How to Become a Real Estate Agent in Delaware (2026 Guide)
Ready to get your Delaware real estate license?
While the prospect of going through the license procedure may seem intimidating at first, it’s really quite simple. You just have to meet some basic requirements, attend a 99 hour pre-license course, pass the exam and select a broker. We’ll walk you through it step by step and help you become a real estate agent in Delaware.
Process to Get a Real Estate License in Delaware
The Delaware Division of Professional Regulation (i.e. the Delaware Real Estate Commission) requires that, in order to become a licensed real estate agent, you must be at least 18 years old, a legal resident of the US, and pass a background check. If you have any past or pending charges relating to providing real estate services or fraud, you may not be approved to get a Delaware real estate license. If you do meet the basic requirements, you’ll just have to complete the following steps:
01 | Complete the 99-Hour Real Estate Pre-License Course
Once you’ve met the prequalifications listed above, you can sign up for a pre-license course with an approved real estate school. You can take the course 100% online or several schools offer a combination of classroom and zoom meetings.
02 | Complete Your Fingerprint Background Check
This step genuinely matters, so don’t skip past it: Delaware requires every applicant to complete a state-and-federal digital fingerprint background check through IdentoGO before Pearson VUE will even let you schedule your exam. Once your DELPROS application is submitted, go to uenroll.identogo.com, enter the Real Estate Commission service code from your application, and book an appointment at any Delaware IdentoGO site (out-of-state sites are also approved). The fee is $72, and results typically post within 24 to 48 hours. Until the Division of Professional Regulation (DPR) marks you “CLEARED,” the Pearson VUE scheduling portal stays locked.
03 | Schedule + Pass the Delaware Real Estate Exam
Once you have a certificate of completion from your real estate school you can schedule your real estate exam with PearsonVue, the firm that administers the test. There is a fee of $85 payable to PearsonVue. Be sure to download a copy of the Delaware Real Estate Candidate Handbook for detailed information about testing locations, what to bring to the exam, and more.
IMPORTANT!
In Delaware, only 62% of the aspiring real estate agents pass the state exam on the first try.
We would highly recommend enrolling in an exam prep course.
04 | Select a Sponsoring Broker
In order to apply for your Delaware real estate license, you’ll need to select a broker. Keep reading below for tips on what to look for when picking the best real estate brokerage for newly licensed agents.
05 | Submit Licensing Application
This final step is simple! Once you’ve passed your state exam and selected a brokerage, you just have to apply for your license on the Delaware Professional Regulation Online Services (DELPROS) website. Just select the option to “Apply/Manage a License and Service Requests” to get started. The cost to apply is $140 and you’ll be able to check the approval status by visiting the DELPROS e-License dashboard.
Cost to Get a Real Estate License in Delaware
Cost to Get a Real Estate License in Delaware
There are several expenses involved in getting your Delaware real estate license:
| Licensing Expense | Estimated Cost |
|---|---|
| Required 99-hour prelicensing course | $450 to $1,100 |
| Delaware real estate exam | $88 |
| Salesperson license application | $149 |
| Delaware Guaranty Fund fee | $25 |
| Exam-prep course or study materials | $25 to $150 (optional) |
Estimated Delaware Licensing Costs
| Cost Estimate | Total |
|---|---|
| Required licensing expenses | $712 to $1,362 |
| Total with optional exam prep | $737 to $1,512 |
More Costs to Expect as a Brand-New Real Estate Agent
Getting your license is just the beginning! Because you’re essentially starting your own small business, there are several additional startup and ongoing expenses to consider.
| Expense | Estimated Cost |
|---|---|
| Required 12-hour new-salesperson education | Approximately $109 to $125 |
| Continuing education | Approximately $100 to $250 per renewal cycle |
| Delaware license renewal | Budget approximately $130 to $150 |
| REALTOR® association, MLS, and SentriLock fees | Approximately $1,921 for the first year using Sussex County’s 2026 costs as an example |
| Brokerage joining fee | $0 to $500; approximately $250 is common |
| Monthly brokerage fee | $0 to $350 per month |
| Business cards and signage | Varies |
| Marketing and advertising | Varies |
The $1,921 Sussex County example includes local, state, and national REALTOR® dues, new-member fees, Bright MLS activation and subscription fees, and SentriLock access. Costs vary by county and may be prorated based on when you join.
Total Cost to Become a Real Estate Agent in Delaware
When you combine the cost of getting licensed with the most common expenses involved in launching your business, you should plan to spend approximately $2,750 to $4,100.
This estimate does not include ongoing monthly brokerage fees or optional marketing expenses.
