How do you become a commercial real estate broker?

Commercial real estate follows the same state licensing process as residential; there is no separate commercial license. You first become a licensed salesperson, then qualify for a broker license, which most states gate behind at least 2 years of licensed salesperson experience plus additional coursework. Tennessee, for example, requires 120 classroom hours of approved education, including a 30-hour Office/Broker Management course.

Alabama does not offer a separate commercial real estate broker license; the state's broker license covers all types of real estate transactions. To qualify, an applicant must complete a 60-hour broker prelicense course approved by the Alabama Real Estate Commission and must have held an active salesperson license in any state for at least 24 of the 36 months immediately preceding the application date. The applicant must pass the broker licensing exam with a score of 70 or higher within 6 months of completing the prelicense course, and must submit the license application and fees within 90 days of the exam date or the score becomes null and void.

Alaska does not issue a separate license for commercial real estate brokers. To become a broker, a salesperson must complete 30 hours of approved broker training, pass the Alaska real estate broker exam, and show evidence of 36 consecutive months of active and continuous experience as a real estate licensee within the last 60 months, with real estate as their principal occupation. The applicant must also apply for licensure within six months of passing the exam, obtain and maintain errors and omissions insurance, and either own a real estate business or serve as the broker for a corporation or partnership. Commercial sales is one of the practice areas addressed in the DCE core curriculum, but the licensing path is the same regardless of property type specialization.

Arkansas does not issue a separate commercial broker license; the state's broker license covers all property types. To obtain it, an applicant must be at least 18, complete 60 hours of education (45 of which must be the Commission-developed Broker Pre-License course) within 36 months before applying, and have at least 24 months of active salesperson or broker experience within the previous 48 months. The applicant must pass a background check, pass the Pearson VUE broker exam with a scaled score of 70, and submit forms and fees to the Arkansas Real Estate Commission within 90 days of passing.

California does not issue a separate license for commercial real estate; the same real estate broker license covers both residential and commercial practice. To obtain a broker license, you must be at least 18 years old, complete eight college-level courses (each a minimum of 45 hours), satisfy the two-year full-time licensed salesperson experience requirement within the last five years (or meet an equivalent standard), and pass the broker examination. The broker exam consists of 200 multiple-choice questions in four hours with a 75% passing score.

Colorado issues a single broker license type and does not maintain a separate credential for commercial real estate, so the path to becoming a commercial broker is the same as for any broker. The requirements are 168 hours of qualifying education (or a degree with a major in real estate from an accredited college or university), passing both the national and state portions of the Colorado Real Estate Broker's Exam, completing a fingerprint background check, obtaining Errors and Omissions insurance, and submitting the online application with an $83 fee. Newly licensed brokers start at the Associate Broker level and must work under an Employing Broker.

Connecticut does not issue a separate commercial real estate broker license; the state's real estate broker license covers all types of real estate practice. To qualify, an applicant must be at least 18 years old, have been actively engaged as a licensed salesperson in Connecticut for at least 3 years with 1,500 hours of experience and no fewer than 4 closed transactions, and complete 90 hours of mandatory coursework (60-hour Real Estate Principles and Practices, 15-hour Brokerage Principles and Practices, and 15-hour Legal Compliance) plus two 15-hour elective courses or one 30-hour elective or evidence of 20 real estate transactions in the previous 5 years. The application fee is $120, the exam fee is $59 paid to PSI at scheduling, and the license activation fee is $1,150. Candidates must pass both exam portions within 1 year of eligibility and activate the license within 2 years of passing.

Delaware's broker license requirements apply to all broker applicants regardless of the property types they handle. To obtain a broker license, an applicant must have been actively licensed as a salesperson or broker in Delaware or another jurisdiction for five continuous years immediately before filing, and must have been actively practicing real estate for three of those years. Applicants must complete a 99-hour broker pre-licensing course, pass the broker examination administered by Pearson VUE, and submit a Sales or Lease Transaction Listing form showing 30 transactions completed during the five years before the application.

