What is the difference between a real estate agent, a real estate broker, and a Realtor?

An agent (also called a salesperson) is licensed to help clients buy, sell, and rent property but must work under a licensed broker. A broker holds a higher-level license that permits independent practice and firm ownership, and states typically require additional education plus experience as a sales agent, with most requiring at least 2 years. A Realtor is not a license type: it is a licensed agent or broker who belongs to the National Association of Realtors and follows its Code of Ethics.

A real estate agent is a licensed professional who helps clients buy, sell, or rent property but must work under a licensed broker. A real estate broker has additional education and experience requirements and can work independently, hire agents, and manage their own business; in Alabama, broker applicants must have held an active salesperson license for at least 24 of the 36 months preceding application and complete a 60-hour broker prelicense course. A REALTOR® is a licensed agent or broker who is a member of the National Association of REALTORS® (NAR), pays membership dues, and agrees to abide by NAR's Code of Ethics.

A real estate agent (called a "salesperson" in Alaska statute) is licensed to help clients buy, sell, or rent property and must work under a licensed broker. A real estate broker has met additional education and experience requirements, can work independently, and can supervise agents; in Alaska, a broker must complete 30 hours of approved broker training and have 36 months of active licensee experience within the last 60 months. A REALTOR® is a licensed agent or broker who is a member of the National Association of REALTORS® (NAR) and adheres to its Code of Ethics; not all agents or brokers are REALTORS®.

A real estate agent is a licensed professional who facilitates property transactions between buyers and sellers and must work under a licensed broker. A real estate broker has met additional education and experience requirements; in Arizona, broker candidates must have at least three years of experience as a licensed salesperson within the five years immediately preceding the application, complete a 90-hour broker pre-licensing course and 9 hours of Broker Management Clinic courses, and pass the broker exam. Brokers can work independently and may employ agents. A REALTOR® is a licensed real estate professional who is a member of the National Association of REALTORS® (NAR) and adheres to its Code of Ethics; all REALTORS® are licensed real estate professionals, but not all real estate agents are REALTORS®.

A real estate agent (called a "salesperson" in Arkansas license law) helps clients buy, sell, or rent properties but must work under a licensed broker. A broker has completed additional education and experience requirements and can work independently, hire agents, and supervise other licensees; Arkansas recognizes three broker types: Associate Brokers (no supervisory authority), Executive Brokers (may sign contracts and supervise salespersons and Associate Brokers), and Principal Brokers (responsible for all activities of licensed persons in an office). A REALTOR® is a licensed real estate professional who has joined the National Association of REALTORS® (NAR) and agreed to abide by NAR's Code of Ethics; a REALTOR® may be either an agent or a broker.

A real estate agent (legally called a "salesperson" in California) is a licensed individual who must work under the supervision of a licensed broker to perform real estate activities. A real estate broker has met additional requirements, including 8 college-level courses and 2 years of full-time licensed salesperson experience within the last 5 years (or equivalent experience, or a 4-year degree with a major or minor in real estate), and can work independently, hire agents, and supervise salespersons. A REALTOR® is a member of the National Association of REALTORS® (NAR) who agrees to abide by NAR's Code of Ethics; a REALTOR® can be either an agent or a broker.

In Colorado, all licensed real estate professionals are brokers; there is no separate salesperson or agent license tier. The entry-level license is the Associate Broker (FA), for those with less than two years of active broker experience, who must work under an employing broker. Independent and Employing Broker levels require two or more years of active broker experience, with the Employing level also requiring a 24-hour brokerage administration course. A REALTOR® is a licensed real estate professional who is also a member of the National Association of REALTORS® (NAR) and adheres to NAR's Code of Ethics; not all licensed brokers are REALTORS®.

A real estate agent (called a "salesperson" in Connecticut) is a licensed professional who must work under a broker's supervision, while a broker has additional education, experience, and exam requirements and can work independently or hire agents. A REALTOR® is a licensed agent or broker who has joined the National Association of REALTORS® (NAR) and subscribes to its Code of Ethics; not all licensed agents or brokers are REALTORS®.

