Illinois Real Estate License Requirements
To obtain a real estate salesperson license in Illinois, you need to:

1. Complete the educational requirements. You must complete a state-approved 45-hour pre-license program. A minimum of 15 hours must be in areas of Article 15 of the Act (agency), disclosure and environmental issues.
   
   The requirements to obtain a broker license for a person who does not already have a salesperson license is equal to 120 hours of instruction in approved courses, 45 of which to be those hours required to obtain a salesperson license, plus at least 45 hours of mandatory courses as outlined in Section 1450.60 Rules.
   
   The requirement to obtain a broker license for a person who does already have a salesperson license is equal to 75 hours of instruction in approved courses (not including the 45 hours required to obtain the salesperson license).
2. Pass the Illinois real estate license exam. You will need to pass a 140 questions multiple-choice exam with a score of 75% or better.
3. File an application with the required fee. The application must include the certification of a passing score on the exam, a properly issued sponsor card, and a check for the license. The fee for a salesperson initial license is $125.00.

Effective May 1, 2011, Illinois will have two new license categories under a revised Real Estate Act. Read the Real Estate License Update FAQ for more information on upcoming changes.

If you have additional questions about licensing, we recommend you visit the Illinois Division of Professional Regulation or call (217)524-6735.

If you are an agent licensed in another state, you need to:

1. Contact the State of Illinois Division of Professional Regulation to determine if Illinois has a reciprocal licensing agreement with the state in which you are actively licensed.
2. Submit a Reciprocity Application with supporting documents and application fee.
3. Pass the Illinois portion of the real estate license exam. You will need to pass a 40-question multiple-choice exam with a score of 75% or better.

Illinois Real Estate Exam Information
Illinois real estate license applicants must pass a computerized exam administered by AMP Assessment Centers.

To schedule your exam, you must have completed the education requirement. AMP will require the following to schedule an examination:

1. Personal information - legal name, address, phone, SSN, date of birth
2. Exam specifics - exam type, preferred date, and test center location
3. Real estate education program completed- your school name and code and date of graduation
4. Examination fee- The examination fee for salespersons and brokers is $49.

For more information, click here to view AMP ’s web site, which includes exam reservation guidelines, and a list of all AMP test center locations and hours of operation.

Upon arriving at the test center, you’ll need to show two forms of identification, one with a current photograph and an original Uniform Real Estate Transcript bearing an embossed seal to the test administrator. Then a brief online tutorial will familiarize you with the computerized testing system before you answer the multiple-choice questions. The exam is divided into national and state portions. The national portion has 100 questions and the state portion has 40 questions.

You will have 3 1/2 hours to complete the exam. Be sure to attempt to answer every question. A minimum score of 75% is required to pass the Illionois real estate exam. Your score will be available immediately. If you pass the exam, you will receive a score report/licensure application, an applicant sponsor card and instructions for applying for a license. Candidates are allowed up to three attempts to pass the exam. After failing the third attempt, you are required to retake the education and examination.

Read the Illinois Real Estate Candidate Handbook for more information.