How to Get a Real Estate License in Illinois: 2026 Guide

Illinois does real estate licensing a little differently than most states. What other states call a “salesperson” or “agent” license, Illinois calls a Broker license. Don’t let the name confuse you – it’s the entry-level license. What other states call a “broker,” Illinois calls a Managing Broker. With that cleared up, here’s how to get licensed.

What You Need Before You Start

You need to be at least 18 years old, have a high school diploma or GED, and hold a Social Security number or ITIN. No Illinois residency is required.

IDFPR (Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation) runs a background check through electronic fingerprinting. A criminal history doesn’t automatically disqualify you, but it will be reviewed before a license is issued.

Step 1: Complete 75 Hours of Pre-Licensing Education

Illinois requires 75 hours split into two parts:

• Real Estate Broker Topics (60 hours) – License law, agency, contracts, property ownership, valuation, fair housing, financing, environmental issues, closing procedures, and property management. This can be done online self-paced, classroom, or live webinar.
• Applied Real Estate Principles (15 hours) – The hands-on portion. This must be completed live – either in-person classroom or live interactive webinar. Online self-paced is not allowed for this section.

Budget $300-$700 depending on the school. Popular IDFPR-approved providers include Colibri Real Estate, Kaplan, AceableAgent, and the Illinois REALTORS education programs.

Step 2: Apply and Get Fingerprinted

Submit your application through the IDFPR online portal. The Broker license application fee is $150 (increased January 2024).

You’ll need electronic fingerprinting from an IDFPR-licensed vendor. Cost is typically $50-$75. Fingerprints must be taken within 60 days of submitting your application.

Results go to the Illinois State Police and are forwarded to IDFPR. Processing takes a few weeks.

Step 3: Pass the Illinois Real Estate Exam

The exam is administered by PSI Exams at testing centers across Illinois (Chicago, Schaumburg, Springfield, Rockford, Champaign, and more) or via remote online proctoring from home.

You must pass both sections. If you fail one, you only retake that section. The state portion has a higher passing threshold (75% vs. 70%) and tends to trip up students who under-prepare on Illinois-specific law.

How to Prepare

The first-time pass rate in Illinois is around 67-75% depending on the source, which is better than states like Florida or Texas. Still, roughly a third of first-time takers fail at least one section.

• Master the state portion. Illinois license law, IDFPR regulations, and the Real Estate License Act are heavily tested. This is where most failures happen.
• Understand the terminology. Remember – Illinois uses “Broker” where other states say “agent” and “Managing Broker” where others say “broker.” The exam will use Illinois terminology.
• Take practice exams. Free resources: Real Estate License Wizard, AceableAgent, OpenExamPrep (500+ free questions with AI tutor)
• Use flashcards for state-specific terms. Quizlet has Illinois state-focused flashcards.

If You Don’t Pass

You get 4 total attempts within 2 years of completing your education. Each retake costs $58, with a 24-hour wait between attempts. You only retake the section you failed. If you fail all 4 attempts, you must redo the entire 75-hour pre-licensing coursework before trying again.

Step 4: Find a Sponsoring Managing Broker

You cannot practice without a sponsoring Managing Broker. In Illinois, this is the equivalent of what other states call a “sponsoring broker.”

What to Look for in a Brokerage

• Post-license education support. Illinois requires 45 hours of post-license education before your first renewal. A good brokerage helps you get through this efficiently.
• Training and mentorship. Your Managing Broker is required to oversee your earnest money handling, contract negotiations, and advertising until you complete post-license education. Choose someone who takes this role seriously.
• Commission structure. Understand the full cost: split, cap, desk fees, transaction fees, monthly fees. Compare total annual costs across brokerages.
• Technology and tools. CRM, marketing, lead generation, transaction management. Ask what’s included versus what’s extra.

Want to see how different brokerage models compare? Check out our team value breakdown or browse our eXp Realty guides to see one example of a cloud-based model.

Step 5: Complete Post-License Education

Before your first renewal (April 30 of the next even-numbered year), you must complete 45 hours of post-license education in three 15-hour courses:

1. Applied Brokerage Principles
2. Risk Management and Discipline (includes Sexual Harassment Prevention)
3. Transactional Issues

After your first renewal, continuing education drops to 12 hours every two years (6-hour Core course including Fair Housing + 6 hours of electives including Sexual Harassment Prevention). Renewal fee is $200.

Total Costs Breakdown

Illinois falls in the mid-range for total cost. The application fee increased in January 2024 from the previous amount to $150. Your license renews every two years for $200.

How Long Does It Take?

• Pre-licensing education (75 hrs): 3-6 weeks
• Fingerprinting + background check: 3-6 weeks
• Exam prep + testing: 1-3 weeks
• Application processing: 1-4 business days

Most people complete the process in 2-4 months. If you go full-time and have a Managing Broker lined up, you could be working in as little as 4-6 weeks thanks to the 45-day working provision.