Real Estate School: How to Get a Georgia Real Estate License
13 min read·
Getting a Georgia real estate license requires completing pre-licensing education from a GREC-approved real estate school, passing a state licensing exam, submitting a license application, affiliating with a sponsoring broker, and completing post-license education in the first year. The Georgia Real Estate Commission (GREC) regulates all real estate professionals in the state and sets the education, examination, and licensing requirements that applicants must meet.
To get a real estate license, you typically complete pre-licensing education, pass a state licensing exam, undergo a background check, and then affiliate with a broker, since agents must work under a broker's supervision. After licensing, a first sale can take four to six months or more, and new agents should find a mentor and focus on their personal network for initial leads.See the answer for every state
The fastest a candidate can obtain a Georgia real estate salesperson license is a few weeks of intensive full-time study, though most applicants take several months at a typical pace. The process requires completing a 75-hour pre-license course from a GREC-approved school, obtaining a criminal background check, passing the state licensing exam, and paying the license application fee. The Georgia Real Estate Commission does not publish an official timeline; these estimates come from education providers and regulator-adjacent sources.See the answer for every state
Eligibility requirements for a Georgia real estate license
Georgia sets age, education, lawful presence, and background check requirements for salesperson licensure. The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics[1] notes that every state requires real estate brokers and sales agents to be licensed.
Georgia requires real estate license applicants to be at least 18 years old, hold a high school diploma or equivalent, and verify lawful presence in the United States. The educational requirement is a 75-hour pre-license course from a GREC-approved school, with alternatives including 10 quarter hours or 6 semester hours of real estate coursework from an accredited college, university, or law school. Applicants must pass a criminal background check through the Georgia Crime Information Center (GCIC) and pass the state licensing exam administered by PSI with a 75% passing score on each portion. A sponsoring broker is required to hold an active license, and new salespersons must complete 25 hours of post-license education within the first year of licensure to keep the license from lapsing.See the answer for every state
Applicants who are 17 may sit for the licensing exam but cannot activate a license until turning 18. GREC does not require Georgia residency. All applicants must pass a background check. The GCIC fee schedule[2], effective January 1, 2025, lists a Georgia-only check at $30.00, or $39.99 when processed through the Georgia Applicant Processing Service (GAPS). A combined Georgia and FBI check costs $42.00, or $51.99 through GAPS. The report must be obtained no more than 60 days before applying. Non-Georgia residents must provide an equivalent report from their resident state, and if the report indicates a record in another jurisdiction, the applicant must submit fingerprints for an FBI report. Applicants must disclose all criminal convictions; failure to disclose is grounds for denial.
Georgia offers reciprocity to licensees from other states who hold an active license in good standing, per the GREC reciprocity guide[3]. Florida residents must pass a Georgia Law and Practice supplement exam.
Complete the real estate pre-licensing course
Pre-licensing education from a GREC-approved real estate school is the first step in the licensing process.
Georgia requires a 75-hour Salesperson Prelicense Course from a school approved by the Georgia Real Estate Commission, including a proctored final exam with a minimum passing score of 72%. An alternative is 10 quarter hours or 6 semester hours of qualifying real estate coursework from an accredited college, university, or law school in the United States or Canada. The course completion must be submitted as evidence when applying for a license within 12 months of passing the state exam.See the answer for every state
Coursework remains valid for four years after completion.
Yes, Georgia allows pre-licensing education to be completed online through GREC-approved schools that offer self-paced and livestream formats. The GREC approved schools list includes both in-state Georgia providers and out-of-state online providers offering the 75-hour salesperson pre-license course. Online self-paced courses typically allow 6 months to 1 year of access, and the state requires a proctored final exam with a minimum passing score of 72%. The 60-hour broker pre-license course is also available in online formats from approved providers.See the answer for every state
The Georgia Real Estate Commission publishes an approved schools list on its website, effective August 18, 2026, identifying hundreds of schools approved for Salesperson Pre License courses and other education types. Courses are available in traditional classroom, live webinar, and online self-paced formats from both in-state and out-of-state providers. Applicants can search the GREC approved schools list to find providers offering the required 75-hour Salesperson Prelicense Course.See the answer for every state
Some brokerages offer pre-licensing education at no cost to the student as part of their recruitment process, including the full 75-hour salesperson pre-license course required by the Georgia Real Estate Commission. Students should verify that any free course is GREC-approved and understand any affiliation obligations tied to accepting free education before enrolling.See the answer for every state
Schedule and pass the licensing exam
After completing pre-licensing education, candidates must pass the state licensing exam to qualify for a license.
The Georgia salesperson exam consists of 152 scored multiple-choice questions (100 national and 52 Georgia-specific), plus up to 5 unscored pretest questions. Candidates must score 75% on each section to pass, and PSI Services LLC administers the exam at test centers in Georgia. PSI sells a Georgia-specific exam prep book with 10 national practice tests, 3 state practice tests, and a 100-question sample exam. GREC-approved pre-licensing schools offer exam prep tools and practice tests as part of their course packages.See the answer for every state
The exam fee is $121 per attempt, per the PSI Candidate Handbook[4]. Candidates can schedule the exam through PSI's online registration system after receiving eligibility confirmation from GREC.