A real estate agent is a general term for a licensed professional who helps clients buy, sell, or rent property; in Delaware, this entry-level license is called a "salesperson," and the licensee must work under a sponsoring broker and cannot practice independently. A real estate broker holds a higher-level license that permits independent practice and supervision of salespersons; Delaware defines a broker as "primarily responsible for the day-to-day management and supervision of a brokerage organization" (24 Del. C. § 2907(d)). A REALTOR® is a real estate professional who has joined the National Association of REALTORS® (NAR) and agreed to abide by its Code of Ethics; the term applies to both agents and brokers who are NAR members, and only NAR members may use the REALTOR® designation.

A real estate agent (called a "salesperson" on DC licenses) is licensed to help clients buy, sell, and rent property but must work under a licensed broker. A broker has met additional education and experience requirements and can operate independently, hire agents, and manage a real estate business. In DC, a salesperson needs 60 hours of pre-licensing education, while a broker needs 135 hours plus 2 years of experience as a licensed salesperson with an active license. A REALTOR® is any real estate professional, agent or broker, who joins the National Association of REALTORS® (NAR) and pays membership dues. NAR had approximately 1.4 million members in 2025, of which 64% were licensed sales agents, 22% were brokers, and 16% held broker associate licenses.

A real estate sales associate (or agent) is licensed to help clients buy, sell, or rent properties but must work under the supervision of a licensed broker, as defined in Florida Statute 475.01. A broker has additional education and experience requirements, including at least 24 months as an active sales associate and completion of a 72-hour pre-licensing course, and can work independently, hire agents, and manage their own business. A REALTOR® is a licensed real estate professional who is a member of the National Association of REALTORS® (NAR), pays annual membership dues, and must adhere to NAR's Code of Ethics; a REALTOR® may be either a sales associate or a broker.

A real estate agent (or salesperson) is licensed to help clients buy, sell, or rent property but must work under a licensed broker who holds the agent's license. A real estate broker has completed additional education (60 hours in Georgia), held an active salesperson license for at least 3 of the preceding 5 years, and passed a broker exam, allowing the broker to work independently, hire agents, and manage a real estate business. A REALTOR® is a member of the National Association of REALTORS® (NAR) who agrees to abide by NAR's Code of Ethics; a REALTOR® can be either an agent or a broker, and NAR dues are $156 per year plus a $45 special assessment as of 2027.

A real estate agent is a licensed professional who facilitates property transactions between buyers and sellers but must work under a licensed broker. A real estate broker has completed additional education and experience requirements, can work independently, and may employ and supervise agents. A REALTOR® is a licensed real estate professional who has joined the National Association of REALTORS® (NAR) and agreed to abide by NAR's Code of Ethics; only NAR members may use the title "REALTOR®."

A real estate agent helps clients buy, sell, or rent properties but must work under a licensed broker and cannot practice independently. A real estate broker has completed additional education and experience requirements and may work independently, hire agents, and operate a brokerage. A REALTOR® is a licensed real estate professional who is a member of the National Association of REALTORS® (NAR) and subscribes to NAR's Code of Ethics; a REALTOR® may be either an agent or a broker, and not all agents or brokers are REALTORS®.

In Illinois, the entry-level real estate license is called a broker license; the state does not issue a separate "agent" or "salesperson" license. A managing broker is a licensee who has held a broker license for at least 2 of the preceding 3 years and has completed additional education requirements, allowing them to sponsor other licensees and operate a brokerage. A REALTOR® is any licensed real estate professional who has joined the National Association of REALTORS® (NAR) and pays membership dues; not all brokers are REALTORS®.

A real estate agent is a general term for a licensed professional who helps clients buy, sell, or rent property. A real estate broker has additional education and licensing requirements and can work independently, hire agents, or supervise other licensees. In Indiana, all licensed real estate professionals are designated as brokers rather than salespersons. A REALTOR® is a licensed real estate professional who is also a member of the National Association of REALTORS® (NAR) and must adhere to the NAR Code of Ethics; not all agents or brokers are REALTORS®.

A real estate salesperson (commonly called an agent) is licensed to help clients buy, sell, or rent properties but must work under the supervision of a licensed broker. In Iowa, a salesperson cannot conduct business independently and must be assigned to a sponsoring broker. A broker has additional requirements: in Iowa, broker applicants must have 24 months of active salesperson experience and complete 60 hours of broker pre-license education across nine courses. Brokers can work independently, hire agents, and supervise salespersons. A REALTOR® is a licensed real estate professional who holds membership in the National Association of REALTORS® (NAR) and agrees to follow the NAR Code of Ethics; not all agents or brokers are REALTORS®, since the designation requires NAR membership and dues.

