How to become an Oregon real estate broker and real estate agent
13 min read·
Oregon's entry-level real estate credential is a broker license, the equivalent of what most states call a real estate agent or salesperson license. Earning this license requires being at least 18 years old, holding a high school diploma or equivalent, completing 150 hours of pre-license education from an Agency-approved school, passing a two-section licensing exam administered by PSI Services LLC at a cost of $75 per attempt, clearing a fingerprint-based background check, and affiliating with a managing principal broker who activates the license. The Oregon Real Estate Agency[1] (OREA) regulates the process, and the Oregon Secretary of State's License Directory[2] lists the total processing time at 2 to 6 months from application to license issuance.
Oregon's entry-level license is a broker license
Oregon uses the term "broker license" for its entry-level real estate credential, where most states use "salesperson" or "agent." A broker must work under a managing principal broker's supervision to perform real estate transactions, according to the Oregon Real Estate Agency[1]. An individual can hold only one real estate license type at a time, whether broker, principal broker, or property manager.
In Oregon, the broker license is the entry-level real estate license, equivalent to what most other states call a salesperson or agent. A licensed broker can conduct professional real estate activity only while associated with and supervised by a managing principal broker. Oregon uses the term principal broker for the supervisory role that other states call a sponsoring broker or managing broker. Oregon does not have a separate salesperson license type.See the answer for every state
Oregon does not use the term "salesperson" for its entry-level license. The entry-level real estate license in Oregon is called a broker license, and a licensed broker can conduct professional real estate activity while associated with and supervised by a managing principal broker. To obtain it, you must be at least 18 years old, have a high school diploma or GED, register in eLicense, pay the $300 nonrefundable application fee, complete 150 hours of pre-license education from an Agency-approved school, pass both sections of the broker exam administered by PSI, and complete fingerprinting for a background check.See the answer for every state
Broker versus real estate agent in Oregon
A REALTOR® is a broker who belongs to NAR, the National Association of REALTORS®, and follows its Code of Ethics. The Oregon REALTORS®[3] association offers primary and secondary membership options for licensed brokers who want to join.
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. All REALTORS® are licensed real estate professionals, but not all licensed agents are REALTORS®. In Oregon, holding a broker license does not make someone a REALTOR®; membership requires joining a local REALTOR® association and paying dues at the local, state, and national levels.See the answer for every state
To become a REALTOR®, a licensed real estate broker must join a local REALTOR® association and pay membership dues, which automatically provides membership at the state and national levels. NAR national dues are $156 per year for 2027, plus a $45 special assessment for the consumer advertising campaign, totaling $201 at the national level. REALTORS® must complete Code of Ethics training every three-year cycle.See the answer for every state
Who qualifies for an Oregon broker license
To qualify for an Oregon broker license, you must be 18 or older and hold a high school diploma or equivalent. The Oregon Real Estate Agency[1] lists these as the only prerequisites for beginning the licensing process. No prior real estate experience or college degree is required.
To become a real estate broker in Oregon, you must be at least 18 years old and have a high school diploma, GED, or international equivalent. The licensing process requires registering for an eLicense account, applying for a broker license and paying the $300 nonrefundable application fee, completing 150 hours of pre-license education from an Agency-approved school, passing both sections of the broker license exam with PSI, and getting fingerprinted for a background check at the PSI test center. A license is issued only after the background check clears, a managing principal broker adds the pending license to the registered business, and the Agency completes a final review.See the answer for every state
Register in eLicense and submit your application
The first step is creating an account in Oregon's eLicense system and submitting a broker license application with a $300 nonrefundable fee, per the Oregon Real Estate Agency[1]. After submitting, you receive an Applicant ID number by email. You will give this ID to your pre-license school so the school can report your course completion and make you eligible to schedule the exam.
Applicants must be at least 18 years old and hold a high school diploma, GED, or international equivalent. The process begins by registering for an eLicense account and paying the $300 nonrefundable application fee, after which the applicant receives an Applicant ID number. The applicant must then complete 150 hours of broker pre-license education from an Agency-approved school and provide the school with their Applicant ID and full name so the school can submit exam eligibility to PSI. After passing both sections of the broker license exam and being fingerprinted at a PSI test center, the license is issued when the background check clears, a managing principal broker adds the pending license to the registered business, and the Agency completes a final review.See the answer for every state
Complete 150 hours of pre-license education
You must complete 150 hours of coursework at a school listed on the Oregon Real Estate Agency's approved school directory[4]. You must provide your Applicant ID and full name to your school so it can report your completion to the Agency and make you eligible for the exam.
Yes, Oregon allows broker pre-license education to be completed online through Agency-approved schools. Online courses are self-paced with 24/7 access, and students can complete the required 150 hours at their own speed. The Oregon Real Estate Agency reviews and approves course content from licensed private career schools and accredited community colleges, colleges, and universities.See the answer for every state
Oregon requires 150 hours of pre-license education from an Agency-approved school, with subjects that include real estate law, Oregon real estate practice, finance, contracts, agency, brokerage, and property management. Only courses completed on or after January 1, 2013 satisfy this requirement. The school submits eligibility electronically to PSI upon completion, allowing the applicant to schedule the license exam.See the answer for every state
Pre-license course costs vary by provider and format. All providers must be approved by the Oregon Real Estate Agency, and the course covers 150 hours of required education. Agency-approved schools include licensed private career schools and accredited community colleges, colleges, and universities.See the answer for every state
Pass the broker licensing exam
PSI administers the broker licensing exam in two sections covering national and Oregon-specific real estate topics. You must pass both sections to earn your license. If you pass one section but fail the other, you retake only the failed section. You must wait until the day after a failed attempt to schedule a retake.
