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Ohio Real Estate License Course
The fastest and most affordable way to get your Ohio real estate salesperson license! Here you'll learn:
- How To Get Your OH License Online
- What's Included In Our Courses
- Why You Should Get Your OH License
- General Information About the Ohio Real Estate License Online Course
- FAQ's
- Articles For Further Education
Requirements
How to Get a Real Estate Salesperson's License in Ohio
To apply for a real estate salesperson license in Ohio, you must:
- Be at least 18 years of age
- Have a high school diploma, GED, or international equivalent if you were born after 1950
- Be of good character and reputation
- Not have been convicted of a felony or a crime of moral turpitude; not violated any civil rights laws in real estate within the past two years
If you meet these two qualifications, you can earn a real estate salesperson's license in (6) steps.
- Complete Your Pre-license Education
Ohio requires salespersons to complete 120 hours of instruction. The schools must be approved real estate course providers. Online courses are the most convenient way to complete your 120 hours.
- Find a Sponsoring Broker
You will need to be sponsored by an Ohio licensed broker in order to submit your application for the salesperson exam. You’ll need their brokerage information and their signature.
- Applying for the State Exam
Your application for the salesperson exam also serves your Ohio state license application. You can’t apply until after completing your pre-license education because you will need proof of completing the education requirements.
The application fee is $81. You will need to submit your proof of meeting the education requirements, such as official transcripts or course completion certificates.
Once the ODRE approves your application, your information will be sent to the testing vendor. You’ll receive a Candidate Information Bulletin from PSI and information on scheduling your exam.
- Complete a Background Check
Every Ohio salesperson candidate must apply for a background check within 10 days of submitting your salesperson examination application.
Ohio requires you to use a Bureau of Criminal Identification and Investigation (BCI&I) approved Webcheck® user. You will must schedule this Webcheck user to have your fingerprints taken and submitted to the system.
The fees for fingerprinting and background check vary by the center, but typical costs for state and FBI checks range $58-71.
Your background check results should be received by the Ohio Division of Real Estate within 30 days.
- Scheduling Your Salesperson Exam
Start by submitting the examination registration form. This registration is good for one examination attempt. You’ll need to pass both exam portions – state and national– within one year of the date on the sticker of your Candidate Handbook. Search the website or see the Ohio Candidate Bulletin for a list of test center addresses.
- Take and Pass the State Exam
The Ohio state salesperson exam is divided into two sections: national and state law. You must pass both sections to be issued your salesperson license. The exam is made up of multiple-choice questions.
The Ohio salesperson exam includes:
National section of 80 questions and a passing score is 70%. The time allowed is 120 minutes.
State section of 40 questions and a passing score is 70%. The time allowed is 60 minutes.
You will receive a score report on-screen immediately upon completion of the exam. If you fail, your information will include a diagnostic report. You’ll also leave with a printed unofficial score report.
Passing both portions is required for the ODRE to issue you a license. If you fail one section, you can retake only the failed section. A passing score is valid for 12 months; you must complete your exam requirements within a year of the date stickered on your Candidate Handbook.
Once the Ohio Division of Real Estate receives the passing result from PSI, it will process the result and issue you a salesperson license. Congratulations, you are an official Ohio real estate salesperson!
PSI recommends you register and schedule your exam directly by visiting https://www.psiexams.com or calling (855) 834-8749. For online registration, select the examination and enter the OH RE _ID# that was provided to you.
The exam fee for both sections is $61, and you'll directly pay PSI for the exam. PSI accepts credit card, money order, company check, or cashier's check. Note that cash and personal checks are not accepted.
Step 6: Take and Pass the State Exam
The Ohio state salesperson exam is divided into two sections: national and state law. You must pass both sections to be issued your salesperson license. The exam is made up of multiple-choice questions.
The Ohio salesperson exam includes:
- National section of 80 questions and a passing score is 70%. The time allowed is 120 minutes.
- State section of 40 questions and a passing score is 70%. The time allowed is 60 minutes.
You will receive a score report on-screen immediately upon completion of the exam. If you fail, your information will include a diagnostic report. You'll also leave with a printed unofficial score report.
Passing both portions is required for the ODRE to issue you a license. If you fail one section, you can retake only the failed section. A passing score is valid for 12 months; you must complete your exam requirements within a year of the date stickered on your Candidate Handbook.
Once the Ohio Division of Real Estate receives the passing result from PSI, it will process the result and issue you a salesperson license. Congratulations, you are an official Ohio real estate salesperson!
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Commonly Asked Questions on Acquiring a Real Estate License in Ohio
To obtain an Ohio real estate salesperson license, you must be at least 18, a U.S. citizen or legal alien, and have a high school diploma or equivalent if born after 1950. You must complete 100 hours of pre-licensing education (Real Estate Principles and Practices 40 hours, Ohio Real Estate Law 40 hours, Real Estate Appraisal 10 hours, Real Estate Finance 10 hours) from a postsecondary institution awarding at least a two-year degree, secure a sponsoring Ohio broker, submit a Salesperson Examination Application with an $81 fee, complete state and FBI criminal records checks, and pass both the State and National portions of the exam with a score of 70.
Ohio does not publish an official timeline for obtaining a real estate salesperson license. The process requires completing 100 hours of pre-licensing education, securing a sponsoring broker, submitting an $81 application, completing a background check, and passing the 120-question state licensing exam. Most candidates complete the entire process in 2 to 6 months, depending on study pace and how quickly each step is finished.
The salesperson exam application fee is $81, and the exam registration fee paid to PSI is $63 for both the state and national portions. Background check costs vary by WebCheck provider, typically ranging from approximately $50 to $100. Pre-licensing education (100 hours) costs vary by provider and format, with online options generally less expensive than classroom or hybrid formats. A 20-hour post-licensing course is also required within 12 months of licensure at additional cost.
Can convicted felons get real estate license in Ohio? If you have been convicted of a felony or a crime of moral turpitude or violated any civil rights laws in real estate within the past two years, you will not be able to get a real estate license. You will disclose any prior criminal activity in your salesperson exam application under the ethical conduct section. If you answer yes, you will be required to submit additional paperwork regarding your answer.
Do you need a highschool diploma to do real estate in Ohio? Yes, Ohio does require salespersons to hold a high school diploma, GED, or international equivalent for anyone born after 1950.
A sponsoring broker is a licensed real estate broker who holds a salesperson's license, provides supervision, and oversees the agent's transactions. Ohio requires applicants to secure a sponsoring broker before submitting the exam application, and the broker's information must be included on the application. Without a sponsoring broker, a salesperson license does not permit independent practice.
Can you get a real estate license in Ohio if you dont live in the state? Ohio does not have a state residency requirement for seeking a real estate salesperson license. As part of your application, you'll need to turn in a Consent to Service of Process form. Otherwise, you must follow the same steps as a state resident seeking a salesperson license application.
How to get fingerprints for real estate license in Ohio? To get your fingerprints taken in Ohio, you are required to use a Bureau of Criminal Identification and Investigation (BCI&I) approved Webcheck® user. You must schedule with the web check user and have your fingerprints taken and submitted into the Ohio system. You'll need to provide your fingerprint vendor with the following reason codes: BCI&I Reason Code: 4735 05 and/or 121 08 FBI Reason Code: 121 08 You must also provide the center with the address to send the results. Division of Real Estate and Professional Licensing 77 S High St., 20th Fl. Columbus, OH 43215-6133 You must be fingerprinted for a criminal records check at the state and federal levels. Your background check must be submitted within 10 days of turning in your salesperson exam application. Your background check results should be sent to the Ohio Division of Real Estate within 30 days of your fingerprinting submission.