PSI Services LLC, the exam administrator contracted by the Georgia Real Estate Commission, sells a Georgia-specific exam prep book through its online store that includes 10 national practice tests, 3 state practice tests, and a 100-question sample state exam. The practice tests are approximately 50 questions each, and each answer includes a brief explanation. GREC-approved schools also offer exam preparation materials as part of or alongside their pre-licensing course packages.See the answer for every state
Apply for your license and activate it with a sponsoring broker
After passing the exam, you must apply for a salesperson license. The license application fee is $170 per GREC[3]. Under GA Admin Code 520-1[5], the activation fee for original individual licensure is $45, which includes $20 for the Real Estate Education, Research, and Recovery Fund. Applicants must submit the application within three months of passing the exam; after three months, the applicant must pay a fee equal to twice the original application fee, and after 12 months, the applicant must retake the exam.
The application requires proof of pre-licensing education completion, a criminal background check, a Lawful Presence Verification form, and a Sponsoring Broker Statement for an active license. You can apply for an inactive license without a sponsoring broker, but an inactive licensee may not perform real estate brokerage activities. You can submit the application at the PSI testing center immediately after passing the exam if all documents are ready.
In Georgia, every active salesperson must be licensed under an active Georgia broker and cannot be licensed under more than one broker at the same time. To find a sponsoring broker, candidates should research brokerages in their area, reach out to several firms, schedule interviews, and ask about commission splits, training programs, lead generation, and mentorship opportunities. Brokers must enter into a written agreement with any affiliated licensee specifying compensation terms during and after the affiliation. A salesperson may submit a Sponsoring Broker Statement at the PSI testing center to activate the license immediately upon passing the exam.See the answer for every state
Getting a real estate license involves several costs that vary by state, including pre-licensing education, exam fees, background checks, and study materials. Total licensing costs typically run several hundred dollars. After licensing, agents face additional expenses such as brokerage start-up fees, monthly operational costs for MLS access and board membership, and errors and omissions insurance.See the answer for every state
Complete post-license education and maintain your real estate license
New salespersons must complete a post-license course within one year of license issuance under GA Admin Code 520-1[5]. Failure to complete this requirement causes the license to lapse.
Georgia requires 36 instructional hours of continuing education during each four-year renewal period, including at least 3 hours on the topic of license law. An instructional hour is defined as at least 50 minutes of instruction or other learning activity. Licensees whose license number is below 100,000 are exempt from CE requirements.See the answer for every state
Yes, Georgia licensees can complete continuing education courses online, in a live classroom, or through webinars. GREC offers online courses for $10 each covering license law, continuing education, and instructor CE, with course lengths ranging from 3 to 9 hours. Passing a final exam is not required to receive CE credit in Georgia. A student may repeat a course and receive credit if more than 12 months have passed since the course was last taken.See the answer for every state
Career advancement after licensure
After obtaining a salesperson license, two common advancement paths are joining a REALTOR® association and upgrading to a broker license.
Joining a REALTOR® association
REALTOR® membership is separate from state licensure. Membership starts at the local association level and extends to state and national membership. Members agree to abide by the NAR Code of Ethics, per the National Association of REALTORS®[7].
To become a REALTOR®, an individual must first hold a real estate license as a salesperson or broker, then join a local REALTOR® association, which provides membership in the state and national associations. New members must agree to abide by NAR's Code of Ethics and pay annual dues; for 2027, NAR national dues are $156 per member plus a $45 special assessment for the Consumer Advertising Campaign, totaling $201, with state and local association dues paid on top. NAR requires members to complete Code of Ethics training every three-year cycle and Fair Housing training every three years. Principals of a real estate firm must join a REALTOR® association before any non-principal agents at that firm can join.See the answer for every state
A real estate agent is a licensed professional who helps clients buy, sell, or rent properties and must work under a licensed broker. A REALTOR® is a real estate agent or broker who has joined the National Association of REALTORS® (NAR) and agreed to abide by its Code of Ethics. NAR members pay annual dues at the national, state, and local levels and must complete Code of Ethics training every three years. Not all real estate agents are REALTORS®, but all real estate agents who practice real estate are licensed agents or brokers.See the answer for every state
Upgrading to a real estate broker license
To qualify for a broker license in Georgia, a salesperson must hold an active license for at least three of the five years immediately preceding the application, complete a broker pre-license course from a GREC-approved school, and pass the broker licensing exam, per GA Admin Code 520-1[5].
A real estate salesperson (agent) must work under a licensed broker and cannot practice independently, while a broker has completed additional education, experience, and exam requirements that allow them to manage their own business and supervise agents. In Georgia, salespersons must be at least 18, complete 75 hours of pre-license education, and pass the salesperson exam. Brokers must be at least 21, have held an active salesperson license for at least 3 of the past 5 years, complete 60 hours of broker pre-license coursework, and pass a broker exam that includes scenario-based simulation problems.See the answer for every state
To become a Georgia real estate broker, an applicant must be at least 21 years old, hold a high school diploma or equivalent, and have maintained an active salesperson or community association manager license for at least 3 of the 5 years immediately preceding the application. The applicant must complete a 60-hour GREC-approved broker pre-license course, or an equivalent 15 quarter hours or 9 semester hours of real estate coursework from an accredited college, university, or law school, and pass the broker exam administered by PSI, which includes a national scenario-based portion and a state-specific supplement. The broker license must be activated within 12 months of passing the exam, or the applicant must retake the examination.See the answer for every state
To begin the licensing process, verify your eligibility against the requirements above and enroll in a pre-licensing course at a GREC-approved real estate school.
