Become a Real Estate Agent in Illinois (2026 Guide)
Ready to get your Illinois real estate license?
A real estate career offers an incredible opportunity for those with an entrepreneurial spirit. While the thought of going through the licensing process may feel a little daunting at first, it really is quite simple: meet some basic requirements, take the Illinois real estate pre-license course, pass the state licensing exam and apply for your license. This step-by-step guide will walk you through the entire process of how to become a real estate agent in Illinois.
5 Steps to Get a Real Estate License in Illinois
The Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation (IDFPR) requires that you be In order to become a licensed real estate agent you must be at least 18 years old, have a high school diploma or equivalent, and be lawfully present and able to work in the US. If you do have a criminal record, certain convictions will cause an automatic denial of a real estate license, but other offenses are reviewed on a case by case basis. Assuming that you do meet the basic IDFPR requirements, you’ll just have to complete the following steps:
01 | Complete the 75-Hour Real Estate Pre-License Course
There are two sections to the course: the 60-hour Broker Pre-License Topics course, which can be taken fully online and self-paced, and a 15-hour Applied Real Estate Principles course, which must be taken live — either in a classroom or an interactive virtual webinar. To successfully complete the education requirements, you’ll have to pass the school exam with a minimum score of 75%.
From the time that you complete your course, you have up to two (2) years to take and pass the state exam; you can take it as soon as two business days after meeting the course requirements.
02 | Pass the Illinois Real Estate Exam
Once you’ve completed the background check and passed your course exam, you can schedule your Illinois state licensing exam with PSI, the firm that administers the testing. PSI administers the exam and the cost is $58 per attempt.
There are a total of 140 multiple choice questions on the Illinois Salesperson Exam and you’ll have 3.5 hours to complete the examination. To pass, you’ll need a minimum score of 75%.
FYI: This is a challenging exam! While Illinois doesn’t release the official pass rates, the unofficial reports state that less than 60% pass on the first try. Make sure you take an exam prep course beforehand so that you are 110% prepared.
03 | Complete a Background Check
Illinois requires a background check as part of your license application. Certain convictions will cause an automatic denial, but other offenses are reviewed on a case-by-case basis. Fingerprinting and background check costs typically run $50 to $75.
04 | Select a Sponsoring Broker
In Illinois, 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 is key to your success when you are a newly licensed real estate agent. 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 pass the exam, you can apply for your Illinois real estate license through the IDFPR Online Services Portal, and pay the licensing fee of $150.
Please note: you have up to two years from completing your pre-licensing course to pass the state exam, and one full year from your exam pass date to submit your license application.
Cost to Get a Real Estate License in Illinois
There are several fees involved when working to become a real estate agent in Illinois…
- Pre-License Real Estate Course – $300 to $700
- State Exam Fee (PSI) – $58
- Fingerprinting / Background Check – $50 to $75
- License Application Fee – $150
- State exam prep courses or materials – $25 to $150 (optional)
** Total Cost to Get Licensed = $558 to $983
More Costs to Expect as a New Realtor
Getting a license is just the beginning! What many aspiring agents don’t always realize is that there are several other expenses to consider when you become a real estate agent in Illinois. Keep in mind you are officially opening your own business, so there are always start-up costs involved.
One thing that’s unique to Illinois: your first renewal requires 45 hours of post-license education — almost as much as your original pre-license course — on top of the standard renewal requirements. Every renewal after that only requires the standard 12-hour continuing education package.
To follow are some of the most common expenses in Illinois:
Additional Costs to Budget For
| Expense | Estimated cost |
|---|---|
| First-renewal post-license education | Approximately $200–$400 for the required 45 hours |
| Continuing education | Approximately $100–$250 for the 12 hours required during each two-year renewal cycle after the first renewal |
| Local, state, and national REALTOR® associations | Costs vary by association and location. See examples below. |
| Multiple Listing Service (MLS) | An MLS-only MRED access option may be available for approximately $414 per year without full REALTOR® association membership. Ask your local association or brokerage about available options. |
| SentriLock or Supra eKEY access | Approximately $100–$200 per year |
| Brokerage joining fee | Typically $0–$500, with approximately $250 being common |
| Monthly brokerage fees | Approximately $0–$350 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 Illinois REALTOR® Association Dues
| Association | Estimated dues |
|---|---|
| National Association of REALTORS® (NAR) | Approximately $201 per year |
| Illinois REALTORS® | Approximately $304 per year |
| Chicago Association of REALTORS® (CAR) | Combined national, state, and local dues are approximately $1,000 per year |
| Mainstreet REALTORS® (MORe) | A $300 initiation fee applies to new individual members; local annual dues are not published online |
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 $1,458–$2,933.
