How Long Does It Take To Become a Real Estate Agent?
If you’re eager to start your real estate career as quickly as possible, you might be wondering, “How long will it take me to get licensed?”.
The answer depends on your state, your other responsibilities, and more. Below, we’ll outline the process of becoming a real estate agent, what factors affect the time it will take, and examples from a few key states.
The Steps for Earning an Active Real Estate License
There are a few common steps to becoming a real estate agent. Every state has its own real estate licensing requirements, and the steps of the process vary in order.
Real Estate Education
All states have real estate education requirements you need to complete to earn an active license. These courses prepare you for both your real estate career and the questions on the real estate licensing exam.
Most states allow you to take your pre-license courses online, which gives you the option to choose the educational style most beneficial to you. A few states only allow traditional classroom education because their real estate board doesn’t allow online learning.
Either way, make sure you take your courses with a reputable training provider that is authorized by the real estate board in your state.
Licensing Exam
Each state has a licensing exam that tests your knowledge of general real estate principles and your state’s rules and regulations. These tests typically occur at a third-party testing center on a computer, and you get an immediate score report.
Background Check
All states require a fingerprint-based background check before you can become a real state agent.
License Application
Each state requires you to submit an application to the real estate board at some point in the process. It can be the first step, or it might be the last step. Pay attention to your state’s process.
When you turn in your application, you’ll also need to submit a fee.
Sponsoring Broker
Every new real estate licensee has to be supervised by an experienced professional, which means that you can’t activate your real estate license until you find, choose, and commit to a sponsoring broker.
Some states require you to complete this step before you apply, while others allow you to earn an inactive license first, which gives you a little more flexibility.
Errors & Omissions Insurance
Most states require you to submit proof of errors & omissions (E&O) insurance before you can be issued an active license.
What Factors Affect How Long It Takes to Become a Real Estate Agent?
The best anyone can do is give a very rough estimate to this question because the answer will depend on many state-level and individual factors.
Your Available Time and Focus
One of the biggest x-factors in how long it will take to earn your real estate license is how much of your time and focus you can apply.
Obviously, the real estate licensing process will go fastest for someone who can devote the maximum amount of time and attention to becoming an agent to the exclusion of all else. However, few of us have this luxury.
If you have competing priorities – whether that’s work, kids, or some other responsibility – your results will vary based not only on how many hours per week you can devote to studying but also on how flexible your availability is for fingerprinting and exam appointments.
Your Test-taking Ability
Real estate licensing exams are proctored, standardized multiple-choice tests, and not everyone thrives in that scenario. Some candidates can study for a week and pass on the first try, while others will need multiple attempts and/or weeks of preparation and practice tests.
Your State’s Real Estate Education Requirements
The amount of time your required pre-license courses take will depend on your state’s rules.
First, there’s how long these courses are. Some states require as little as 40 hours of pre-license education, while others require as much as 180.
In addition to the number of pure course hours, some states put restrictions on how quickly you can work your way through these classes. That will slow down even the most gung-ho student.
Whether You Do Online vs Traditional Education
If you have the choice and compatible learning style, online education is typically much faster than traditional education. You forgo time sucks like commuting, student questions, breaks, and one-size-fits-all pacing. You’re able to study at your own pace, when and where it’s convenient to you, and work around your personal schedule.
Your State’s Process and Processing Times
Some states are more efficient at processing real estate license applications than others.
Some states have longer wait times for the same volume of applications, and some have fewer applications to process in the first place. Time of year also matters since some times of year are busier than others.
Additionally, some states have a more efficient order of operations. If your state lets you submit your application before you start the coursework, your bureaucratic wait will be concurrent with your education. That saves time. In other states, you submit your application after you’ve completed your coursework and passed your exam, which leaves you to twiddle your thumbs while your application is processed.
Your Background Check
Several things can affect how long it takes for your background check to come through. Applying from in-state is often a faster digital process these days, but out-of-state applications and states that don’t offer digital fingerprinting may require a longer process.
Any blemishes on your professional or legal record can also delay (or prevent) your application’s approval.
Your Ability to Get a Sponsoring Broker
The time for this step will vary by individual. If you already have contacts in the industry, this may be a non-issue. If you’re starting from scratch, it can be more of a challenge. Different brokerages offer different pay structures and perks, so it’s also not a decision you want to make hastily.
How Long Does It Take to Become a Real Estate Agent in Certain States?
Texas
Texas requires 180 hours of pre-license education, which means that it’ll take a little over a month if you’re treating it as a full-time job. Even if you’re a study-holic, the Texas Real Estate Commission (TREC) has rules that prevent you from studying more than 12 hours a day, which means you can’t complete your coursework in less than 15 days.
TREC allows you to submit your license application either before or after you take your licensing exam. The most efficient option is to submit your application as soon as you’re done with the pre-license courses. This way you can study for your exam – and even pass it – while TREC processes your application. That said, TREC’s processing times are quite fast – just 3 to 5 days – so the order won’t make an enormous difference.
If you take a comfortable 6 weeks for full-time pre-license coursework, two weeks of exam prep, and two weeks for filling out, submitting, and hearing back on your application, this means it’s possible to get your Texas real estate license in roughly three months.
However, given the heavy course load required by TREC, most people will take longer. Six months is probably a more reasonable goal.
California
California requires 135 hours of pre-license coursework in three courses, and the California Department of Real Estate (DRE) requires you to spend at least 2.5 weeks per course. This means your coursework will take a minimum of 7.5 weeks.
Next, you’ll submit your Exam Application to the DRE. Processing times vary, but the DRE takes 6-8 weeks on average, and you can typically take your test within a week of an approved application.
This means the minimum time for licensing in California is 15 weeks, or just shy of four months.
Florida
Florida allows you to submit your Exam Application before you even begin your coursework, and the Florida Department of Business and Professional Regulation (DBPR) is required to approve or deny your application within 90 days of submission. Often, they’ll get back to you in 4 to 6 weeks.
Since Florida only requires 63 hours of pre-license coursework, you can easily complete your coursework as a full-time student while your application is processed.
Assuming you pass your real estate exam on the first try shortly after your application is returned, it’s not unreasonable to say you can earn your Florida real estate license within 12 weeks or just three months.
Other States
In most states, you can earn your real estate license within three to six months if you’re able to dedicate yourself to the process full-time. Some choices, like taking your pre-license courses online and submitting your application as early in the process as possible, can shorten the time.
In a few states, like Massachusetts, it’s theoretically possible to get your license in 6 or 7 weeks as long as everything breaks your way.
Many applicants do take longer. In most cases, you can expect to earn your license within a year.
Start Your Real Estate Journey Today
Navigating the timeline to become a real estate agent requires a strategic approach and a commitment to meeting the educational and licensing requirements. As you embark on this exciting journey, consider the flexibility and convenience offered by Agent Campus® by 360training’s online pre-license courses. Our comprehensive courses allow you to tailor your study schedule to fit your lifestyle. Invest in your education and enroll today to get started!
