After completing the required Illinois broker pre-license education, the next major step is becoming eligible for the licensing examination and scheduling your test.
Illinois uses PSI Services LLC to administer the real estate broker examination. This guide explains how to create your PSI account, submit your education information, select your exam, choose between a test center and remote proctoring, pay the examination fee, schedule your appointment, and prepare for exam day.
The Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation works with PSI Services LLC to administer the Illinois real estate licensing examinations.
For prospective brokers, PSI handles important examination functions such as:
Your education provider and IDFPR are important parts of the licensing journey, but the broker examination itself is scheduled through PSI.
A standard Illinois broker candidate should first make sure the applicable pre-license education requirement has been completed.
For the standard broker licensing path, Illinois requires:
The 75-hour curriculum generally includes:
Your pre-license education is generally valid for two years after satisfactory completion.
The registration process can be understood in several basic steps:
Completing each step carefully can help prevent registration problems later.
Before a standard broker candidate becomes eligible to test, the required education must be completed through an appropriate Illinois real estate education provider.
Your course completion record is important because PSI requires eligible broker candidates to submit evidence of completed education during the examination eligibility process.
Before moving forward, make sure:
Keep your own copy of all education records.
Broker candidates register through the PSI Illinois Real Estate examination system.
When creating your account, enter your information carefully.
Your first and last name should match exactly with the valid government-issued identification you will use for the examination.
Avoid:
A name mismatch can create problems when you report for the examination.
After accessing the PSI system, select the examination that applies to your licensing path.
For someone pursuing the standard Illinois broker license, make sure you select the appropriate Illinois Real Estate Broker Examination rather than another real estate examination.
Other PSI examinations may include:
Selecting the correct examination is important because eligibility, education, fees, and examination content may differ.
Current PSI instructions require standard broker candidates to upload the applicable course certificate as part of becoming eligible to test.
PSI reviews the submitted education information and sends confirmation after eligibility is approved.
Before uploading your certificate:
Do not wait until your preferred testing date is close before beginning the eligibility process.
The Illinois broker examination is part of a professional licensing process.
PSI needs to determine that a standard candidate has satisfied the applicable education requirement before allowing the candidate to proceed with testing.
This prevents someone from registering for the broker examination before completing the required qualifying education.
Once your eligibility is approved, you can continue with scheduling.
Current PSI scheduling allows eligible candidates to select between:
You travel to an available PSI examination location and complete the test under controlled testing-center conditions.
You take the examination remotely using a qualifying computer and testing environment while being monitored through PSI's remote proctoring system.
The better option depends on:
Review all current PSI rules before choosing your format.
If you choose a physical testing center, the PSI scheduling system allows you to search for available locations.
The basic scheduling process involves:
Your confirmation should identify the test center, appointment date, and testing time.
Save this information.
If you select remote proctoring, you will choose an available date and time through the PSI scheduling system.
Before choosing remote testing, make sure your computer and testing environment satisfy PSI requirements.
PSI advises candidates to complete compatibility checks involving areas such as:
Do this before exam day.
Discovering a technical incompatibility shortly before your appointment can create unnecessary problems.
The current PSI Candidate Information Booklet lists the standard:
Illinois Broker Examination Fee: $58
Examination fees are generally:
Candidates should verify the current fee when registering because examination fees can change over time.
For online scheduling, payment is completed as part of booking your examination appointment.
After selecting your:
you proceed to payment.
Once payment and scheduling are completed, review the confirmation carefully.
Make sure the confirmation shows the correct:
Save your confirmation for your records.
PSI also provides telephone scheduling.
Current PSI instructions state that candidates scheduling by telephone need an accepted credit card.
Telephone scheduling can be useful if:
Online scheduling may still be more convenient because you can directly review available locations, dates, and times.
There is no single registration date that works for every candidate.
A good approach is to schedule when:
Avoid two extremes:
You may not have enough time to prepare properly.
You may lose study momentum and move closer to the expiration of your education eligibility period.
Choose a date that gives you enough time for structured review without unnecessarily delaying the exam.
Current Illinois guidance provides a two-year eligibility period associated with qualifying broker pre-license education.
Standard broker candidates are allowed up to four attempts to pass the examination during that period.
This makes the date you completed your education important.
Keep records showing:
Do not assume your exam eligibility remains open indefinitely.
A standard Illinois broker candidate currently has up to four attempts to pass the examination during the two-year eligibility period.
If you do not pass a portion of the exam, PSI provides information regarding retesting.
If a standard broker candidate fails the fourth attempt, current rules require the candidate to retake the 75-hour broker pre-license education before taking the entire examination again.
This makes it important to prepare seriously before each attempt.
The Illinois broker examination contains national and Illinois-specific portions.
Under current PSI procedures, if you fail only one portion, you generally need to repeat only the portion you failed.
For example:
Retake the Illinois state portion.
Retake the national portion.
Your score report can provide diagnostic information that may help you identify subjects needing additional study.
Yes, but timing matters.
Current PSI instructions allow candidates to cancel and reschedule without forfeiting the examination fee when PSI receives the cancellation at least two days before the scheduled examination date.
Rescheduling can generally be completed through the PSI website or by speaking with PSI.
Do not assume that simply missing your appointment allows you to move the fee to another date.
Follow the formal cancellation and rescheduling procedure.
Your registration can become invalid and you may forfeit the examination fee if you:
Review your exam confirmation in advance.
Know:
Current PSI instructions advise candidates taking the examination at a testing center to arrive approximately 30 minutes before the scheduled appointment.
This extra time allows for:
Arriving after the examination start time may result in not being admitted and losing the examination fee.
Plan your travel accordingly.
