How do you become a commercial real estate agent?

Commercial real estate uses the same state real estate license as residential sales; there is no separate commercial license. You follow the same path of state-approved pre-licensing education, the licensing exam, and affiliation with a sponsoring broker. Specialization in commercial work happens through brokerage training and practice rather than through a different license.

Alabama's real estate salesperson license applies to real estate practice generally, and the path to licensure is the same regardless of property type. You must complete a 60-hour prelicense course through an AREC-approved school, pass the state licensing exam administered by Pearson VUE within 6 months of course completion, and submit your license application within 90 days of passing. The prelicense course covers general real estate topics including property ownership, financing, agency principles, and Alabama license law, which apply across residential and commercial transactions.

Alaska does not issue a separate license for commercial real estate; the same salesperson license covers both residential and commercial practice. To become licensed, you must be at least 19 years of age, complete 40 hours of approved pre-licensing education, pass the Alaska real estate salesperson exam with a scaled score of 75 on both the national and state portions, apply for licensure within six months of passing the exam, and work under a licensed broker. You must also obtain errors and omissions (E&O) insurance.

To practice commercial real estate in Arizona, you must obtain the same salesperson license required for all real estate activity. To earn it, you must complete 90 hours of pre-licensing education at an Arizona Department of Real Estate (ADRE)-approved school and a 6-hour Contract Writing course, obtain a Fingerprint Clearance Card from Arizona DPS, and pass the Pearson VUE salesperson exam (both a General and a State-Specific portion, each requiring a score of 75% or higher). You must submit your license application within one year of passing the exam and work under a sponsoring broker to activate the license. The exam covers financing, contracts, property ownership, and disclosure topics that apply to commercial as well as residential transactions.

Arkansas does not issue a separate license for commercial real estate agents; the state's salesperson license covers all property types. To obtain it, an applicant must be at least 18 years old, complete 60 classroom hours of pre-licensing education (30 of which must be in basic principles of real estate) from an AREC-approved school, and pass a state and federal criminal background check. The applicant must then pass the Pearson VUE salesperson exam with a scaled score of 70 and submit the score report, a $50 license fee, and a $25 recovery fund fee to the Arkansas Real Estate Commission within 90 days of passing.

Colorado does not issue a separate license for commercial real estate agents; everyone who completes the licensing process is licensed as a real estate broker. To become licensed, you must be at least 18 years old, complete 168 hours of qualifying education from a state-approved school (or hold a degree with a major in real estate), pass both the national and state portions of the Colorado Real Estate Broker's Exam administered by PSI, complete a fingerprint-based background check, obtain Errors and Omissions (E&O) insurance, and submit the online license application with the $83 broker application fee. New licensees start at the Associate Broker (FA) level and work under a supervising Employing Broker.

Connecticut does not offer a separate commercial real estate license; the standard real estate salesperson license covers all real estate activity. To obtain it, you must be at least 18 years old and complete a 60-hour Real Estate Principles and Practices course from a Connecticut-approved provider. After submitting the application and $80 fee to the Department of Consumer Protection, you schedule the PSI exam for $59 once approved. Broker supervision is not required to take the exam. After passing both portions within 1 year of eligibility, you have 2 years to activate the license by securing a Connecticut-licensed broker for supervision and paying the $590 license fee.

Delaware does not issue a separate license for commercial real estate; the same salesperson license covers both residential and commercial practice. To earn it, you must complete a 99-hour Delaware salesperson pre-licensing course from a state-approved provider, pass both the national and Delaware law portions of the Pearson VUE salesperson examination with a scaled score of 70 on each section, and submit your application through the DELPROS online system. The application requires a $149 initial fee plus a $25 Guaranty Fund fee, and you must include a Statement of Broker of Record form signed by your employing Delaware-licensed broker of record. After licensure, newly licensed salespersons (other than reciprocity licensees) must complete 12 hours of required new salesperson course modules within 90 days of the license issuance date.

DC does not issue a separate license for commercial real estate; the District's real estate salesperson license covers real estate practice generally. To obtain the license, you must complete 60 hours of pre-licensing education from a DC Real Estate Commission-approved provider, pass both the national and state (DC) portions of the salesperson exam with a minimum 75% score, and submit a license application with required fees within 6 months of passing. PSI administers the exam, and candidates can schedule at psiexams.com or by phone at 1-855-557-0616.