A real estate salesperson (commonly called an agent) is licensed to help clients buy, sell, or rent property but must work under a supervising broker. A real estate broker has completed additional education and experience requirements, can work independently, and can supervise salespersons. A REALTOR® is a licensed real estate professional who also holds membership in the National Association of REALTORS® and must follow the NAR Code of Ethics; the Kansas Real Estate Commission does not require licensees to join any board or association.

A real estate sales associate (commonly called an agent) must work under a broker and cannot practice independently; in Kentucky, obtaining this license requires 96 hours of pre-license education and passing the PSI exam. A broker is licensed to manage their own real estate business and supervise sales associates; Kentucky requires brokers to have at least 2 years of experience working at least 20 hours per week as a licensee, plus 336 classroom hours or 21 academic credit hours of broker education including 48 hours in Brokerage Management. A REALTOR® is a licensed real estate professional who has joined the National Association of REALTORS® (NAR) through a local and state REALTOR® association and subscribes to NAR's Code of Ethics; not all real estate agents are REALTORS®.

A real estate salesperson (agent) must work under the supervision of a licensed broker and cannot operate independently or accept compensation directly. A broker has met additional requirements: 4 years as an active licensee (with 2 of those years immediately preceding application), 150 hours of LREC-approved pre-licensing education including a mandatory 30-hour Louisiana-specific course, passage of the broker licensing examination, and proof of E&O insurance. A REALTOR® is a licensed agent or broker who has joined the National Association of REALTORS® (NAR) through a local association and pays membership dues; REALTORS® must abide by NAR's Code of Ethics and complete ethics training every three years.

In Maine, a real estate agent (called a Sales Agent) is an entry-level licensee who must work under the supervision of a designated broker at a licensed agency; the Sales Agent license is valid for 2 years and is non-renewable. A real estate broker (Broker/Designated Broker in Maine) is the top licensing tier, requiring 2 years of experience as an associate broker and completion of the Designated Broker Course with a minimum grade of 75%. A broker may manage their own business and serve as the designated broker for an agency. A REALTOR® is a licensed real estate professional who has joined the National Association of REALTORS® (NAR) and must follow NAR's Code of Ethics; a REALTOR® may be either an agent or a broker.

A real estate agent is licensed to help clients buy, sell, and rent property but must work under the supervision of a licensed broker. A real estate broker has completed additional education and experience requirements and is licensed to work independently, hire agents, and oversee transactions. A REALTOR® is a member of the National Association of REALTORS® and may be either an agent or a broker; only NAR members may use the "REALTOR®" designation and must abide by NAR's Code of Ethics.

A real estate salesperson must be affiliated with a broker and work under the broker's supervision; a salesperson cannot operate an independent business or control escrow funds. A real estate broker negotiates agreements to sell, exchange, purchase, rent, or lease property for a fee, accepts and escrows all funds, finalizes transactions, and supervises salespersons. Brokers in Massachusetts must hold a $5,000 surety bond. A REALTOR® is a licensed real estate professional who has joined the National Association of REALTORS® (NAR) and agrees to abide by its Code of Ethics; not all licensed agents are REALTORS®.

A real estate salesperson (commonly called an agent) is licensed to help clients buy, sell, or rent property but must work under a licensed broker. A real estate broker has completed additional education (90 hours vs. 40 for a salesperson), has at least 3 years of full-time real estate experience, and can work independently and employ salespersons. A REALTOR® is a licensed real estate professional who also belongs to the National Association of REALTORS® (NAR) and agrees to abide by NAR's Code of Ethics; a REALTOR® can be either a salesperson or a broker.

A real estate agent (called a "salesperson" in Minnesota statutes) is licensed to facilitate property transactions but must work under a licensed broker and cannot practice independently. A real estate broker has additional education and experience requirements, can work independently, hire agents, and receives a portion of the commissions earned by agents under their supervision. In Minnesota, a salesperson must complete 90 hours of pre-licensing education and pass the salesperson exam, while a broker must complete a 30-hour broker course, have at least 3 years of active licensed salesperson experience within the previous 5 years, and pass the broker exam. A REALTOR® is a licensed real estate professional who is also a member of the National Association of REALTORS® (NAR) and must abide by NAR's Code of Ethics; not all real estate agents are REALTORS®.

