Understand Which Type of Instruction You Will Provide

Indiana real estate education commonly falls into two categories:

• Prelicensing or broker education: Courses required before an individual may qualify for an Indiana real estate license or broker credential.
• Continuing education: Courses taken by currently licensed real estate professionals to satisfy Indiana’s continuing-education obligations.

The instructor-permit process and course-approval process may differ depending on whether the course is prelicensing, broker education, or continuing education. Confirm the applicable category before preparing an application.

Meet the Basic Eligibility Standard

Indiana’s instructor-permit application asks whether the applicant is:

• A licensed Indiana real estate broker;
• A licensed Indiana attorney; or
• An expert in the relevant subject who will work in conjunction with a licensed Indiana attorney or broker.

If the applicant answers “no” to all three questions, the application states that the applicant does not qualify for an instructor permit.

This means that a person does not necessarily need to be a real estate broker in every circumstance. However, a non-broker applicant generally must qualify as a subject-matter expert and work with an Indiana-licensed broker or attorney. The applicant should document the professional background that establishes expertise in the subject to be taught.

Pass the Instructor Assessment Examination

Applicants must attach proof of passing an instructor assessment program examination. Indiana’s rule requires a score of at least 75 percent to qualify for an instructor permit.

Before applying, verify with the PLA or the Indiana Real Estate Commission:

• Which instructor assessment examination is currently accepted;
• Whether the examination must be completed through a particular provider;
• Whether the examination result has an expiration period; and
• Whether additional testing is required for a particular course category.

Prepare for the Application

The official instructor-permit form requires applicant and professional information and asks about matters such as criminal history, prior disciplinary action, and previous license denials. Applicants should answer these questions completely and attach explanations and supporting court or licensing documents when required.

Typical application materials include:

• Completed Indiana real estate instructor-permit application;
• Required application fee;
• Proof of the instructor assessment examination score;
• Indiana broker or attorney license information, when applicable;
• Documentation supporting subject-matter expertise, when applicable; and
• Explanations and records for any reportable criminal, disciplinary, or licensing history.

The instructor-permit application identifies a $10 fee, although fees and forms can change. Confirm the current amount before submitting the application.

File the Instructor-Permit Application

The application is administered through the Indiana Professional Licensing Agency. The current state form directs applicants to submit the completed application and fee to the PLA’s Real Estate Section at:

Indiana Professional Licensing Agency
402 West Washington Street, Room W072
Indianapolis, Indiana 46204

Applicants should use the current form and submission instructions available through the PLA rather than relying on an older copy or an unofficial checklist.

Approval of an instructor permit does not, by itself, approve a school or a particular course. The provider must complete the separate approval process applicable to the program.

Work With an Approved Education Provider

Most instructors teach through an Indiana-approved real estate school, continuing-education provider, brokerage, professional association, or other approved sponsor.

For a prelicensing or broker course, the provider’s application may require items such as:

• Course curriculum and syllabus;
• Instructor resumes;
• Instructor approval applications;
• Written examinations;
• Grading policies;
• Student refund policies;
• Certificates of completion;
• Site information; and
• Other organizational and financial documentation.

Indiana’s broker-course approval form specifically directs providers to review the applicable Indiana Administrative Code provisions, including the rules governing school directors and instructor qualifications.

For continuing-education courses, the sponsor may need to submit:

• Course descriptions and timed outlines;
• The name and resume of the school director;
• An instructor application for each instructor;
• A sample completion certificate; and
• The required application fee.

The continuing-education sponsor application also states that Indiana classroom-hour calculations and minimum course-length rules apply.

Understand Experience and Education Expectations

Indiana’s instructor-permit application does not present a single universal college-degree or minimum-years-of-experience requirement for every real estate instructor. Instead, eligibility may be based on broker licensure, attorney licensure, or documented subject-matter expertise in conjunction with a licensed broker or attorney.

In practice, an applicant is more likely to be approved when the application clearly demonstrates:

• Current professional licensure, if applicable;
• Meaningful experience in the subject being taught;
• Education or credentials relevant to the course material;
• Knowledge of Indiana real estate law when teaching Indiana-specific topics;
• Teaching, presentation, or training experience; and
• A course outline showing that the instructor is competent to teach the proposed material.

Course-specific rules may impose additional standards. The provider’s application should therefore be reviewed together with the current Indiana Administrative Code provisions and any instructions issued by the Commission.

Maintain the Permit and Continuing-Education Compliance

An instructor should not assume that approval is permanent or that teaching activity substitutes for all personal licensing obligations. Indiana rules address continuing education for individuals holding instructor permits, including instructor-specific education requirements.

If the instructor also holds an Indiana broker license, the broker’s renewal, continuing-education, and professional-conduct requirements continue to apply. Keep records of:

• Instructor-permit approval;
• Course and provider approvals;
• Teaching dates and subjects;
• Attendance and completion records;
• Instructor-specific continuing education; and
• Communications with the PLA or Commission.

A Practical Application Sequence

A typical path is:

1. Decide whether the proposed instruction is prelicensing, broker education, or continuing education.
2. Confirm the current instructor-eligibility rules with the Indiana PLA or Indiana Real Estate Commission.
3. Establish eligibility as an Indiana broker, Indiana attorney, or qualified subject-matter expert working with a licensed broker or attorney.
4. Complete the required instructor assessment examination and obtain a score of at least 75 percent.
5. Assemble the application, fee, proof of examination, license information, resume, and any required explanations.
6. Submit the instructor-permit application through the PLA’s current process.
7. Affiliate with an approved Indiana education provider or participate in obtaining provider approval.
8. Submit each proposed course for the appropriate approval before advertising it as qualifying Indiana real estate education.
9. Maintain required records and complete applicable instructor-specific continuing education.

Where to Confirm Current Rules

Indiana requirements can change through legislation, administrative rules, revised forms, Commission decisions, and updated PLA procedures. Confirm the current requirements through:

• The Indiana Professional Licensing Agency’s real estate licensing and Commission pages;
• The current Indiana real estate instructor-permit application;
• The Indiana Administrative Code provisions governing real estate schools, instructors, and continuing education;
• The PLA’s list of approved prelicensing and continuing-education providers; and
• Direct written guidance from the PLA or Indiana Real Estate Commission for unusual qualifications or course formats.

The official sources should control over older forms, commercial training websites, and informal summaries.

Authoritative Sources

• Indiana Professional Licensing Agency — Real Estate Licensing Information
• Indiana Professional Licensing Agency — Real Estate Home
• Indiana Professional Licensing Agency — Real Estate Commission
• Indiana Application for Real Estate Instructor Permit, State Form 43492
• Indiana Application for Approval of Real Estate Broker Course, State Form 36071
• Indiana Application for Approval of Broker Real Estate Continuing Education Course Sponsor