Georgia does not offer a separate commercial real estate license; the salesperson license applies to all property types. To obtain it, an applicant must be at least 18 years old, hold a high school diploma or equivalent, complete a 75-hour pre-license course from a GREC-approved school, pass the state exam administered by PSI, and affiliate with a sponsoring broker to receive an active license. The applicant must apply for the license within 3 months of the exam date or pay double the application fee, and must complete a 25-hour post-license course within the first year of licensure.

Hawaii does not issue a separate commercial real estate agent license. To work as a real estate agent in any sector, an individual must obtain a Hawaii real estate salesperson license by being at least 18 years old, holding a high school diploma or equivalent, completing Commission-approved prelicensing education, and passing the PSI-administered exam with 70% or higher on both the national and state sections. The salesperson must then be associated with a Hawaii-licensed real estate broker to practice on active status.

Idaho does not require a separate or special license to work in commercial real estate. A standard salesperson or broker license authorizes the licensee to handle commercial transactions. One of the post-license elective modules covers an introduction to commercial real estate for salespersons completing their first renewal. Out-of-state commercial brokers may pursue a cooperative license under Idaho Code 54-2011 and 54-2017 if they meet the eligibility criteria.

Illinois does not issue a separate license for commercial real estate activity. The state's entry-level real estate license is the broker license, which covers all real estate transactions regardless of property type, and Illinois does not have a "salesperson" or "agent" license. To become licensed, an applicant must be at least 18 years old, hold a high school diploma or GED, complete 75 hours of approved pre-license education (60 hours of topics plus 15 hours of interactive coursework), pass the state licensing exam, and secure sponsorship from a managing broker.

Indiana does not issue a separate license for commercial real estate agents. All real estate professionals in Indiana are licensed as brokers, regardless of whether they practice residential or commercial real estate. To become licensed, you must be at least 18 years old, hold a high school diploma or equivalent, complete a 90-hour pre-licensing course from a state-approved provider, and pass the Indiana Real Estate Broker exam administered by Pearson VUE. The exam consists of 145 total questions across national and state portions, with a scaled passing score of 75. After passing both portions, you submit a $60 license application to the Indiana Professional Licensing Agency and affiliate with a managing broker to activate your license.

Iowa does not issue a separate license for commercial real estate; the state's real estate salesperson license covers all types of real estate practice. To obtain that license, applicants must be at least 18 years old and complete 96 hours of pre-licensing education from an approved provider: a 60-hour pre-license course in real estate principles and practices (available live or online), plus three 12-hour live-instruction courses in Buying Practices, Listing Practices, and Developing Professionalism and Ethical Practices. All courses must be completed within the 12 months before the commission receives the application. Applicants must also pass the state and national portions of the PSI licensing exam ($95 fee), undergo an FBI criminal history background check, obtain errors and omissions insurance, secure a sponsoring broker, and submit the license application with a $125 fee through the "My Iowa PLB" portal.

Kansas does not issue a separate license for commercial real estate work. The state's salesperson and broker licenses cover all property types, including commercial and agricultural transactions. To become licensed, an applicant must be at least 18 years old, hold a high school diploma or equivalent, complete 60 hours of pre-license education (30-hour Principles of Real Estate and 30-hour Kansas Practice Course), pass the state licensing exam administered by Pearson VUE, and affiliate with a Kansas-licensed broker. The broker license requires prior salesperson experience, including closed commercial or agricultural land transactions valued over $1,000,000, which earn 3 transaction points each toward the experience requirement.

Kentucky does not offer a separate license for commercial real estate. A commercial real estate agent obtains the same sales associate license required for any real estate practice, which entails completing 96 hours of Commission-approved pre-license education (or 6 academic credit hours from an accredited college), passing the PSI-administered licensing exam, and affiliating with a sponsoring broker. Commercial real estate topics are included within the pre-licensing curriculum alongside residential real estate principles.

Louisiana does not issue a separate license for commercial real estate; the standard salesperson license through the Louisiana Real Estate Commission (LREC) covers both residential and commercial activity. To become licensed, you must be at least 18 years old, hold a high school diploma or GED, complete 90 hours of LREC-approved pre-licensing education, pass the salesperson licensing examination, secure sponsorship from a licensed broker, and provide proof of errors and omissions (E&O) insurance. The LREC also offers a commercial-specific continuing education alternate: for 2026, commercial agents may substitute "Money Matters & RPR for Commercial Agents" for the general mandatory course.

