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

Thinking about getting your Georgia real estate license?

The Georgia real estate market has stayed genuinely strong, with Metro Atlanta continuing to see steady population growth and new development. Becoming a real estate agent in Georgia is an excellent choice for those thinking about making a career change, especially given the state’s comparatively fast, affordable path to licensure.

We’re going to share everything you need to know about getting your Georgia real estate license, including:



Requirements for Getting a Real Estate License in Georgia

The Georgia Real Estate Commission (GREC) has some basic requirements you have to meet in order to secure your real estate license and become a real estate agent in Georgia:

  • Have a high school diploma or GED.
  • Be at least 18 years old – if you are 17, you may sit for the exam, however, the license cannot be activated until you are 18
  • Pass a background check
  • Successfully complete 75 hours of pre-licensing classes with a state-approved real estate school
    • Please note: You may bypass the 75 hours of pre-licensing courses if you’ve completed six semester hours (or 10 quarter hours) of coursework eligible for a Major in Real Estate from an accredited college or university OR if you complete a course in real property, agency, or contracts through an accredited School of Law. If one of these options apply to you, you’ll have to submit transcripts to Applied Measurement Professionals (AMP) to review and approve.
  • Pass the Georgia real estate exam

Once you’ve completed your Georgia real estate course and passed the school exam, you can apply to take the state exam with PSI. The cost for the examination is $121. In order to pass the exam, you have to get a minimum score of 72%.

Quick note: you may occasionally see Georgia’s exam vendor referred to as “AMP” (Applied Measurement Professionals) on older GREC forms. AMP now operates under the PSI Exams platform, so the two names refer to the same current testing process — you’re not missing a separate step.

One detail that trips people up: your background check comes in the form of a Georgia Crime Information Center (GCIC) report, which you bring with you to the PSI testing center in person when you go to receive your license — it isn’t mailed to GREC separately.

If you don’t pass the first time, no worries! You can take the exam again without having to retake the course.

Once you’ve passed, you will have 12 months to find a sponsoring broker and officially activate your real estate license. If you don’t activate your license within 12 months, you’ll have to retake the Georgia state exam.

In your first year as a real estate agent, the Georgia Real Estate Commission requires that you take a 25-hour salesperson post-license course. If you fail to take the course before the end of the 12 month period, your license will lapse.

While you do have to jump through a few hoops to become a real estate agent in Georgia, this is an incredible opportunity to build a lifelong business.

Finding the Best Real Estate Schools

In order to get your Georgia real estate license, you’ll have to attend a school that’s approved by GREC. There are quite a few approved real estate schools in Georgia. Most of the real estate courses are offered online, but there are a few that offer a classroom or virtual style setting. 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 GA real estate schools:

SEE WHICH SCHOOL IS BEST FOR YOU >

When you are shopping for the best real estate schools, make sure that they offer additional support for exam prep and sample exams for practice. Some schools even offer weekend cram courses or online support / chat to make sure that you pass the real estate salesperson exam on the first try.


How to Research and Select a Georgia Real Estate Broker

In Georgia, you must affiliate with a real estate brokerage in order to activate your real estate license. This is often referred to as the “sponsoring broker.”

We would recommend shopping for the best broker once you’ve completed the pre-licensing course and are waiting to take your state exam. There are a few ways to do this:

  • Ask around. Find out which brokerages your friends and family have worked with in the past and see what they liked most about them. Don’t hesitate to reach out to local agents in your area to see what they like most about their broker.
  • Research online. Once you’ve narrowed down your choices to 3 to 5 companies, do some research online. There are always dozens if not hundreds of YouTube testimonials and feedback from real estate agents.
  • Check out Facebook/Meta. There are quite a few Facebook groups for aspiring agents and you’ll get lots of (honest) feedback from agents at different brokerages.
  • Schedule interviews. We highly recommend meeting with two or three brokerages, because the benefits and compensation plans can be dramatically different.

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? Do they have mentors – and what exactly will the mentors do to assist you?

Don’t miss our latest article…

20 QUESTIONS TO ASK WHEN INTERVIEWING BROKERS >

Cost to Get A Real Estate License in Georgia

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

  • Georgia Pre-License Real Estate Course – $250 to $400
  • Exam Fee – $121
    • If you have to retake the exam, arrive 15+ minutes late or don’t have the proper ID, you will have to pay the $121 a second time.
  • Background Check (GCIC report) – $25 to $40
  • GA License Application Fee – $170 to $340
    • If you activate your license (by selecting a broker) within 90 days of passing the exam, the fee is $170. If you wait, the fee doubles to $340.
  • 25-Hr Post-License Continuing Education Fee – $100 to $250

** Total Cost to Get Licensed = $666 to $1,151


Once you’re licensed, here’s what ongoing costs look like:

  • GREC License Renewal Fee (every 4 years, requires 36 hours of continuing education including 3 hours specifically in Georgia License Law) – $100 to $125
  • National and Local Board of Realtors / Example:
    • Atlanta REALTORS® Association (ARA) – $524/year for primary REALTOR® members ($198 local + $125 Georgia Association of REALTORS + $201 NAR), current for 2026
  • Multiple Listing Service (MLS) – $20 to $35 monthly

** Total Cost to Become a Real Estate Agent in Georgia = $1,266 to $2,151

Is it Easy to Become a Successful Real Estate Agent?

