Becoming a licensed real estate broker in Illinois involves more than completing a course or passing an exam. A standard first-time applicant must meet Illinois eligibility requirements, complete approved pre-license education, pass the required licensing examination, complete the license application process, and satisfy the sponsorship requirements that apply to active brokerage practice.
This guide explains the major Illinois broker license requirements from initial eligibility through education, examination, application, sponsorship, and the education requirements that follow initial licensure.
For the standard first-time Illinois broker licensing path, the major requirements are:
| Requirement | Current Standard |
|---|---|
| Minimum Age | 18 |
| General Education | High school diploma or equivalent |
| Pre-License Education | 75 hours |
| Education Structure | 60-hour Broker Pre-License Topics + 15-hour Applied Real Estate Principles |
| Licensing Examination | Required |
| Examination Administrator | PSI |
| Initial Broker Application Fee | $150 |
| Sponsorship | Required when seeking an active license |
| Application Deadline After Passing Exam | 1 year |
| Post-License Education | 45 hours during the applicable first license term |
| Later Education | Continuing education applies in later renewal periods |
Special licensing routes can apply to qualifying Illinois attorneys and applicants already licensed in another jurisdiction.
A standard Illinois broker applicant must be:
At least 18 years old
You do not need to be 21 to pursue the current Illinois broker license.
Because older real estate licensing information may still appear online, make sure you are using current Illinois requirements rather than an outdated licensing guide.
Illinois requires a broker applicant to satisfy the applicable secondary education requirement.
IDFPR summarizes this requirement as:
High school diploma or GED
A college degree is not required for the standard Illinois broker licensing path.
However, the high school requirement is separate from the specialized real estate education that must also be completed.
A standard Illinois broker applicant does not need:
The formal licensing process instead focuses on the required general education, approved real estate education, examination, application, and sponsorship requirements.
A college education may be professionally useful, but it does not replace the required broker pre-license curriculum.
The Illinois Real Estate License Act establishes qualifications that applicants must satisfy.
The statute currently includes a good moral character qualification among the broker licensing requirements.
Applicants should not try to determine on their own that a past personal-history issue automatically makes them ineligible.
IDFPR reviews applications under applicable Illinois law and can request additional information when necessary.
A criminal conviction is not automatically a bar to obtaining an Illinois real estate license.
IDFPR specifically states that there are no criminal convictions that create an automatic bar to licensure in the real estate professions solely because of the conviction.
An applicant may still need to:
The Department reviews the circumstances under applicable Illinois law.
For the standard first-time broker path, Illinois requires:
75 hours of approved broker pre-license education
The education must come from an appropriate Illinois-approved real estate education provider and satisfy the required broker curriculum.
Do not assume that any real estate course found online qualifies for Illinois licensure.
The standard broker curriculum consists of:
This portion provides the primary real estate knowledge required for broker preparation.
This portion emphasizes practical application, including situational and case-study material.
Together:
60 Hours + 15 Hours = 75 Hours
Both components are part of the standard education requirement.
The curriculum covers major real estate concepts such as:
The course is designed to prepare you for both the licensing examination and the foundation of professional brokerage practice.
Before enrolling, verify that the course is appropriate for Illinois broker pre-licensure.
Check:
A general real estate course or an unapproved program may not satisfy the Illinois licensing requirement.
Qualifying Illinois broker education can be offered through approved online education formats.
The important question is not simply:
"Is the course online?"
Instead, confirm:
Online study can provide flexibility, but the same licensing standards still apply.
Illinois does not treat completed broker pre-license education as valid indefinitely.
Current rules provide that qualifying pre-license education is accepted for:
Two years after satisfactory completion
After completing your course, continue toward examination eligibility and testing while the education remains valid.
Keep a record of your exact course completion date.
After finishing the 75-hour requirement, keep your education records.
These may include:
PSI currently requires standard broker candidates to upload course documentation as part of the examination-eligibility process.
Do not discard your certificate after finishing the class.
Illinois currently uses PSI Services LLC to administer the real estate broker examination.
For the standard 75-hour qualification route, PSI identifies these core exam-eligibility requirements:
Candidates then complete the applicable PSI eligibility and scheduling process.
A standard candidate generally needs to:
Use your correct legal name during registration.
PSI requires your first and last name to match the valid government-issued identification used for testing.
Completing the course does not automatically qualify you for a license.
You must also satisfy the broker examination requirement.
The current standard Illinois broker examination includes:
Covers general real estate principles and practices.
Covers Illinois-specific real estate licensing laws, regulations, and disclosures.
Both required examination portions ultimately need to be passed.
The current PSI broker examination structure is:
| Portion | Scored Items | Passing Score | Time Allowed |
|---|---|---|---|
| National | 100 | 70% | 150 minutes |
| Illinois State | 40 | 75% | 90 minutes |
Students should prepare for both sections rather than focusing only on general national real estate material.
