How do you become a successful real estate broker?

To become a licensed real estate broker in California, you must be at least 18 years old, complete eight statutorily required college-level courses (each a minimum of 45 hours), and satisfy a two-year experience requirement. The eight courses include Real Estate Practice, Legal Aspects of Real Estate, Real Estate Finance, Real Estate Appraisal, Real Estate Economics or Accounting, and three elective courses from a specified list. The experience requirement can be met through two years of full-time licensed salesperson experience within the last five years, two years of equivalent non-licensed experience, or a four-year degree with a major or minor in real estate. The broker exam consists of 200 multiple-choice questions in 4 hours, and you must correctly answer at least 75% to pass.

Sources: CA DRE — Salesperson Requirements; CA DRE — Broker Requirements; CA DRE — Taking the Exam.

To become a real estate broker in Florida, a sales associate must hold an active license for at least 24 months during the preceding 5 years and complete the sales associate post-licensing education requirement. The applicant must then complete a 72-hour broker pre-licensing course, submit the DBPR broker application with a $91.75 fee, pass electronic fingerprinting, and pass the 100-question broker state exam with a score of at least 75%. After passing, the licensee must complete 60 hours of post-licensing education before the first renewal and 14 hours of continuing education each subsequent two-year cycle. The median annual wage for real estate brokers was $72,280 in May 2024, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.

Sources: FL DBPR — RE Education Requirements; FL DBPR — Broker Initial Application Checklist (Upgrade from Sales Associate to Broker); Florida Realtors — How to Get Your Florida Real Estate Broker License; FLCAA — FL RE License Reciprocity; FL DBPR — FREC Education; BLS OOH — Real Estate Brokers and Sales Agents.

To become a broker in Georgia, an applicant must be at least 21, hold a high school diploma or equivalent, complete a 60-hour GREC-approved broker pre-license course, pass the broker exam (which includes simulation problems), and show proof of having held an active salesperson license for at least 3 of the past 5 years. Brokers are responsible for any licensee affiliated with their firm who violates license law, and must instruct affiliated licensees on license law provisions and enter into written agreements specifying compensation terms. Brokers renewing on or after July 1, 2025 must complete 18 hours of broker-specific continuing education within the existing 36-hour CE requirement. NAR offers designations and certifications that can increase skills and earning potential, and recommends finding a mentor within the brokerage or local area.

Sources: Atlanta REALTORS® — Broker Pre-License; GA Admin Code — GREC Rules 520-1 (Licensure and Brokerage); Georgia Administrative Code, Chapter 520-1, Rule 520-1-.04 (Obtaining a License) — Georgia Real Estate Commission.

To become a licensed real estate broker in New York, you must be at least 20 years old, complete 152 hours of approved qualifying education, and pass a multiple-choice exam administered by the Department of State. The experience requirement calls for at least two years as a licensed salesperson (3,500 experience points) or three years in the general real estate field (5,250 points), or a combination of both. The initial application fee is $185, the exam fee is $15, and the exam allows 2.5 hours to complete.

Sources: NY DOS — Become a Real Estate Broker; NY DOS — Real Estate Salesperson FAQ; New York Department of State — Real Estate Broker Application Instructions; New York Department of State — Real Property Law §441-b (statutory) and NY DOS Salesperson Application Instructions; NY DOS — Real Estate Salesperson Syllabus (2022).

In North Carolina, the broker career path begins with completing a 75-hour Broker Prelicensing Course and passing the two-part license examination, which results in an inactive Provisional Broker license. To practice, a Provisional Broker must affiliate with a Broker-in-Charge and file a License Activation form. Completing 90 hours of Postlicensing education (three 30-hour courses: Post 301, 302, and 303) within 18 months of initial licensure automatically removes provisional status, making the licensee a full Broker. To become a Broker-in-Charge, a broker must have at least 2 years of full-time brokerage experience within the previous 5 years, complete a 12-hour Broker-in-Charge Course, and submit form REC 2.25 to obtain BIC Eligible status.

Sources: NCREC — General Brochure (Real Estate Licensing in North Carolina, March 2024); NCREC — CE FAQ; NCREC — Licensing FAQ.

To become an Ohio real estate broker, you must hold an active salesperson license for at least two of the last five years and complete 20 qualifying transactions, counted as half-transactions for each listing or selling role in sales and certain lease agreements. You must also complete four college-level courses: Financial Management, Human Resources/Personnel Management, Applied Business Economics, and Business Law. After submitting a Broker Examination Application with a $135 fee and passing state and FBI criminal records checks, you must pass both the State and National portions of the broker exam with a score of 75 on each.

Sources: Ohio REPL — Broker License Requirements.

To become a broker in Pennsylvania, 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 under the Commission's point system. Broker candidates must apply through PALS and be approved by the Real Estate Commission before registering for the exam with Pearson VUE. The exam has national and state portions, each requiring a 75% passing score, and initial license fees range from $97 for an Associate Broker to $179.50 for a Broker Corporation, LLC, or Partnership.

Sources: PA Real Estate Commission — Broker Standard Licensure Snapshot.

To become a licensed real estate broker in Texas, an applicant must hold an active sales agent license for at least four years, accumulate 720 experience points, complete 270 classroom hours of qualifying education (including a 30-hour Real Estate Brokerage course), and fulfill an additional 630 classroom hours of related education, which a bachelor's degree satisfies in full. The broker exam, administered by Pearson VUE, requires 60 correct answers on the National portion and 38 correct on the State portion to pass. The total individual broker application fee is $308, effective December 15, 2025.

Sources: TREC — Become a Sales Agent; TREC Fee Schedule Effective December 15, 2025.