How Long Does It Take to Get a Real Estate License in Illinois?

One of the reasons getting a real estate license is such an accomplishment is because it takes time. Exactly how long it takes varies from person to person, but it’s safe to say you’re going to have to invest at least a few months to get through the process.

Many people who are trying to get a real estate license in Illinois will take 3-4 months to reach their goal. Each step in the process has an established timeframe that gives you a good idea of the minimum and maximum amount of time it would take to become a licensed Illinois real estate broker. It all starts with a well rounded education.

Completing the Illinois Pre-License Course: 1-2 Weeks Up to 6 Months

Timelines throughout the process of getting an Illinois real estate license are pretty fluid and can vary. The one guarantee is that it will take you at least 75 hours to complete the Illinois real estate broker pre-license course. That’s the minimum amount of coursework, although more time will be spent getting through the course.

Your pace for completing the pre-license course depends on whether you take it online or in-class. Online courses allow you to go at a quicker pace or you can go slower. It’s totally up to you.

Technically you could make the course your sole focus and complete it in about a week, but 4-6 weeks is more realistic. Most online course providers give you six months to complete the course from the time of enrolling.

Passing the Illinois and National Exams: 1-2 Weeks Up to 2 Years

You could start the process of scheduling a time to take the exam immediately, or you could wait a couple of years. Illinois only requires that you pass the state and national real estate exams within two years of finishing the pre-license course.

You must reserve a time and location for taking the exam at least three days in advance. However, spots are reserved on a first come first served basis so you may not be able to get in to take the exam immediately. It’s also a good idea to give yourself time to study and prepare for the exam.

The quickest way to schedule the exam is to contact PSI by phone or do it online at https://test-takers.psiexams.com/ilrep. You’ll need to provide PSI with documentation that shows you completed the pre-license education. With Aceable Agent the process is as fast as possible because we send your course completion documentation straight to PSI.

Another factor that affects the timeline for passing the exams is how many times you have to take it. You could pass both exams on your first try, especially if you use Aceable Agent study resources to ace your exam. You may only pass one exam or neither of them. Every time you have to retake the exam (you’ll get up to 4 attempts) you have to wait at least 3 days to take it again, extending the time it takes to pass and become eligible for a license.

Finding a Managing Broker: 1 Day to 1 Year

Within one year of passing the exams you’ll need to find an Illinois managing broker to sponsor your license so you can apply and become an Illinois real estate broker.

Many people have already laid the groundwork for getting a managing broker and are ready to apply the moment they pass the exam. Others have put in some research and will quickly identify a managing broker to work under. Still some people take a little more time to find the right managing broker.

This part of the process is entirely up to you, but the Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation (IDFPR) requires that you have a managing broker within a year of passing the exams or you’re no longer eligible to apply for a license.

Applying for an Illinois Real Estate License: 1+ Days

Once you’ve found a managing broker, the process for getting a license goes pretty quick. You can apply online and give your managing broker the heads up to go in and confirm their sponsorship.

From there the IDFPR will verify all of the information. It usually only takes a few business days for them to get everything squared away and issue a new Illinois real estate license.

There you have it! The breakdown covers why it can take anywhere from about 1 month to 3.5 years to become a licensed real estate broker in Illinois. Find out more about being a broker in the Illinois Career Center.