Section
Questions
Time limit
Passing score
National
80
120 minutes
75%
State (Oregon)
50
75 minutes
75%
PSI offers practice tests, and remote proctoring is available for candidates who prefer to test from home.
PSI, Oregon's contracted exam vendor, offers real estate licensure test prep and practice tests through its website. Pearson VUE, a separate testing company, offers general broker and salesperson practice tests for $19.95 each, but these cover only national topics and do not include Oregon-specific content. Education providers on the state's approved pre-license schools list may also offer separate exam prep courses.See the answer for every state
Yes, PSI offers remote proctoring for Oregon real estate licensing exams. Candidates need a dependable device with a webcam and a stable internet connection to take the exam from home or office. PSI also operates in-person test centers in Baker City, Bend, Eugene, Independence, Medford, Portland, and Wilsonville, Oregon.See the answer for every state
Complete the fingerprint background check
All new license candidates must be fingerprinted for a state and national criminal history record search at the PSI test center on exam day, per the PSI exam bulletin[5]. The Oregon Real Estate Agency directs candidates to contact PSI for current fingerprinting fees. As of August 2025, the fee is $61.25, per the PSI Candidate Information Bulletin hosted by the Oregon Division of Financial Regulation. Fingerprint processing may take up to 4 weeks, though most clear within about 2 weeks.
Activate your license with a principal broker
A license is issued only after your background check clears, your managing principal broker adds your pending license to their registered business, and the Agency completes a final review of your application, per the Oregon Real Estate Agency[1]. You cannot practice real estate independently with a broker license; you must be supervised by a principal broker. Both exam scores and background check clearances remain valid for one year, so you must activate your license within that window. Your license expiration date is set by your birth month, meaning your first license period will be between 13 and 24 months, with subsequent periods running 24 months.
How long the licensing process takes
The Oregon Secretary of State[2] publishes an estimated processing time for broker license applications that covers the full pipeline from submission through activation, including education, exam, background check, and principal broker association.
The Oregon Secretary of State's License Directory lists a processing time of 2 to 6 months from application to license issuance for a real estate broker license. This full timeline covers completing 150 hours of pre-license education, scheduling and passing the two-section broker exam, fingerprinting and background check clearance, and affiliation with a managing principal broker. Most candidates finish the process in 3 to 6 months, though the pre-license coursework alone can be completed in several weeks for those studying full-time.See the answer for every state
Out-of-state applicants and Oregon reciprocity
Oregon has reciprocal licensing agreements with Alabama, Alberta, Georgia, Nebraska, and South Dakota, according to the Oregon Real Estate Agency[6]. There are no waivers of education or license examinations available, meaning out-of-state licensees must still complete Oregon's full pre-license education and exam requirements. Armed Forces service members and their spouses or domestic partners stationed in Oregon may apply for an authorization to practice, provided they hold an active license in good standing in another U.S. state.
After licensure: renewal and continuing education
Oregon real estate licenses must be renewed before the expiration date. Active renewal costs $300 and requires completing continuing education. Inactive renewal costs $150 and requires no continuing education. For a first active renewal, brokers must complete a Broker Advanced Practices course and a Law and Rule Required Course. If you miss the renewal deadline, you have one year to renew late with an additional $150 fee; after that, the license becomes lapsed, per the Oregon Real Estate Agency[7].
Oregon requires 30 hours of continuing education to renew an active real estate license. For a first active renewal before January 1, 2026, brokers must complete a 27-hour Broker Advanced Practices (BAP) course and a 3-hour Law and Rule Required Course (LARRC). For renewals on or after January 1, 2026, the BAP course is 26 hours, the LARRC is 2 hours, and a new 2-hour Fair Housing course is required, totaling 30 hours. Subsequent renewals require the LARRC, the Fair Housing course, and enough electives from certified providers to reach 30 hours.See the answer for every state
There is no limit to the number of continuing education hours that may be taken online in Oregon. Licensees must enter CE course information into eLicense rather than simply uploading certificates, and must keep certificates of attendance for 3 years from the renewal date. The Agency randomly audits CE records, and only courses taken within the 2 years before the renewal date count toward the requirement.See the answer for every state
Continuing education must be taken from providers certified by the Oregon Real Estate Agency, and the Agency maintains a certified provider list on its website. Certified providers must ensure each course covers one or more eligible topics such as agency relationships, contracts, financing, fair housing, trust accounts, advertising regulations, and property management. Courses may be taken in live or online formats, and licensees self-report completed hours through eLicense.See the answer for every state
Next steps
Begin by creating your eLicense account and submitting the broker license application to receive your Applicant ID. While you wait, review the Oregon Real Estate Agency's list of approved pre-license schools[4] and choose a course format that fits your schedule. The Bureau of Labor Statistics[8] reports a median annual wage of $56,320 for real estate sales agents as of May 2024, with about 46,300 job openings projected each year through 2034. After completing your education and passing the exam, connect with principal brokers who can activate your license and support your start in the field.