To obtain a real estate broker license in the District of Columbia, an applicant must complete 135 hours of pre-licensing education from a DC Real Estate Commission-approved provider and have 2 years of experience as a licensed salesperson with an active license immediately preceding the application date. The applicant must pass both the national and state (DC) portions of the Broker exam and submit the application with required fees within 6 months of passing. The application fee is $65.00, the broker license fee is $170.00, and the Real Estate Guaranty and Education Fund fee is $60.00.

Florida does not issue a separate license for commercial real estate brokers; the requirements are the same as for any real estate broker license. You must have been registered as an active sales associate for at least 24 months during the preceding 5 years, complete a 72-hour pre-licensing course based on the FREC II syllabus, and pass the state broker exam with at least 75 out of 100 points. You must also submit a broker application to the DBPR with the $91.75 fee and complete electronic fingerprinting. After obtaining the broker license, commercial property transactions fall within the standard scope of practice.

Georgia does not issue a separate license for commercial real estate brokers. The state recognizes four license types (salesperson, broker, community association manager, and instructor), and the broker license covers all property types. To obtain a Georgia broker license, you must be at least 21, have held an active salesperson license for at least 3 of the past 5 years, complete a 60-hour broker pre-license course from a GREC-approved school, and pass the broker licensing exam administered by PSI.

Hawaii does not issue a separate commercial real estate broker license. To practice commercial real estate as a broker, an individual must obtain the standard Hawaii real estate broker license, which requires at least 3 years of full-time (40 hours per week) experience as a Hawaii-licensed salesperson within the 5-year period before applying, an approved Broker Experience Certificate, Commission-accredited broker prelicensing education, and a passing score of 75% on both sections of the PSI-administered broker examination. Broker candidates must obtain the Experience Certificate before registering for the exam with PSI, or the exam score will be invalidated under Hawaii Administrative Rules Section 16-99-19.2.

Idaho does not require a special license to work in commercial real estate; a standard salesperson or broker license covers commercial transactions. To become a broker, an applicant must have at least two years of full-time active experience as a licensed salesperson within five years preceding the application, with 15 completed sales or listings and at least $2 million in total volume. Broker prelicense education requires a minimum of 90 hours, including Brokerage Management (28 hours), Real Estate Law (30 hours), and two electives. The post-license elective options include an Introduction to Commercial Real Estate module, and out-of-state commercial brokers may apply for a cooperative license under Idaho Code 54-2011 and 54-2017.

Illinois does not offer a separate commercial real estate broker license; the state issues a single broker license that covers all property types. The path to licensure requires completing 75 hours of pre-license education, passing the two-part broker exam, and securing sponsorship from a managing broker. Once licensed, a broker may practice in residential, commercial, or other real estate specialties.

Indiana does not offer a separate license for commercial real estate. All real estate professionals in Indiana are licensed as brokers, and the same 90-hour pre-licensing course, licensing exam, and application process applies whether the broker intends to practice residential or commercial real estate. The pre-licensing curriculum includes topics relevant to commercial practice such as investment real estate, taxation, and property valuation. Brokers who wish to specialize in commercial transactions can pursue continuing education courses in investment real estate analysis and related subjects after obtaining their license.

Iowa does not issue a separate commercial real estate broker license; the state's broker license covers all types of real estate practice. To become a broker, an applicant must hold an active salesperson license for at least 24 months, complete 60 hours of broker pre-license education within the preceding 24 months, and pass both the national and state portions of the broker examination administered by PSI. The 60 hours consist of nine courses covering contract law, trust accounts, appraising and market analysis, real estate and agency law, finance, federal and state laws, office administration, technology and data security, and ethics. The broker license application fee is $170, and the exam fee is $95.

Kansas does not issue a separate license for commercial real estate brokers; a Kansas broker license authorizes the holder to conduct all types of real estate transactions, including commercial. To obtain a broker license, an applicant must be at least 18 years old with a high school diploma, complete 60 hours of pre-license education (30-hour Broker Fundamentals Course plus 30-hour Broker Management Course), pay a $120 fingerprint and application processing fee and a $175 license application fee, and pass both the national and state broker exams. The applicant must also have been licensed as a salesperson and actively engaged for at least 2 of the last 3 years, with qualifying transaction points based on years of experience and closed transactions.

