – 6-Hour Contract Writing Course
When researching real estate schools in Arizona, make sure that the school shares their exam “pass rate” and see if they offer additional support for exam prep and sample exams for practice. Some offer weekend cram courses or online exam prep courses to ensure sure that you pass the state exam with flying colors!
How to Select a Real Estate Brokerage
In Arizona, you must affiliate with a real estate brokerage in order to activate your license and officially become a real estate agent. This is often referred to as the “sponsoring broker” or “designated broker.” Picking the right brokerage to work with can be critical to your success as a newly licensed agent.
If you’re eager to get started in real estate once you pass the exam, we would recommend shopping for the best broker once you’ve completed the pre-licensing course and are scheduled to take your exam.
Here are the key factors to consider before selecting a brokerage:
- Commission Splits | Every brokerage is different, so make sure you understand what your commission split will be, if there are any franchise fees and if the broker has an annual cap (i.e. a maximum amount the broker is willing to take each year).
- Support | Ask lots of questions about the type of support you’ll receive. Will you be assigned a local mentor? Will someone be available if you have questions on the weekend? Who will help when you are ready to write your first offer?
- Training | What type of training is offered and how often? Are all the training sessions in person or do they offer Zoom or recorded training – this is especially important for those of you who are starting in real estate as a part-time agent.
- Broker Reputation / Specialty Areas | You always want to go with a broker who has a great repution and provides excellent service, so ask friends and family who they really liked working with in the past. If you plan on specializing in a specific neighborhood or niche market (i.e. luxury homes or investment properties), make sure the brokerage aligns with your business plan.
- Office Culture | It’s important that your new brokerage and the agents who work for the broker are people you’d like to connect with. Do they offer happy hours? Do they celebrate birthdays? Are there opportunities to volunteer in the community as part of the brokerage?
We recommend meeting with at least two or three brokers before making a decision. When researching, keep in mind that many brokerages are independently owned franchises. So one Berkshire Hathaway or Keller Williams office could be completely different from another that’s just 10 minutes away. The culture, training, support team, and sometimes even the fees and commission splits can vary from franchise to franchise.
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Focus on What’s Most Important: Support & Mentorship
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?
PRO TIP: Don’t be afraid to ask the brokerage LOTS of questions. Remember that you are interviewing them to see if they are a good fit for your new business.
Cost to Get A Real Estate License in Arizona
There are several fees involved when working to become a real estate agent in Arizona…
- Pre-License Real Estate Course – $425 to $800
- License Application Fee – $60
- State Exam Fee – $75
- If you need to retake the state exam, you’ll have to pay this fee again
- State exam prep courses or materials – $15 to $100 (optional)
- Background Check / Fingerprinting – $67
** Total Cost to Get Licensed in Arizona = $650 to $1,100
More Expenses to Expect as a Realtor
Getting licensed is just the beginning! There are several other expenses to consider when you become a real estate agent in Arizona. After all, you are building a brand new business and there are always costs associated, whether you are opening a boutique bakery or launching your real estate empire.
Here are some of the most common expenses:
| Expense | Estimated cost |
|---|---|
| License renewal | $60 every two years; the late renewal fee is $125 |
| Local, state, and national REALTOR® associations | Often $400 or more per year, depending on the association. See examples below. |
| Multiple Listing Service (MLS) | Approximately $150–$225 per quarter |
| Application fees for a local REALTOR® association or MLS | Approximately $0–$600 |
| SentriLock or Supra eKEY access | Approximately $100–$150 per year |
| Brokerage joining fee | Typically $0–$500, with approximately $250 being common |
| Monthly brokerage fees | Approximately $30–$450 per month |
| Business cards and signage | Varies based on the brokerage and the materials purchased |
| Marketing and advertising | Varies based on how the agent chooses to promote their business |
Examples of Arizona REALTOR® Association Dues
| Association | Estimated dues |
|---|---|
| Northern Arizona Association of REALTORS® | Approximately $995 per year |
| Scottsdale Area Association of REALTORS® | Approximately $410 per year |
| Phoenix REALTORS® | Approximately $490 per year, plus $395 per year for MLS access |
| Tucson Association of REALTORS® | Approximately $490 per year |
Estimated Total Cost
When you combine the expenses required to earn your license with the initial costs of officially launching your real estate business, you should plan to spend approximately at least $1,800 on the essentials.
Total estimated cost to become a real estate agent in Arizona: $1,800–$3,200
Learn more about costs to become a real estate agent in Arizona – including marketing costs – visit:
Is it Difficult to Become a Real Estate Agent in Arizona… and Succeed in the 1st Year?
Your Arizona pre-licensing course is primarily focused on learning the common laws and terminology when practicing real estate. The courses don’t usually go into much detail (if any) on preparing home valuations, hosting open houses, or promoting your new real estate business.
As a new REALTOR, you need to be highly motivated to learn everything you can about the Arizona real estate business. Don’t be afraid to ask lots of questions to your broker and/or mentor. You’ll have to get up each morning with a plan to promote and grow your new business, as you are officially an entrepreneur!
As the owner of a new business, we highly recommend that you focus on four things:
- Build your personal database. You’ll most likely receive a large portion of your client base from people who already know and trust you. A successful business means having a large network of people who you reach out to on a regular basis. If you are new to the area and don’t have a large network, it will be very important to get out and socialize so that you’re meeting at least 5 to 10 new people every week.
- Know your neighborhood. Whether you are in Phoenix or Flagstaff, you need to have a solid understanding of the communities you want to serve. You should know the market statistics for each area, research new condo developments and tour homes so you know what buyers should expect in the $300K range versus the $800K price range. While you’re doing that, its also key to let as many people as possible know that you are here to help with any of their real estate questions.
