Get your Iowa Real Estate license — 100% online at your own pace

Iowa requires salespersons to complete 60 hours of pre-license instruction from an approved pre-license school. Your pre-license course completion certificate is good for one year.

After the initial 60 hours, you need to take three 12-hour classroom courses in the following:

Listing Practices

Buying Practices

Developing Professional & Ethical Practices

The course completion certificate for these courses is good for one year.

Every Iowa salesperson candidate must complete a criminal records check at the state and federal levels. Follow these steps to make a background check packet request.

The IREC will mail you a fingerprinting packet within 3-10 business days. The fee is $51 and can be paid by check or money order.

Your background check results are valid for 210 days. Aim to complete the application process within that time frame.

You need only complete the 60-hour pre-license course before taking the salesperson licensing exam.

PSI administers the Iowa exam. They recommend to register for the exam by visiting https://www.psiexams.com or calling 1-800-733-9267. The exam fee is $95.00 made payable direct to PSI.

Search the website or see the Iowa Candidate Bulletin for an exam center near you.

Bring to the PSI test center your Pre-license Course Completion Certificate and two forms of identification with your signature.

About the Iowa salesperson exam:

National section has 80 questions and a passing score of 56. The time allowed is 120 minutes.

State section has 40 questions and a passing score of 26. The time allowed is 60 minutes.

There may be 5-10 unscored experimental questions. These questions are not identified.

Proof of E&O coverage must be provided with all new license applications. A group insurance policy is available with the IREC through Rice Insurance Services Company (RISC). A basic policy cost $144 in 2021.

Any coverage through a private carrier requires your policy to meet the requirements of coverage in Chapter 19 of Administrative Rules 193-E.

All Iowa salespersons work under the supervision of a sponsoring broker. They must sign the Broker Certification section and your original license. No inactive licenses are issued to new candidates.

Once you are ready to submit an application, you’ll create an account with My Iowa PLB if you have not done so yet. Your application requires:

60-hour pre-license course Education Completion Certificate dated within the last 12 months

Completion Certificates for all three 12-hour courses in Listing Practices, Buying Practices, and Ethics dated within the last 12 months

Passing score report for the exam dated within the prior six months

Proof of E&O insurance in Iowa

Started or completed the criminal background check

The licensing fee is $125.

Once the Iowa Professional Licensing Bureau approves your application, congratulations! You are an official Iowa real estate salesperson!