Kentucky does not issue a separate commercial real estate broker license. The Kentucky Real Estate Commission (KREC) issues a single broker license that covers all property types. To qualify, an applicant must be licensed as a Kentucky sales associate averaging at least 20 hours per week for a minimum of 24 months immediately preceding the application. The applicant must also complete 336 classroom hours (or 21 academic credit hours) of qualifying broker education, including 48 classroom hours (3 credit hours) in Brokerage Management from a Commission-approved provider, pass an FBI criminal background check, and pass the broker licensing exam through PSI. After March 1, 2022, sales associate pre-license hours no longer count toward the broker education requirement.

Louisiana does not issue a separate license for commercial real estate brokers. The broker license requirements are the same regardless of property specialization: you must have been licensed as an active real estate licensee for four years with two of those years immediately preceding your application, hold a high school diploma or GED, complete 150 hours of LREC-approved education, pass the broker licensing exam, and provide proof of errors and omissions insurance. For continuing education, Louisiana offers a commercial alternate mandatory course, such as "Money Matters & RPR for Commercial Agents" in 2026, that commercial-focused licensees may take in place of the standard mandatory topic.

Maine does not issue a separate commercial real estate broker license. The Broker/Designated Broker license authorizes all brokerage services, including commercial transactions. To qualify, an applicant must have been licensed as an associate broker affiliated with a real estate brokerage agency for 2 years within the 5 years immediately preceding the application, complete the Designated Broker Course with a minimum final grade of 75%, and submit the license application within one calendar year of completing the course. The application fee is $100 plus a $21 criminal records check fee, and the license term is 2 years.

In Maryland, the requirements for a broker license are the same whether you plan to practice commercial or residential real estate. You must hold an active salesperson license for at least 3 consecutive years with no breaks in licensure, complete a 135-hour broker pre-licensing course from an approved provider, and pass the broker exam administered by PSI with at least 70% on each portion. A residential license permits both commercial and residential transactions, while a commercial license is limited to commercial transactions only.

Massachusetts does not issue a separate commercial real estate broker license. The state's single broker license covers all property types, and the requirements are the same regardless of whether the licensee works in residential or commercial real estate. To become a broker, a candidate must be at least 18 years old, currently hold a Massachusetts salesperson license, have at least 3 years of experience working for an active Massachusetts broker at a minimum of 25 hours per week, complete 40 additional hours of pre-licensure education at a Board-approved school, obtain a notarized $5,000 surety bond, and pass the broker licensing exam administered by PSI. The broker exam fee is $106, and the initial broker license fee ranges from $142 to $200, prorated based on the licensee's date of birth.

Michigan does not offer a separate commercial real estate broker license. The state's real estate broker license covers both residential and commercial practice, and all applicants must meet the same requirements: 90 hours of approved prelicensure education (including 9 hours of civil rights law and equal opportunity in housing), 3 years of full-time experience in real estate or a related field, and a passing score on the broker examination administered by PSI. The 3-year experience requirement can be satisfied through work in residential or commercial real estate, or through related fields such as licensed builder, investor, land or condominium developer, attorney, or real property appraiser.

The path to becoming a commercial real estate broker in Minnesota follows the same licensing requirements as any broker: complete a 30-hour broker pre-license course, hold at least 3 years of active licensed salesperson experience within the preceding 5 years (or qualify for a waiver), pass the broker exam, and apply within 12 months of course completion. Brokers who engage solely in commercial real estate can apply for a commercial-only designation through the Pulse Portal between April 1 and June 30 each year. Commercial-only brokers are exempt from the agency law, fair housing, and module training CE requirements but must still complete all other continuing education hours.

Mississippi issues a single real estate broker license that covers all brokerage activity, with no separate commercial designation. To qualify, an applicant must be at least 21 years old, have held an active salesperson license for 12 cumulative months, complete 120 hours of approved real estate courses, pass the broker examination, and clear a background investigation. Applicants who have not held an active salesperson license for at least 36 months must instead complete 150 classroom hours of real estate courses acceptable for college credit at a institution approved by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools.

