Broker and real estate agent: How to Become a Real Estate Broker in Georgia

To become a real estate broker in Georgia, a licensed salesperson must be at least 21 years old, hold a high school diploma or equivalent, have maintained an active salesperson license for at least 3 of the past 5 years, complete a 60-hour broker pre-license course from a GREC-approved school, and pass the Georgia broker licensing exam administered by PSI Services LLC. The Georgia Real Estate Commission and Appraisers Board (GREC) regulates all real estate professionals in the state. The broker and REALTOR® designations are distinct: a broker holds a higher license tier with independent practice authority, while a REALTOR® is a dues-paying member of the National Association of REALTORS® (NAR) who can hold either a salesperson or broker license.

Requirements to become a real estate broker in Georgia

Georgia broker license applicants must meet four core requirements before applying. The Georgia Real Estate Commission enforces these standards under Rule 520-1-.04^[1] of the Georgia Administrative Code.

The experience requirement sets the broker license apart from the salesperson license. Under Rule 520-1-.04(5)(b)^[1], "an applicant must show proof of having held a license in active status for at least three years of the five years immediately preceding the filing of an application to become a broker or an associate broker." Active status means the licensee is affiliated with a firm and practicing real estate; inactive status does not count toward the requirement.

Applicants may sit for the broker exam at age 20 but cannot activate the license until turning 21, per the Atlanta REALTORS® Association broker pre-license page^[2]. A criminal history report from the Georgia Crime Information Center (GCIC) must be no more than 60 days old at the time of application, under Rule 520-1-.04(7)^[1].

Out-of-state licensees can count experience from another jurisdiction toward the 3-year requirement. Under Rule 520-1-.04(2)^[1], if the other state's licensing authority cannot certify active status for 3 of 5 years, the applicant must have obtained experience within 5 years prior to application, and the jurisdiction must certify that the applicant was licensed at some time during the prior 5 years. The GREC reciprocity guide^[3] requires a $170 reciprocal application fee, a certified license history, and a criminal background report for out-of-state applicants.

Georgia broker pre-license course

The broker pre-license course covers brokerage management, trust accounts, risk management, and advanced real estate practice, and it includes a proctored final exam that applicants must pass to receive a course completion certificate. Georgia defines an instructional hour as at least 50 minutes of instruction or learning activity under Rule 520-1-.02^[1].

Community association managers who hold a community association manager (CAM) license and want to become brokers must meet the same education requirement plus additional coursework. The Atlanta REALTORS® Association^[2] states that CAM licensees must complete the broker course plus additional coursework or the salesperson pre-license course.

The Georgia broker licensing exam

The Georgia broker exam uses a simulation-based format that differs from the salesperson exam's multiple-choice structure. PSI Services LLC administers the exam at $119 per attempt, with 11 scenario simulations in the national portion and 48 multiple-choice questions in the state-specific portion.

The exam fee of $119 per attempt is listed on the Atlanta REALTORS® Association broker pre-license page^[2]. PSI is the official testing vendor for GREC, providing ARELLO-accredited exam content^[4] at secure test centers and through online proctoring. The exam format is documented in the GREC Candidate Handbook^[5].

The national portion tests judgment through simulation problems covering agency relationships, fair housing, handling money, and training and supervision of licensees. The state-specific portion covers Georgia license laws and rules, management, and closing calculations. The two scored sections are Information Gathering and Decision Making, per Rule 520-1-.04(3)^[1]. Veteran preference points are added to each section separately for broker exams.

Scoring uses a minimum passing level (MPL) established for each section, representing the performance expected of a minimally competent practitioner. Under Rule 520-1-.04(3)(a)^[1], the passing score is determined by psychometrically sound criterion-related methods, and the minimum passing score is published before administration. Candidates receive their score immediately after completing the exam.

The GCIC criminal history report must be brought to the PSI test center on exam day, per the Atlanta REALTORS® Association^[2].

Activating your Georgia broker license

After passing the broker exam, applicants must submit a license application and pay the state license fee of $170 to GREC within 12 months of the exam date. Under Rule 520-1-.04(5)(b)^[1], "any person who has taken the broker's examination and successfully passed the examination must activate a broker's or associate broker's license by making application therefore within 12 months from the date of the examination taken, or after 12 months must retake the examination." There is no doubled-fee provision for brokers; the 90-day deadline and doubled fee under Rule 520-1-.04(5)(a) apply only to salespersons and community association managers.

The $170 license fee covers the activation fee and the first four-year licensing period, according to the Atlanta REALTORS® Association^[2]. Under Rule 520-1-.04^[1], the activation fee for original licensure is $45, including $20 for the Real Estate Education, Research, and Recovery Fund, and the four-year renewal fee is $125.

Georgia issues two types of broker licenses. An associate broker license can be issued as active or inactive, depending on whether the applicant has a sponsoring broker. A qualifying broker license is issued as inactive and must be activated through an Open a Firm or Change of Qualifying Broker application. The firm activation fee^[1] is $75 under Rule 520-1-.04.

Real estate broker vs agent vs real estate agent in Georgia

In Georgia, a salesperson (the license category most people call an agent) operates under a broker's supervision and cannot practice alone. A broker has met higher education, experience, and testing thresholds that permit independent practice. A REALTOR® is a NAR member who follows the association's Code of Ethics and may hold either license type.

Georgia recognizes four real estate license types: salesperson, broker, community association manager, and instructor. The salesperson license is the entry-level license, and the real estate broker license is the advanced license that allows independent practice. Georgia does not issue a separate commercial real estate license; the salesperson and broker licenses cover all property types.

Next steps after obtaining your broker license

After your broker license is active, you must complete continuing education and renew on schedule to maintain it. Licenses renew on the last day of the licensee's birthday month every 4 years, and online renewals receive a $25 discount, per the GREC renewal guide^[6]. If you fail to renew by the due date, the license lapses and a $100 late fee applies.

If you plan to open your own firm, submit an Open a Firm application with the $75 firm activation fee under Rule 520-1-.04^[1]. If you plan to work as an associate broker, affiliate with a broker who can sponsor your license.