How To Become A Real Estate Agent In Michigan
Being a real estate agent in Michigan requires ongoing professional education. You need pre-license courses to qualify for licensure and continuing education to earn each renewal.
We'll review the licensing process for you below: the coursework, exams, deadlines, and more. We'll also explain how license renewal works in the state of Michigan and where you can get your CE online.
What Are Michigan's Real Estate Pre-Licensing Education Requirements?
LARA requires 40 hours of pre-licensing coursework from an approved provider. Pre-license education focuses on real estate fundamentals, and Michigan requires at least 4 hours of civil rights law and equal opportunity in housing.
Unfortunately, AgentCampus by 360training doesn't provide pre-license training in Michigan at this moment, just continuing education. Check LARA's website for a school authorized for pre-license courses.
Who is Eligible to Become a Real Estate Agent in Michigan?
To be eligible for a real estate license in Michigan, you need to:
- Be at least 18
- Be a US citizen or permanent resident
- Show proof of high school graduation or the equivalent
What Else Do I Need to Do to Earn My Michigan Real Estate License?
In addition to the pre-license training, you need to:
- File your real estate license application
- Pass the Michigan real estate license exam
- Find a sponsoring broker
Once you successfully complete all steps, your license will be issued.
What is the Deadline for my Michigan Real Estate License Application?
You need to file your real estate license application within 36 months (3 years) of finishing your pre-license course. You don't need a sponsoring broker at initial filing, necessarily. You'll be able to send an Employing Broker notification later.
You need to pass your license exam and complete your application with a sponsoring broker within one year of the date you pay the license application fee.
What is the Michigan Real Estate Licensing Exam Like?
After you've filed your license application, you'll get an email with an exam candidate ID that you'll need to register for the exam. You should take your license exam well before the one-year deadline in case you don't pass it the first time.
The exam is administered by PSI, a third-party testing company with several locations in the state. The test has separate national and state-specific portions. There are 115 questions total, and you'll have 3 hours (180 minutes) to complete the entire thing.
You'll know how you did before you leave the testing center. Once you pass both portions and have a sponsoring broker, your license will be issued.
How Often Does a Michigan Real Estate License Have to Be Renewed?
Michigan real estate licenses must be renewed every 3 years.
As of 2018, all licenses expire on and must be renewed by October 31st. That means each "year" of the license cycle now starts on November 1st, rather than going by the calendar year.
What Are Michigan's Continuing Education Requirements for Real Estate?
Michigan requires you to complete 18 total hours of Continuing Education per renewal with an approved provider like us.
Some of these hours have restrictions. Each "license year," which runs from November 1st to October 31st of the following year, you need to complete a 2-hour course on statutes, rules, and/or court cases. That accounts for 6 hours of your total required CE.
The other 12 hours are electives. They can be completed at any point during the three-year renewal cycle. Our CE packages are designed to help you space those hours out as well. We recommend you take six hours a year to keep from having to cram them all in – that's your required statutes course plus four hours of elective.
What Kind of Jobs Can I Get with a Michigan Real Estate License?
Getting a real estate license in Michigan can lead to a number of career paths, including:
- Residential real estate agent
- Commercial real estate agent
- Real estate broker
- Property manager
The specialty and niche you choose to occupy will also shape your career. Some practice areas are more lucrative than others, and often, these involve additional certifications or licenses.
For an idea of your potential salary in Michigan, we can look at average wage data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics:
| Job Title | Average Hourly Wage | Average Yearly Wage |
|---|---|---|
| Sales Agents | $25.70 | $53,460 |
| Brokers | $38.33 | $79,730 |
| Property Managers | $27.20 | $56,580 |
With commission-based professions like real estate, your individual income will depend on how well you sell. Some agents don't make much. But the top earners in Michigan – the 90th percentile of sales agents – make $95,700.
You can learn more about career options, potential specialties or niches, and how commissions work by checking out our Resources page.
