Broker and Real Estate Agent: How to Get a Kentucky Real Estate License
14 min read·
To get a Kentucky real estate license, you must be at least 18 years old, hold a high school diploma or GED, complete pre-licensing education from a Kentucky Real Estate Commission (KREC)-approved provider, pass a two-part state exam administered by PSI, and submit your application to KREC within 60 days of passing. KREC regulates both the broker and real estate agent professions in the state, setting the education, exam, and licensing requirements for each license type. The process follows a clear sequence from meeting eligibility through activating your license with a sponsoring broker, and most applicants complete it within a few months.
Kentucky real estate license requirements
Kentucky sets specific eligibility criteria for anyone seeking a real estate license, administered through the Kentucky Real Estate Commission under Kentucky Revised Statutes Chapter 324[1]. The requirements cover age, education, background screening, and exam passage before a license is issued.
To obtain a Kentucky sales associate license, applicants must be at least 18 years old and have a high school diploma or GED. They must complete 96 hours of Commission-approved pre-license instruction (or 6 academic credit hours in real estate from an accredited college), initiate an FBI criminal background check (valid for 90 days), and pass the PSI licensing exam, which costs $100. After passing both portions of the exam, applicants must submit their license application within 60 days, pay the $130 fee for active status (or $120 for inactive), obtain errors and omissions insurance, and affiliate with a principal broker to activate the license.See the answer for every state
Proof of high school completion requires a copy of the diploma, GED, transcript, or a college degree or transcript showing at least 28 college credits. The KREC FAQs for Applicants[2] states that website printouts are not acceptable as proof.
Attorneys are not exempt from pre-licensing requirements, though law school courses in Contracts I, Property I, Property II, and other real estate-designated courses may count toward the academic credit hour alternative.
Foreign high school graduates must provide the original diploma or transcript, an English translation, and an equivalence letter.
Appraisal courses approved by KREC are accepted toward pre-licensing education, but no more than half of the required coursework can be in appraisal.
Complete your pre-licensing education
Kentucky requires pre-licensing instruction before you can sit for the state exam. The KREC education overview[3] lists approved schools and confirms multiple delivery formats are available.
Kentucky requires sales associate applicants to complete 96 classroom hours of Commission-approved pre-license instruction or 6 academic credit hours in real estate courses from an accredited college or university. No more than 48 of the 96 classroom hours may be in appraisal courses. Attorneys are not exempt from pre-license requirements, though law school courses in Contracts I, Property I, and Property II may count toward the 6 academic credit hour option.See the answer for every state
Yes. The Kentucky Real Estate Commission states that pre-license, post-license, and continuing education courses are available online or in person. KREC-approved education providers offer the required 96-hour pre-licensing course in online, self-paced formats. Applicants may also satisfy the pre-licensing requirement by completing 6 academic credit hours in real estate courses at an accredited college or university, some of which offer online options.See the answer for every state
Pre-license education does not expire. According to the KREC FAQs for Applicants[2], there is no time limit between course completion and taking the exam. Individual course providers may set their own access windows, but the state does not require course completion within a specific enrollment period.
Complete the FBI criminal background check
You must initiate the FBI criminal background check before scheduling the licensing exam, and the results are valid for 90 days from the date of issuance. The KREC candidate testing page[4] states that candidates who test before completing the background check will have their scores voided.
KREC reports an average processing time of approximately one week for the FBI report, according to the KREC official website[5]. Because the report is valid for only 90 days, it must remain current through both the exam date and the license application submission. If the background check expires before the application is submitted, a new one must be obtained.
The background check requirement applies to all applicants, including those applying through reciprocity.
Schedule and take the PSI licensing exam
Once your coursework and background check are underway, you can reserve a seat for the licensing exam. The KREC testing information page[4] provides site locations and scheduling procedures.