Now that you know how to get a real estate license in Georgia and how to find the best brokerage, the next step is getting yourself in the mindset that you are building a new business.

Your pre-licensing course is primarily focused on learning the common terms and laws when practicing real estate. The courses don’t usually cover writing contracts, preparing a home valuation report for sellers, mastering your scripts, and learning how to market and promote your business.

Once you’ve become a real estate agent in Georgia, you need to be highly motivated and laser-focused on learning as much as you can. When you wake up each morning, no one is going to be there telling you what to do, you have to be focused on several key areas including:

  • Building your network (aka “sphere of influence). This means that you have to get out and socialize and not be afraid to pick up the phone and connect with others.
  • Becoming a neighborhood expert. You want to be the go-to agent in your area, you need to know your market. This could include studying the home sales statistics in the MLS, touring homes in the area, researching new developments, and letting as many people as possible know that you are here to serve them.
  • Learning how to market yourself online. From blogging on your website to running Facebook ads, posting on social media, and networking in local online groups. You have to find out what works best for you and get up every morning and take action!
  • Understanding scripts and contracts. It’s so important that you learn how to talk with people about real estate and how to overcome objections. You also have to know the basics of writing a contract, but also the strategies involved in positioning your offer in a way that will help your clients win in a bidding war.

We talk with dozens of newly licensed agents each year. Most have no idea how challenging this career path can be and how much you need to learn to be successful. We won’t sugarcoat it — it is a tough business! But if you are a self-starter who is 110% committed to being successful and you have the support of a great brokerage and mentor, it can be a rewarding and profitable business.


People asking questions about getting a real estate license in GA

How to Become a Real Estate Agent in Georgia: FAQs

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

Honestly, that’s up to you! The pre-licensing course is only 75 hours, so you could finish that in as little as two weeks. In week three you would take the class exam and then about 1 to 2 weeks later, the state exam. Once you pass the state exam, you’ll have to get up and running with all the tools and systems at your new brokerage, so that could take another 2 to 4 weeks. All in all, you could be licensed in as little as a month, but we would recommend planning for 6 to 9 weeks before you would be in a place to start working with clients and writing offers.

How hard is the Georgia real estate exam?

There are 152 multiple choice questions and you’ll have up to 4 hours to take the exam. Most agents will tell you “it can be tricky” or “it’s not so easy,”, so it’s vital that you do as many practice exams as possible to prepare. If you’re still not feeling confident, sign up for an exam prep or cram course.

What if I fail the real estate exam?

It’s not uncommon for people to fail on the first try. You can easily take the Georgia real estate exam again, you just have to pay another $121. You are allowed to take the Georgia real estate exam three times in one year.

Can I get a Georgia real estate license if I have a felony or misdemeanor?

Having a criminal record doesn’t automatically disqualify you. As part of your application, you’ll submit a Georgia Crime Information Center (GCIC) background report, and GREC reviews any criminal convictions or licensing sanctions individually before deciding whether to issue your license. If you have concerns about your background, it’s worth reaching out to GREC directly before you invest time and money in the 75-hour course.

Can I skip the 75-hour course if I have a related college degree?

Yes, and it’s one of the more underused shortcuts available in Georgia. If you’ve completed at least 6 semester hours (or 10 quarter hours) of coursework eligible for a Major in Real Estate from an accredited college or university, or completed a course in real property, agency, or contracts through an accredited School of Law, you can bypass the 75-hour pre-licensing course entirely. You’ll need to submit your transcripts to AMP (operating under PSI) for review and approval before you’re cleared to sit for the state exam.

Why does my Georgia license fee double if I wait too long?

This catches a lot of new agents off guard, so it’s worth planning around: your license activation fee is $170 if you find a sponsoring broker and submit your application within 90 days of passing the state exam. Wait longer than that (up to the 12-month deadline), and the fee jumps to $340 — literally double, for the exact same license. If you’re still interviewing brokerages when you pass your exam, it’s worth prioritizing that decision to avoid paying more than you have to.

How do I get a Broker license in Georgia?

If you’ve been licensed as a Georgia Salesperson for at least 3 of the previous 5 years, you can qualify to become a broker. You’ll just have to complete 60 hours of approved Georgia Broker Pre-Licensing education and pass the state broker exam.

I’m already licensed in another state. Can I sell in Georgia?

Georgia allows real estate license reciprocity with every state in the United States (except for Florida). It’s fairly simple to get your reciprocal real estate license. You just have to submit proof of a current (not lapsed or expired) real estate license from another state. You can submit your application here.

How much do real estate agents make?

According to ZipRecruiter, as of August 2026, the average US annual pay for real estate agents is $85,793 (about $7,149 monthly). This can fluctuate dramatically from city to city, so focusing on areas where the average sale price is higher will allow you to earn more. If you are in the Metro Atlanta area, the average is $116,239 according to Indeed.com.

How much does it cost to become a real estate agent in Georgia?

We outlined the costs above, but to sum it up, you’re looking at about $666 to $1,151 to get your license. Once you add in your first year of Board of REALTORS dues, MLS access, and your brokerage’s joining fee, the total initial investment typically lands between $1,266 and $2,151, depending on your area and the brokerage you select.

PLEASE READ: Real Estate Agent Expenses | What to Expect as a New Agent