How much does it cost to get a real estate broker license?

Broker license costs vary widely by state because they combine exam, application, and education charges. California charges $150 for the broker exam plus $450 for the original license, $600 combined; New York's broker fee is $185; and Texas charges $308 for the original broker application. Broker candidates also complete broker-specific coursework, which ranges from 60 hours in Georgia to 270 classroom hours in Texas, and most states require at least 2 years of experience as a licensed sales agent.

The cost to obtain a broker license in Alabama includes a 60-hour broker prelicense course through an AREC-approved school, with course costs varying by provider. The licensing exam costs $73 per attempt through Pearson VUE. Applicants must also pay application fees to the Alabama Real Estate Commission and complete a fingerprint-based background check through Fieldprint. Broker applicants must have held an active salesperson license for at least 24 of the 36 months preceding the application, and no post-license course is required for brokers.

The combined broker examination and application fee is $125 per the Arizona Department of Real Estate (ADRE) fee schedule. The original broker license fee is $125, plus a $20 Real Estate Recovery Fund, totaling $145 for the original license. The Fingerprint Clearance Card issued by Arizona Department of Public Safety costs $67. Education costs for the required 90-hour Broker Pre-licensing Course and 9 hours of Broker Management Clinic courses vary by school. The broker exam is administered by Pearson VUE, and applications must be submitted within one year of passing.

Fixed fees for an Arkansas broker license include a $50 application fee for residents ($85 for non-residents who must take the exam, or $180 for non-resident brokers not required to take the exam), a $75 exam fee payable to Pearson VUE, and a $70 broker license fee after passing. A state and federal background check is required for all applicants, with the fee paid separately to the Arkansas State Police. Broker applicants must complete a 60-hour pre-license education course (45 hours must be the Commission-developed Broker Pre-License course), and tuition varies by provider. New brokers must also complete a 30-hour post-license course within 6 months of initial licensure.

As of July 1, 2024, the California Department of Real Estate (DRE) charges $150 for the broker examination (exam only), $450 for the broker original license, and $600 for the combined exam and license application. Applicants must also pay a $49 fingerprint processing fee, paid to the Live Scan service provider for California residents or to the DRE for out-of-state applicants. These fees are nonrefundable under Business and Professions Code Section 10207.

The Colorado Division of Real Estate charges an $83 broker application fee and a $44.95 broker examination fee for the first attempt, with retakes at $42.50 each; all application fees are non-refundable. Applicants must also complete a fingerprint-based background check through the Colorado Bureau of Investigation and obtain errors and omissions insurance before an active license is issued. Pre-licensing education costs vary by provider for the required 168 hours of qualifying education. Total out-of-pocket costs to become licensed typically range from approximately $1,000 to $1,800 depending on the education provider and insurance selections.

The Connecticut Department of Consumer Protection charges a $120 non-refundable application fee, and PSI charges a $59 exam fee due at the time of scheduling. After passing the exam, a $1,150 license activation fee is required to activate the broker license. Broker candidates must also complete pre-licensing education: a 60-hour Real Estate Principles and Practices course, a 15-hour Brokerage Principles and Practices course, a 15-hour Legal Compliance course, and either two 15-hour elective courses, one 30-hour elective, or evidence of 20 real estate transactions in the previous 5 years. Course costs vary by provider and are separate from the regulatory fees.

The broker initial application fee in Delaware is $248, plus a $25 Guaranty Fund fee. The broker licensing exam costs $85 per attempt through Pearson VUE. Applicants must also complete a 99-hour Delaware broker pre-licensing course from an approved provider, and course tuition varies by school. All fees are processed through the DELPROS online system and are non-refundable.

The DC Real Estate Commission charges a $65 application fee, a $170 broker license fee, and a $60 Real Estate Guaranty and Education Fund fee. You must also complete 135 hours of broker pre-licensing education from a commission-approved provider, with tuition varying by provider, and pass the broker exam administered by PSI. Application fees are non-refundable per D.C. Code Section 47-2853.10, even if the applicant withdraws or is found not qualified.

