Broker and real estate agent: Ohio Real Estate Broker License Requirements

An Ohio real estate broker license is the advanced credential that lets a licensee practice independently, sponsor salespersons, and operate a brokerage. Earning it requires holding an active salesperson license for at least 2 of the last 5 years, completing 20 qualifying transactions, finishing 120 hours of broker-specific education, and passing the broker exam with a score of 75 on both the State and National portions. The Ohio Division of Real Estate and Professional Licensing administers the process under Ohio Revised Code § 4735.07. A broker license is a state regulatory credential, while a REALTOR® is a trade association designation. The broker and real estate agent roles are separate, though many brokers hold both.

What a real estate broker is in Ohio

A real estate broker in Ohio holds an advanced license that grants authority to practice independently, sponsor salespersons, and operate a brokerage. The Ohio Division of Real Estate and Professional Licensing issues broker licenses under Ohio Revised Code § 4735.07^[1], which establishes experience, education, and examination requirements beyond the salesperson level.

A salesperson license is the entry-level credential in Ohio's real estate licensing structure. Salespersons operate under a broker's supervision and cannot practice independently. The broker license removes that supervision requirement and allows the holder to sponsor salespersons and open a brokerage.

REALTOR® is a trademarked trade-association membership, not a license classification. Both salespersons and brokers can join the association through a local chapter. The broker license is a state regulatory credential; the REALTOR® designation is a voluntary professional membership.

Experience required for an Ohio broker license

Broker applicants in Ohio must have held an active salesperson license for 2 of the most recent 5 years and completed 20 qualifying real estate transactions. The Ohio Division of Real Estate and Professional Licensing^[2] sets these thresholds, which align with the national norm: the Bureau of Labor Statistics^[3] reports that most states require at least 2 years of experience as a licensed sales agent for broker licensure.

Ohio counts each qualifying transaction as a half-transaction:

If leasehold transactions make up 16 or more of the required 20 transactions, the applicant must also have three years of full-time property management experience.

Education requirements for Ohio broker applicants

Broker applicants must complete education that varies based on when they were first licensed as a salesperson. The Ohio Division of Real Estate and Professional Licensing^[2] specifies different hour requirements depending on the original licensure date.

Four broker-specific courses are required in addition to the salesperson prerequisite courses. Under Ohio Revised Code § 4735.07^[1] (effective April 9, 2025), each broker-specific course is 30 hours, totaling 120 hours:

These courses cover financial management, personnel supervision, business economics, and legal principles as they apply to operating a brokerage. The salesperson prerequisite courses (Ohio Real Estate Law, Real Estate Principles and Practices, Real Estate Appraisal, and Real Estate Finance) must also be on file. These are the same courses required for the Ohio salesperson license, so most broker applicants will have already completed them. Required hours for these prerequisite courses vary depending on when the applicant was first licensed, with older licensure dates requiring more hours in appraisal and finance.

The Ohio broker licensing exam

Each portion of the Ohio broker exam (State and National) requires a minimum score of 75 to pass, according to the Ohio Division of Real Estate and Professional Licensing^[2]. PSI^[4] administers the exam at test centers nationwide or through secure online proctoring, and results appear on screen at the end of the exam.

This passing threshold is higher than the 70 required on the salesperson exam^[5]. Both exams cover national real estate content and Ohio-specific law.

Applying for your Ohio broker license

To apply, submit the Broker Examination Application with a $135 fee, proof of education, and completed state and FBI criminal records checks to the Ohio Division of Real Estate and Professional Licensing^[2]. Applications are submitted through the Division's online eLicense system^[6], which replaced paper forms on October 20, 2025.

Background check costs vary by WebCheck provider. The Division requires both state and FBI criminal records checks.

After passing the exam and activating the license, new brokers must complete a 10-hour post-licensing course within 12 months of the license issue date, per the Ohio Division of Real Estate FAQ^[6]. Out-of-state licensed brokers have four pathways to an Ohio broker license under a law effective December 29, 2023, ranging from a substantially similar license endorsement to a full initial application. All four pathways require the same application fee, background check, and transaction experience as in-state applicants; three of the four require only the state portion of the exam. The Ohio Division of Real Estate^[7] outlines the requirements for each pathway.

How long it takes to become an Ohio broker

The active salesperson experience requirement is the longest component of the broker licensing timeline. After meeting that threshold, the broker-specific education typically takes several months to complete, depending on study pace and course format.

Exam preparation and scheduling add several more weeks, and application processing adds additional time before the license is issued.

After you get your broker license

Broker licenses renew for a $243 fee, with continuing education due on the licensee's birthday. The Ohio Division of Real Estate FAQ^[6] outlines the full renewal requirements.

The Bureau of Labor Statistics^[3] reports a median annual wage of $72,280 for real estate brokers as of May 2024, with employment projected to grow 3% from 2024 to 2034. About 54% of brokers and sales agents are self-employed.

To get started, verify your transaction count with your sponsoring broker, review the broker license requirements^[2] on the Ohio Division of Real Estate website, and enroll in the four broker-specific courses at a state-approved education provider.