How to Get Your Virginia Real Estate License in 2026: Your Licensing Guide

1. What are the steps to become a real estate agent in Arizona?

Arizona's process has a few more moving parts than most states, mainly because of the separate contract writing course and the Fingerprint Clearance Card. Every requirement below comes from the Arizona Department of Real EstateDivisions Licensing How Obtain License Azre.govDivisions Licensing How Obtain License Azre.gov, and the order matters less than you might think. Several steps can run at the same time.

1. Confirm you're at least 18 and can show proof of legal presence in the U.S.
2. Apply for your Fingerprint Clearance Card through the Arizona Department of Public Safety (DPS). Start this first, since processing time is the hardest part to predict.
3. Complete 90 hours of ADRE-approved salesperson pre-licensing education, such as AceableAgent's online Arizona pre-licensing courseArizona Real Estate LicenseArizona Real Estate LicenseArizona Real Estate LicenseArizona Real Estate LicenseArizona Real Estate License.
4. Pass your school's final exam with an in-person proctor.
5. Complete the separate 6-hour Contract Writing Course.
6. Pass both parts of the Arizona salesperson exam (General and State) through Pearson VUE.
7. Submit your license application and documents to ADRE within one year of passing.
8. Affiliate with a designated broker so your license can be activated.

Steps 3 through 6 are where you'll spend most of your time. Step 8 is where you make your first big career decision, and we cover it in detail in question 19.

2. Who can get an Arizona real estate license?

ADRE keeps the bar to entry reasonable on purpose. To apply for a salesperson license, you need to be at least 18 years old, provide proof of authorized legal presence in the United States, hold a valid Fingerprint Clearance Card, complete the required education, and pass the state exam. You'll also complete a Disciplinary Action Disclosure Form, which asks about criminal history, past license discipline, and civil judgments.

You don't need prior real estate experience, and you don't need to be an Arizona resident to apply. If you have a past conviction, question 8 walks through what ADRE looks at. If you're already licensed in another state, jump to question 11.

3. Do you need a college degree to get a real estate license in Arizona?

No. Arizona doesn't require a college degree, an associate's degree, or any particular major to become a real estate salesperson. The only education ADRE requires is real estate specific: the 90-hour pre-licensing course and the 6-hour Contract Writing Course.

That's true in nearly every state, which is why the question "what degree is needed for real estate?" usually has the same answer: none. A degree in business, finance, or marketing can help once you're running your own book of business, but plenty of successful Arizona agents came from teaching, the military, hospitality, or retail. What matters more is finishing your coursework, passing the exam, and building relationships once you're licensed. When you're ready to start, our Arizona real estate license classesArizona Real Estate LicenseArizona Real Estate LicenseArizona Real Estate LicenseArizona Real Estate LicenseArizona Real Estate License cover both required courses in one enrollment.

4. How long does it take to get an Arizona real estate license?

Most people go from enrollment to an active license in 8 to 12 weeks. Your own timeline depends on how many hours a week you can study and how quickly DPS processes your fingerprint card, which can range from a couple of days to more than two months.

On a fast track of about 6 to 8 weeks, you're studying close to full time, your fingerprint card comes back quickly with a clean record, you pass both exams on your first attempt, and you already know which brokerage you want to join. It's doable, but it requires everything to go right.

The standard pace of roughly 3 months is where most students land. You're studying part time around a job or family, finishing the 90 hours in five or six weeks, and your fingerprint card takes the typical four to six weeks. If you're not sure which group you're in, plan around this one.

An extended timeline of 4 to 6 months is common if you're fitting coursework into a packed schedule, need to retake an exam, or your background check requires extra review. None of that means you're behind. It just means life is happening alongside your coursework, which is normal.

The biggest thing you control is the order you do things in. Apply for your fingerprint card on day one, study consistently with a self-paced online Arizona real estate courseArizona Real Estate LicenseArizona Real Estate LicenseArizona Real Estate LicenseArizona Real Estate LicenseArizona Real Estate License that fits around your schedule, and start talking to brokerages while you're still in your course so you're not waiting on anything once you pass.