Total estimated cost to become a real estate agent in Illinois: $1,458–$2,933
** Total Cost to Get Licensed = $1,458 to $2,933
Wait, there’s more! What many aspiring agents don’t always realize is that there are several other expenses to consider after you are licensed. Some of the most common costs you’ll experience as a new real estate agent:
Find the Best Illinois Real Estate Schools
To get your real estate license, you’ll have to attend a school that’s approved by the IDFPR. There are dozens of approved real estate schools throughout the state. Some are online, others in person, and a few do a combination of the two — just remember the 15-hour Applied Real Estate Principles course must be live. 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 schools:
- Aceable Agent (online, mobile friendly)
- Colibri Real Estate School (online and live stream courses)
- RealEstateU (online, budget friendly)
- Kaplan Real Estate Education (online + instructor access)
- The CE Shop (online, exam prep included in standard package)
- Exam Scholar – Illinois Exam Prep Course (guaranteed or $$ back)
When researching the best real estate schools, 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, find out if they offer any phone support or a Facebook group 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, practice tests, or exam study guides? Is the exam prep course included in the price?
How to Select a Illinois Real Estate Broker
In Illinois, 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 is 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 Coldwell Banker, Sotheby’s or Keller Williams Realty 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.
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.
PRO TIP: Don’t worry about commission splits, focus on SUPPORT.
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. Make sure they have a training program, dedicated mentors, and multiple people you can contact when you need help.
Illinois Real Estate License: Frequently Asked Questions
While Illinois doesn’t disclose the state real estate exam pass rates, several unofficial sources claim that only 50% to 60% pass on the first try. If you ask any local real estate agent, they will definitely describe the licensing exam as “not easy.” The salesperson examination consists of 140 questions; 100 national and 40 state-specific questions. All questions are multiple-choice, and you’ll have four (4) hours to complete the licensing exam.
For the National portion of the real estate exam, a score of 75% is required to pass. For the state portion of the test, you also need a score of 75% to pass.
It’s very common that people don’t pass the real estate salesperson exam on the first attempt, so don’t give yourself a hard time! You can retake the exam as many times as you need to until you pass both the state and national sections. There is a time limit — you have up to two years from completing your coursework to pass the exam, and one full year from your exam pass date to submit your license application to IDFPR.
Unlike most states where entry-level agents hold a “Salesperson” license, Illinois eliminated the Salesperson title in 2011. In Illinois, entry-level real estate professionals are licensed directly as Brokers. However, you must still work under the supervision of a Sponsoring Managing Broker or brokerage firm before you can legally assist buyers and sellers.
The Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation (IDFPR) mandates 75 total hours of approved pre-licensing education. The curriculum is split into two required modules:
60-Hour Broker Pre-License Topics Course: Covers core principles, real estate law, contracts, fair housing, and financing (available fully online and self-paced).
15-Hour Applied Real Estate Principles Course: Focuses on practical application, case studies, and contract drafting (must be taken interactively via live virtual webinars or classroom setting).
In Illinois, you have one full year from the date you pass your state exam to find a sponsoring managing broker and submit your application through the IDFPR Online Services Portal. If you miss this one-year deadline, your exam results expire, and you must retake the exam.
Before your very first license renewal, IDFPR requires all new Brokers to complete 45 hours of post-licensing education. This curriculum consists of three 15-hour courses covering transactional issues, risk management, and applied principles. This replaces standard continuing education (CE) for your first renewal cycle.
Other Articles + Resources for New Agents:
- Real Estate Agent Expenses | What to Expect as a New Agent
- How to Find the Best Brokerage: 20 Questions to Ask the Broker Before Joining
- What You Can Do BEFORE You’re Officially Licensed (free guide)
- Should New Agents Join a Real Estate Team?
- More tips and advice for new or aspiring real estate agents
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