First of all, what is GREC, anyway?
GREC stands for Georgia Real Estate Commission, which is important to know if you are planning to have a real estate career in Georgia. The GREC is actually who decides whether you get your real estate license or not.
According to the Georgia state government website, GREC “ensures that real estate licensees and appraisers are professionally qualified and promotes a fair and honest market environment for those involved in real estate transactions throughout the state.” They administer the real estate license law relevant to brokers, salespersons, and community association managers in Georgia.
GREC is also responsible for:
Maintaining licensee records and compiling reports
Regulating the initial licensing and license renewal process for real estate professionals
Investigating license violations and imposing sanctions
Obtaining your Georgia Real Estate License through GREC
The process for getting your Georgia real estate license actually starts when you register to take your exam. GREC contracts a company called Applied Measurement Professionals (AMP) to administer real estate licensing exams. When you go to the AMP website to apply (it will say PSI candidate services), you will choose the appropriate information for the exam you wish to take. This will take you to a page where you can view and download the Candidate Handbook, which has all the information you need to know.
AMP acts like the hub to collect all the information you need to obtain your Georgia real estate license. For instance, you have to complete an application through the Real Estate Application - License (REAL) software at your approved prelicensure course school. Once you complete the course, your certificate of completion is electronically submitted to AMP. Once AMP has proof you completed your course, you can schedule your exam.
The application for Community Association Manager, Salesperson, Associate Broker, and Broker licensure is included in the application for examination. You are actually eligible to receive your license on the same day you pass the examination. To get your license, you need to bring all the necessary fees and documentation for the AMP to have on file. The full list of items that must be presented to the AMP to receive a license is listed in the Georgia Real Estate Exam Program Candidate Handbook, but in short, you need:
Valid photo ID
Sponsoring Broker Statement Form (Signed)
Licensee fee
GCIC criminal history report
Your Salesperson's or Community Association Manager's wall certificate and pocket card
Then, according to the Handbook, you will “receive the appropriate certifications, which may include an 8½” x 4” wall certificate, two pocket cards and an 8½” x 11” wall certificate suitable for framing. You must provide one of the wall certificates and one of the pocket cards to the brokerage firm with which you will affiliate your license and which signed your Sponsoring Broker Statement.”
What if I already have my license but want to lookup my Georgia real estate license online?
If you have already passed your exam and you have your physical copy of your license, then you can look up your license through the online login system with the GREC. You should have an account with a username and password, but if you don’t you can register and receive all your information.
You can also lookup any Georgia real estate agent license online if you have access to their full name and license number.
In short, if you are worried about getting your real estate license for the first time, that will be given to you when you complete your exam if you have all the necessary documents. If you already have your license but would like to print another copy or look it up on the GREC website, you will need to login to your account on the website and then you can access services there.
*Updated 11/10/2021