A real estate salesperson is licensed to perform real estate activities only under the supervision of a licensed broker and cannot operate independently. A real estate broker holds a higher-level license that permits managing a real estate business, employing salespersons, and supervising their activities; in Mississippi, broker applicants must be at least 21 years old and have held an active salesperson license for at least 12 months. A REALTOR® is a licensed real estate professional who has joined the National Association of REALTORS® (NAR) through a local association and must follow NAR's Code of Ethics; the designation is a membership title, not a separate license type.

A real estate agent (salesperson) is licensed to work under a supervising broker and cannot practice independently. A broker has completed additional education and experience requirements and may operate an independent firm, hire agents, and supervise salespersons. A REALTOR® is a licensed agent or broker who is a member of the National Association of REALTORS® (NAR) and must abide by NAR's Code of Ethics; not all agents or brokers are REALTORS®.

A real estate agent, formally titled "Real Estate Salesperson" in Montana, must work under a licensed broker with a supervising broker endorsement and cannot practice independently. A real estate broker has completed 60 hours of pre-licensing education, has at least two years of experience as a licensed salesperson, has earned 30 experience points from qualifying transactions and activities, and can operate an independent business. A REALTOR® is a licensed agent or broker who has joined the National Association of REALTORS® (NAR) and agreed to abide by its Code of Ethics; "REALTOR®" is a membership designation, not a license type.

In Nebraska, a salesperson's license allows the licensee to engage in all phases of the real estate business, but only when employed by and under the direct supervision of a licensed broker. A broker's license permits the licensee to work independently as a self-employed broker or as an associate broker under another licensed broker, and requires 60 additional clock hours of education plus 2 years of full-time salesperson experience. A REALTOR® is a licensed real estate professional who is a member of the National Association of REALTORS® (NAR); only NAR members may use the term "REALTOR®," and they subscribe to NAR's code of ethics.

In Nevada, a real estate salesperson (commonly called an agent) must complete 120 hours of pre-licensing education, pass the state and national exams, and work under a sponsoring broker; the initial license fee is $140. A real estate broker can operate independently and supervise agents, and must hold 64 semester credits of education plus document 2 years of active full-time experience within the last 4 years; the broker license fee is $160. A REALTOR® is not a license type but a trademarked membership designation of the National Association of REALTORS® (NAR); any licensed agent or broker who joins a local NAR association and pays dues ($156 annually for 2027, plus a $45 special assessment) may use the term and must abide by the NAR Code of Ethics.

A real estate salesperson, commonly called an agent, must work under a sponsoring broker and completes a 40-hour pre-licensing course to qualify for licensure in New Hampshire. A real estate broker holds an upgraded license that permits operating an independent brokerage and supervising salespersons; becoming a broker requires a 60-hour pre-licensing course, at least one year of full-time experience as a salesperson (or equivalent part-time hours), and documented involvement in multiple real estate transactions. A REALTOR® is a licensed agent or broker who has joined the National Association of REALTORS® (NAR) through a local association and pays membership dues; not all licensed agents are REALTORS®.

A real estate agent (called a "salesperson" in New Jersey law) must work under a licensed broker and earns a portion of the commission from each transaction. A real estate broker has completed additional education and experience requirements, can work independently, hire agents, and supervise transactions. A REALTOR® is a licensed real estate professional who has joined the National Association of REALTORS® (NAR) and agreed to abide by its Code of Ethics; not all agents or brokers are REALTORS®.

A real estate agent is licensed to help clients buy, sell, and rent property and must work under a licensed broker. A real estate broker has completed additional education and licensing requirements and can work independently or supervise agents. In New Mexico, the Real Estate Commission issues two types of broker licenses: associate broker (the entry-level license, filling the role other states call a salesperson or agent) and qualifying broker (the supervisory level who manages a brokerage). A REALTOR® is a member of the National Association of REALTORS® and may be either an agent or a broker; the term is a registered trademark of NAR and requires adherence to the NAR Code of Ethics and payment of annual membership dues. In New Mexico, licensees can join the Greater Albuquerque Association of REALTORS®, which automatically provides membership in the New Mexico Association of REALTORS® and NAR.

