Before enrolling in pre-license education or preparing for the licensing exam, it helps to understand whether you meet the basic qualifications for an Illinois real estate broker license.
For the standard broker path, Illinois requires applicants to meet minimum age and education requirements, complete qualifying real estate education, pass the required examination, submit a valid license application, and satisfy the requirements that apply before conducting licensed brokerage activity.
This guide explains each eligibility requirement and helps you identify what you need before moving forward.
For the standard Illinois broker licensing path, an applicant generally needs to:
Illinois also has separate rules for certain attorneys and applicants already licensed as brokers in another jurisdiction.
The minimum age for an Illinois real estate broker applicant is:
18 years old
You do not need to wait until age 21 to pursue the standard broker license.
This is important because older Illinois licensing information available online may contain requirements that no longer reflect the current broker licensing framework.
Always use current IDFPR and Illinois law when checking eligibility.
The licensing requirement concerns your eligibility as a broker applicant.
If you are approaching age 18 and considering real estate education, confirm the enrollment and completion rules of the education provider before registering.
The important licensing point is that a standard broker applicant must meet the minimum age requirement when proceeding through the applicable licensing process.
Do not assume that being able to access educational material automatically means you are already eligible for licensure.
Illinois requires a broker applicant to satisfy the applicable high school education standard.
IDFPR summarizes the basic requirement as:
High school diploma or GED
This means a standard broker applicant does not need a college degree simply to qualify for the Illinois broker licensing path.
Your general education requirement and your real estate education requirement are separate.
No college degree is listed as a standard broker licensing requirement.
You generally do not need:
However, not needing a college degree does not mean there is no education requirement.
You still need to satisfy the applicable high school education standard and complete the required Illinois real estate pre-license education.
It is useful to separate these two requirements.
This refers to the high school diploma or equivalent requirement.
This refers to the specialized education required before the standard broker examination.
For most first-time applicants, both requirements matter.
Having a college degree does not ordinarily replace the required Illinois real estate education unless a specific statutory exception applies.
The Illinois Real Estate License Act lists good moral character among the qualifications for broker licensure.
Applicants should treat this as part of the formal licensing framework rather than attempting to decide for themselves whether a particular personal-history matter automatically makes them ineligible.
IDFPR reviews professional license applications according to applicable Illinois law and the information submitted by the applicant.
If your history raises an application question, follow the current IDFPR instructions and provide requested information accurately.
No. IDFPR states that a criminal conviction is not automatically a bar to professional licensure in Illinois.
A past conviction can require additional review or supporting information depending on the circumstances.
Applicants should:
IDFPR also states that sealed and expunged convictions do not need to be disclosed where its current application guidance says disclosure is not required.
Individual circumstances can differ, so current IDFPR instructions should control your application.
A standard Illinois broker applicant must complete:
75 hours of approved real estate pre-license education
This education is designed to provide the foundation needed for:
The education must satisfy current Illinois requirements rather than simply being any general real estate course.
The Illinois broker curriculum includes:
This portion covers the major real estate principles, laws, and transactional concepts.
The 15-hour component includes situational and case-study material designed to help students apply real estate concepts.
Together:
60 Hours + 15 Hours = 75 Hours
Both portions contribute to the standard pre-license education requirement.
The broker curriculum includes subjects such as:
You are not simply completing hours.
The course provides knowledge needed for both the licensing examination and future real estate practice.
Do not assume every course advertised online as an "Illinois real estate course" satisfies the licensing requirement.
Before enrolling, verify:
Choosing the wrong course can cost both time and money.
Use current Illinois-approved education information when making your decision.
Current Illinois rules state that approved broker pre-license education is valid for:
Two years after satisfactory completion
This creates an important timeline.
After finishing the required education, continue toward:
Do not complete the course and then assume it remains valid indefinitely.
Completing the 75-hour course does not automatically make you a licensed broker.
Standard applicants must also personally take and pass the authorized licensing examination.
The Illinois broker examination includes:
The two portions test different areas of knowledge.
The current examination structure includes:
| Exam Portion | Scored Items | Passing Score | Time |
|---|---|---|---|
| National | 100 | 70% | 150 minutes |
| Illinois State | 40 | 75% | 90 minutes |
Candidates need to satisfy the examination requirements that apply to both portions.
Passing an examination is still not the same as having the actual broker license issued.
Illinois uses PSI to administer its real estate licensing examinations.
A standard broker candidate generally needs to:
Your education provider does not automatically schedule the state licensing examination for you.
An unsuccessful exam attempt does not immediately make you permanently ineligible.
However, Illinois places limits on repeated unsuccessful attempts.
Current rules state that if a person fails the broker examination:
Four consecutive times
the person must repeat the applicable pre-license education before taking the examination again.
Use unsuccessful exam results to identify weaknesses before scheduling another attempt.
Passing the examination is one requirement for licensure.
You must still submit a valid broker license application and satisfy the application requirements.
