How to become a broker and real estate agent in Kansas

To work as a real estate agent in Kansas, you must obtain a salesperson license from the Kansas Real Estate Commission (KREC). The process involves pre-licensing education, a licensing exam, a background check, and broker affiliation before the Commission issues your license.

Kansas real estate license requirements

To qualify for a Kansas real estate salesperson license, you must meet age and education prerequisites, complete pre-licensing coursework, and affiliate with a broker who holds an active Kansas real estate license. The KREC salesperson requirements page^[1] details these requirements, and the Commission does not issue an original license on inactive status.

All arrests, misdemeanor charges, and felony convictions must be disclosed on your application, even if they were expunged. Under K.S.A. 58-3043^[2], the Commission may restrict or deny a license based on your criminal history. A license may not be granted until five years after completion of a sentence for a felony conviction, or fifteen years for offenses comparable to crimes under the Kansas Offender Registration Act.

Register in the KREC Public Portal

Your first step is to register in the KREC Public Portal^[3] to obtain a PL number, which you provide to your pre-licensing school and use to track your completions throughout the process. When you register, you pay an $85 fingerprint and application processing fee, per the KREC FAQ^[4].

Complete your pre-licensing education

Kansas requires pre-licensing education for all salesperson applicants not already licensed in another state, and you must complete the coursework from an approved provider before taking the licensing exam or submitting a license application. The KREC pre-license education page^[5] provides details on approved providers and course requirements.

The Commission sends exam authorization after you complete the Principles of Real Estate course, and you must also complete the Kansas Practice Course before submitting your license application.

KREC does not set tuition; prices vary by real estate school and delivery format.

Take the Kansas real estate exam

After completing the Principles of Real Estate course, KREC sends an Authorization to Test email with instructions for scheduling through the testing provider. The exam consists of a national section and a Kansas state section, and you must pass both to proceed.

The exam fee is $70 when both portions are scheduled together, or $70 per portion if scheduled separately, as of April 2025 per the KREC FAQ^[4] and the Pearson VUE Candidate Handbook. Retakes cost the same amount. You pay this fee directly to Pearson VUE.

Exam scores are valid for six months from the pass date. If you pass the national and state sections on different dates, the six-month window starts from the earliest pass date.

Complete the background check

All applicants must submit fingerprints to KREC for a KBI and FBI background check, as required by KSA 58-3039(b)^[2]. The background check fee is $70, effective December 27, 2024, under K.A.R. 86-1-5^[4].

The background check can take up to 10 business days to process, and the report is valid for six months from the report date. You must complete all pre-license requirements before the report expires, or you must submit new prints and pay the $70 fee again. Digital fingerprint services are available at the Overland Park, Topeka, and Wichita Pearson Professional testing centers, according to Pearson VUE^[6].

Affiliate with a sponsoring broker

Kansas requires you to affiliate with a licensed Kansas broker before submitting your license application, and the Commission does not issue work permits or temporary licenses. Your sponsoring broker holds your license and supervises your real estate activities once you begin practicing, as stated on the KREC FAQ page^[4]. Begin interviewing brokerages while completing your pre-licensing education so you are ready to affiliate as soon as you pass the exam.

Submit your license application

After passing the exam, completing the Kansas Practice Course, and affiliating with a broker, you submit your license application to KREC through the Public Portal. The license fee is established under K.A.R. 86-1-5^[4], effective December 27, 2024.

The Commission processes most complete applications within 7-10 business days, though the KREC FAQ also references 2-3 business days in certain contexts. You will receive an email notification if additional information is needed.

If you are already licensed in another state

Applicants who hold a current real estate license in another state face reduced requirements in Kansas. You must complete only the 30-hour Kansas Practice Course and pass only the Kansas state portion of the licensing exam, not the national portion, according to the KREC salesperson requirements page^[1]. The Kansas Practice Course certificate and license application must reach the Commission within six months of the course date. Kansas does not have formal reciprocity agreements with any other state, so out-of-state licensees must complete this endorsement process to obtain a Kansas license.

Military service members and spouses

Kansas provides licensing accommodations for military personnel and their families. Under K.S.A. 48-3406^[2], the state offers waivers for military service members, military spouses, and certain non-military residents who have held an active license in another state for at least two years. Effective July 1, 2025, under 2025 HB 2280, all fees related to original licensure and license renewal are waived for spouses of military service members or former members with an honorable discharge who reside or plan to reside in Kansas, according to the KREC applicants page^[2].

Real estate agents, brokers, and real estate agents

The terms real estate agent, real estate broker, and REALTOR® refer to different roles in the industry, and understanding the distinction between a broker and real estate agent helps you plan your career path after getting licensed.

A REALTOR® is a licensed real estate professional who has joined the National Association of REALTORS® (NAR) and agreed to follow its Code of Ethics. All REALTORS® are licensed, but not all licensed agents are REALTORS®, as NAR explains^[7]. Membership requires joining a local association after you receive your license.

After you receive your license

Once your license is issued, you can begin working as a real estate salesperson under your sponsoring broker. Kansas licenses must be renewed every two years, and active renewal requires 12 hours of continuing education, including a 3-hour Kansas Required Core course, per KREC^[8]. A late fee applies if you renew after the expiration date, according to the KREC renewal page^[9].

To advance from salesperson to broker, you must work as a licensed salesperson for at least two of the last three years, complete 60 hours of broker pre-licensing education, and pass the broker licensing exam, according to the KREC broker requirements page^[10].

Your next step is to register in the KREC Public Portal^[3], obtain your PL number, and enroll in a Principles of Real Estate course from an approved provider.