The Kentucky real estate licensing exam is administered by PSI and consists of a national portion and a state-specific portion. The sales associate exam has 130 total questions (80 national and 50 state) with a minimum passing score of 75% on each portion. The exam fee is $100 per attempt, whether taking one or both portions. Candidates must have completed all required education and initiated an FBI criminal background check before scheduling the exam, and must apply for their license within 60 days of passing both portions.See the answer for every state
PSI administers the Kentucky real estate licensing exam. Candidates contact PSI at 855-746-8176 to register, and the exam fee is $100 paid at the time of reservation by credit card. Testing sites are located in Bowling Green, Lexington, Louisville, Maysville, Paducah, and Somerset, as well as Cincinnati, Cleveland, Columbus, Knoxville, and Nashville.See the answer for every state
Candidates must bring two forms of identification to the testing center: one government-issued ID with signature and photo, and a second with signature and preprinted legal name. Non-programmable calculators are permitted.
If you pass one portion but fail the other, you may retake the failed portion within 4 months. After that window, both portions must be retaken, according to the KREC application overview[1]. All passing candidates receive their license application form at the PSI testing site.
PSI, the vendor that administers the Kentucky real estate licensing exam, publishes a Candidate Handbook with content outlines detailing the topics covered on both the national and state portions of the exam. PSI also offers test prep and practice tests for candidates. The sales associate exam consists of 130 questions (80 national and 50 state-specific), and candidates must score at least 75% on each portion to pass.See the answer for every state
Submit your license application to KREC
After passing both portions of the exam, you have 60 days to submit a complete license application package to KREC. The KREC fee schedule[6] publishes the initial sales associate application fees based on license status.
KREC charges $100 for the licensing exam and $130 for an initial active sales associate license application, or $120 for inactive status. Active licensees must purchase errors and omissions insurance before the license is issued, and a criminal background check is required before scheduling the exam. Pre-licensing course tuition varies by approved education provider, so the total cost to get licensed depends on the provider, insurance, and background check method selected.See the answer for every state
The application package must include the certificate of course completion, proof of high school diploma or GED, proof of errors and omissions (E&O) insurance, and the FBI background check report. The KREC FAQs for Applicants[2] states that all documents must arrive in one package within the 60-day window.
Active status requires E&O insurance, a professional liability policy that covers claims arising from real estate transactions. The KREC license maintenance page confirms that active licensees must maintain this coverage.
Activate your license with a sponsoring broker
A Kentucky real estate license becomes active only after you affiliate with a principal broker. While the exam can be taken without broker sponsorship, practicing real estate requires this affiliation.
You do not need a sponsoring broker to take the Kentucky licensing exam, but you must affiliate with a principal broker to activate your license. The Kentucky Real Estate Commission may cancel a license for failure to affiliate with a principal broker. To find a brokerage, research firms in your area, interview several brokers, and ask about commission splits, training programs, mentorship, and lead generation. Your license is not active until a principal broker holds it.See the answer for every state
The commission may cancel a license if the holder does not maintain an active broker affiliation. The KREC licensing page[7] states that a canceled license can be reinstated to inactive or active status within 1 year of cancellation.
Post-license education requirement
New sales associates licensed after January 1, 2016 must complete a 48-hour post-license education requirement within the first 2 years of obtaining an active license. The KREC education overview[3] confirms this requirement, which exempts new licensees from standard continuing education during the first 2 calendar years of licensure.
All actively licensed Kentucky real estate agents must complete 6 hours of Commission-approved continuing education each calendar year, with at least 3 hours in real estate law. The remaining 3 hours are elective. CE must be completed by December 31 of each calendar year. In addition, all active licensees subject to CE must complete the 6-hour Kentucky Core Course once every 4 years; no other CE course substitutes for it. Licensees are not required to complete CE during the first two calendar years of initial license issuance in Kentucky.See the answer for every state
The Kentucky Core Course is a state-mandated requirement distinct from regular CE electives. The KREC continuing education page[8] states that it must be completed once every 4 years, and no substitute satisfies this obligation.
