How to Become a Real Estate Agent

For those who love to work independently and be their own boss, becoming a real estate agent is a very appealing career choice. What’s more, since real estate agents earn commission instead of a salary, you’ll have unlimited earning potential in this career, so you could end up earning so much more compared to your current job. 

But is it difficult to become a real estate agent? In fact, since you don’t need a college degree to join this career path, becoming a real estate agent is technically possible for anyone. Keep reading to find out exactly how you can become a real estate agent.

Check state requirements

In the US, there isn’t a national real estate license, so in order for you to operate as a real estate agent in your state, you need to check your state’s licensing requirements. The education requirements, course requirements, and fees will vary from state to state, so you need to ensure that you comply with your state’s rules and take the appropriate courses and exams. If you want to become a real estate broker after you become a licensed real estate agent, then you’ll also have to check your state’s requirements for this.

Take a course

Once you understand your state’s requirements, you can enroll in the appropriate real estate course. The course content, fees, and total hours you must study for will depend on your state, so you must ensure you’re on the right course to obtain your license. By choosing the wrong course, you could end up spending hundreds of dollars without being any closer to passing your exam and getting your license, so be careful.

Pass the exam

After you’ve completed your course, you’ll have to pay a fee (usually $100-$300) to take your exam. This exam will have two parts covering national real estate practices and state-specific ones, and you’ll have to pass both parts to pass the overall exam. However, don’t panic too much if you fail the first time, as you’ll be able to retake the exam at a later date. Check your state’s rules on how many times you can retake the exam and how long you have to wait between each test.

Apply for a license

The next step after passing your exam is applying for a license. You need to have your license before you can work as a real estate agent, so actually applying for this license is extremely important. To apply for your license, you need to gather the appropriate documents and send them to your state’s real estate regulatory organization – you’ll also have to pay a fee. After this, you’ll be able to legally work as a real estate agent.

Join a brokerage firm

The final step is joining a real estate brokerage. A brokerage firm supervises real estate agents to ensure that all legal requirements and standards are upheld. Working with a reputable brokerage is also a great way to boost your reputation and start earning money. After you complete this step, you’ll finally be working in your dream career!