The national examination currently covers areas including:
The Illinois portion currently focuses on:
Current PSI rules allow standard broker candidates:
Up to four attempts during the two-year examination eligibility period
If you fail one portion, current procedures generally require you to retake only the portion that you failed.
However, after a fourth unsuccessful attempt, a broker candidate must repeat the required:
75 hours of broker pre-license education
and then retake the applicable examination requirements.
Preparing carefully before each attempt can save both time and money.
The current PSI Candidate Information Booklet lists the standard:
Broker Examination Fee: $58
This fee is separate from:
PSI states that examination fees are non-refundable and non-transferable under its applicable testing rules.
Passing the exam does not automatically create an Illinois broker license.
After passing the applicable examination, you must submit the broker license application to IDFPR and meet the remaining requirements.
Current Illinois rules require a broker applicant by examination to provide:
Additional information may be required based on the individual application.
Current Illinois rules provide:
One year from the date of receipt of a passing examination score
to submit your application and meet the requirements for licensure.
PSI's current Candidate Information Booklet warns that a candidate who does not apply and satisfy the licensing requirements within that period can lose examination accreditation and may need to retake the applicable examination.
Do not pass the exam and then leave the license application unfinished.
Current Illinois Administrative Code lists the initial broker license application fee as:
$150
This is separate from the current $58 examination fee.
Therefore, one standard exam registration and the initial state application fee currently total:
$208
before adding:
Sponsorship is a major part of Illinois real estate brokerage licensing.
Current rules require:
Proof of sponsorship if the applicant is seeking an active broker license
A sponsoring broker provides the brokerage structure under which an Illinois broker conducts regulated brokerage activities.
For the standard applicant, sponsorship is not part of the basic 75-hour PSI exam-eligibility route.
A typical sequence is:
Eligibility → Education → Examination → Sponsorship/Application → License Issuance
This means you can begin researching brokerage opportunities while completing your education or preparing for the exam.
However, sponsorship becomes essential when you are seeking active licensure and preparing to conduct brokerage activity.
A sponsoring broker is more than a name placed on a licensing record.
Depending on the brokerage, the relationship can involve:
Compare potential brokerages carefully before making a decision.
Completing education, passing the examination, or submitting an application does not by itself mean you are ready to conduct activities requiring an Illinois broker license.
Think of the process as separate milestones:
You satisfied the pre-license education requirement.
You satisfied the examination requirement.
IDFPR received your request for licensure.
IDFPR approved and issued the professional license.
You have the applicable sponsorship needed for licensed brokerage activity.
Do not skip the final licensing and sponsorship steps.
Once your application is approved, verify your license through the official Illinois licensing system.
Check:
Keep the license information with your professional records.
Initial licensure does not end your Illinois education requirements.
Qualifying new Illinois brokers must complete:
45 hours of post-license education
during the applicable first license term.
Current Illinois rules state that brokers completing the applicable 45-hour post-license requirement do not also complete the ordinary regular CE requirement for that same first license term.
The Illinois broker education path can be understood as:
75 hours of pre-license education
45 hours of post-license education during the applicable first license term
Ongoing continuing education
Do not confuse these three education stages.
Each serves a different purpose in the licensing process.
After the applicable new-broker post-license period, regular Illinois broker continuing education requirements apply to later renewal cycles.
Current rules generally require:
12 continuing education hours during the applicable broker license term
subject to current exemptions and renewal-cycle requirements.
Because CE curriculum requirements can change, brokers should verify the instructions published for their specific renewal cycle.
Illinois provides a separate qualification route for certain attorneys.
The current PSI Candidate Information Booklet identifies an attorney broker qualification for a candidate who:
Attorney candidates follow a different examination-eligibility process from standard candidates completing the 75-hour education route.
Do not assume that:
automatically creates the Illinois attorney qualification.
The current requirement specifically relates to admission by the Illinois Supreme Court.
Illinois changed its incoming out-of-state licensing process effective:
January 1, 2026
Qualifying brokers from another state or jurisdiction now apply through:
Licensure by Endorsement
This replaced the former new-applicant reciprocity process.
A broker applying by endorsement must satisfy a different set of requirements.
Current Illinois rules include:
If you are already licensed elsewhere, determine whether endorsement applies before enrolling in the standard 75-hour course.
Do not confuse these two credentials.
Current minimum age:
18
Standard pre-license education:
75 hours
A higher license category with additional age, experience, education, and examination requirements.
A person beginning a real estate career in Illinois generally starts by focusing on the Broker license.
For the standard first-time Illinois broker path, you do not need to first obtain:
However, you still need to satisfy the formal state requirements involving:
A first-time applicant can organize the process into these stages:
Be at least 18 and satisfy the applicable general education requirement.
Finish an approved Illinois broker pre-license program.
Submit the required education information through PSI.
Review national and Illinois-specific content.