The licensing process can include:
These steps should remain separate:
You satisfied the applicable pre-license education requirement.
You satisfied the examination requirement.
You formally applied for licensure.
IDFPR approved and issued the broker license.
The applicable sponsoring broker relationship is established for licensed brokerage activity.
Do not treat these milestones as if they all occur automatically after passing the exam.
Illinois law states that an applicant may not engage in activities covered by the Real Estate License Act until a valid sponsorship has been registered with the Department.
A sponsoring broker provides the licensed brokerage structure under which an Illinois broker performs regulated brokerage activities.
This means exam eligibility and professional practice eligibility are different things.
You can qualify for and pass the examination before you are ready to conduct licensed real estate activity.
Sponsorship should not be confused with the standard requirements for becoming eligible to sit for the examination.
For a typical first-time candidate, the journey generally follows this sequence:
Eligibility → Pre-License Education → Exam → Sponsorship/Application → License Issuance
You can therefore begin researching sponsoring brokers while preparing for or completing the examination.
Starting your brokerage research early can make the transition after passing the exam easier.
When the time comes to choose a brokerage, compare more than commission splits.
Consider:
Your sponsoring brokerage can play an important role in your transition from licensing student to practicing broker.
Illinois law provides an important exception for certain attorneys.
Applicants who are currently admitted to practice law by the Supreme Court of Illinois and are in active standing are exempt from certain standard broker requirements, including the statutory high school and 75-hour pre-license education requirements identified in Section 5-27.
Current examination rules also recognize qualifying Illinois attorneys separately from the standard 75-hour education route.
An attorney should follow the current IDFPR and PSI instructions that apply specifically to this qualification category.
The attorney exception is specific.
It should not be interpreted as:
The statutory exception refers to applicants currently admitted to practice law by the Supreme Court of Illinois and in active standing.
If that does not describe your status, follow the standard broker eligibility requirements unless another specific licensing route applies.
If you already hold an active equivalent real estate license in another state or jurisdiction, do not automatically assume the standard first-time Illinois licensing path is the correct route.
Beginning January 1, 2026, Illinois replaced its previous reciprocal process with a:
Licensure by Endorsement process
for qualifying brokers and managing brokers seeking Illinois licensure from outside the state.
Current IDFPR endorsement materials require a broker applicant seeking endorsement to hold:
The current endorsement process also includes additional requirements involving:
This is a separate licensing route from the standard 75-hour first-time applicant pathway.
Current Illinois rules require qualifying broker endorsement applicants to complete:
30 hours of approved Broker Pre-License Endorsement education
along with the applicable Illinois-specific examination and other endorsement requirements.
Do not enroll automatically in the standard 75-hour course if you already hold an equivalent active broker license elsewhere.
First determine which Illinois licensing path applies to you.
Do not confuse the Illinois Broker license with the Managing Broker license.
The standard entry-level real estate license.
Current minimum age:
18
A higher license category with additional experience, education, and examination requirements.
Current minimum age:
20
A person beginning an Illinois real estate career normally focuses on broker eligibility rather than managing broker requirements.
The standard Illinois broker requirements do not require you to first work as a real estate salesperson or hold another Illinois real estate license.
Illinois uses the Broker license as the principal entry-level license for individuals entering brokerage practice.
Prior licensed brokerage experience becomes relevant later if you pursue the Illinois Managing Broker license.
Owning a home, investment property, or commercial real estate is not listed as a requirement for obtaining an Illinois broker license.
Real estate ownership and professional real estate licensure are different concepts.
You can pursue the broker licensing path without personally owning real estate.
Your eligibility is determined by the applicable licensing qualifications, education, examination, application, and professional requirements.
Illinois does not require you to have worked previously in:
before pursuing the standard broker license.
Those experiences may help develop useful professional skills, but they are not substitutes for the licensing requirements.
Your required preparation begins with the applicable broker education and licensing process.
Some abilities can help you later in your career even though they are not legal prerequisites for licensure.
Useful skills can include:
Do not confuse useful career skills with formal state eligibility requirements.
The state determines whether you qualify for licensure; your professional skills help determine how you function once you begin working.
Illinois licensing requirements do not turn into a separate license simply because you intend to work part-time.
A person pursuing part-time brokerage activity still needs to satisfy the applicable licensing requirements.
That means you cannot bypass:
You should also ask prospective sponsoring brokerages whether their business model supports part-time brokers.
Illinois permits qualifying pre-license education through approved delivery methods.
The important issue is not simply whether the course is online.
The important questions are:
An approved online course can satisfy applicable requirements when it follows Illinois rules.
You may satisfy every basic eligibility requirement and still need additional study before taking the broker examination.
For example, you could be:
and still benefit from reviewing:
Legal eligibility tells you whether you can proceed.
Exam readiness tells you whether you are prepared to perform successfully.
Becoming legally eligible does not mean you already know how to build a real estate business.
After licensing, you may still need to develop skills involving:
The licensing process establishes the legal and educational foundation.
