Arizona real estate school pre-licensing course requirements

Arizona requires two pre-licensing courses from an ADRE-approved real estate school before you can sit for the salesperson licensing exam: a 90-hour Salesperson Pre-licensing Course covering real estate principles, Arizona license law, agency, financing, and fair housing, and a 6-hour Contract Writing Course focused on drafting Arizona-specific real estate contracts. Both courses must be completed at schools approved by the Arizona Department of Real Estate (ADRE)^[1] Education Division, and each course certificate carries a different validity window that affects when you can apply for your license.

What the Arizona pre-licensing course syllabus covers

The Arizona pre-licensing syllabus requires two courses from an ADRE-approved school: one covering foundational real estate principles and another focused on practical contract writing. Completion certificates from both must accompany your salesperson license application^[2], along with your exam score reports, fingerprint clearance card, and proof of legal presence.

The two courses serve distinct purposes. The longer course builds the knowledge base tested on the state licensing exam, while the shorter course teaches a specific practical skill that Arizona requires of every salesperson. You can take them in either sequence, though most students complete the longer course first.

The 90-hour salesperson pre-licensing course topics

The 90-hour pre-licensing course covers the full scope of real estate knowledge required for Arizona salesperson practice, following the curriculum prescribed by the ADRE under Arizona Administrative Code (AAC) Title 4, Chapter 28. The course combines national real estate principles with Arizona-specific license law and practice, preparing students for both the national and state portions of the licensing exam administered by Pearson VUE^[3].

Topics covered in the 90-hour course include:

• Real estate fundamentals: property types, legal descriptions, rights and interests in real property, forms of ownership, and the distinction between real and personal property
• Arizona license law and ADRE rules: state real estate statutes, the Commissioner's rules and regulations, and ADRE licensing standards
• Agency relationships: agency formation, disclosure requirements, fiduciary duties, and broker-agent relationships
• Contracts and contract law: elements of a valid contract, performance, breach, and termination
• Real estate financing: loan types, financing instruments, mortgage markets, and real estate math calculations
• Property valuation: appraisal methods, land use controls, and property evaluation techniques
• Transfer of title: deeds, title transfer processes, recording, and escrow
• Fair housing and consumer protection: fair housing laws, the Americans with Disabilities Act, disclosure requirements, and ethical issues in real estate practice
• Property management: leasing, landlord-tenant law, and property management responsibilities
• Real estate economics and investment: market analysis, investment principles, foreclosure processes, and real estate terminology

The ADRE Education Division^[1] evaluates the specific curriculum each school delivers, ensuring the content meets state standards for timeliness and completeness. Schools may organize these topics differently across chapters and modules, but every approved 90-hour course must cover the full scope the ADRE prescribes. The Pearson VUE Candidate Handbook contains the detailed content outline that the course is designed to prepare you for.

The 6-hour contract writing course syllabus

The 6-hour Contract Writing Course teaches the practical skill of drafting enforceable real estate contracts under Arizona law. It is a separate requirement from the 90-hour pre-licensing course and covers the specific contract forms and clauses used in Arizona real estate transactions.

The course modules typically include:

• Elements of a valid contract and contract performance
• Termination of contracts
• Conditions and contingencies in real estate transactions
• Drafting contingency clauses
• The role of the Arizona contract writer
• Residential property listing agreements
• Buyer-broker agreements
• The Arizona residential purchase contract
• Writing lease agreements

The Contract Writing Course can be taken before or after the state licensing exam, but the completion certificate must be submitted with your license application^[2]. Because the certificate has a shorter validity window than the 90-hour course certificate, you should time this course to fall close to your application date.

Online, livestream, and in-person course formats

Arizona pre-licensing courses are available in three delivery formats through ADRE-approved schools: online self-paced, livestream instructor-led, and in-person classroom. All three formats satisfy the same education requirement and produce the same completion certificate, but they differ in structure, schedule, and learning experience.

Online self-paced courses let you progress through the material on your own schedule. This format is popular among working professionals who need flexibility, and it allows you to study real estate online from any device. Online courses in Arizona commonly use identity verification systems, such as biometric authentication, to confirm that the enrolled student is the one completing the coursework. Students should have a computer with a webcam and microphone and a government-issued ID for identity verification and exam sessions.

Livestream courses deliver live instruction over video conferencing on a set schedule, combining the structure of a classroom with the convenience of remote attendance. This format offers real estate license classes online with the benefit of asking questions and interacting with an instructor in real time, without commuting to a physical location.

In-person classroom courses meet at school campuses or training centers and offer the most direct interaction with instructors and classmates. Some Arizona community colleges offer ADRE-approved pre-licensing courses for academic credit alongside private real estate academies.

ADRE course approval and how to verify a school

The ADRE Education Division governs which schools may offer pre-licensing education in Arizona. Before enrolling, verify that your chosen school and its courses hold current ADRE approval, because only approved courses count toward licensure.

The ADRE Education Division^[1] provides resources for confirming a school's approval status.

Course completion requirements and the school final exam

ADRE-approved pre-licensing courses require students to pass a proctored final exam to earn their completion certificate. The final exam for the 90-hour course is proctored, meaning an approved proctor verifies your identity and monitors the testing session. Online courses use online proctoring services to meet this requirement. Students who do not pass on the first attempt can typically retake the exam, though retake policies vary by school.

Upon passing the final exam, the school issues a completion certificate. You must submit your certificate when you apply for your license^[2], which means you are responsible for keeping your certificates safe and including them with your application materials.

Schools typically set an enrollment window during which you must complete the course and pass the final exam. Online self-paced courses commonly provide several months to a year of access, while in-person and livestream programs run on fixed schedules that range from a few weeks to a few months. If your enrollment window expires before you finish, you may need to request an extension or repurchase the course, depending on the school's policy.

How long your pre-licensing certificates stay valid

The 90-hour and 6-hour course certificates have different validity windows, and understanding both helps you plan your timeline. The 90-hour Salesperson Pre-licensing Course Certificate must have been completed within 10 years of the date of your license application submission, and the 6-hour Contract Writing Course Certificate must have been completed within 2 years of that same date, according to ADRE's salesperson license requirements^[2].

The 10-year window on the 90-hour certificate gives you significant flexibility, meaning you can complete the foundational course well in advance of applying for your license. The 2-year window on the contract writing certificate is tighter, so you should plan to take that course closer to your application date. If either certificate expires before you submit your application, you must retake the course to earn a new certificate.

Finding a real estate school near you

ADRE-approved schools offering real estate agent training operate throughout Arizona, with options ranging from dedicated real estate academies to community college programs. When choosing a school, consider the format that fits your schedule, the length of course access, and whether the school offers supplementary resources such as practice exams or career support.

Some schools bundle the 90-hour pre-licensing course and the 6-hour contract writing course into a single package, while others sell them separately. Course availability and pricing vary by provider and format, so comparing multiple ADRE-approved schools helps you find the option that matches your budget and timeline.

What to do after finishing your pre-licensing courses

After completing both the 90-hour pre-licensing course and the 6-hour contract writing course, your next step is to register for and pass the Arizona salesperson licensing exam administered by Pearson VUE^[3]. The Pearson VUE Candidate Handbook, available as a free download from their Arizona real estate page, contains the exam content outline and registration instructions. Once you pass the exam, you have one year to submit your license application with both course certificates, your fingerprint clearance card, and proof of legal presence to the ADRE, per ADRE licensing requirements^[2].