Satisfy the required testing standards.
Complete the applicable sponsorship process for active licensure.
Submit the required application, documentation, and fee.
Verify the state licensing record.
Track the applicable 45-hour requirement after licensure.
Maintain a personal licensing file containing:
Good recordkeeping helps at every stage from examination eligibility through future renewal.
Always check current Illinois and PSI information.
The current minimum broker age is 18.
It is not part of the standard broker requirements.
Verify that the course satisfies Illinois broker pre-license requirements.
Pre-license education has an applicable two-year validity period.
You must still complete the examination and licensing process.
Complete the IDFPR application after passing the examination.
Active brokerage practice requires the appropriate sponsorship structure.
The two license types have different qualifications.
New-broker education continues after the initial license is issued.
Before beginning:
It helps to separate two questions.
That is what the licensing requirements explain.
That is where a step-by-step licensing checklist becomes useful.
Once you understand the requirements, use the full Illinois Broker License Checklist to track your progress from eligibility through initial licensure.
The Illinois broker licensing process becomes much easier to manage when you understand the requirements before enrolling.
Your standard path begins with:
Eligibility → 75-Hour Education → Examination → Sponsorship and Application → License
Illinois Broker Academy provides education and learning resources for individuals working toward Illinois real estate broker licensure.
If you want to determine whether you qualify:
Illinois Broker License Eligibility
If you need education information:
Illinois Broker Education Requirements
If you are ready to learn about the 75-hour course:
If you need exam requirements:
Illinois Broker Exam Requirements
If you want the complete licensing roadmap:
Illinois Broker License Checklist
If you are preparing your application:
Illinois Broker License Application
If you already hold a license in another jurisdiction:
A standard first-time applicant generally must be at least 18, satisfy the high school education requirement, complete 75 hours of approved pre-license education, pass the applicable broker examination, submit the IDFPR license application and fee, and satisfy the sponsorship requirement for active licensure.
The current minimum age for a standard Illinois broker applicant is 18.
Illinois requires completion of the applicable secondary education requirement or recognized equivalent. IDFPR summarizes this as a high school diploma or GED.
No. A college degree is not a standard requirement for Illinois broker licensure.
Standard first-time Illinois broker applicants generally need 75 hours of approved broker pre-license education.
The standard curriculum consists of 60 hours of Broker Pre-License Topics and 15 hours of Broker Pre-License Applied Real Estate Principles.
Approved online education can satisfy the requirement when the provider, course, hours, and delivery method comply with current Illinois rules.
Current Illinois rules provide that approved broker pre-license education is valid for two years after satisfactory completion.
Yes. Standard broker applicants must satisfy the Illinois broker examination requirement, which includes national and Illinois-specific material.
The Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation currently contracts with PSI Services LLC to administer the real estate licensing examinations.
Current PSI procedures allow standard broker candidates up to four attempts during the applicable two-year eligibility period.
After the fourth unsuccessful attempt, a standard broker candidate must repeat the required 75-hour broker pre-license education and then retake the applicable examination requirements.
The current PSI Candidate Information Booklet lists the standard Broker Examination fee as $58.
No. Passing the examination satisfies the examination requirement. You still need to complete the applicable IDFPR license application and sponsorship requirements before the license is issued.
Current Illinois rules provide one year from receipt of a passing examination score to submit the broker application and meet the requirements for licensure.
Current Illinois Administrative Code lists the initial broker application fee as $150.
Current application rules require proof of sponsorship when a broker applicant is seeking an active license.
Sponsorship is not part of the standard 75-hour PSI examination-eligibility route. However, it becomes important for active licensure and licensed brokerage activity.
No. Passing the exam alone does not authorize licensed brokerage activity. Complete the licensing process and confirm that the appropriate license and sponsorship are in place first.
Yes, potentially. IDFPR states that a criminal conviction is not an automatic bar to licensure in an Illinois real estate profession. Applications are reviewed under applicable law, and additional information can be requested.
Qualifying candidates admitted to practice law by the Illinois Supreme Court have a separate broker examination qualification route. They should follow the current IDFPR and PSI instructions for attorney applicants.
Beginning January 1, 2026, qualifying out-of-state brokers seeking Illinois licensure use the licensure-by-endorsement process. Current endorsement requirements include an active equivalent license in good standing, a 30-hour endorsement course, an Illinois-specific examination, application documentation, and sponsorship if seeking active status.
No. The Broker license is the principal entry-level brokerage credential. Managing Broker licensure has additional age, experience, education, and examination requirements.
Qualifying newly licensed brokers must complete 45 hours of post-license education during the applicable first license term. Regular continuing education requirements apply during later renewal cycles.
Use current information from IDFPR, the Illinois Real Estate License Act, Illinois Administrative Code, and the current PSI Illinois Real Estate Candidate Information Booklet because licensing requirements and procedures can change.