How to Become a Real Estate Agent

CoverHome Blog — For Agents & Brokers

Becoming a licensed real estate agent is a well-defined process, even though the specifics — course hours, exam format, and how long you have to affiliate with a broker after passing — vary by state. Here's the shape of it; check your state real estate commission for the exact requirements where you live.

1. Meet Your State's Licensing Requirements

Every state requires a set number of hours of pre-licensing coursework before you're eligible to sit for the licensing exam. This is regulated at the state level, so the exact hours, cost, and course providers differ — check with your state's real estate commission first.

2. Pass the Licensing Exam

Once your coursework is complete, you sit for a state licensing exam. Passing gives you a license — but a real estate license by itself doesn't let you practice. You typically have a limited window afterward to find a sponsoring broker before that eligibility expires.

3. "Hang" Your License With a Broker

In the industry, this is called hanging your license: formally affiliating with a licensed broker who sponsors your activity. Until you've done this, you can't legally conduct showings, speak to a property's value, host an open house, or otherwise act as an agent — even though you're licensed.

4. Understand the Broker-Agent Agreement

Hanging your license means signing a broker-agent agreement, which sets the terms of your relationship: commission split, exclusivity (in most states, you represent one broker at a time), and expectations on both sides. Read it carefully — it's a binding contract, and operating outside its terms (for example, representing another broker's listings without a cooperating agreement) can put your license at risk.

5. Start Building Your Business

Licensed and sponsored, you're now able to represent buyers and sellers. From here, growth is about pipeline: referrals, marketing, responsiveness, and the tools that help you manage listings and showings without losing track of anything.

Once you're licensed and sponsored

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