Broker and real estate agent: Arizona Real Estate Broker License Requirements

Earning an Arizona real estate broker license requires at least three years of experience as a licensed salesperson, 90 hours of broker pre-licensing education, 9 hours of Broker Management Clinic courses, and a passing score on the Pearson VUE broker exam. The Arizona Department of Real Estate^[1] (ADRE) governs the process under A.R.S. § 32-2124. The distinction between a broker and real estate agent comes down to licensing level versus professional membership. A broker license grants independent practice authority that a salesperson license does not, while REALTOR® is a membership designation from the National Association of REALTORS®, not a license type.

License levels and professional designations in Arizona real estate

In Arizona, ADRE issues two license levels for real estate professionals: salesperson and broker. The REALTOR® designation reflects NAR membership rather than a state-issued license tier.

Arizona statute uses "salesperson" as the legal designation for an entry-level licensee who works under a sponsoring broker, while "broker" identifies a licensee who has met the upgrade requirements. Three broker tiers operate in practice: an associate broker holds a broker license but chooses to work under a designated broker; a designated broker owns or manages a brokerage and supervises agents; and a self-employed broker operates independently. The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics^[2] reports a median annual wage of $72,280 for real estate brokers as of May 2024, compared with $56,320 for sales agents.

Requirements to become an Arizona real estate broker

Arizona broker applicants must meet five core requirements under A.R.S. § 32-2124^[1]: sufficient licensed experience, broker education, management training, a background clearance, and proof of legal presence. Applicants must also be at least 18 years old and pass the Arizona broker licensing exam.

Experience requirement

The ADRE broker license page^[1] requires a Broker Candidate Experience Verification form (LI-226) documenting a minimum of three years of actual experience as a real estate licensee during the five years immediately preceding the application. The employing designated broker must sign and initial the form, confirming the applicant's active license history. If the salesperson license was held in another state, a certified license history from that state must accompany the form.

Fingerprint Clearance Card and legal presence

A Fingerprint Clearance Card issued by the Arizona Department of Public Safety (DPS) is required for all original broker licenses. Applicants with a felony or misdemeanor conviction may still apply, as long as they are not on probation, parole, or community service and all restitution has been completed, per the ADRE licensing division^[3]. Applicants must disclose any criminal conviction, adverse judgment, or disciplinary action to ADRE in writing within 10 business days. Proof of authorized legal presence in the United States is also required.

Broker pre-licensing education in Arizona

Arizona requires two education components for broker licensure, both available from ADRE-approved schools.

90-hour broker pre-licensing course

The 90-hour Broker Pre-licensing Course covers brokerage management, agency law, contract law, disclosure obligations, fair housing, and real estate legal issues. The course certificate must have been completed within 10 years of the application submission date, per the ADRE broker license page^[1]. Candidates must pass the school's final examination before registering for the state broker exam.

9-hour Broker Management Clinic

The BMC consists of three separate 3-hour courses: BMC #1, BMC #2, and BMC #3. The courses may be taken in any order and are available in online, in-person, and livestream formats. All three BMC certificates must have been completed within 2 years of the application submission date, according to the ADRE broker license page^[1].

The Arizona broker licensing exam

The Arizona broker exam is a computer-based, multiple-choice exam administered by Pearson VUE^[4] at Pearson test centers. Online testing is not available. The exam consists of 180 scored questions plus 15 unscored pretest questions, for a total of 195 questions, according to the ADRE broker examination content outline^[5]. Candidates have 315 minutes to complete the exam and must score at least 75% of the 180 scored questions (135 correct answers) to pass.

Appointments may be scheduled up to one calendar day before the desired test date, subject to availability, per Pearson VUE^[4]. The combined examination application and exam fee is $125, per the ADRE fee schedule^[6]. Candidates receive their score immediately after completing the exam. The exam covers property ownership, financing, contracts, transfer of title, agency disclosures, escrow handling, advertising and marketing, and licensing requirements.

To sit for the exam, candidates must bring the signed LI-226 experience verification form, a certificate proving completion of the broker pre-licensing course, two forms of identification (one government-issued with photo and signature, and one with a valid signature), and a basic non-scientific calculator.

Preparing for the broker exam

Official study materials are available directly from the testing vendor.

How to apply for your Arizona broker license

After passing the broker exam, you must submit your license application to ADRE within one year of the exam date. The application requires the Pearson VUE Broker Examination Score Report, the Broker Pre-licensing Course Certificate, the BMC certificates, the Fingerprint Clearance Card, proof of legal presence, and the signed LI-226 experience verification form, per the ADRE broker license page^[1].

Broker license fee schedule

The following fees apply to obtaining and maintaining an Arizona broker license, per the ADRE fee schedule^[6]:

Broker licenses are issued for a 2-year term, and renewal must occur on or before the last day of the month in which the license was originally issued, per the ADRE licensing page^[7].

Out-of-state broker recognition in Arizona

Brokers licensed in other states can pursue an Arizona broker license through a recognition pathway that does not require the broker pre-licensing course.

The ADRE out-of-state broker recognition page^[8] lists the specific requirements. Out-of-state applicants must provide a certified license history from the state where they have held an equivalent broker license for at least one year, proof of Arizona residency, and the LI-226 form documenting the required experience as a licensee. The BMC certificates must be current at the time of application. A Fingerprint Clearance Card is required.

Timeline for Arizona broker licensure

The experience requirement is the longest part of the broker licensing journey. Once an applicant has the necessary experience, the remaining steps typically take a few months.

The broker course and BMC courses can be completed in parallel with the Fingerprint Clearance Card application, which averages 5 to 8 weeks to process, according to the Arizona Association of REALTORS®^[9]. ADRE limits education credit to no more than 9 hours per day, per the ADRE education division^[10]. Exam scheduling is available through Pearson VUE with advance notice.

Broker career paths in Arizona

An Arizona broker license opens three career paths, each with different supervisory authority and continuing education obligations. An associate broker holds a broker license but works under a designated broker. A designated broker owns or manages a brokerage, supervises agents, and assumes compliance responsibility. A self-employed broker operates independently without employing other licensees.

Continuing education requirements differ by tier. Associate brokers who are not designated, self-employed, or delegated follow the same 24-hour CE standard as salespersons per renewal cycle. Designated, self-employed, and delegated associate brokers must complete 30 hours per cycle, including Broker Management Clinic courses, per the ADRE education division^[10].

Next steps

If you meet the experience requirement, start by enrolling in an ADRE-approved broker pre-licensing course and the BMC courses. Apply for your Fingerprint Clearance Card from Arizona DPS at the same time, since processing takes several weeks. Once you complete the coursework, schedule your broker exam through Pearson VUE. After passing, submit your license application and fees to ADRE within one year. If you plan to operate as a designated or self-employed broker, review the higher CE obligation that applies at each renewal cycle.