Pre-license, post-license, and continuing education courses in Kentucky are available both online and in-person from providers approved by the Kentucky Real Estate Commission. Active licensees must complete 6 hours of Commission-approved continuing education each calendar year, with at least 3 hours in real estate law, by December 31. The Kentucky Core Course, a 6-hour course covering federal, state, and common laws relating to real estate, is required of all active licensees once every 4 years.See the answer for every state
The Kentucky Real Estate Commission maintains an approved-education provider list on its website, organized by course type including continuing education, post-license education, and core education. As of August 2026, KREC lists 45 approved continuing education providers. Pre-license, post-license, and continuing education courses are available both online and in person. Licensees should select courses from the state's approved-education list to ensure credit toward the annual CE requirement.See the answer for every state
All licensees face a biennial renewal deadline. The KREC fee schedule[6] lists renewal fees and late penalties for missed deadlines.
All Kentucky real estate licensees must renew biennially by March 31 of each even-numbered year, either online through the KREC eServices portal or by submitting Form 208 by mail with payment. Active licensees must purchase E&O insurance before renewing, and the renewal fee is $130 for active status or $120 for inactive status. Failure to renew before March 31 results in license cancellation and a late renewal fee of $200.See the answer for every state
Out-of-state licensees: reciprocity
Kentucky offers reciprocal licensing pathways for real estate professionals from select states, with requirements varying by agreement type.
Kentucky has reciprocity agreements with Florida, Mississippi, and Tennessee, and Memoranda of Understanding regarding reciprocal licensing with Illinois and Ohio. Reciprocal applicants must complete a 40-hour Kentucky reciprocal license law course through a KREC-approved provider, submit fingerprints for a national criminal history check, pass the Kentucky state portion of the PSI exam, and submit the completed application within 60 days of passing. Licensing fees for reciprocal applicants are $130 for an active license or $120 for an inactive license.See the answer for every state
The KREC reciprocal licensing page[9] outlines the full application process, including background screening and exam registration steps. Application fees match those for standard applicants.
Next steps after getting your Kentucky real estate license
After receiving your sales associate license, two common advancement paths are joining the National Association of REALTORS® and eventually upgrading to a broker license.
A licensed real estate professional becomes a REALTOR® by joining a local REALTOR® association and a state association, which entitles automatic membership in the National Association of REALTORS®. The principals of a real estate firm must join a REALTOR® association before any non-principal can join, and each firm appoints one principal as the designated REALTOR®. For 2027, NAR national dues are $156 per member plus a $45 special assessment for the Consumer Advertising Campaign, totaling $201, in addition to local and state association dues.See the answer for every state
A real estate sales associate (agent) must work under a licensed broker and cannot practice independently. A broker is licensed to manage a real estate business, supervise agents, and handle transactions without supervision. In Kentucky, a broker applicant must have at least 2 years of experience as a licensed sales associate averaging 20 or more hours per week, plus 336 classroom hours (or 21 academic credit hours) of qualifying education including 48 hours in Brokerage Management, and must pass the broker licensing exam. Sales associates need only 96 hours of pre-license education and must pass the sales associate exam.See the answer for every state
To become a Kentucky real estate broker, you must first be licensed as a sales associate and have 2 years of experience averaging at least 20 hours per week immediately preceding your application. You must complete 21 academic credit hours (336 classroom hours) of qualifying education, including 3 credit hours (48 classroom hours) in Brokerage Management from a Commission-approved provider. You must complete an FBI criminal background check, pass the broker licensing exam through PSI, and submit your application within 60 days of passing both portions. KREC recommends submitting a request for an education review before scheduling the broker exam to verify completed hours.See the answer for every state
Broker education requirements include qualifying coursework from KREC-approved providers, with specific hours in Brokerage Management. The KREC licensing page[7] provides complete details on broker qualifications.
If you are ready to begin, the first step is finding a KREC-approved pre-licensing education provider and enrolling in the required course. Request your FBI background check early, since it must be valid on exam day and when you submit your application.
