Real estate license requirements: A 50-state comparison

Key takeaways

• Pre-licensing education ranges from 40 hours in states like Alaska and Vermont to 180 hours in Texas, and total fees to get licensed run from $75 in South Carolina and Wisconsin to $485 in Colorado.
• Every state requires a licensing exam with both a national and state-specific section. Passing scores generally fall between 70% and 75%, though Montana requires 80% and Pennsylvania requires 77%.
• Most states renew licenses every two years with continuing education requirements, but several states add post-license hours that new agents must complete before their first renewal. Texas requires the most at 98 additional hours.

Real estate licenses are issued at the state level, and each state sets its own standards for education, exams and fees. The requirements vary more than most people expect.

Every state requires prospective agents to complete a set number of pre-licensing education hours through a state-approved provider. According to state licensing guides from EstatePass, an online real estate exam-prep platform, and Colibri Real Estate, a national real estate education company, requirements range from 40 hours in Alaska, Massachusetts, Michigan, New Hampshire and Vermont to 180 hours in Texas.

After finishing the coursework, you sign up to take the licensing exam. The exam includes a national section covering general real estate principles and a state-specific section on local regulations. Passing scores vary by state but generally fall between 70% and 75%. Both the coursework and the exam come with fees, which range from $75 to $485 depending on the state.

All states also require agents to renew their license on a set cycle, typically every two years. Renewal requires completing continuing education hours. In several states, the first renewal period carries a heavier load called post-license hours, which are additional courses new licensees must finish before their first renewal. After that initial period, the continuing education requirement per cycle drops to the standard amount.

Related content:

• How to become a real estate agent: Steps, costs, what to expect
• What does a real estate agent do?
• Real estate agent vs. broker vs. Realtor: The difference explained

This chart outlines the general requirements to get a real estate license in each state, but there may be more requirements and restrictions unique to that state.

Sources: EstatePass 2026 state licensing comparison and Colibri Real Estate state-by-state guides

Some states allow you to transfer your real estate license from another state. This is called reciprocity. The level of reciprocity determines how much additional work you'll need to do before practicing in the new state.

• Full reciprocity means a state recognizes your current license with few additional requirements. In some cases, you may only need to pass the state-law portion of the licensing exam.
• Limited reciprocity means a state recognizes your license but requires additional qualifications, such as state-specific coursework, an exam or both.
• No reciprocity means you must meet the same licensing requirements as a new applicant, including completing all required pre-licensing education and examinations.

• Alabama
• Arizona
• Colorado
• Florida
• Georgia
• Idaho
• Indiana
• Kansas
• Maryland
• Michigan
• Mississippi
• Missouri
• Montana
• Nebraska
• New Mexico
• North Dakota
• Ohio
• Oklahoma
• South Carolina
• South Dakota
• Tennessee
• Utah
• Virginia
• West Virginia
• Wyoming

• Alaska
• Arkansas
• Connecticut
• Delaware
• D.C.
• Illinois
• Iowa
• Kentucky
• Louisiana
• Maine
• Massachusetts
• Minnesota
• Nevada
• New Hampshire
• New Jersey
• New York
• North Carolina
• Oregon
• Pennsylvania
• Puerto Rico
• Rhode Island
• Vermont
• Washington
• Wisconsin

• California
• Hawaii
• Texas

If you want to practice real estate in these three states, you must complete all education and exam requirements from the beginning regardless of prior experience or licenses held elsewhere.