Illinois Real Estate License Requirements

Illinois Real Estate Salesperson License Requirements:

Be at least 21 years old.
Must be a US citizen.
Have graduated from high school or obtained the equivalent of a high school degree (GED)
Have successfully completed the 45-class-hour Illinois Real Estate Transactions course at a real estate school approved by the Department of Financial and Professional Regulation.

Illinois Real Estate Broker Requirements:

120 total credit hours of instruction in approved courses (the 120 hours INCLUDES the 45 hour Sales Associate course above) or a baccalaureate degree including courses involving real estate or related material are required for broker applicants. Credit shall be given for class hours successfully completed in the following manner:

1) 15 credit hours for a Illinois Brokerage Administration course;
2) 15 credit hours for Illinois Contracts and Conveyances;
3) 15 credit hours of mandatory course work as established by the Education Advisory Council and OBRE (Illinois Advanced Principles Course);

5) Credit for the remaining 30 class hours may be obtained by completing at least two of the following courses listed:

A) Illinois Real Estate Appraisal
B) Property Management
C) Illinois Real Estate Financing
D) Sales and Brokerage
E) Farm Property Management
F) Real Property Insurance

NOTE THAT YOU CAN CHOOSE TO SKIP THE SALES ASSOCIATE STEP AND GO STRAIGHT TO YOUR BROKER LICENSE IF YOU TAKE ALL 120 HOURS. THERE IS NO LONGER A REQUIREMENT IN ILLINOIS TO BE A SALES ASSOCIATE FIRST.

Illinois Real Estate Continuing Education:

Illinois Salespersons:

Salespersons and brokers must complete 12 hours of continuing education every 2 years. This includes the 6 hour Illinois Real Estate core course, and 6 hours of electives.

Illinois Brokers:

Brokers for 2008 renewal and beyond must also take a 6 hour Broker Management course which is ONLY available in the classroom (not online/CD-ROM/homestudy.)

The requirement varies depending on if you were:

A. Licensed as a Broker on or before 4/30/2008, Or Brokers previously licensed as a Salesperson - 18 hours of CE is required to include:

1) 6 hours core /mandatory courses
2) 6 hours of the Broker Management course
3) 6 hours elective courses

B. Licensed as a Broker between 5/1/2008 and 4/30/2009, if NOT previously licensed as a Salesperson - 12 hours of CE is required to include:

1) 6 hours of the Broker Management course
2) 3 hours core/mandatory courses
3) 3 hours elective courses

C. Licensed as a Broker on or after 5/1/2009 and not previously licensed as a Salesperson – 6 hours of CE is required to include:

1) 6 hours of the Broker Management course

NOTE: Newly licensed Brokers must take the Broker Management Course within 180 days of receiving their license.

Please note: Illinois state regulations require that all Illinois salesperson pre-license, broker pre-license, and continuing education students pass a proctored final exam.