The Florida Department of Business and Professional Regulation (DBPR) charges a $91.75 broker application fee, broken down as $14.75 nonrefundable application fee, $72 license fee, and $5 unlicensed activity fee. Pearson VUE charges $36.75 per exam attempt, and fingerprinting through an FDLE-registered Livescan provider typically costs $50 to $80. The 72-hour broker pre-licensing course generally ranges from $250 to $500 depending on provider and format, and the 60-hour post-licensing course runs $150 to $400. Optional exam prep materials can add $100 to $250.

The fixed government fees for a Georgia broker license include a $170 license fee, comprising a $45 activation fee plus a $125 four-year renewal fee, or $145 if paid through the Commission's online system. A fingerprint-based criminal background check through GAPS costs $39.99 for a Georgia-only check or $51.99 for a combined Georgia and FBI check. The broker licensing exam carries a separate per-attempt fee, and the 60-hour broker pre-license course is available from GREC-approved schools with tuition varying by provider. Broker applicants must have held an active salesperson license for at least 3 of the past 5 years, so the cost of obtaining that prerequisite license applies first.

The Hawaii real estate broker exam costs $61 per attempt, and the individual broker license application fee is $382 in an odd-numbered year or $282 in an even-numbered year, per Hawaii Administrative Rules Chapter 53, effective October 10, 2016. Broker sole proprietor registration costs $65, and broker entity registration (corporation, partnership, LLC, or LLP) costs $486 in odd-numbered years or $349 in even-numbered years. Candidates must also complete a Commission-accredited broker prelicense course, and a $25 non-refundable application fee applies if the application is not approved.

The state and processing fees for a broker license include a $135 application fee (effective January 1, 2026), an $80 exam fee per attempt, and a $61.25 fingerprint processing fee. Broker pre-license education requires a minimum of 90 hours, including Brokerage Management (28 hours), Real Estate Law (30 hours), and two elective courses, with tuition varying by education provider. Applicants seeking a Designated Broker license must also complete the Business Conduct and Office Operations (BCOO) course, and all applicants must obtain errors and omissions insurance before the license is activated.

The fixed costs to obtain an Illinois broker license are the Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation (IDFPR) application fee and the $58 per-attempt examination fee paid to PSI. Fingerprinting and criminal background check costs vary by the IDFPR-licensed vendor. The 75-hour pre-licensing education requirement is the largest variable expense, with costs depending on the provider, course format, and included features.

The regulated fees for an Indiana broker license are a $60 application fee (nonrefundable), a $55 exam fee per attempt through Pearson VUE, and a $38.20 criminal background check through IdentoGo. Pre-licensing course costs vary by provider. After licensing, new brokers must complete 30 hours of post-licensing education within the first two years after license issuance, and the license renews every 3 years for a $60 renewal fee. A $50 late fee applies if the renewal is submitted after the expiration date, in addition to the standard renewal fee.

The broker license application fee is $170, and the exam fee is $95 per attempt through PSI. The criminal background check costs $51 through the Iowa Real Estate Commission, plus a variable fee for fingerprinting services through a third-party provider. Broker pre-license education consists of 60 hours across nine required courses, with costs varying by provider. Errors and omissions insurance is required, with premiums varying by coverage level, and all applications must be submitted electronically through the "My Iowa PLB" portal.

Broker applicants pay a total of $295 to the Kansas Real Estate Commission, consisting of a $50 application fee, $70 background fee, and $175 license fee. An additional $100 Open Company fee applies if you open a new company or branch office. The licensing exam costs $70 when both portions are scheduled together, paid directly to Pearson VUE. Effective July 1, 2025, all fees related to original licensure and license renewal are waived for qualifying military spouses under 2025 HB 2280.

The initial broker application fee for upgrading from a sales associate license is $60, and the PSI examination fee is $100 per attempt. Broker applicants must complete 21 academic credit hours (or 336 classroom hours) of qualifying education, including 3 credit hours (48 classroom hours) in Brokerage Management, and must have at least 2 years of experience as a licensed Kentucky sales associate averaging 20 or more hours per week. Additional variable costs include broker education course tuition and errors and omissions (E&O) insurance, which differ by provider.