5. What courses are required for an Arizona real estate license?

Arizona requires two separate courses, both from an ADRE-approved school.

The 90-hour salesperson pre-licensing course is the core of your education. It covers Arizona real estate license law, the ways Arizona law differs from common law, ADRE regulations, federal real estate law, and the general principles and practices of real estate: contracts, agency, property ownership, financing, and valuation. You can take it online or in a classroom, but either way, Arizona requires your school's final exam to be taken with an in-person proctor. Plan for that step even if the rest of your course is self-paced. Your course certificate stays valid for 10 years from completion.

The 6-hour Contract Writing Course is Arizona's own requirement, and it's one of the details people miss most often. It's split into three hours of contract law and three hours of real estate legal issues, and it focuses on completing Arizona purchase agreements, listing agreements, and leases correctly. Your certificate needs to be dated within two years of when you submit your license application. AceableAgent includes the Contract Writing Course with every Arizona real estate pre-licensing packageArizona Real Estate LicenseArizona Real Estate LicenseArizona Real Estate LicenseArizona Real Estate LicenseArizona Real Estate License, so both certificates come from one school. You can read more about what's covered in the 6-hour contract writing courseArizona Real Estate 6 Hour Contract Writing Course Blog if you want the full rundown.

6. Is AceableAgent's Arizona course approved by ADRE?

Yes. AceableAgent's 90-hour Arizona salesperson pre-licensing courseArizona Real Estate LicenseArizona Real Estate LicenseArizona Real Estate LicenseArizona Real Estate LicenseArizona Real Estate License and the 6-hour Contract Writing Course are both approved by the Arizona Department of Real Estate, and they come bundled together so you aren't tracking down a second school. You can confirm any provider's approval using ADRE's school searchPdbWeb School SearchSchools Services.azre.gov.

The coursework is 100% online and self-paced, with short lessons you can work through on your phone or laptop and audio narration for studying on the go. Ace Mode™ marks every topic as strong, fair, or weak as you move through the course, so you spend your study time where it counts. Deluxe and Premium packages add PrepAgent exam prep with state and national practice questions built around the Pearson VUE format.

Our online real estate license course is so effective that we guarantee if you don't pass the licensing exam after three attempts, we will refund your money. Additional terms and conditions do apply.

7. What is the Arizona Fingerprint Clearance Card, and how do you get one?

The Fingerprint Clearance Card is how Arizona runs your criminal background check. It's issued by the Arizona Department of Public SafetyPublic Fingerprint Services, not ADRE, and you can't submit your license application without one. Teachers, child care workers, and other professionals who work with the public need the same card, so you may already have one.

You'll apply through DPS, get your fingerprints captured by an approved vendor, and pay the $67 DPS fee plus whatever the fingerprinting vendor charges. Processing can take anywhere from a few days for clean records to several weeks if your history needs additional review, and DPS doesn't offer expedited processing. That's why we keep saying to start it first.

Your card also has to stay valid after you're licensed. ADRE requires every licensee to keep a valid Fingerprint Clearance Card on file, and it's checked as part of license renewal.

8. Can you get an Arizona real estate license with a felony or misdemeanor?

Yes, in some cases. A criminal record doesn't automatically disqualify you in Arizona, but it does add steps, and certain offenses get a much closer look. ADRE reviews applications individually, paying particular attention to judgments and convictions involving fraud, forgery, theft, embezzlement, extortion, dishonesty, and other crimes of moral turpitude. There's one firm rule: under A.R.S. § 32-2124(M), ADRE can't issue a license to someone convicted of a felony who is still incarcerated, on parole, under community supervision, or on probation for that conviction. Once your sentence is complete, you can apply. ADRE explains its standards on its reasons for license denial pageNode 652 Azre.gov.

Your record comes up at two points. The first is the Fingerprint Clearance Card. If DPS denies or suspends your card, you can apply to the Arizona Board of Fingerprinting for a good cause exceptionForms Helpful Resources Faq Fingerprint.az.gov. You'll need to show evidence of rehabilitation, such as character references, completed counseling or treatment programs, or steady employment since the offense. That review can take anywhere from about 20 days to several months if a formal hearing is required.