Current PSI instructions require candidates to provide an acceptable form of valid identification.
The identification must:
Accepted identification can include qualifying government-issued documents listed by PSI.
Before exam day, compare the name on your exam registration with the name on your ID.
Do not wait until check-in to discover a mismatch.
Remote testing requires more preparation than simply logging into a website on exam day.
Before the appointment:
Current PSI instructions warn that failing to launch the exam within the permitted time around your scheduled appointment can cause you to lose the fee or eligibility associated with that booking.
Technical preparation should therefore be completed before test day.
| Consideration | Test Center | Remote Proctored |
|---|---|---|
| Location | PSI testing location | Qualifying private testing space |
| Computer | Provided at test center | Candidate's compatible computer |
| Internet | Managed by test center | Candidate responsible |
| Proctor | On-site testing procedures | Remote monitoring |
| Travel | Required | Usually not required |
| Equipment check | Minimal candidate setup | Compatibility check important |
| Environment | Controlled by PSI | Candidate must prepare qualifying environment |
Neither format automatically makes the examination easier.
Choose the environment in which you can test reliably and follow all PSI requirements.
PSI provides procedures for candidates who require testing accommodations.
Candidates with disabilities or other qualifying needs should review the current accommodation process before scheduling or testing.
Do not wait until exam day to request arrangements.
Depending on the accommodation, additional documentation or advance processing may be necessary.
Review the current PSI instructions and complete the required process early enough for your needs to be addressed.
Before selecting your examination date, ask yourself:
Your required pre-license education should be complete.
Make sure PSI has processed the applicable education documentation.
Know the national and state portions.
Focus on contracts, agency, financing, property, calculations, Illinois law, and disclosures.
Use practice questions to identify weak areas.
Complete timed study sessions before exam day.
Scheduling the exam should be part of your study plan, not separate from it.
Your registration name should match your qualifying government-issued ID.
Standard broker candidates need to complete the applicable education verification process.
Review your document before submitting it.
Make sure you register for the correct broker examination.
Complete compatibility testing before your appointment.
Save your PSI confirmation.
Test-center candidates should plan to arrive early.
Follow PSI's current rescheduling rules to avoid losing your fee.
Use this checklist before completing your registration:
Once your examination date is scheduled, turn the remaining time into a focused study period.
Review:
Use your practice results to determine which subjects deserve the most additional attention.
Once you have an actual test date, create a countdown study plan.
For example:
Review major subjects and identify weak areas.
Complete questions focused on specific categories.
Work through real estate math regularly.
Spend focused time on state-specific rules.
Complete mixed question sets under exam-like time limits.
Review your notes and recurring mistakes without trying to relearn the entire course immediately before the exam.
A scheduled exam gives your preparation a clear deadline.
Passing the examination is a major licensing milestone, but it does not automatically mean your Illinois broker license has been issued.
After passing, your next steps can include:
The exam is part of the licensing process, not the final license itself.
Exam registration is easier when you already have a clear education and preparation plan.
Illinois Broker Academy provides structured education and learning resources for people preparing for the Illinois real estate broker licensing process.
Students can use organized course material, topic review, and exam preparation resources to build their knowledge before selecting a testing date.
If you want to understand the exam structure:
If you want to see the topics tested:
If you want exam-style practice:
Illinois Broker Exam Questions
If you need a study guide:
Illinois Broker Exam Study Guide
If you want to understand current exam costs:
Illinois Real Estate Exam Cost
If you need preparation guidance:
After completing the applicable pre-license education, standard broker candidates create a PSI account, select the Illinois broker examination, upload the required course certificate, obtain eligibility approval, select a testing format and appointment, and pay the examination fee.
The Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation contracts with PSI Services LLC to administer Illinois real estate licensing examinations.
Standard broker candidates must satisfy the applicable pre-license education requirement before becoming eligible to test. Current PSI instructions require candidates to upload their course certificate for eligibility review.
The current PSI Candidate Information Booklet lists the standard Illinois Broker Examination fee as $58. Candidates should confirm the current amount when scheduling because fees can change.
Yes. PSI provides online registration and scheduling for Illinois real estate examinations.
Yes. PSI currently provides telephone scheduling in addition to online scheduling. Candidates using telephone scheduling should review the current payment and scheduling instructions.
Current PSI scheduling provides a remote-proctored option as well as test-center appointments. Remote candidates must satisfy PSI's computer, webcam, audio, video, workspace, and other testing requirements.
Yes. Candidates can search available PSI testing locations by city or postal code and select an available date and appointment time.
Yes. Current PSI instructions state that the candidate's first and last name used for scheduling must match the valid government-issued identification presented for testing.
Current PSI instructions advise test-center candidates to arrive approximately 30 minutes before the scheduled appointment for sign-in, identification, and examination procedures.
Yes. Under current PSI rules, candidates can cancel and reschedule without forfeiting the fee if the required cancellation notice is received at least two days before the scheduled examination date.
You may forfeit your examination fee if you fail to cancel within the required period, do not appear, arrive after the examination start time, or fail to present acceptable identification.
Standard broker candidates generally have a two-year eligibility period connected with their qualifying pre-license education.
Current PSI rules allow standard broker candidates up to four attempts during the applicable two-year eligibility period.
If you fail only the national or state portion, current PSI procedures generally require you to repeat only the portion you failed, subject to your remaining eligibility and examination attempts.
Current PSI guidance states that a standard broker candidate who fails the fourth attempt must retake the 75-hour broker pre-license education and then retake the entire examination.
Students can review the current PSI Candidate Information Booklet and official examination content outline. Those looking for structured Illinois broker education and exam preparation can also explore Illinois Broker Academy.