Georgia Real Estate Education: In-Person Vs. Online

Natural beauty, historical places, pleasant climate and a diverse culture, Georgia continues to attract homebuyers, skilled workers and real estate investors from across the country.

Georgia’s real estate market is steadily growing and the ‘Peach State’ is one of the most popular and favorable destinations for short and long-term property investment. 

Did you know that licensed real estate agents in Georgia can easily make around $104K annually! 

Plus, you can get the opportunities to earn commissions while enjoying a flexible work-life balance. 

However, to achieve your professional dream of working in Georgia real estate as an agent or a broker, you must first obtain a state approved license. 

In Georgia, becoming a real estate professional is pretty simple - meet the state licensing requirements, clear the licensing exam, find a sponsoring broker and start working. 

Wondering what it takes to get a real estate agent’s license in Georgia and jow do you get started?

In this article, we will dive deeper into how to get a Georgia real estate license so you can start a thriving career. 

Advantages of Completing Real Estate Education

Like most states, Georgia has its unique set of qualifying requirements for aspiring agents and brokers. 

Completing pre-licensing education is mandatory for applicants, and according to the Georgia Real Estate Commission (GREC), every applicant must enroll in a real estate course in Georgia from a state approved education provider. 

Below are the three key qualifying requirements, from which you must meet at least one to be eligible for taking the licensing exam: 

• Completion of 75 hours of pre-licensing salesperson training from a  state approved education provider.
• A bachelor’s degree in real estate or a major course of study in real estate from a state approved college or university.
• Completion of at least 6 semester hours or 10 quarter hours of coursework from a regionally accredited university in the U.S. or Canada. 

Many students and applicants often wonder if taking pre licensing courses will benefit them or not. 

The answer is a definite yes as real estate education plays a foundational role in giving you the confidence to take the state licensing exam.

There are many advantages of completing real estate education, but the most important ones are as follows: 

• You will become eligible to take the GA state licensing exam.
• You will gain the required knowledge and understanding of the principles and practices of real estate. 
• You will become familiar with the state and federal laws, rules and regulations.
• You will gain credibility in your profession.
• You will gain compliance with the GREC qualifying requirements for agents and brokers.
• You will get opportunities to join exclusive communities, networking events and associations for licensed professionals.

Luckily, you have the freedom to choose online classes to complete the mandatory pre licensing education in Georgia. 

Online classes provide students with the flexibility they need as you can complete the course in a self-paced way. 

Further, many online classes and real estate courses come with valuable benefits such as - doubt clearing sessions, mock tests, sample test questions and on-demand trainer sessions to help you prepare better. 

Getting your Real Estate License in Georgia

Now that we have discussed the educational requirements, let’s move on to talk about the next set of qualifying requirements to earn a Georgia real estate license.

Once you have completed prelicensing education, the next step is to take the Georgia real estate salesperson licensing exam. 

The exam consists of 152 multiple type questions in total and you will get 4 hours in total to complete the licensing exam. 

In order to pass the exam, you must score at least 75% or above. 

If you have successfully cleared the Georgia salesperson licensing exam, then completing the background check and submitting your fingerprints will be the next step.

As per the GREC, every applicant must meet the state and federal standards for trust, ethics and transparency. 

To do so, you will have to complete the mandatory background verification and criminal history check. 

First, you will be required to submit your electronic fingerprints from a state approved verification center.

Second, you must submit a criminal record clearance certificate issued by the Georgia Bureau of Investigation at any sheriff station. 

After completing the background verification and criminal history check, you can complete and submit your application to the Georgia Real Estate Commission (GREC) via mail or online. 

Note that it will cost you a one-time fee of $170 to process your licensing application.