The initial broker license fee is $120 per Louisiana statute RS 37:1443, plus a $25 processing fee. Broker applicants must also complete 150 hours of LREC-approved pre-licensing education, pass the broker licensing exam administered by Pearson VUE, complete a fingerprint-based background check at $60.75 through IdentoGO, and obtain errors and omissions insurance at $149 per year through the Louisiana Real Estate Commission (LREC) group policy. Pre-licensing course tuition varies by provider and is the largest variable cost.

The Broker/Designated Broker license application fee is $100, and the criminal records check fee is $21, both paid to the Maine Real Estate Commission. You must also complete the Designated Broker Course with a minimum final grade of 75%, and course costs vary by provider. The license term is 2 years, and the biennial renewal fee for an active license is $100.

The fixed costs to obtain a Maryland real estate broker license include a $44 exam fee per attempt paid to PSI and a $211 original broker license fee (which includes a $20 Guaranty Fund payment), effective April 27, 2026. Applicants must also complete a 135-hour broker pre-licensing course from an approved education provider, and course tuition varies by school. A credit report not more than one year old is required as part of the application.

The fixed fees to obtain a Massachusetts real estate broker license include a $106 broker exam fee and an initial license fee of $142 to $200, prorated based on the licensee's date of birth. Broker candidates must also secure a $5,000 surety bond from an insurance provider. The required 40 additional hours of pre-licensing broker education at a Board-approved school is priced by individual providers and varies depending on the school and package selected.

A Michigan real estate broker license costs $143 for the new application, which includes the 3-year license fee. The PSI-administered broker exam costs $79 per attempt. Broker prelicensure education requires 90 hours of approved coursework, and 90-hour course packages generally cost $650 or more depending on the provider and format. After licensure, renewal costs $108 per 3-year cycle, and 18 hours of continuing education are required each cycle.

The initial real estate broker license fee in Minnesota is $190, which consists of a $150 base license fee, $30 for the real estate education, research and recovery fund, and a $10 technology surcharge. Before applying, candidates must complete a 30-hour broker pre-license course, and course tuition varies by approved education provider. PSI Services administers the broker licensing exam at $68 for the combined state and national portions, or $45 for a single section. Broker license renewal costs $130 ($100 base + $20 recovery fund + $10 technology surcharge) every two years.

The broker license application fee paid to MREC is $100, and the PSI examination fee is $75 per attempt for both portions. Broker pre-licensing education requires 120 hours of coursework, with costs varying by provider. The criminal background check is currently free, with a $25 fee scheduled to take effect October 1, 2026. All active licensees must carry errors and omissions insurance, with the MREC group policy premium capped at $250 per 12-month period; the requirement is void if coverage cannot be obtained at that price. Upon licensure, brokers must complete a 30-hour post-license course within 12 months, with costs varying by provider.

Regulatory fees for a Missouri broker license include a $150 application fee, a $52 exam fee per attempt, and a $40.50 fingerprinting background check fee. Applicants must also complete a 48-hour broker pre-examination course from an MREC-approved provider, and course costs vary by provider. All application fees are nonrefundable. A broker applicant must also hold an active Missouri salesperson license for at least 24 of the last 30 months before applying.

The broker application fee paid to the Montana Board of Realty Regulation is $90, and the exam fee is $95 per portion (national and state). Pre-licensing education costs vary by provider for the required 60-hour course. Proof of professional liability and errors and omissions (E&O) insurance is also required under MCA 37-51-325, and the Board offers a group E&O policy for enrollment. If the applicant pursues a supervising broker endorsement, an additional 8-hour pre-endorsement course is required.

The Nevada real estate broker initial license application fee is $160, paid on Form 549 to the Nevada Real Estate Division. Broker applicants must also complete 64 semester credits of education, including a 45-hour Broker Management course (Nevada-specific) that cannot be waived through experience, and the cost of this coursework varies by education provider. Additional required costs include fingerprinting and a credit report completed within 30 days of application.

The New Hampshire Real Estate Commission charges a $121 application fee for a broker license. Broker candidates must also complete a 60-hour approved pre-licensing course, the cost of which varies by education provider, and pass the broker licensing examination administered by PSI, with exam fees paid directly to PSI during online registration. A background check is required, and active principal or managing brokers must obtain a surety bond. The Office of Professional Licensure and Certification (OPLC) lists accredited broker course providers on its education and training page.