Missouri does not issue a separate commercial real estate broker license; the standard broker license covers all property types. To obtain a broker license, an applicant must be at least 18, hold an active Missouri salesperson license for 24 of the last 30 months, complete a 48-hour broker pre-examination course, pass both the national and state portions of the Missouri broker exam administered by PSI, and submit the application within six months of the 48-hour broker course completion date. The broker license application fee is $150.

Montana does not issue a separate commercial real estate broker license; the same broker license covers both residential and commercial practice. To obtain a broker license, you must be at least 18, have a high school diploma or equivalent, complete 60 hours of Board-approved pre-licensing education within the past 18 months, pass the Montana Real Estate Broker Examination within the past 12 months, and have a minimum of 2 years of experience as a licensed salesperson. You must also accumulate 30 experience points from transactions, education, supervision, and educator activities within the last 36 months, with commercial, agricultural, farm, and ranch transactions counting as 3 points each. The application fee is $90, and proof of errors and omissions insurance is required.

Nebraska does not issue a separate license for commercial real estate; the same broker's license covers all phases of the real estate business, including commercial transactions. To obtain a broker's license, you must complete 60 additional clock hours (2 courses) of pre-license education beyond the 96 hours required for a salesperson license, plus a 6-hour Professional Practice Standards course if not taken within the last 4 years, and have 2 years of full-time salesperson experience or part-time equivalent. The exam passing score is 75%, the application fee is $175, the exam fee is $150, and the broker original license fee is $110.

Nevada does not offer a separate commercial real estate broker license; the state's license types include Salesperson, Broker-Salesperson, Broker, and Business Broker. To become a broker, you must hold an active salesperson license for at least 2 of the 4 years immediately preceding your application, complete 64 semester credits of education (including 45 hours each of Real Estate Principles, Real Estate Law with 18 hours of Nevada law, Real Estate Appraisal, and Broker Management), pass both portions of the broker exam (130 total questions), and submit Form 549 with a $160 fee. A credit report completed within 30 days of application and a fingerprint background check are also required.

New Hampshire does not issue a separate commercial real estate broker license. The state's Real Estate Commission regulates a single set of broker license types, including Associate Broker, Managing Broker, and Principal Broker, that apply to all property types. To become a broker, a licensed salesperson must complete a 60-hour approved pre-licensing course and pass the broker licensing examination administered by PSI. Broker applicants must also document experience as a licensed salesperson before qualifying for the broker exam.

New Jersey does not issue a separate license for commercial real estate brokers; the same broker license covers all property types. To qualify, an applicant must complete 150 hours of prelicensure education (a 90-hour general course plus two 30-hour courses on Agency/Ethics and Office Management), have been continually licensed and employed full-time as a NJ salesperson for the three years immediately preceding application, and pass the broker license examination. The applicant must apply for the license within one year of completing the broker prelicensure education. The New Jersey Real Estate Commission must also be satisfied as to the applicant's honesty, trustworthiness, character, and integrity.

New Mexico does not issue a separate license for commercial real estate brokerage; the state Real Estate Commission issues only associate broker and qualifying broker licenses, both of which cover all property types. To become licensed, you must complete 90 hours of commission-approved pre-licensing education (30 hours each in Real Estate Principles and Practice, Real Estate Law, and Broker Basics), pass both the national and state portions of the broker exam with a minimum score of 75%, and apply for an associate broker license within six months of passing. New associate brokers must also complete a 30-hour post-licensing course, either New Broker Business Practices or CCIM 101, within the first year of licensure.

New York does not issue a separate commercial real estate broker license; the standard broker license covers all property types. The 152-hour broker qualifying education curriculum includes 10 hours dedicated to commercial and investment properties within the salesperson-level coursework. Applicants must meet the same requirements regardless of intended practice area: be at least 20 years old, complete 152 hours of qualifying education, document at least two years of full-time salesperson experience (or three years of equivalent experience), and pass the state broker exam.