Maine does not issue a separate commercial real estate license. The state's three license types, Sales Agent, Associate Broker, and Broker/Designated Broker, cover all brokerage services, and no commercial-specific license category exists. To work in commercial real estate, you would follow the standard Sales Agent licensing path: complete the 55-hour Sales Agent Course with a minimum grade of 75%, pass the Pearson VUE Sales Agent exam with a scaled score of 75, and affiliate with a Maine-licensed real estate agency before applying.

Maryland issues a commercial salesperson license that permits only commercial transactions, while a residential license allows both commercial and residential transactions. The licensing process follows the same general requirements: complete a 60-hour pre-licensing course from a Maryland Real Estate Commission (MREC) approved education provider, pass both portions (national and state) of the PSI-administered exam with at least 70%, and obtain a commitment from a licensed broker to affiliate with. After passing, applicants have one year from the exam date to apply for the license.

Massachusetts does not issue a separate license for commercial real estate; the state's real estate salesperson license covers both residential and commercial practice. To become licensed, you must be at least 18 years old, complete 40 hours of pre-licensing education at a Board-approved school, obtain 3 candidate endorsements, pass the state licensing exam administered by PSI with a minimum score of 70%, and affiliate with a licensed Massachusetts broker. A salesperson must work under a broker's supervision and cannot operate independently, regardless of whether the transactions involve residential or commercial property.

Michigan does not issue a separate license for commercial real estate. The state's real estate salesperson license covers all types of real estate practice, and the salesperson license "allows a licensee to be employed either directly or indirectly by a licensed real estate broker for compensation or valuable consideration" without restriction to residential property. To obtain the license, you must be at least 18 years of age, complete 40 hours of approved prelicensure education (including at least 4 hours of civil rights law and equal opportunity in housing), submit an application through MiPLUS for $88, pass the PSI-administered salesperson exam ($79 per attempt), and secure sponsorship from a licensed Michigan broker.

In Minnesota, a commercial real estate agent follows the same salesperson licensing process as any residential agent: complete three 30-hour pre-licensing courses (Course I, Course II, and Course III) totaling 90 hours, pass the salesperson examination administered by PSI Services, and become associated with a licensed Minnesota broker who submits the license application through the PULSE Portal. The commercial-only distinction applies after licensing. A salesperson or broker who works exclusively in commercial real estate may apply for a commercial-only waiver on the PULSE Portal between April 1 and June 30 each year. Commercial-only licensees are exempt from the agency law, fair housing, and annual module course requirements that apply to residential licensees, but they must still complete all other continuing education requirements.

Mississippi licenses real estate salespersons under a single license category that covers all real estate practice, including commercial. To obtain a salesperson license, an applicant must be at least 18 years old, a bona fide resident of Mississippi, and complete 60 hours of pre-license education from an MREC-approved provider or accredited college. The applicant must pass the licensing exam administered by PSI, scoring at least 70% on the national portion and 75% on the state portion. Upon passing, the commission issues a temporary license valid for one year, during which the licensee must complete a 30-hour post-license course and work under a licensed broker.

Montana does not issue a separate license for commercial real estate practice. Commercial, agricultural, farm, and ranch transactions fall under the standard Real Estate Salesperson or Real Estate Broker license issued by the Montana Board of Realty Regulation. For broker license applicants, closed commercial, agricultural, farm, and ranch transactions (minimum 40 acres for ag/farm/ranch) count as 3 experience points each toward the required 30 points, while residential and vacant lot transactions count 1 point each, with all qualifying transactions occurring within the past 36 months.

Nevada does not issue a separate license for commercial real estate practice. The Nevada Real Estate Division (NRED) offers license types including salesperson, broker, broker-salesperson, property manager, and business broker, and a commercial real estate agent works under the same salesperson license required for residential practice. To obtain that license, you must complete 120 hours of pre-licensing education from an NRED-approved school, pass both the national and state portions of the Pearson VUE exam, submit fingerprints from an approved vendor, and file Form 549 with a $140 fee while affiliating with a sponsoring broker. Specialization in commercial transactions develops through brokerage placement and experience rather than through a distinct credential.

New Jersey does not issue a separate license for commercial real estate practice. Commercial agents hold the same salesperson or broker license required for residential transactions, completing the same 75-hour pre-licensing education and state licensing exam. Commercial real estate appears as an elective topic in the state's continuing education curriculum, but the licensing pathway is identical regardless of property type.

New Mexico does not issue a separate license for commercial real estate practice. The New Mexico Real Estate Commission issues two types of broker licenses, associate broker and qualifying broker, and both cover all types of real estate activity. To become licensed as an associate broker, you must complete 90 hours of prelicensing education, pass both the state and national portions of the broker exam with a minimum score of 75%, and submit a license application within six months of passing.