The initial broker license fee in New Jersey is $270, which applies to broker of record, sole proprietor broker, and broker-salesperson license types. The 150-hour broker prelicensure education requirement consists of a 90-hour general course plus two 30-hour courses on Agency/Ethics and Office Management, and course costs vary by school and format. Broker license renewal costs $200 every two years, and reinstatement of an unrenewed broker license costs $250.

The exam fee is $95 per attempt, the license application fee is $270, and a $30 recovery fee applies to initial applications. Fingerprinting, errors and omissions insurance, and prelicensing coursework costs are set by outside vendors and approved education providers, not by the commission.

The fixed state fees for a New York real estate broker license total $200: a $185 initial application fee (comprising a $155 base fee plus a $30 mandatory surcharge) and a $15 exam fee. You must also complete 152 hours of approved qualifying education, and the cost of the broker course varies by provider. Application fees are nonrefundable, and a $20 fee applies to any check returned by the bank.

The total cost to obtain a North Carolina real estate broker license includes several separate fees. The application fee paid to the North Carolina Real Estate Commission is $105. Pearson charges $63 to administer the comprehensive two-part license examination, or $53 for a single-section retake. A criminal record report from CriminalRecordCheck.com (CRC), the Commission's authorized vendor, is also required, and the cost varies depending on the number of states and counties searched and the number of names checked. Prelicensing course tuition varies by education provider and course format, as the state requires a 75-hour minimum but does not regulate provider pricing.

The broker application fee is $150, with an $11.25 credit history fee, for a total online payment of $161.25. Additional costs include a $40 fingerprinting analysis fee paid to the North Dakota Attorney General, a $134 exam fee per attempt paid to PSI, a $20 one-time Recovery Fund payment, and $187 per calendar year for errors and omissions (E&O) insurance. Resident broker applicants must also complete a 60-hour broker pre-licensure course, with course fees set by the school.

The Broker Examination Application fee is $135, payable to the Ohio Division of Real Estate and Professional Licensing, and the PSI exam registration fee is $63 for both the state and national portions taken at the same time. Background check costs typically range from $50 to $100 depending on the WebCheck provider. Broker applicants must also complete 120 hours of broker-specific education (Financial Management, Human Resource/Personnel Management, Applied Business Economics, and Business Law, each 30 hours) plus 100 hours of salesperson prerequisite courses, and education costs vary by provider.

Regulated fees for a broker license, per the OREC fee schedule effective November 1, 2024, include a $35 application processing fee, a $60 background check through IdentoGO, and a $90 broker exam fee per portion through Pearson VUE. After passing the exam, the license issuance fee is $265 for an active Broker Associate, $300 for an active Managing or Branch Broker, or $420 for an active Broker Proprietor, with all amounts including the Education Fee. Education requirements include a 90-hour broker course and, for Broker Proprietor or Managing or Branch Broker, a 15-hour Broker in Charge course; tuition for these courses varies by provider.

Fixed regulatory costs include the $300 nonrefundable application fee, the $75 exam fee per attempt, and the $56.25 fingerprinting fee paid at the PSI test center. Pre-license education from an Agency-approved school is also required, and tuition varies by provider and course format. Exam scores and background check clearances are each valid for one year, so the Agency can issue a license only while both are current.

Pennsylvania broker initial fees vary by license type: Associate Broker pays $97, Broker Multi-Licensee (Broker of Record) pays $119.50, Broker Sole Proprietor pays $169.50, and Broker Corporation/LLC/Partnership pays $179.50. A $40 examination fee is also paid through the Pennsylvania Licensing System (PALS) portal as part of the broker application. Required pre-licensing education consists of 240 hours (16 credits), and course costs vary by provider.

Broker licensure requires completing Unit IIIA and Unit IIIB pre-licensing courses (60 hours total) and passing the broker exam administered by PSI. The exam fee is $63 for both portions or $55 for a single portion. Applicants must hold 5 years of active South Carolina associate licensure within the lookback period established by state law before applying. The Broker-in-Charge initial licensing fee is $250 for those who pursue BIC designation after obtaining a broker license.