In North Carolina, there is no separate commercial real estate broker license. The standard NC broker license covers all property types, including commercial. To obtain it, a candidate must complete a 75-hour Broker Prelicensing Course, file a license application with the Commission, pass the two-part examination (National and State sections), and affiliate with a Broker-in-Charge to activate the license. For nonresidents who hold an active license in another state and want to engage only in commercial transactions in NC, the Limited Nonresident Commercial License (LNCL) is available without an exam, provided the licensee has no NC address and enters a Declaration of Affiliation with a resident NC broker on active status.

Ohio does not issue a separate license for commercial real estate brokers; the standard Ohio broker license covers both residential and commercial practice. To obtain a broker license, you must hold an active Ohio salesperson license for at least two of the last five years, complete 20 qualifying transactions, meet additional education requirements that vary by when you were first licensed, pass both the State and National portions of the broker exam with a score of 75, and submit a Broker Examination Application with a $135 fee. Commercial and industrial lease transactions can count toward the 20-transaction experience requirement.

Oklahoma does not offer a separate license for commercial real estate brokers. The Oklahoma Real Estate Commission (OREC) issues the same broker license types regardless of whether the licensee works in residential or commercial real estate. To upgrade from an Oklahoma Sales Associate to a broker, a licensee must have two years of active licensure within the previous five years, complete a 90-hour broker course and a 15-hour Broker in Charge course, and submit a Change License request through the License Portal with a Transaction Experience Waiver. Out-of-state brokers must complete 8 hours of Oklahoma-specific continuing education (1 hour Broker Relationship Act, 1 hour Code and Rules, 6 hours Contracts and Forms), the 15-hour Broker in Charge course, obtain license certification history, pass a background check, and apply online.

Oregon does not have a separate commercial real estate broker license. The broker license is the entry-level real estate license in Oregon and authorizes the holder to conduct all professional real estate activity, including commercial transactions, while associated with and supervised by a managing principal broker. To obtain the broker license, applicants 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 with a 75% minimum score, and clear a fingerprint background check.

Pennsylvania does not issue a separate broker license for commercial practice; the same broker license covers both residential and commercial real estate. To become a broker, a candidate must be at least 21 years old, hold a high school diploma or equivalent, complete 240 hours (16 credits) of professional real estate education from an approved provider, and document at least 3 years of experience as a licensed salesperson. Broker candidates must be approved by the Pennsylvania State Real Estate Commission before registering for the exam through Pearson VUE, and after passing both portions, apply for one of four broker license types: Associate Broker, Broker Multi-Licensee, Broker Corporation/LLC/Partnership, or Broker Sole Proprietor.

Rhode Island does not issue a separate license for commercial real estate brokers. The Department of Business Regulation (DBR) Real Estate Section, part of the Commercial Licensing division, issues a single real estate broker license that covers both residential and commercial practice. To earn that broker license, an applicant must complete 90 hours of approved classroom or live-broadcast education from a single approved school, have at least 2 years of full-time experience as a licensed real estate salesperson validated by the employing broker, and pass both the National and State broker examinations administered by Pearson VUE. The 45-hour salesperson pre-licensing course does not count toward the 90-hour broker requirement.

To become a real estate broker in South Carolina, an applicant must be at least 21 years old and have 5 years of active SC associate licensure within the past 7 years, effective May 21, 2024. The applicant must complete two Commission-approved pre-licensing courses, Unit IIIA (Broker Management) and Unit IIIB (Brokerage Principles), totaling 60 hours, then pass the broker licensing exam administered by PSI. The broker exam requires 60 out of 80 points on the national portion (75%) and 36 out of 50 on the state portion (72%), and the applicant must apply for a license within one year of passing.

South Dakota does not offer a separate commercial real estate broker license. The state's entry-level license, the broker associate, covers all property types including commercial transactions. To obtain it, an applicant must be at least 18 years old, be a U.S. citizen or South Dakota resident, complete a 116-hour pre-licensing course from a commission-approved provider, pass the licensing exam with a score of 75%, and receive application approval. A broker associate who wants to operate independently as a responsible broker must additionally hold an active license for 2 years and complete a 24-hour Responsible Broker Course.

