Connecticut Real Estate School: 60-Hour Pre-Licensing Course Guide
Connecticut requires every real estate salesperson candidate to complete a 60-hour Real Estate Principles and Practices course at a real estate school approved by the Connecticut Real Estate Commission before sitting for the state licensing exam. The course covers topics spanning real property law, agency, contracts, financing, fair housing, and Connecticut licensing law, and since April 1, 2024, must be delivered in person or through live online (synchronous) instruction, not self-paced online, under Public Act 23-84. This guide details the course syllabus, delivery formats, approved schools, final exam requirements, and the steps that follow course completion.
What the Connecticut pre-licensing course covers
The mandatory pre-licensing program is the only education requirement for salesperson candidates in Connecticut, covering subject areas that span the legal, financial, and practical foundations of real estate practice.
Connecticut requires salesperson candidates to complete a 60-hour Real Estate Principles and Practices course from a state-approved provider. The curriculum covers real property law, agency, brokerage, listing agreements and buyer representation, financing, appraisal, fair housing and ethics, Connecticut licensing law, real estate taxes and liens, contracts, land use controls, and environmental issues. Broker candidates must complete the same 60-hour course plus a 15-hour Brokerage Principles and Practices course, a 15-hour Legal Compliance course, and electives (two 15-hour courses, one 30-hour course, or 20 real estate transactions in the previous 5 years).
Course content, as outlined by the Connecticut REALTORS® association[1], addresses the following topic groups:
| Subject area | Topics covered |
|---|---|
| Property law | Property rights, ownership forms, home ownership concepts |
| Agency and brokerage | Agency relationships, brokerage operations, listings, buyer representation |
| Contracts and title | Contract fundamentals, legal documents, deed and title transfers |
| Tax and regulation | Property taxes, liens, CT licensing statutes |
| Finance and valuation | Financing methods, appraisal, investment fundamentals |
| Land use and management | Zoning and development, leases, property management |
| Ethics and closing | Fair housing rules, environmental issues, closing procedures |
The syllabus combines national real estate concepts with Connecticut-specific licensing law, so that students understand both general practice principles and the state regulations governing real estate activity in Connecticut.
Course delivery: in-person and live online only
Connecticut schools deliver the pre-licensing course through two approved methods: traditional in-person classes and live online sessions where the instructor and students interact in real time. Under Public Act 23-84, which took effect April 1, 2024, the DCP sets these format requirements for all approved providers.
You can complete pre-licensing courses online, but only through live, synchronous instruction. Per the Connecticut Department of Consumer Protection under Public Act 23-84, effective April 1, 2024, pre-licensing courses must be delivered either in-person or live online with real-time instructor engagement. Fully self-paced online pre-licensing is not an approved format in Connecticut. Self-paced online is permitted only for continuing education, not for pre-licensing.
For live online courses, the DCP requires that teachers verify attendance and engagement through periodic assessments or real-time communication. The Connecticut REALTORS® association[1] notes that because virtual-live classes are approved, a school's physical location does not need to be a barrier to enrollment. Students attending live online sessions typically must keep their video and audio enabled throughout each class period.
How to find an approved real estate school in Connecticut
Prospective students can locate approved providers through a searchable database maintained by the Connecticut DCP[2], which lists schools by course category for salesperson and broker pre-licensing and continuing education. The database is the authoritative source for verifying that a school's curriculum meets Real Estate Commission standards before enrolling.
The Connecticut DCP maintains a searchable database of approved real estate schools and courses on its website, covering both pre-licensing and continuing education for salespersons and brokers. Courses are offered at community colleges, local real estate boards, and local real estate offices. Connecticut approves live in-person and virtual-live (synchronous online) formats for pre-licensing education, so a school's physical location does not limit enrollment. The DCP database can be searched at portal.ct.gov, and questions about approved providers can be directed to dcp.realestate@ct.gov.
Questions about approved schools or course status can be directed to the DCP at dcp.realestate@ct.gov. Approved providers include community colleges, local REALTOR® associations, real estate offices, and private schools vetted by the Real Estate Commission. Students searching for a real estate school near them can enroll with any approved Connecticut provider, since live online instruction is available across the state.
School final exam: passing score and retake policies
Students must pass a school-administered final exam with a score of 70% or higher to receive the course completion certificate that qualifies them to sit for the state licensing exam. The school final exam is separate from the PSI state licensing exam: it tests mastery of the course curriculum and is administered by the school at the end of the program.
The 70% threshold applies to salesperson candidates, while broker candidates must score 75% or higher on their school final exam, according to NHM REALTORS®[3], an approved course provider.
Retake policies and attendance rules vary by school. The Greater Hartford Association of REALTORS®[4] (GHAR) charges a $50 retake fee after the first failed attempt and requires students to complete the course within 6 months of the start date. Students who miss more than two class sessions at GHAR forfeit their tuition and are not eligible for make-ups. Other schools offer guarantees that allow students to retake classes and the final exam at no additional cost until they pass.
