How to Become a Real Estate Agent in Ohio

Ready to get your real estate license in Ohio?

It may seem a little overwhelming to go through the licensing and training to become a real estate agent in Ohio, but we are going to walk you through the entire process. So whether you are planning to do real estate part-time or are making it your new full-time career, we are going to share everything you need to know to get your license in the Buckeye state!

We’ll cover:


Steps to Get a Real Estate License in Ohio

The Ohio Department of Commerce – Real Estate Division requires that, in order to become a licensed real estate agent in the state of Ohio, you must be at least 18 years old, a US citizen or a lawfully qualified alien, and complete the following steps:

STEP 1 | Pre-License Real Estate Course

  • Complete 100 hours of real estate courses and pass a course exam with a score of 70% or higher. Course completions are valid for 10 years after the date of issuance.

STEP 2 | Background Check

  • We highly recommend starting the background check process as soon as possible, as it may take 4 to 8 weeks. You can have your fingerprints taken by Webcheck® user and then reviewed/approved by the Bureau of Criminal Identification and Investigation (BCI&I). Webcheck® will send the results to the Ohio Division of Real Estate and Professional Licensing within 30 days. The cost is usually between $50 to $90.

STEP 3 | Choose a Sponsoring Real Estate Broker

  • In order to submit your application to take the Ohio Salesperson Exam, you’ll have to select a real estate brokerage to work for. Learn more about what to look for when shopping for the best real estate brokerage firms below.

STEP 4 | Apply for Your Ohio Real Estate License

  • The Ohio Real Estate Commission will process your application and background check results and if approved, they will send your information to PSI, the company that manages all the testing. PSI will send you instructions on how to schedule your state examination.
    • Be sure to review the PSI Candidate Handbook for additional information and exam tips.
    • Learn more about how to make sure your application is 110% complete before you submit it

STEP 5 | Pass Your Real Estate Exam

  • There will be 120 multiple choice questions and you’ll just need a minimum score of 70% to pass. Once completed, you’ll be officially licensed and can start selling homes!

Understand How Long it Takes to Get a Real Estate License

Once you decide to become a real estate agent in Ohio, you’re probably excited and want to get started immediately.  Before you leave your current position, it’s important to understand how long the licensing process can take in Ohio. 

On average, it takes between 8 to 16 weeks to get an Ohio real estate license depending on how quickly you get through your pre-licensing course, pass the state exam, and complete all the application forms.

While you may not want to wait that long, there are a few ways to expedite things. First, taking an online course is the way to go.  Instead of attending scheduled in-person classes a few times each week, you can learn at your own pace online.  We would also highly recommend ordering your background check as soon as you start your course, as it could take 6+ weeks to complete and get approved by the licensing division.


Man using calculator to add up the cost to get a real estate license in Ohio.

Cost to Get a Real Estate License in Ohio

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

  • Pre-License Real Estate Course – $550 to $1,300
  • Background check / fingerprinting – $50 to $90
  • Ohio State Exam Fee – $63 ($46 to retake the national portion, $43 to retake the state portion)
  • License Application Fee – $81
  • State exam prep courses or materials – $25 to $150 (optional)

** Total Cost to Get Licensed = $744 to $1,534


More Expenses to Expect as a Realtor

What many aspiring Realtors don’t realize is that there are several other costs to consider to become a real estate agent in Ohio. Whether you’re building a new business and opening a restaurant, gift shop, or starting your real estate empire, keep in mind there are always start-up costs involved.

Here are some of the most common expenses:

  • Post-License Continuing Education Fee – $80 to $200
  • License Renewal Fee (every 3 years) – $182
  • National and Local Board of Realtors / Example pricing:
  • Multiple Listing Service (MLS) – about $150 to $175 quarterly
  • Sentrilock or Supra eKey to show homes – $100 to $150 annually
  • Business cards and signage – varies
  • Marketing materials and advertising – varies
  • Brokerage joining fee – $0 to $500 (average is about $250)
  • Monthly Brokerage fee – ranges from $0 to $350 monthly

** Total Cost to Become a Real Estate Agent in Ohio = $2,270 to $4,110



Find the Best Real Estate Schools

To get your real estate license, you’ll have to attend a school that’s approved by the Ohio Real Estate Commission. There are at least a dozen approved real estate schools throughout the state. Some are online, others in person, and a few do a combination of the two.