Tennessee does not issue a separate commercial real estate broker license; the broker licensing path is the same regardless of property type. Broker candidates must hold an active affiliate broker license for at least 36 months (if licensed after May 12, 1988) or 24 months (if licensed on or before that date, or with a baccalaureate degree in real estate). Candidates must complete 120 classroom hours of approved education, including a 30-hour Office/Broker Management course at a TREC-approved school, and pass the broker examination administered by PSI. The broker application fee is $91, submitted online at core.tn.gov, and the exam approval process takes approximately 4 weeks.

Texas does not issue a separate license for commercial real estate brokers; the standard Texas broker license covers both residential and commercial practice. To become a broker, you must complete 270 classroom hours of qualifying education (including the six sales agent courses and a 30-hour Real Estate Brokerage course) and 630 additional classroom hours of related education, which a bachelor's degree can satisfy up to 300 hours of. You must also have at least four years of active experience as a licensed sales agent or broker during the 60 months preceding your application, totaling 720 experience points. The broker application fee is $308, and the broker exam fee through Pearson VUE is $58.

Utah does not offer a separate commercial real estate broker license; the licensing requirements are the same regardless of specialization. To become a broker, you must have three years of full-time licensed real estate experience within the past five years (or two years plus one year of professional experience), accumulate at least 60 documented experience points, complete 120 hours of broker pre-license education, and pass the broker exam with a scaled score of 75 on both portions. Commercial specialization comes through practice and through the Commercial version of the mandatory 3-hour continuing education course.

Vermont does not offer a separate commercial real estate broker license. The path to becoming a broker is the same regardless of property type: complete a 40-hour broker pre-licensing course, pass the national and state exams within two years preceding application, have at least two years of experience as a licensed salesperson with at least eight separate and unrelated closed transactions, and affiliate with a Vermont-licensed brokerage firm. Continuing education includes commercial practice topics such as letters of intent and Phase 1 Environmental Site Assessments within the mandatory course outline.

Virginia does not issue a separate commercial real estate broker license. All broker applicants must complete 180 class/clock hours of Board-approved pre-license courses, pass the state and national portions of the broker examination, and verify 36 of 48 months of full-time active salesperson experience averaging 40 hours per week. The broker pre-license curriculum includes a required Real Estate Brokerage course plus either three broker-specific courses (Real Estate Appraisal, Real Estate Finance, and Real Estate Law) or two broker-specific courses and one broker-related course, with options such as Commercial Mortgage Lending and Real Estate Investments.

West Virginia does not issue a separate license for commercial real estate brokers; the state's broker license covers all property types. To qualify, an applicant must be at least 18, hold a high school diploma or equivalent, and have been licensed as a salesperson for a minimum of 2 years. The applicant must complete 90 clock hours of broker pre-licensing education (if already holding a WV salesperson license) or 180 clock hours as a new applicant, and have 20 closed transactions in the 2 years before applying or 40 over any period. A National Criminal Background Check and passage of both portions of the broker licensing exam through Pearson VUE are also required.

Wisconsin does not issue a separate license for commercial real estate brokers. To become a broker, an applicant must hold a salesperson license for at least two years within the last four years under the direct supervision of a licensed broker and accumulate at least 40 experience points, with each closed commercial transaction counting as 10 points and each residential transaction as 5 points. The applicant must also complete a Board-approved 72-hour broker pre-license program within four years before applying and pass both the broker and salesperson examinations administered by Pearson VUE. The broker application is submitted through the DSPS LicensE portal with Form 809, a $60 credentialing fee, and documentation of experience.

Wyoming does not issue a separate license for commercial real estate brokers. The same broker licensure pathway applies regardless of property type: a salesperson must complete Broker Course I, Broker Course II, the Wyoming Law Course, and (for Responsible Broker applicants) the Wyoming Broker Management Course, then pass both the national and state broker exams through Pearson VUE. Wyoming also requires 2 of the 4 years immediately preceding the application to show active engagement in real estate activity as a licensee, or proof of a degree in real estate in lieu of that experience.