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.
In Ohio, a real estate salesperson (commonly called an agent) works under the supervision of a sponsoring broker. To become a salesperson, an applicant must be at least 18, complete 100 hours of pre-licensing education, pass the state exam with a score of 70 on both portions, and pay an $81 application fee. A broker has additional requirements: holding an active salesperson license for at least two of the last five years, completing 20 qualifying transactions, meeting further education requirements, passing the broker exam with a score of 75, and paying a $135 application fee. Brokers can operate independently or supervise salespersons, while salespersons cannot practice without a sponsoring broker.
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.
A REALTOR® is a licensed real estate professional who has joined the National Association of REALTORS® (NAR) and agreed to abide by its Code of Ethics, while a real estate broker is a licensee who has advanced beyond the salesperson level and can operate independently or supervise agents. All REALTORS® are licensed real estate professionals, but not all real estate agents or brokers are REALTORS®. NAR requires its members to complete Code of Ethics training every three years, a requirement separate from Ohio's state continuing education.
A real estate agent is a generic term for a licensed real estate professional, while a real estate broker is a higher-level licensee who has held an active Ohio salesperson license for at least two of the last five years, completed 20 transactions, met additional education requirements, and passed the broker exam with a score of 75. A REALTOR® is a licensed agent or broker who has joined the National Association of REALTORS® (NAR) by paying membership dues to a local, state, and national association, and who must adhere to the NAR Code of Ethics and complete ethics training every three years.
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.
To become an Ohio real estate broker, you must hold an active Ohio salesperson license for at least two of the last five years and complete 20 qualifying transactions. You must also complete broker education requirements, which include the standard real estate courses plus four college-level courses: Financial Management, Human Resources/Personnel Management, Applied Business Economics, and Business Law. You submit a Broker Examination Application with a $135 fee, complete state and FBI criminal records checks, and pass both the State and National portions of the broker exam with a score of 75 or higher.
Ohio counts each qualifying transaction as a half-transaction:
| Role | Transaction type | Count |
|---|---|---|
| Listing agent | Sale | 1/2 |
| Selling agent | Sale | 1/2 |
| Listing agent | Commercial or industrial lease (1+ year term) | 1/2 |
| Procuring agent | Commercial or industrial lease (1+ year term) | 1/2 |
| Listing or procuring agent | Residential lease (1+ year term) | 1/2 |
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:
| Course | Hours |
|---|---|
| Financial Management | 30 |
| Human Resource/Personnel Management | 30 |
| Applied Business Economics | 30 |
| Business Law | 30 |
| Total | 120 |
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.
A four-year college degree is not required to become an Ohio real estate broker. The pre-licensing education must come from a postsecondary institution that awards at least a two-year (associate) degree, and the four broker-specific courses (Financial Management, Human Resources/Personnel Management, Applied Business Economics, and Business Law) are college-level courses. Broker applicants must also hold an active Ohio salesperson license for at least 2 of the last 5 years and document 20 real estate transactions.
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.
The Ohio broker licensing exam requires a passing score of 75 on both the State and National portions, and PSI administers it at test centers or through online proctoring. PSI offers practice tests and prep materials through its online store. General preparation strategies include taking full-length practice tests under timed conditions, using flashcards for vocabulary, and studying the exam content outline for each portion.
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.
Broker applicants must complete education that varies based on when they were first licensed. For those first licensed on or after April 9, 2025, the requirement includes Ohio Real Estate Law (40 hours), Ohio Real Estate Principles and Practices (40 hours), Real Estate Appraisal (10 hours), and Real Estate Finance (10 hours), plus four broker-specific courses: Financial Management, Human Resources/Personnel Management, Applied Business Economics, and Business Law. All broker applicants must also hold an active Ohio salesperson license for at least 2 of the last 5 years and document 20 real estate transactions.
Exam preparation and scheduling add several more weeks, and application processing adds additional time before the license is issued.
An Ohio broker license requires holding an active Ohio salesperson license for at least two of the last five years, so the minimum timeline begins with that two-year salesperson experience requirement. Beyond the salesperson experience, applicants must complete 120 hours of broker-specific education (Financial Management, Human Resources/Personnel Management, Applied Business Economics, and Business Law, each 30 hours), document 20 real estate transactions, submit a Broker Examination Application with a $135 fee, and pass both portions of the broker exam with a score of 75.
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.
Ohio brokers must complete 30 hours of continuing education every 3 years. Within the 30 hours, brokers must include 3 hours each of Canons of Ethics, Core Law, and Civil Rights, plus a 3-hour Broker Responsibilities course covering the duties of a principal broker. The broker renewal fee is $243 every 3 years.
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.
Sources
- Ohio Revised Code § 4735.07EducationAugust 2026
- Ohio REPL — Broker License RequirementsGovernmentMay 2026
- BLS OOH — Real Estate Brokers & Sales AgentsGovernmentMay 2026
- PSI — Real Estate GuideEducationAugust 2026
- Ohio COM — Salesperson License RequirementsGovernmentMay 2026
- Ohio DOC — Real Estate FAQGovernmentAugust 2026
- Ohio COM — Out-of-State Broker ApplicantsGovernmentMay 2026