Course completion certificate and exam eligibility
After completing the required hours and passing the school final exam, students receive a course completion certificate that must be submitted with the DCP exam application. The certificate is the document that establishes eligibility for the state licensing exam.
According to the CT DCP salesperson initial exam application[5], applicants may take the state examination on an unlimited basis for up to 1 year from the date of eligibility. After passing both portions of the state exam, applicants have 2 years from the date of the most recently passed portion to activate the license by affiliating with a Connecticut-licensed broker.
Course scheduling formats
Approved schools offer the 60-hour course in several schedule formats to accommodate working professionals. Daytime accelerated programs can be completed in as few as 5 weeks, evening programs typically span 7 to 10 weeks, and Saturday-only programs run approximately 10 weeks.
The Greater Hartford Association of REALTORS®[4] offers a 5-week daytime course (Monday and Wednesday, 9am to 3:30pm) and a 10-week evening course (Monday and Wednesday, 6pm to 9pm). NHM REALTORS®[3] offers open enrollment with daytime and evening schedules running in a continuous loop, so students can begin at any time rather than waiting for a new term.
Most schools require students to finish the course within a set period from the start date, after which re-registration and full tuition payment are required.
Course materials, tuition, and payment options
Course tuition varies among approved providers. NHM REALTORS®[3] charges $425, and the Greater Hartford Association of REALTORS®[4] charges $525. Most programs use textbooks covering national real estate practice and Connecticut-specific law, and the cost of these books may or may not be reflected in the listed tuition.
Pre-licensing course costs in Connecticut vary by approved provider and course format, with tuition at some publicly listed providers starting around $425. Some providers include required textbooks in the tuition while others require separate textbook purchases. Payment plans may be available at certain schools.
Students concerned about upfront cost should ask whether their chosen school offers installment options.
Some Connecticut pre-licensing schools offer payment plans, including options with low down payments that allow students to spread tuition over time. Most providers require at least partial payment before the course begins, and tuition varies by school and format, with some including required textbooks and others charging for them separately. The Department of Consumer Protection maintains a searchable database of approved schools where prospective students can review course options.
For students attending live online courses, a computer with webcam and microphone is required, as most virtual programs mandate that video and audio remain enabled throughout each session.
Broker pre-licensing course requirements
Broker candidates in Connecticut must complete additional pre-licensing coursework beyond the salesperson requirement, including broker-specific courses and elective hours. The broker license also requires prior active experience as a licensed salesperson under a Connecticut broker.
Broker applicants must complete a 60-hour Real Estate Principles and Practices course, a 15-hour Real Estate Brokerage Principles and Practices course, and a 15-hour Legal Compliance course. In addition, applicants must fulfill an elective requirement by completing either two 15-hour pre-licensing elective courses, one 30-hour pre-licensing course, or demonstrating 20 real estate transactions in the previous 5 years. Broker applicants must also have been actively engaged as a licensed salesperson in Connecticut for at least 3 years, with at least 1,500 hours of experience including no fewer than 4 closed real estate transactions during that period.
Next steps after course completion
After receiving the course completion certificate, the next step is to submit an exam application to the DCP, which costs $80 and must include the completion certificate. The DCP then grants exam eligibility, and the candidate schedules the state licensing exam through PSI. Broker supervision is not required to take the exam, but a sponsoring broker is needed to activate the license after passing.
Preparation begins with completing the 60-hour Real Estate Principles and Practices course from a state-approved provider, which covers topics including real property law, agency, contracts, financing, fair housing, and Connecticut licensing law. PSI publishes a Candidate Information Bulletin that contains exam site locations and study materials, and the Connecticut Department of Consumer Protection links to a content outline for the Connecticut Real Estate Sales and Broker Licensing Examinations. PSI's online store also sells practice tests and exam prep products specific to Connecticut. The exam is administered in two portions covering national and state-specific real estate content, and candidates may take it on an unlimited basis for up to one year from the date of eligibility.
The pre-licensing course provides the curriculum foundation for the state exam, but most candidates supplement it with practice tests and study materials available through PSI and other exam prep providers. To begin, search the DCP's approved schools database[2], select a delivery format that fits your schedule, and enroll in the next available course cycle.
Sources
- CT Realtors — How to Get a Connecticut Real Estate LicenseEducationAugust 2026
- CT DCP — Approved Real Estate Schools SearchGovernmentMay 2026
- NHM Realtors — Pre-LicensingEducationAugust 2026
- GHAR — Real Estate Pre-Licensing CourseEducationAugust 2026
- CT DCP — Real Estate Salesperson Initial/Exam ApplicationGovernmentMay 2026