The application fee for a South Dakota broker associate license is $225, and the fingerprint and background check fee is $50 payable to the Division of Criminal Investigation (DCI). Exam fees are payable to PSI at registration, and active licensees must carry errors and omissions insurance. Pre-licensing education costs vary by provider and format, with online, hybrid, and classroom options on the state's approved-education list. The renewal fee is $125 every 2 years.

The initial Real Estate Broker application fee is $91, submitted online through core.tn.gov. The broker exam costs $63.00 for the full exam, $26.00 for the state-only section, or $37.00 for the national-only section. Broker candidates must also complete 120 classroom hours of approved education (including a 30-hour Office/Broker Management course), obtain errors and omissions insurance, and complete electronic fingerprinting through IdentoGO (Service Code 28TZ99) if not already on file with TREC. Brokers licensed after January 1, 2001 must also complete 120 additional hours of Commission-approved education within three years of their broker license issuance.

The individual broker original application fee is $308.00 total, per the TREC fee schedule effective December 15, 2025. This breaks down as $150.00 base application fee, $8.00 Texas Online fee, $140.00 Texas A&M Research Center fee, and $10.00 Real Estate Recovery Fee. The broker examination fee is $58.00 per attempt, paid to the exam provider at the time of reservation. The fingerprint fee is $37.00, paid to IDEMIA if the applicant has not previously been fingerprinted for TREC. Broker applicants must also complete 270 classroom hours of qualifying education plus 630 hours of related education, and education costs vary by provider.

The broker new application fee in Utah is $160 total, which includes a $100 application fee, $18 recovery fund fee, $32 fingerprint processing fee, and $10 FBI RAPBACK enrollment fee. Broker candidates must also complete 120 hours of approved broker education and pay the $69 Pearson VUE exam fee per attempt. Pre-licensing course costs vary by provider.

The Vermont broker application fee is $100, the national exam administered by PSI costs $110 per attempt, and the state exam is included in the online application at no separate fee. The biennial renewal fee is $220. Prelicensing course costs vary by provider, but the 40-hour broker prelicensing course is a required expense before applying.

The Virginia broker licensing exam costs $60 per attempt, paid directly to PSI, and fingerprinting costs approximately $52 at a PSI test center. Broker pre-licensing education requires 180 hours of Board-approved courses, with costs varying by provider. Broker applicants must have been actively engaged as a salesperson full-time (averaging 40 hours per week) for 36 of the 48 months preceding application, and must submit a license application with applicable fees to the Virginia Department of Professional and Occupational Regulation (DPOR). All fees are non-refundable.

The Washington Department of Licensing (DOL) charges $210 for the broker exam (per attempt and per retake) and $233 for the original broker license, which includes a mandatory $20 research fee. Fingerprinting and background check fees are set by the vendor and are not listed on the DOL real estate fees page. Pre-licensing education costs vary by provider, and 90 hours are required: a 60-hour Real Estate Fundamentals course and a 30-hour Real Estate Practices course.

The West Virginia Real Estate Commission charges a $25 exam application fee and a $150 broker license fee for the initial and any subsequent license. Pearson VUE charges $59 per exam section, totaling $118 for both the national and state portions of the broker exam. Broker applicants must complete 180 clock hours of pre-licensing education (or 90 hours if already a licensed WV salesperson), and the cost of these courses varies by provider. A National Criminal Background Check is also required, with the fee set by the vendor.

The broker license application fee is $60 (Form 809), and the broker exam fee is $65 per attempt through Pearson VUE. Wisconsin requires 72 hours of Board-approved broker pre-license education, which must be completed within four years before applying (alternatives include 20 semester hour credits in real estate or related law, or being licensed to practice law in Wisconsin). Pre-license course costs vary by provider and format, with online courses generally costing less than live classroom options.

Broker applicants in Wyoming must complete Broker Course I, Broker Course II, and Wyoming Law courses, plus the Wyoming Broker Management course for Responsible Broker applicants, before passing the National and State Broker exams administered by Pearson VUE. Applicants must also pay for fingerprint cards, errors and omissions insurance, and exam fees. Total licensing costs generally run around $1,200 to $1,500 depending on whether courses are taken locally or require travel. Course costs vary by provider and delivery format.