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.
To get a Kansas real estate salesperson license, register in the KREC Public Portal to obtain a PL number, complete 60 hours of pre-license education (30-hour Principles of Real Estate and 30-hour Kansas Practice Course) through an approved provider, pay the $85 fingerprint and application processing fee, pass both the national and state portions of the licensing exam administered by Pearson VUE, affiliate with a licensed Kansas broker, and pay the $125 license application fee. The Commission processes complete applications within 7-10 business days.
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.
Kansas salesperson applicants must be at least 18 years old with a high school diploma or equivalent, complete 60 hours of pre-license education (30-hour Principles of Real Estate and 30-hour Kansas Practice Course), submit fingerprints for a background check, pass both the national and state portions of the licensing exam, and affiliate with a licensed Kansas broker. Total fees paid to the Commission are $210, consisting of a $15 application fee, $70 background fee, and $125 license fee.
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.
Kansas requires 60 hours of pre-license education for applicants not licensed in another state. Salesperson applicants complete a 30-hour Principles of Real Estate course (valid 12 months from the course date) and a 30-hour Kansas Practice Course (certificate must be received by the Commission within 6 months of the course date). Broker applicants not licensed in another state complete a 30-hour Broker Fundamentals Course (valid 12 months) and a 30-hour Broker Management Course (certificate must be received within 6 months), while applicants licensed in another state complete only 30 hours (salesperson) or 34 hours (broker: 30-hour Broker Management Course plus a 4-hour Kansas Law Course).
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.
Yes, the Kansas Real Estate Commission permits pre-license education courses to be taken as classroom or distance education. Approved providers offer courses in online, self-paced, and virtual classroom formats. Applicants must first register in the Commission's Public Portal to obtain a PL number and provide that number to the school upon course registration. The education provider then uploads course completions directly to the pre-license application.
KREC does not set tuition; prices vary by real estate school and delivery format.
The Kansas Real Estate Commission maintains a directory of approved pre-license education providers on its website. Pre-license courses are available in both classroom and distance (online) formats. Applicants must first register in the KREC Public Portal to obtain a PL number, which must be provided to the school upon course registration.
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.
No, the Kansas real estate licensing exam cannot be taken online. The exam must be taken in person at a Pearson VUE Professional testing center, and appointments may be scheduled up to one calendar day prior to the desired test date, subject to availability. Pearson VUE administers the exam at locations across the state, including testing sites in Overland Park, Topeka, and Wichita.
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.
Salesperson applicants pay $210 to the Kansas Real Estate Commission, broken down as a $15 application fee, a $70 background/fingerprint fee, and a $125 license fee. The licensing exam costs $70 when both portions are scheduled together, paid directly to Pearson VUE. Broker applicants pay $295 to the Commission ($50 application fee, $70 background fee, and $175 license fee), plus the same $70 exam fee, and an additional $100 if they open a new company or branch office. Pre-license course costs vary by education provider. Effective July 1, 2025, all fees related to original licensure and renewal are waived for qualifying military spouses under 2025 HB 2280.
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.
The timeline depends on how quickly you complete 60 hours of pre-license education and pass the licensing exam. The Kansas Real Estate Commission processes a complete license application within 7-10 business days, and the background check can take up to 10 business days. The Kansas City Regional Association of REALTORS® estimates the full process, from starting coursework to holding a license, usually takes around 90 days. Online coursework can move faster than a traditional classroom schedule, but you must also affiliate with a Kansas-licensed broker before the commission can issue a license.
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 real estate agent is licensed to help clients buy, sell, or rent property but must work under a broker, who holds the agent's license and supervises their activities. A broker has met additional education, experience, and exam requirements and may work independently, hire agents, and collect commissions directly. In Kansas, a broker applicant must have been licensed as a salesperson and actively engaged for at least 2 of the last 3 years, complete 60 hours of broker pre-license education, and pass both the national and state broker exams. Agents who are not the supervising broker cannot receive compensation directly from a closing agent; payment must go through the broker or the broker's company.
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.
To become a REALTOR®, you must first hold an active real estate license, then join your local REALTOR® association and pay applicable dues. Membership in a local association automatically includes state and national (NAR) membership, and new members must complete Code of Ethics training. For 2027, NAR national dues are $156 per member, plus a $45 special assessment for the Consumer Advertising Campaign. The Kansas Real Estate Commission does not require licensees to join any board or association; REALTOR® membership is voluntary and separate from state licensing.
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].
Success starts with affiliating a broker that provides training, mentorship, and lead generation support. According to the National Association of REALTORS®, a first sale can take four to six months or more, so building good habits early matters. The NAR 2025 Member Profile reports median gross income of $58,100 for all REALTORS®, with those having two years or less of experience earning $8,100 annually and those with 16 or more years earning $78,900. Kansas licensees must complete 12 hours of continuing education every two years to maintain active status, and joining a REALTOR® association is optional but provides access to MLS systems and professional resources.
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.
Sources
- KREC — Salesperson RequirementsGovernmentAugust 2026
- KREC — KS Applicants HubGovernmentMay 2026
- KREC — Kansas Real Estate Commission (Homepage)GovernmentAugust 2026
- KREC — Kansas RE Commission FAQGovernmentMay 2026
- KREC — Pre-License EducationGovernmentMay 2026
- Pearson VUE — KS Real Estate ExamsGovernmentAugust 2026
- NAR — Agent vs. RealtorEducationMay 2026
- KREC — CE Renewal RequirementsGovernmentMay 2026
- KREC — License RenewalGovernmentMay 2026
- KREC — Broker RequirementsGovernmentAugust 2026