A real estate agent is a broad term for a licensed individual who helps clients buy, sell, or rent property; New York's formal license title is "salesperson." A real estate broker has met additional requirements, including 152 hours of qualifying education and at least two years of experience as a licensed salesperson (or three years in general real estate), and can work independently and supervise salespersons. A REALTOR® is a member of the National Association of REALTORS® (NAR) who subscribes to its Code of Ethics; the term is a registered membership mark, not a license type, and both salespersons and brokers can hold it.

In North Carolina, every licensee is a broker; "real estate agent" is a generic term, not a separate license category, and the entry-level status is Provisional Broker. A broker who has completed the required 90 hours of Postlicensing education moves to full broker status and can work independently. A REALTOR® is a licensed agent or broker who is also a member of the National Association of REALTORS® (NAR) and must abide by NAR's Code of Ethics; not all agents or brokers are REALTORS®.

A real estate agent is a generic term for a licensed real estate professional, while a real estate broker is a higher-level licensee who has held an active Ohio salesperson license for at least two of the last five years, completed 20 transactions, met additional education requirements, and passed the broker exam with a score of 75. A REALTOR® is a licensed agent or broker who has joined the National Association of REALTORS® (NAR) by paying membership dues to a local, state, and national association, and who must adhere to the NAR Code of Ethics and complete ethics training every three years.

A real estate agent is licensed to help clients buy, sell, or rent properties but must work under a licensed broker. A broker has additional education, experience, and exam requirements, and can work independently, hire agents, and manage their own real estate business. A REALTOR® is a member of the National Association of REALTORS® (NAR) who must follow its Code of Ethics; a REALTOR® can be an agent, a broker, or another real estate professional.

In Oregon, a real estate broker holds the entry-level license and can conduct professional real estate activity while associated with and supervised by a managing principal broker. A REALTOR® is a licensed real estate professional who is a member of the National Association of REALTORS® (NAR) and agrees to follow its Code of Ethics; holding a broker license does not make someone a REALTOR®. The term "real estate agent" is a general term for any licensed professional who facilitates property transactions, and in Oregon, all entry-level licensees are called brokers rather than agents or salespersons.

A real estate agent, called a "salesperson" in Pennsylvania law, is a licensed individual who works under a broker to help clients buy, sell, lease, or rent real estate and cannot practice independently. A real estate broker has completed 240 hours of professional real estate education, documented at least 3 years of experience as a licensed salesperson, and passed both portions of the broker exam; brokers can work independently and supervise salespersons. A REALTOR® is a licensed real estate professional who is a member of the National Association of REALTORS® (NAR) and must follow NAR's Code of Ethics; not all agents or brokers are REALTORS®, and joining requires paying dues to a local REALTOR® association.

A real estate salesperson, commonly called an agent, is licensed to help clients buy, sell, and rent real estate but must work under a licensed broker; in Rhode Island, this requires 45 hours of pre-licensing education and a minimum score of 70 on both parts of the Pearson VUE exam. A real estate broker has met additional requirements under Rhode Island law: 90 hours of approved classroom or live-broadcast education and at least 2 years of full-time experience as a licensed salesperson, validated by the employing broker, and brokers may operate independently and supervise agents. A REALTOR® is a trademarked membership designation from the National Association of REALTORS® (NAR) and may be either an agent or a broker; NAR reported approximately 1.4 million members in its 2025 Member Profile.

In South Carolina, an "associate" is the entry-level real estate license requiring 90 hours of pre-licensing education, while a broker must be at least 21, complete an additional 60 hours of broker pre-licensing education (Unit IIIA and IIIB), and have 5 years of active associate licensure within the past 7 years. A broker-in-charge is a broker designated to supervise associated licensees and manage a brokerage office. A REALTOR® is not a license type but a member of the National Association of REALTORS® (NAR) who agrees to abide by NAR's Code of Ethics; the SC Real Estate Commission is separate from NAR, and ethics is not a state licensing requirement.

A real estate agent (called an "affiliate broker" in Tennessee) must work under a licensed broker and cannot practice independently. A real estate broker has completed additional education, including 120 classroom hours with a 30-hour Office/Broker Management course, and has held an active license for at least 24 to 36 months depending on licensing date. A REALTOR® is a licensed real estate professional who has joined the National Association of REALTORS® (NAR), pays membership dues, and agrees to abide by NAR's Code of Ethics; not all agents or brokers are REALTORS®.

