How to Get Your Real Estate License in Illinois (2026 Step-by-Step)
Becoming a licensed real estate broker in Illinois takes about 3-6 months and roughly $700-$1,200 in total cost. The required steps: complete 75 hours of approved pre-licensing education, pass a 15-hour applied real estate principles course, pass the state and national exam, find a sponsoring brokerage, and submit your license application through the IDFPR Online Services Portal. Illinois uses a single "broker" license tier (not "salesperson") with managing broker as the supervisory level above. This guide walks through every step in order with current 2026 costs and timelines.
- Total time: typically 3-6 months from "decided to do this" to "actively selling real estate"
- Total cost: approximately $700-$1,200 including pre-licensing education, exam fees, application fees, and first-year state license
- The biggest decision isn't the school or the exam — it's choosing the right sponsoring brokerage. Where you sponsor determines whether you keep most of your commissions or hand them to a percentage-split firm.
On this page
Requirements to get an Illinois real estate license
Illinois sets the following baseline requirements for a real estate broker license:
- Age: at least 18 years old
- Education: high school diploma or equivalent (GED)
- Background: clean record (felony convictions and certain misdemeanors require additional review and may disqualify; full disclosure required)
- Residency: not required to be an Illinois resident, but you must list a physical mailing address
- Pre-licensing education: 75 hours from an IDFPR-approved school, broken into a 60-hour topics course and a 15-hour applied real estate principles course
- Exam: pass the state and national broker exam
- Sponsoring brokerage: you cannot activate your license without a sponsoring brokerage
The 7-step licensing process
- Choose an IDFPR-approved real estate school. Both online and in-person options exist. Common Illinois real estate schools include Real Estate Institute, Inland Real Estate School, Chicago Association of Realtors School, Real Estate Express / Colibri, and several others. Tuition typically runs $300-$700 for the full 75-hour package. Verify the school is currently approved on the IDFPR Division of Real Estate page.
- Complete the 60-hour topics course. Covers Illinois real estate law, fair housing, contracts, agency, financing, valuation, property ownership, and related topics. Online courses are self-paced; most students complete this in 4-8 weeks of part-time study.
- Complete the 15-hour applied real estate principles course. Practical application of the topics course, often including role-play scenarios and case studies. Required separately from the 60-hour topics course.
- Pass the school's final exam. Each school administers its own end-of-course exam; you must pass before being eligible for the state licensing exam.
- Schedule and pass the state and national broker exam. Administered by PSI Services on behalf of IDFPR. Two parts: a state-specific section (Illinois law and practice) and a national section (general real estate principles). Exam fee: $58. Most candidates pass on the first or second attempt.
- Find your sponsoring brokerage. You can begin researching and interviewing brokerages anytime during the licensing process. Most agents identify their sponsoring brokerage before or shortly after passing the state exam. The right brokerage depends on your goals — see the choosing your first sponsoring brokerage section below, plus our Chicago brokerage comparison for detailed cost breakdowns.
- Submit your license application through the IDFPR Online Services Portal. Your sponsoring brokerage will need to approve the application in their own portal. Application fee: $125. Background check fee: approximately $50 (handled through Accurate Biometrics or another approved vendor). Once approved, your license activates and you can begin practicing real estate.
Total costs broken down
| Item | Cost |
|---|---|
| Pre-licensing education (75 hours, school of choice) | $300-$700 |
| Exam fee (PSI) | $58 |
| License application fee (IDFPR) | $125 |
| Background check (Accurate Biometrics) | ~$50 |
| Initial study materials and exam prep (optional) | $0-$200 |
| MLS access (annual fee, varies by board) | $300-$600 |
| Realtor association dues (CAR + IAR + NAR, optional but typical) | $600-$1,000/year |
| Approximate total to launch | $700-$1,200 (excluding optional Realtor dues and MLS) |
Most new agents budget an additional $1,500-$3,000 for first-year business expenses (business cards, photography for personal branding, lockbox/supra access, basic CRM tools, and initial marketing). At Kale Realty, technology, training, and marketing templates are bundled into the $54 monthly fee — many of these line items don't apply.
Realistic timeline
Illinois doesn't impose a maximum time limit on licensing, but the practical timeline for most new agents is:
- Weeks 1-8: complete 60-hour topics course (online, self-paced)
- Weeks 8-10: complete 15-hour applied real estate principles course
- Week 10: pass school final exam
- Weeks 10-12: register for state exam, schedule, study, take exam
- Weeks 10-14 (parallel): interview sponsoring brokerages, decide where to sponsor
- Week 14: submit IDFPR license application; sponsoring brokerage approves; license activates within days
Total: typically 3-4 months for full-time, motivated learners. 5-6 months for part-time learners balancing other work. The IDFPR processing on the final license application is usually fast (days, not weeks) once everything is submitted correctly.
Choosing your first sponsoring brokerage
This is the biggest decision in the licensing process, and the one most new agents make for the wrong reasons. The brokerage you sponsor with determines:
- How much of every commission you keep (the brokerage take)
- Whether you have an annual cap (so the brokerage stops taking after a certain amount) or pay forever
- Your access to training, mentorship, and coaching
- Your access to leads (most brokerages don't provide leads; some, like Redfin, do)
- Whether you're a 1099 independent contractor (most) or W-2 employee (Redfin)
- Whether you have an office to work from
- The brand on your business card and yard signs
For brand-new agents specifically, the most important factors are usually:
- Cost structure. A high commission split or franchise fee that takes 30%+ of every deal will limit what you keep in a year when you're already producing low volume. Flat-fee brokerages (like Kale Realty's $400 per closed sale) keep your overhead predictable.
- Training and mentorship access. New agents need real coaching, not a self-paced video library. Look for brokerages with live training, in-house mentor programs, and accessible managing brokers.