New York does not issue a separate commercial real estate license. The standard salesperson license covers all property types, and the 77-hour pre-licensing curriculum includes 10 hours on commercial and investment properties as one of its 19 subject areas. To work in commercial real estate, you follow the same licensing process as any salesperson: complete the 77-hour qualifying course, pass the state exam, and affiliate with a sponsoring broker.

North Carolina is a broker-only state, so all real estate licensees, including those who work in commercial real estate, follow the same licensing process. To qualify, an applicant must be at least 18 years old, be a US citizen or qualified alien, have a Social Security Number, complete a 75-hour Broker Prelicensing Course, file a complete application with the $105 application fee, and pass the two-part license examination. NC also offers a Limited Nonresident Commercial broker license type, though the material does not detail its specific requirements.

North Dakota does not issue real estate licenses by specialty, so there is no separate commercial real estate license or process. The path to working in commercial real estate is the same as obtaining a standard salesperson license: complete a 90-hour NDREC-certified pre-licensure education course, pass both the state and national portions of the PSI-administered exam, and affiliate with a sponsoring broker. Once licensed, you can conduct commercial transactions under the same salesperson license.

Ohio does not issue a separate license for commercial real estate agents. Commercial real estate agents hold the same Ohio real estate salesperson license required for any real estate activity, which means completing 100 hours of pre-licensing education (Real Estate Principles and Practices 40 hours, Ohio Real Estate Law 40 hours, Real Estate Appraisal 10 hours, and Real Estate Finance 10 hours), submitting a Salesperson Examination Application with an $81 fee, passing both the State and National portions of the exam with a score of 70 or higher, and completing state and FBI criminal records checks. Applicants must be at least 18 years old, hold a high school diploma or equivalent if born after 1950, and secure a sponsoring broker before applying. For brokers who work in commercial leasing, Ohio counts listing or procuring agent roles in commercial and industrial leases with terms of one year or more as half a transaction each toward the 20-transaction broker experience requirement.

Oklahoma does not issue a separate license for commercial real estate; the path is the same as for any real estate agent. An applicant must complete a 90-hour pre-license salesperson course, pass a background check through IdentoGO (service code 2B7NR3), submit an online application with a $35 application fee, and pass the Oklahoma salesperson exam administered by Pearson VUE. The exam covers general real estate topics that include commercial, industrial, and income properties, along with contracts, finance, and property valuation. After passing, the applicant pays the license issuance fee and must be associated with a sponsoring broker to hold an active license. The initial license is a Provisional Sales Associate, which requires completion of a 45-hour post-license course before expiration.

Oregon does not issue a separate license for commercial real estate. The broker license is the entry-level real estate license in Oregon and allows the licensee to conduct professional real estate activity while associated with and supervised by a managing principal broker. To obtain a broker license, an applicant must be at least 18 years old, have a high school diploma or equivalent, complete 150 hours of pre-license education from an Agency-approved school, pass both sections of the broker license exam, and clear a fingerprint background check.

Pennsylvania does not offer a separate license for commercial real estate practice; the standard salesperson license covers both residential and commercial transactions. To become licensed, an applicant must be at least 18 years old, hold a high school diploma or equivalent, complete 75 hours of pre-licensing education, pass both the National and PA State portions of the licensing exam, and secure an employing broker. Brokers who want to specialize in commercial practice can take commercial-focused topics as part of the 240-hour broker education requirement, which includes courses such as Non-Residential Property Management and Valuation of Income Producing Property.

Rhode Island does not issue a separate license for commercial real estate; the real estate salesperson license covers all types of real estate practice. To obtain a salesperson license, an applicant must be at least 18 years old, complete 45 hours of pre-licensing education from a state-approved school, and complete a separate 3-hour Lead Poisoning/Lead Hazard Mitigation course. The applicant must then pass both the National and State portions of the Pearson VUE licensing exam with a scaled score of at least 70, submit a BCI background check from the Rhode Island Office of the Attorney General, secure errors and omissions insurance, and affiliate with a principal broker who signs the application. The total application fee is $165 ($140 payable to the RI General Treasurer plus $25 to the Real Estate Recovery Account, as two separate checks), and the Department of Business Regulation processes applications in 7 to 10 business days.

