Do I Need a College Degree to Get a Real Estate License in Illinois?

Being a real estate broker in Illinois requires special skills and knowledge that you won’t necessarily get in college. That’s why a college degree isn’t a requirement for getting licensed in the state. However, if you do have a college degree it might help you meet the education requirement that must be met before you can take the Illinois real estate broker exam.

Keep reading for clarification on what type of education you have to have to become an Illinois real estate broker.

Minimal Education Requirements for an Illinois Real Estate Broker License

The fact that you only have to be 18 years old to qualify for an Illinois real estate license tells you that a college degree isn’t needed. However, there are two things you absolutely need to get licensed in Illinois:

• High school diploma or GED
• Complete the state-approved 75-hour Illinois broker pre-license course

If you’ve graduated high school, you can take the Illinois pre-license education course online or in-person. Just make sure that whatever course you take has been approved by the Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation (IDFPR), or it won’t count!

As the name suggests, the pre-license course includes 75 hours of instruction. It’s divided into 60 hours on general real estate topics and 15 hours on applied real estate principles. The 15 hours on applied real estate principles present information through situational and case studies.

What to Know If You Already Have a College Degree and Want a Real Estate License in Illinois

Did you already go to college, get a degree and then decide real estate is the career you really want? Many people graduate from college and discover that their passions and interests lie outside of their major.

You may be able to fast-track the application process if you’re a college graduate, but only if you have a certain type of degree. Anyone who graduated from law school and is licensed to practice law in Illinois is eligible to take the real estate broker exam without taking the pre-license course.

What to Know If You Already Have a Real Estate License in Another State

If you are planning to relocate to Illinois or want to work in the state as a real estate broker and you’re already licensed elsewhere, the education requirement differs. You still don’t need a college degree to apply for an Illinois real estate broker license, but you may also be exempt from the pre-license course and national part of the exam.

There is something called real estate license reciprocity that states can choose to allow. Essentially, with reciprocity someone who is already a licensed real estate agent in one state can apply for a license in another state without having to meet all of the standard requirements.

You can go ahead and schedule a time to take the Illinois portion of the real estate broker exam if you are actively licensed in:

• Colorado

• Connecticut

• Florida

• Georgia

• Indiana

• Iowa

• Kentucky

• Nebraska

• Wisconsin

You’ll still have to pass the Broker Reciprocity exam and find a licensed managing broker in Illinois to sponsor you before you can get licensed in the state.

Have more questions about becoming a licensed real estate broker in Illinois? Then check out the Illinois Career Center for more information.