Real Estate Broker and real estate agent Licensing in Connecticut

To become a real estate broker in Connecticut, a licensed salesperson must complete 90 hours of broker-specific education, accumulate at least 3 years of active salesperson experience with 1,500 hours and 4 closed transactions, pass the PSI-administered broker exam, and pay the $1,150 license activation fee. The Connecticut Department of Consumer Protection (DCP) oversees all real estate broker licensing, while the REALTOR® designation is a separate voluntary membership through the National Association of REALTORS® (NAR).

The broker licensing process in Connecticut

The path from salesperson to broker follows four stages: meeting the experience requirement, completing the required education, passing the state broker exam, and activating the license. The DCP reviews each application and must approve a candidate before they can register for the exam with PSI.

Broker, salesperson, and REALTOR® designations in Connecticut

In Connecticut, the DCP licenses salespersons (commonly called real estate agents) to work under a broker's supervision, while brokers hold a higher license that allows them to operate independently or run their own brokerage. The real estate agent and broker roles differ in education, experience, and exam requirements, and a broker can work without supervision while a salesperson cannot.

REALTOR® is a trademarked membership designation from NAR, not a state license type. Joining a local REALTOR® board gives a broker or agent access to the Multiple Listing Service (MLS) and binds them to the NAR Code of Ethics. A licensed broker does not need to be a real estate agent to practice real estate in Connecticut.

Experience requirements for the Connecticut broker license

A broker applicant must be at least 18 years old and have been actively engaged as a licensed real estate salesperson in Connecticut for at least 3 years. According to the DCP broker application page^[1], the applicant must have worked under the supervision of a Connecticut-licensed broker for at least 1,500 hours, including no fewer than 4 closed real estate transactions, during the 3 years immediately preceding the application date.

A transaction counts as a legal transfer of real estate property or execution of a lease agreement. The 3-year experience requirement replaced an earlier 2-year standard.

Education requirements for the broker license

Broker applicants must complete 90 hours of mandatory coursework plus an elective requirement. The DCP broker application page^[1] lists three required courses:

The 60-hour Principles and Practices course is the same course required for salesperson licensing, so applicants who already hold a salesperson license may have completed this portion.

For the elective requirement, applicants choose one of three options: two 15-hour pre-license elective courses, one 30-hour pre-license course, or documentation of 20 real estate transactions in the previous 5 years. All courses must be completed through a DCP-approved provider, and the DCP maintains a searchable database of approved schools on its website.

The broker licensing exam

PSI administers the Connecticut broker exam, and candidates must receive DCP approval before registering. The exam fee is $59 per attempt, paid to PSI at the time of scheduling.

Candidates may take the exam an unlimited number of times within one year of the eligibility date. Both portions must be passed within that one-year window; if not, the candidate must reapply with the DCP.

Activating your broker license

After passing both portions of the broker exam, the candidate has two years from the date of the most recently passed portion to activate the license. The DCP broker application page^[1] requires a $1,150 license fee to activate.

Brokers who plan to operate as a legal entity such as an LLC or corporation must submit a separate New Business Entity Application after passing the exam. Brokers who prefer to work under another broker rather than running their own brokerage can request an Associate Broker Designation through a separate form from the DCP.

Broker license renewal and continuing education

Real estate broker licenses expire on November 30 of every even-numbered year, and the renewal fee is $758. A $75 late fee applies if the renewal fee is not received by the expiration date. The DCP renewal page^[2] provides the current fee schedule and renewal instructions.

The CE completion deadline for the current cycle is August 31, 2026. Brokers who passed the Connecticut licensing exam between September 1, 2024, and August 31, 2026, are exempt from CE for this cycle. The full renewal fee is required at the first renewal cycle after license issuance.

Becoming a broker from another state

Connecticut has reciprocity agreements with multiple states for broker licensing, including Alabama, Colorado, Florida, Georgia, Illinois, Indiana, Massachusetts, Mississippi, Nebraska, Ohio, Oklahoma, and Rhode Island. The DCP reciprocity page^[3] lists current reciprocal states and application requirements.

New York's reciprocal agreement with Connecticut has been terminated, and all New York applicants must apply through the non-reciprocity pathway. Florida, Illinois, Indiana, and Ohio require a licensing law exam for Connecticut applicants, and vice versa. Reciprocal broker licensees must still complete Connecticut continuing education after receiving the license.

Next steps

If you meet the experience and education requirements, submit your broker application through the DCP broker application page^[1]. After DCP approval, schedule the exam with PSI and review the published content outline. Once you pass both portions, pay the license activation fee to receive your broker license.