A real estate sales agent is licensed by TREC to act on behalf of a broker and must be sponsored by a licensed broker to perform any real estate services. A real estate broker has completed additional education (270 hours of qualifying courses plus 630 hours of related education), accumulated at least four years of active experience totaling 720 experience points, and passed a separate broker exam; brokers can work independently, sponsor and supervise agents, and collect commissions directly. A REALTOR® is a member of the National Association of REALTORS® (NAR) who agrees to abide by NAR's Code of Ethics; not all licensed agents or brokers are REALTORS®, and membership is voluntary and separate from state licensure.

A real estate agent is licensed to help clients buy, sell, or rent properties but must work under the supervision of a licensed broker. A real estate broker has additional requirements: in Utah, broker applicants must hold three years of full-time licensed active experience within the past five years, complete 120 hours of broker pre-licensing education (30 hours Utah Law, 45 hours Broker Principles, 45 hours Broker Practices), and pass a broker exam with a scaled score of 75 on both portions, compared to 70 for sales agents. Brokers can work independently and supervise agents. A REALTOR® is a member of the National Association of REALTORS® (NAR) who agrees to follow NAR's Code of Ethics; the trademarked term "REALTOR®" applies only to NAR members, and a REALTOR® may be either an agent or a broker.

A real estate agent is a generic term for a licensed salesperson who helps clients buy, sell, or rent property and must work under a licensed broker. A real estate broker has completed additional education and experience requirements (in Vermont, a 40-hour broker pre-licensing course plus two years as a licensed salesperson with at least eight closed transactions) and can work independently, supervise agents, and operate a brokerage. A REALTOR® is a licensed agent or broker who belongs to the National Association of REALTORS® (NAR) and must adhere to NAR's Code of Ethics; the term "REALTOR®" is a trademark reserved for NAR members.

A real estate salesperson, commonly called an agent, is licensed to facilitate property transactions but must work under a licensed broker. A broker has completed 180 hours of broker-specific and broker-related courses, been actively engaged as a salesperson for 36 of the 48 months preceding application, and passed the broker exam; brokers can operate independently and sponsor salespersons. A REALTOR® is a licensed agent or broker who has joined the National Association of REALTORS® (NAR), a private professional organization; state law requires a license to practice real estate but does not require NAR membership.

A real estate agent is a licensed professional who helps clients buy, sell, or rent property but must work under a licensed broker. A real estate broker has additional education and licensing and can work independently, hire agents, and oversee transactions. Washington has two levels of real estate licensure: broker and managing broker. A REALTOR® is a licensed real estate professional who is also a member of the National Association of REALTORS® (NAR) and agrees to abide by NAR's Code of Ethics, so not all agents or brokers are REALTORS®.

In West Virginia, a real estate agent (salesperson) is anyone who earns a real estate license, while a broker has completed additional education beyond the salesperson level and passed a separate broker exam. Brokers can work independently or hire agents, and they bear responsibility for the actions of agents under their supervision. A REALTOR® is a licensed agent or broker who has joined the National Association of REALTORS® (NAR) through a local board; membership is voluntary and requires adhering to NAR's Code of Ethics.

A real estate agent (called a "salesperson" in Wisconsin law) is a licensed professional who facilitates property transactions and must work under the supervision of a licensed broker. A real estate broker has additional education and experience requirements and can work independently, hire agents, and operate a brokerage; in Wisconsin, broker applicants must complete a 72-hour broker pre-license program, have at least two years of experience as a licensed salesperson with 40 points of documented transactions within the last four years, and pass both the salesperson and broker exams. A REALTOR® is a licensed real estate professional (agent or broker) who is a member of the National Association of REALTORS® (NAR), adheres to NAR's Code of Ethics, and must complete ethics training every three years.

A real estate agent is a licensed professional who facilitates property transactions and must work under a sponsoring broker. A real estate broker has completed additional education and experience requirements and is licensed to manage an independent business, employ agents, and oversee transactions. A REALTOR® is a licensed real estate professional who has joined the National Association of REALTORS® (NAR) through a local association, pays membership dues, and adheres to NAR's Code of Ethics. All REALTORS® are licensed real estate professionals, but not all agents or brokers are REALTORS®.