The second is the Disciplinary Action Disclosure Form you submit with your license application. It asks about felony and misdemeanor convictions, plea agreements, diversion programs, professional license discipline, and certain civil judgments. A few details catch people off guard. You have to disclose convictions even if they were later set aside, sealed, expunged, or pardoned. DUI and reckless driving convictions must be disclosed, while minor traffic citations don't count as misdemeanors and don't need to be listed. If you answer yes to anything, you'll also submit certified court documents and other items from ADRE's Disclosure Document ChecklistSites Default Files 2025 07 Disclosure%20Document%20Checklist.pdf Azre.gov.

Be completely honest on that form. Filing a false application is its own reason for denial, and it's often treated more seriously than the original offense. If your application is denied because of a prior criminal offense, Arizona law gives you the right to ask the Office of Administrative Hearings to review that decision. If you're unsure where you stand, it's worth applying for your fingerprint card before you invest in coursework, so you know whether you'll need a good cause exception.

9. What is the ADRE, and what does it do?

ADRE stands for the Arizona Department of Real Estate, the state agency that licenses and regulates real estate professionals in Arizona. You'll also see it called the Arizona DRE or AZ DRE. If you're getting licensed here, nearly every step of your career runs through it.

ADRE approves real estate schools and courses, sets licensing requirements, processes original license applications and renewals, and investigates complaints against licensees. It also oversees subdivision and development filings, runs the Real Estate Recovery Fund that compensates consumers harmed by licensee misconduct, and handles certain homeowners association disputes. The agency's office is at 100 N 15th Ave, Suite 201, in Phoenix, and you can reach it at (602) 771-7700 or through the ADRE websiteAzre.gov.

One of ADRE's most useful public tools is its license search. Anyone can look up an Arizona licensee to confirm their license is active, check its expiration date, and see whether any disciplinary actions are on record. Once you're licensed, you'll manage your own license, renewals, and broker affiliation through ADRE's online licensee portal.

It helps to know which agency handles what. ADRE handles your license, while DPS issues your Fingerprint Clearance Card and Pearson VUE runs the exam. When something goes wrong, knowing who to contact saves you a lot of time on hold.

10. How do you apply for your Arizona license after passing the exam?

Passing the exam gets you close, but you still need to apply. You have one year from your passing date to submit your application to ADRE, and most new agents apply within days. You'll submit:

• Both exam score reports from Pearson VUE (General and State)
• The Salesperson Application Form
• The Disciplinary Action Disclosure Form, plus any supporting documents if you answered yes to a question
• Your 90-hour pre-licensing course certificate, completed within the last 10 years
• Your 6-hour Contract Writing Course certificate, completed within the last 2 years
• A valid Fingerprint Clearance Card
• Proof of authorized legal presence in the U.S.
• The $60 original license fee, or a fee waiver request if you qualify

You can find the current forms and full checklist on ADRE's salesperson license pageAbout Services Salesperson License Azre.gov. Clean, complete applications typically process within a couple of weeks, but missing documents are the most common reason for delays, so double-check everything before you submit. Your license becomes active once you're affiliated with a designated broker.

11. Can you transfer an out-of-state real estate license to Arizona?

Arizona doesn't offer traditional reciprocity, but it does have a streamlined path called Out-of-State License Recognition. To qualify, you need to be currently licensed in another state and have held that license for at least one year, have completed approved real estate education there, and have passed a real estate license exam there. You also can't have had a license revoked or surrendered, any discipline imposed by another licensing agency, or any pending complaints or investigations.

If you qualify, you'll skip the full 90-hour course and the General exam, but you'll still take the Arizona State exam, complete required Arizona education such as contract writing, and get a Fingerprint Clearance Card. Spouses of active-duty service members relocating to Arizona on official orders may also be able to have the exam waived. Full requirements are on ADRE's How to Obtain a License pageDivisions Licensing How Obtain License Azre.govDivisions Licensing How Obtain License Azre.gov.