How To Become A Real Estate Agent In Indiana
To earn and keep your Indiana real estate license, you need to meet specific educational requirements set by the Indiana Professional Licensing Agency (IPLA). Pre-license training makes you eligible to take the state license exam and post-license courses let you keep your licensure. Then you have to complete a certain amount of continuing education every year to renew your license.
Learn more about requirements and deadlines to earn and renew your Indiana real estate license below.
What Does "Broker" Mean in Indiana?
Most states call entry-level real estate licensees as "salespersons" or "sales agents" and reserve the term "broker" for the next level of licensing that allows the licensee to own a brokerage, sponsor new brokers, and more.
But in Indiana, the term "broker" refers to entry-level licensees. The next level up is referred to as a "managing broker."
It's a bit confusing if you're used to the more common usage, but we're going to use Indiana's vocabulary while we talk about their process.
What Are Indiana's Real Estate Pre-Licensing Education Requirements?
The IPLA requires 90 hours of pre-licensing education from an approved provider before you can earn your broker's license.
Unfortunately, AgentCampus by 360training doesn't offer Indiana pre- or post-license training at the moment. We only offer continuing education.
Who is Eligible to Become a Real Estate Broker in Indiana?
To apply for a real estate license in Indiana, you need to be at least 18 years of age and have a high school diploma or GED.
What Else Do I Need to Do to Earn My Indiana Real Estate License?
Within one year of completing your pre-license course, you have to pass the Indiana Real Estate Licensing Exam. Within a year of passing the state exam, you need to submit your application.
You'll also need to find a sponsoring broker with managing broker eligibility. If you can't find a managing broker in time, the license will be placed in "unassigned" status. You won't be able to perform licensed broker activities until you affiliate.
What is the Indiana Real Estate Licensing Exam Like?
Indiana requires you to pass both parts of your licensing exam (national and state) within 365 days of the date on your pre-license certificate of completion.
The license exam is administered by a third-party vendor named PSI in several testing centers throughout the state. You'll need to bring either a hard copy or an electronic version of the certificate to the testing center, along with two forms of identification. The exam consists of 75 national topic questions (with a 3-hour time limit) and 50 Indiana-specific questions (with a 1.5-hour time limit).
You'll get a score report before you leave the test. If you pass one portion of the exam and fail the other, you'll only have to retake the part you failed. If you don't pass both parts within a year of your pre-license course, then you'll have to repeat your training.
What is the Deadline for my Indiana Real Estate License Application?
You have one year after passing both parts of your state licensing exam to submit your application. You also need to find an eligible sponsoring broker who will oversee your conduct and mentor you as you get started.
Without a sponsoring broker, your license will be placed in an "unassigned" status that doesn't allow you to practice licensed activities.
What Are the Real Estate Post-Licensing Requirements in Indiana?
Within your first two years (and change) as a licensed broker, Indiana requires 30 hours of post-license education. The "continuing education year" (which runs from July 1st to June 30th) in which you're initially licensed doesn't count against your post-license deadline.
Therefore, your post-license course must be completed by the third June 30th after your license is issued. Depending on your initial date of licensure, you'll have at least two years, but less than three.
Post-license curriculum must include:
- 6 hours on Indiana real estate transactions
- 6 hours on financing
- 10 hours in business planning, sales, and marketing
- 5 hours of negotiation and counseling skills
- 1 hour on cultural diversity and fair housing
- 2 hours in construction
This can be organized as one 30-hour course or six separate courses, one for each topic above.
Your course needs to be taken with an IPLA-approved provider. We're not offering Indiana post-license courses at this time.
How Often Does an Indiana Real Estate License Have to Be Renewed?
Indiana real estate licenses have to be renewed every 3 years. Indiana has a universal expiration date of June 30th.
Since the "CE year" (July 1st to June 30th) in which your license is issued doesn't count, your first renewal period will be longer than normal (almost four years, if your license was issued in July).
When Should I Start Taking Real Estate CE Courses in Indiana?
Indiana's CE requirements don't kick in until your third "CE year" (which runs from July 1st to June 30th). The partial "CE year" in which you're licensed doesn't count towards any educational deadlines. Your first two full "CE years" are then occupied with post-license training.
You don't need (and may not get credit for) any courses labeled "continuing education" until the third July 1st you experience as a licensed broker.
What Are Indiana's Continuing Education Requirements for Real Estate?
Unlike other states, where CE credits can be earned at any point during the renewal period, Indiana requires the credits to be spaced out. The renewal cycle is three years long, but CE deadlines are every year.
For the purposes of license renewal and continuing education in Indiana, a "year" runs from July 1st to June 30th. You need to start and complete 12 hours of CE between those dates to earn that year's credits. If you take more than 12 hours during a "CE year," they can't count towards another year. As we explained above, new licensees don't have to start CE courses until year 3.
You'll report the CE from all three years when it's time to fill out your renewal application.
For most brokers, you can fill all continuing education hours with any approved topics that interest you. If you're acting as a manager of your company or you worked as a sole proprietor during any part of the "CE year," four of the year's hours must be managing broker specific.
All continuing education hours must be completed with an approved provider like us.
What Kind of Jobs Can I Get with an Indiana Real Estate License?
A real estate license can lead to a number of different career options in Indiana, including:
- Residential real estate broker
- Commercial real estate broker
- Managing broker
- Property manager
No matter what job you choose, you can select from a large variety of specialties and niches. You'll earn more in some niches than others – unsurprisingly, the most profitable areas often call for additional certifications or licenses.
For a broad idea of the salary you can expect as a real estate broker in Indiana, let's look at the average wage data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics:
| Job Title | Average Hourly Wage | Average Yearly Wage |
|---|---|---|
| Brokers | $20.43 | $42,490 |
| Managing Brokers | $38.91 | $80,940 |
| Property Managers | $23.50 | $48,890 |
As a real estate broker, your income is typically based on commission, so it differs a lot from person to person. There are part-time professionals with low earnings, as well as hustlers making big bucks. For example, the top 90th percentile of brokers in Indiana make $87,740.
Check out our Resources page to learn more about your career options, niches, specialties, and how commissions work.