Total estimated cost to become a real estate agent in Delaware: $2,750 to $4,100
Find the Top Online + In-Person Real Estate Schools
To get your real estate license, you’ll have to attend a school that’s approved by the Delaware 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 schools:
- Colibri Real Estate – online and exam prep options
- The CE Shop – online with exam prep options
- Delaware School of Real Estate (Hockessin, DE) – Zoom, Classroom or Online
- Central Delaware Real Estate Academy (Dover, DE)
- Exam Scholar – Prep Course (offers a guarantee)
When shopping for the best online real estate schools in Delaware, 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 Delaware Real Estate Broker
In Delaware, 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.
Keep in mind that many brokerages are independently owned franchises while researching and meeting with them. So a RE/MAX or Keller Williams Realty office 10 minutes away could be very different from another. From franchise to franchise, the culture, training, support team, and even the fees and commission splits may differ.
We also recommend that you investigate virtual or cloud-based brokers. Several brokerages are ideal for newly licensed agents, particularly those who are initially starting out as part-time agents. As a part-time agent, you can often get broker help and support outside of regular business hours, and many classes and training sessions are recorded so you can learn when your schedule permits.
Becoming a Real Estate Agent in Delware: Frequently Asked Questions
The Delaware real estate salesperson exam is administered on a computer by Pearson VUE and consists of 120 multiple-choice questions. The exam is split into two sections: an 80-question national portion and a 40-question state-specific portion. Candidates have four hours to complete the entire exam and must earn a scaled score of at least 70 on both sections to pass. If a candidate fails one portion, Pearson VUE permits them to retake only the failed section.
The average passing rate is only 62%, so that may give you a clue that this licensing exam is very challenging! The examination includes a total of 120 questions, 40 are state-specific and 80 are national. You’ll have four (4) hours to take the Delaware Real Estate Salesperson Exam and need a minimum score of 70% to pass.
As you read above, only 62% pass on the first try, so it’s not uncommon to fail the exam on the first try. Delaware’s rule is actually based on attempt count, not a fixed time window: you get up to 3 attempts to pass both the National and State portions. If you don’t pass both within those 3 attempts, you’ll be required to retake the entire 99-hour pre-licensing course before you can test again.
There’s a separate deadline to keep in mind too: your course completion certificate expires 12 months after you finish the pre-licensing course, so you’ll need to submit your license application within that window — even if you technically still have exam attempts left.
Please note that if you do not pass the exam, they will provide you with a numeric score that categorizes sections for improvement. This is a big help for many, as you’ll know what areas you need to focus on when studying to retake the examination.
Yes, you are required to take the state examination in person. PearsonVue testing center locations are in Dover and Newark as well as Philadelphia, Atlantic City, and several other locations that are within a 2 hour drive. See the Candidate Handbook for additional testing centers.
Effective exam preparation involves studying both national real estate principles and Delaware-specific real estate laws. Because Pearson VUE administers the examination, taking Pearson VUE’s general practice tests can help you get comfortable with the exam software format and timing. Most candidates rely on exam preparation packages provided by approved pre-licensing schools, which offer targeted practice exams, flashcards for state-specific real estate terminology, and practice math calculations. Focusing heavily on Delaware license laws, agency relationships, and Commission rules is vital, as state-specific questions are often where test-takers experience the most difficulty.
Good news! Delaware has reciprocity with all other states. This means that if you are already licensed in another state, you won’t have to take the Delaware pre-license course. You will still be required to pass the state portion of the Delaware licensing exam or meet certain experience requirements. You can click here to apply for reciprocity in Delaware.
Delaware requires all real estate applicants to complete a state and federal criminal history background check via digital fingerprinting through IdentoGO. To initiate the process, candidates must first set up a user account in DELPROS (Delaware’s online licensing portal) to receive the correct state service code. You then schedule a fingerprinting appointment at an IdentoGO center and pay the processing fee. The background check results are sent directly to the Delaware Real Estate Commission to verify eligibility before issuing a license.
Having a criminal record doesn’t automatically disqualify you, though Delaware is stricter than some states about certain offenses — past or pending charges specifically related to fraud or providing real estate services can affect your approval. Every applicant goes through a fingerprint-based background check via IdentoGO as part of the process. If you have concerns about your background, it’s worth contacting the Delaware Real Estate Commission directly before investing in the 99-hour course.
According to Indeed.com, the average Delaware real estate agent makes about $102,898 a year, which is in line with the national average. 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 — coastal areas like Rehoboth Beach and Lewes tend to command some of the state’s highest home prices.
Other Articles + Resources You Might Like:
- 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?
- Delaware Division of Professional Regulation
- Delaware-Approved Real Estate Schools
- Get licensed in other states
- More advice for new real estate agents
Let's Work Together
I’ve helped hundreds of agents build successful businesses, generate more leads, and expand their teams into multiple states.
Receive exclusive monthly training emails
DMCA Notice