- Lead generation expectations. If you don't yet have a sphere of influence to draw business from, a brokerage that provides leads (Redfin) or a structured prospecting program (Keller Williams BOLD, Coldwell Banker training) may help you get to your first few deals faster.
- Office availability. Many newer agents benefit from having a physical office to work from, host clients in, and learn from other agents. Cloud-only brokerages (eXp, Real Broker) work best for agents who already have systems in place.
For a side-by-side cost and structure comparison of every major Chicago brokerage, see joinkale.com/compare.
What happens after you get your license
The first 12-18 months of a real estate career separate agents who stay from agents who don't. The industry baseline is that roughly 75% of agents leave the business within their first 1-3 years. The agents who succeed typically:
- Have a sustainable income source (savings, spouse income, part-time work) to bridge the first 6-12 months while their pipeline builds
- Take training seriously and apply it daily — not just attend classes
- Build their sphere of influence systematically: announce their new license to everyone they know, ask for referrals, follow up consistently
- Choose a brokerage that supports their stage rather than the brokerage with the loudest recruiter
- Track their numbers honestly and adjust quickly when something isn't working
For Chicago-specific income data — what new agents actually earn vs. what's possible at higher production levels — see our Chicago real estate agent salary guide.
Frequently asked questions
How long does it take to get a real estate license in Illinois?
Most new agents complete the licensing process in 3-6 months from start to active license. Faster for full-time learners (3-4 months), slower for part-time learners balancing other work (5-6 months). The 75 hours of pre-licensing education is the longest single step.
How much does it cost to get an Illinois real estate license?
Total cost typically runs $700-$1,200 including pre-licensing education ($300-$700), exam fee ($58), license application ($125), background check (~$50), and initial study materials. Optional MLS and Realtor association dues add $900-$1,600/year on top.
Do I need a college degree to be a real estate agent in Illinois?
No. Illinois requires a high school diploma or equivalent (GED). No college degree is required.
Can I get a real estate license in Illinois with a felony conviction?
Possibly, depending on the nature and timing of the offense. IDFPR reviews felony and certain misdemeanor convictions on a case-by-case basis. Full disclosure is required on the application. Consult IDFPR or an attorney if you have specific questions about your background.
Do I have to be an Illinois resident to get an Illinois real estate license?
No. Illinois does not require residency for licensure. You must provide a physical mailing address but it can be in any state.
What's the difference between a broker and a managing broker in Illinois?
In Illinois, all licensed real estate practitioners are called brokers. A managing broker is a senior license tier requiring additional education (45 hours beyond the broker requirements) and a separate exam. Managing brokers are legally responsible for supervising the brokers sponsored at their firm. Most agents practice as brokers; managing broker is typically pursued only by those who want to run their own firm or hold supervisory roles.
Can I get my Illinois real estate license online?
Yes, mostly. The 75 hours of pre-licensing education can be completed entirely online through IDFPR-approved schools. The state exam itself is administered in person at PSI testing centers. The IDFPR license application is submitted through the online portal. The only mandatory in-person step is the proctored state exam.
Should I join a Realtor association?
Joining the Chicago Association of Realtors (CAR), Illinois Realtors (IAR), and National Association of Realtors (NAR) is voluntary but typical. Combined dues run $600-$1,000 per year. Membership is required to use the Realtor trademark and to access MRED (the Chicago MLS). Most practicing Chicago agents are NAR members for the MLS access alone.
How do I pick a sponsoring brokerage as a new agent?
The right brokerage depends on your specific goals: cost structure, training and mentorship needs, lead generation requirements, office preferences, and brand. Compare brokerages on what each costs you per year (the math), what training and coaching is included, and what kind of agent culture you'll be joining. See a side-by-side comparison of every major Chicago brokerage.
What is Kale Realty's onboarding process for new agents?
For agents who join Kale Realty after getting their initial Illinois license, onboarding from signed agreement to fully active typically takes about an hour. Kale handles the IDFPR sponsorship paperwork, sets up CRM and e-signature tools, and provides immediate access to in-house training, the mentor program, and transaction coaches. There's no minimum production requirement to start.
How do I renew my Illinois real estate license?
Illinois broker licenses renew every two years. The current renewal cycle ends April 30, 2026 for most Illinois brokers. Renewal requires 12 hours of continuing education during the cycle (with specific required topics) and a renewal fee paid through the IDFPR Online Services Portal.
What if I don't pass the state real estate exam?
You can retake the exam after a brief waiting period and additional fee ($58 per attempt). Most candidates who don't pass the first time pass on the second or third attempt with focused study on the sections they missed. The school's pre-licensing materials and PSI's exam content outline are the best preparation resources.
Getting started
The licensing process is straightforward. The brokerage decision is where most new Chicago agents make their biggest mistake — choosing the brokerage with the loudest recruiter or the most aggressive promises rather than the one that actually fits their first 1-3 years.
Schedule a 30-minute call with D.J. If you're working through the Illinois licensing process and want to talk through what to look for in a first sponsoring brokerage, D.J. will walk you through it honestly — including telling you if Kale isn't the right fit for your situation. No pressure, no recruiter pitch.
Or text D.J. directly at 312.238.9796.
About this guide. Published April 2026. Illinois licensing requirements, fees, and procedures are subject to change. The information above reflects publicly available IDFPR information as of the publication date. For the most current information, consult the IDFPR Division of Real Estate directly.
This page is intended as a general guide to obtaining an Illinois real estate license and is not legal, financial, or career advice. School and exam-prep recommendations are not endorsements; choose any IDFPR-approved provider that fits your learning style and schedule.
If you believe any information above is inaccurate, email dj@kalerealty.com.