Here are a few of the most popular:

As of April 2025, Ohio no longer requires real estate pre-licensing courses to come through a college or degree-granting institution — a reform under House Bill 238 that opened the market to more independent providers. Community colleges like Cincinnati State still offer accredited real estate certificate programs if you’d prefer that route, but it’s now optional rather than mandatory.


How to Select a Real Estate Broker in Ohio

In Ohio, 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.” Picking the right brokerage to work with can be key to your success as a newly licensed agent.

We would recommend shopping for the best broker once you’ve completed the pre-licensing course and are waiting to take your state exam or while Ohio is processing your application. 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 (in person, phone or a zoom) with two or three brokerages, because the benefits and commission splits can be dramatically different from one firm to the next.
IMPORTANT QUESTIONS TO ASK WHEN INTERVIEWING BROKERS >>

Focus on What’s Most Important: New Agent Support

When you become a real estate agent in Ohio, many of you are looking for the best broker commission splits. We would highly recommend that you make commission splits #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?



New Ohio real estate agents getting help from Mentor

Commonly Asked Questions


How difficult is the Ohio real estate exam?

Most agents will describe the real estate licensing exam as “not easy.”  There are 120 multiple choice questions for both the state and national portions of the exam and you must answer at least 70% of them correctly. We highly recommend taking lots (and lots!) of practice tests and if you still aren’t feeling confident, enroll in an exam prep course.


How many questions are on the exam?

The Ohio exam has 120 questions, 80 on the national portion and 40 questions on the state-specific portion. You’ll have 180 minutes (3 hours) to complete the Ohio real estate exam.


What if I fail the Ohio real estate exam?

It’s not uncommon for people not to pass the exam on the first try. If you fail one or both portions of the exam, you can submit an application to retake the exam along with a new $81 application fee (the same fee you paid the first time), plus the retake exam fee itself: $46 if you’re only retaking the national portion, $43 for just the state portion, or $66 if you need to retake both. You can take the Ohio real estate exam multiple times, as you’ll have a one-year period to pass the exam after receiving your scheduling information from PSI.


How much do real estate agents make in Ohio?

According to Indeed.com, the average is $89,309 in the state of Ohio. When trying to figure out how much money you could make as an Ohio real estate agent, you’ll need to look at the time you’re willing or able to invest in your new business, the home prices in your area, and what your broker commission splits will be.

According to Realtor.com and Redfin, the average sales price in Cincinnati in 2026 is around $280,000. If you sold four homes in your first year, you would gross about $28,000. If your broker split is 70 / 30, you would keep $19,600. Factor in your expenses (i.e. MLS, board dues, broker fees, marketing, etc) and you’re probably going to make a profit of about $16,000.


How do I become a real estate broker in Ohio?

To become a real estate broker in Ohio, you must hold an active salesperson license for two (2) of the last five (5) years and comply with the education requirements outlined on the Ohio REALTORS website.


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

Having a criminal record doesn’t automatically disqualify you, but Ohio does have a specific bar: you cannot be currently licensed if you’ve been convicted of a felony or a crime of moral turpitude, or if you’ve violated real estate civil rights laws within the past two years. That said, in some circumstances a past conviction or violation can be disregarded, which would still allow you to sit for the exam. If you have concerns about your background, it’s worth contacting the Ohio Division of Real Estate directly before investing in the 100-hour course.



I have a real estate license in another state. Does Ohio offer reciprocity?

Ohio offers full reciprocity with Arkansas, Connecticut, Kentucky, Mississippi, Nebraska, Oklahoma, West Virginia, and Wyoming. The good news is that if you are licensed in these states, you do not have to take OREC’s pre-licensing course, but you do still have to complete a background check, take the Ohio Real Estate Law course and submit both an Ohio Reciprocal Application as well as a Consent to Service form.


What are the requirements for Continuing Education?

Ohio requires that all real estate agents do 30 hours of continuing education every three years. They make it easy to remember because it is due by the real estate licensee’s birthday. Of the 30 hours, it has to include 9 hours of mandatory core courses.


Is Getting an Ohio Real Estate License Worth It?

Honestly, it depends on what your goals are when you become a real estate agent in Ohio.  If you just want to sell a few homes each year to friends and family, you’ll have to crunch the numbers to see if the cost of getting and maintaining your real estate license is worth it.

If you plan to jump in and make a career in real estate, then absolutely!  The real estate market is booming.  It can be a challenge moving from a salaried position to a commission-based business, so it’s important to have at least six months of savings in the bank.  If you don’t have that yet, then you may want to keep your current job for a short period of time until you lay the foundation for your new real estate business. 



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.