Professional development continues after the license is issued.
Common issues can include:
You have not completed the required qualifying course.
The education does not satisfy Illinois requirements.
Too much time has passed since completing the pre-license education.
You have not passed the required examination.
Required information or documentation is incomplete.
A valid sponsorship has not been established where needed for licensed brokerage activity.
IDFPR requests additional information before issuance.
Planning ahead can reduce avoidable delays.
Use this quick eligibility review:
If you meet the basic qualifications, your next steps generally look like this:
Verify age and general education.
Complete the required 75 hours.
Study national and Illinois-specific topics.
Submit required education information and schedule your examination.
Satisfy the national and Illinois requirements.
Choose the appropriate sponsoring broker for active practice.
Complete the IDFPR licensing process.
Verify your actual license and sponsorship status.
Current Illinois broker requirements use a minimum age of 18.
A college degree is not a standard broker eligibility requirement.
The required education must satisfy Illinois requirements.
The course is only one stage.
You still need to complete the licensing process.
Illinois law requires valid sponsorship before engaging in activities covered by the Act.
IDFPR states that a conviction is not automatically a bar to Illinois professional licensure.
Qualifying out-of-state licensees now use Illinois's endorsement process.
Start by identifying which issue creates uncertainty.
Is it:
Then review the current IDFPR or Illinois licensing instructions that apply to that specific issue.
Do not spend money on courses or applications based on assumptions when your circumstances may place you on a different licensing path.
After confirming that the standard broker path applies to you, organize your next steps.
A simple plan is:
Eligibility → Education → Exam Preparation → Examination → Sponsorship → Application → License
Tracking each phase separately can make the licensing process easier to understand.
Use the Illinois Broker License Checklist to monitor your progress from beginning to initial licensure.
Eligibility is the starting point.
Once you know which licensing path applies to you, the next major task is completing the education and preparing for the examination.
Illinois Broker Academy provides education and learning resources for individuals pursuing the Illinois broker licensing process.
Use current state requirements as your roadmap and build your education around the topics you will need for licensing and future brokerage practice.
If you want the education requirements:
Illinois Broker Education Requirements
If you are ready to learn about pre-license education:
If you want the full licensing roadmap:
Illinois Broker License Checklist
If you need exam eligibility information:
Illinois Broker Exam Requirements
If you want exam registration information:
If you want the license application process:
Illinois Broker License Application
If you already hold a license outside Illinois:
For the standard licensing path, an applicant must generally be at least 18 years old, satisfy the applicable high school education requirement, meet the statutory applicant qualifications, complete 75 hours of approved broker pre-license education, pass the required examination, and submit a valid license application. Valid sponsorship must be registered before engaging in activities covered by the Illinois Real Estate License Act.
The current minimum age for an Illinois broker applicant is 18.
Illinois requires the applicable high school education or equivalency requirement. IDFPR summarizes the minimum education requirement as a high school diploma or GED for the standard broker path.
No college degree is listed as a standard eligibility requirement for an Illinois broker license.
Standard first-time Illinois broker applicants generally need 75 hours of approved pre-license real estate education.
Current Illinois administrative rules state that approved broker pre-license education is valid for two years after satisfactory completion.
Yes. Standard applicants must personally take and pass the authorized broker licensing examination.
A criminal conviction does not automatically prevent professional licensure in Illinois. IDFPR may review applicable circumstances and can request additional information. Applicants should follow the current application instructions and respond accurately to required questions.
No. Passing the examination satisfies one requirement. You still need to submit the applicable license application and satisfy the remaining Illinois licensing requirements before IDFPR issues the license.
Sponsorship is separate from the standard examination-eligibility process. However, Illinois law requires valid sponsorship to be registered before an applicant engages in activities covered by the Real Estate License Act.
No. An examination pass alone does not authorize licensed brokerage activity. You must complete the licensing process and have the applicable valid sponsorship registered before engaging in regulated brokerage activities.
Illinois law provides an exception for applicants currently admitted to practice law by the Supreme Court of Illinois and in active standing. Those applicants should follow the current IDFPR and PSI attorney qualification instructions.
Qualifying out-of-state brokers now apply through Illinois's licensure-by-endorsement process. This route has separate requirements, including an active equivalent license in good standing, Illinois-specific education and examination requirements, and other application documentation.
The standard Illinois broker requirements do not require previous employment in real estate or sales. Prior licensed broker experience becomes relevant if you later pursue managing broker licensure.
No. Property ownership is not listed as a standard eligibility requirement for obtaining an Illinois broker license.
The licensing requirements apply whether you eventually intend to work full-time or part-time. You still need to complete the applicable education, examination, application, sponsorship, and licensing requirements.
Current Illinois rules state that a person who fails the broker examination four consecutive times must repeat the applicable pre-license education before taking the examination again.
Use current information from the Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation, the Illinois Real Estate License Act, Illinois Administrative Code, and current PSI examination materials because licensing requirements and procedures can change.