South Carolina does not issue a separate license for commercial real estate; the state's license classifications (associate, broker, broker-in-charge, property manager, and property manager-in-charge) cover both residential and commercial practice. To become licensed as an associate, an applicant must be at least 18, hold a high school diploma or equivalent, complete 90 hours of Commission-approved pre-licensing education (60-hour Unit I and 30-hour Unit II), pass the PSI-administered exam with 70% on both the national and state portions, complete a background check, and affiliate with a broker-in-charge. An applicant with a juris doctor degree, bachelor of law degree, or a baccalaureate or master's degree with a major in real estate from an accredited institution is exempt from the pre-licensing education requirement.

South Dakota does not offer a separate commercial real estate license. The Broker Associate license is the entry-level real estate license in South Dakota and covers all types of real estate transactions, including commercial. To obtain a Broker Associate license, an applicant must be at least 18 years old, a U.S. citizen or South Dakota resident, complete 116 hours of pre-licensing education from an approved provider, pass the licensing exam with a score of 75%, and receive application approval from the South Dakota Real Estate Commission.

Tennessee does not offer a separate license for commercial real estate. The path to practice commercial real estate is the same affiliate broker license that covers all real estate activity in the state. Candidates must be at least 18 years old, hold a high school diploma or equivalent, and complete 90 hours of pre-licensing education: a 60-hour Basic Principles course before sitting for the PSI exam and a 30-hour Course for New Affiliates before license issuance. After passing both the national and state sections of the exam with a minimum score of 70%, the candidate submits the $91 application through CORE at core.tn.gov, affiliates with a sponsoring broker, and obtains errors and omissions insurance to activate the license.

Texas does not issue a separate license for commercial real estate. The same sales agent license covers all types of real estate transactions, whether residential or commercial. An applicant completes the same 180 hours of qualifying education and passes the same licensing exam administered by Pearson VUE. Experience gained from commercial transactions counts toward the broker license experience requirement, just as residential transactions do.

Utah does not issue a separate license for commercial real estate agents. The state's Real Estate Sales Agent license covers both residential and commercial practice, so the path is the same regardless of specialty. An applicant must be at least 18 years old, hold a high school diploma or equivalent, complete 120 hours of approved pre-licensing education at a certified school, pass the Utah Real Estate Sales Agent Exam (administered by Pearson VUE) within one year of finishing the coursework, and submit the license application to the Utah Division of Real Estate within 90 days of passing the exam. Once licensed, a sales agent who focuses on commercial transactions can pursue the Mandatory Commercial continuing education course (one of three mandatory CE versions available) during each renewal cycle to align ongoing education with that specialty.

Vermont does not offer a separate license for commercial real estate; the same salesperson or broker license covers both residential and commercial practice. To work in commercial transactions, an individual follows the standard licensure path: complete the 40-hour pre-licensing course, pass the national and state exams, and affiliate with a Vermont-licensed brokerage. Commercial practice topics such as letters of intent and Phase 1 Environmental Site Assessments are covered in Vermont's mandatory continuing education course for the 2024-2026 renewal cycle.

Virginia issues a single real estate salesperson license with no separate credential for commercial practice, so the path to becoming a commercial real estate agent is the same as for any real estate salesperson. You must complete 60 class/clock hours of a Board-approved pre-license course, pass both the national and state portions of the PSI exam, complete fingerprinting for a background check, and affiliate with a sponsoring broker before submitting your license application. Exam scores are valid for one year, and a complete application must be on file with the Board within 45 days of fingerprinting.

Washington does not issue a separate license for commercial real estate. The state's broker license covers all real estate brokerage services, including commercial transactions. To qualify, you must be at least 18 years old, have a high school diploma or equivalent, complete 90 hours of approved education (a 60-hour Real Estate Fundamentals course and a 30-hour Real Estate Practices course), and pass both the state and national licensing exams administered by PSI Testing Excellence. After the license is issued, a real estate firm must invite you to join to activate it through SecureAccess Washington.

The path to working in commercial real estate in West Virginia begins with obtaining a real estate salesperson license from the West Virginia Real Estate Commission. Applicants must be at least 18 years old with a high school diploma or equivalent, complete 90 clock-hours of Commission-approved pre-licensing education, and pass the licensing exam administered by Pearson VUE. The 90-hour course covers Real Estate Principles and Practice (30 hours), Real Estate Law (20 hours), Real Estate Finance (20 hours), and Real Estate Appraisal (20 hours). After passing both exam portions, the applicant has 90 days to submit a license application with a Verification of Sponsoring Broker to activate the license.