- Marketing and promoting yourself online. From sendingn postcards to creating a website, posting on social media and networking in local online groups. There’s so much you can do, but we would recommend focusing on one or two marketing strategies at a time so you don’t get overwhelmed.
- Understanding how to talk to potential clients. It’s so important that you learn how to connect and communicate with people about real estate and how to overcome objections.
Kerry Lucasse and the Building Better Agents team talk with hundreds of newly licensed real estate agents each year. Most have no idea how challenging the first year or two can be and how much you need to learn to be successful. This business is not as easy as it looks on TV! Real estate can be a rewarding and profitable business if you are a self-starter who is 110% committed to being successful and you have the support of a great mentor and brokerage.
Frequently Asked Questions
Arizona requires 96 total hours of education prior to submitting your license application. This consists of a 90-hour Salesperson Pre-Licensing Course plus a mandatory 6-hour Contract Writing Course. While the 90-hour course covers real estate law, principles, and practice, the 6-hour contract course focuses strictly on drafting real-world Arizona purchase agreements and disclosures. You must pass your 90-hour course before taking the contract course, and most real estate schools bundle both courses into a single package.
The Pearson VUE exam consists of 140 total questions (80 National and 60 Arizona State questions). You must score at least 75% on both sections to pass.
The state portion heavily tests local Arizona nuances—such as Arizona Water Law (Doctrine of Prior Appropriation and Active Management Areas), community property rules, public report requirements for land subdivisions, and local contract disclosures. Generic national study guides skip these unique Arizona land and water rules, so using a dedicated Arizona state law prep tool is vital.
Arizona’s Introduction to Contract Writing is exactly what it sounds like – it will prepare you to write contracts for your home buyer and seller clients. After completing the 6-hour contract writing course, you will receive your completion certificate. You will need to submit this certificate along with other documents when applying for your license.
You must wait 24 hours before scheduling an appointment to retake the exam. The cost to retake the exam is $75. Please note that if you fail the exam twice, Arizona offers a one-time exam review opportunity, so you will have 30 minutes to review the questions you missed.
You must travel to a testing location where you will be monitored for the duration of the exam. There are multiple locations around the state, including Phoenix, Chandler, Tempe, Flagstaff, Yuma, Tucson, and many more. Due to Covid, there may be some options for a proctored remote exam, but please contact PearsonVue to confirm.
You have exactly 1 year from the date you pass your Pearson VUE state exam to submit your full application and activate your license with ADRE. To officially activate your license, you must submit your 90-hour course certificate, 6-hour contract writing certificate, passing exam score report, Fingerprint Clearance Card, and proof of sponsorship from an active Arizona Designated Broker. If you let the 1-year window expire, your passing exam score becomes void, and you must re-test.
Every Arizona salesperson’s real estate license has to be renewed in 2 years. You’ll need 24 hours of continuing education (CE) courses approved by the Arizona Department of Real Estate for each renewal period.
Apply for your Fingerprint Clearance Card on Day 1 of starting your course. Arizona law requires all real estate applicants to hold an active Fingerprint Clearance Card issued by the Arizona Department of Public Safety (DPS) before ADRE will issue a license. Because DPS processing takes 8 to 10 weeks on average, waiting until you finish your 90-hour course to apply creates a massive bottleneck. Getting fingerprinted early ensures your clearance is ready as soon as you pass your state exam.
To get an Arizona broker’s license you must have 3 years of actual experience as a licensed real estate agent within the past 5 years. Your experience will be verified using the LI-226 form. You must also complete 90 hours of education through an approved Arizona real estate school.
Having your real estate license on inactive status is allowed indefinitely, as long as your continuing education (CE) is completed and renewal fees are paid every two years. As an inactive agent, you are not allowed to perform real estate activity in the state of Arizona.
It depends on the specifics. Arizona is stricter than many states here: ADRE cannot issue a license to anyone convicted of a felony who is currently incarcerated, on parole, under community supervision, or on probation. Beyond that, ADRE may decline to issue a license for felony convictions or certain misdemeanor offenses — things like theft, forgery, extortion, conspiracy to defraud, violence against another person, or other crimes involving moral turpitude — though this isn’t necessarily automatic. If you have concerns about your background, it’s worth contacting ADRE directly before investing in the 96 hours of coursework.
Not automatically — Arizona doesn’t have formal reciprocity agreements with other states. However, ADRE does offer an “Out-of-State License Recognition” pathway that can streamline things if you’re relocating here. To qualify, you generally need to become an Arizona resident, have held an active license in another state for at least one year, and pass Arizona’s state-specific exam. This is actually where that “proof of residency” requirement comes from — it applies specifically to this recognition pathway, not to standard first-time applicants. Contact ADRE directly to confirm how this applies to your situation.
Different organizations report a wide range of estimates on what agents earn each year. Indeed.com reports that the average Arizona agent makes $102,606. Others report about $66,000 per year. It’s difficult to truly estimate because there are a large group of agents who work part-time and only sell a handful of homes each year. As an agent in your first year, about $40,000 (before expenses) is fairly common, but honestly, the sky is the limit in real estate!
Other Articles + Resources You Might Like:
- What Expenses to Expect as a Real Estate Agent
- 20 Questions to Ask When Choosing a Brokerage
- What You Can Do BEFORE You’re Officially Licensed (free guide)
- Should New Agents Join a Real Estate Team
- Arizona Department of Real Estate (ADRE)
- Phoenix Realtor Association
- Scottsdale Board of Realtors
- Tuscon Association of Realtors
- Northern Arizona Association of Realtors
- Arizona Licensing Fee Schedule
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