Understand the Two Main Instructor Paths

Utah generally has two relevant real estate instructor approvals:

• Real estate prelicensing instructor: Teaches courses that prepare applicants for the Utah sales agent or broker licensing examination.
• Real estate continuing-education instructor: Teaches approved courses for already licensed Utah real estate professionals.

A person may qualify for one category but not automatically for the other. Each category has its own application, fee, supporting documentation, and course-approval process.

Becoming a Utah Prelicensing Instructor

To become a certified Utah real estate prelicensing instructor, the Division of Real Estate directs applicants to:

1. Read and understand Utah Administrative Rule R162-2f, which governs real estate prelicensing education.
2. Review the Utah real estate prelicensing education curriculum.
3. Take and pass the examination for the license level the applicant intends to teach—sales agent, broker, or both.
4. Submit the completed and signed prelicensing instructor application.
5. Pay the required nonrefundable application fee, currently listed by the DRE as $75.
6. Provide a Certification of Legal Presence and any other documentation requested by the application or Division.

The instructor must be qualified for the subject being taught. Passing the relevant Utah licensing examination demonstrates subject-matter familiarity, but applicants should confirm with the DRE whether additional evidence of teaching ability, professional experience, or education is required under the current rule or application form.

An approved instructor normally teaches through a Utah-approved real estate education provider rather than independently offering unapproved license-qualifying instruction. Confirm that the school or provider is authorized and that the specific course has been accepted for the credit being advertised.

Becoming a Utah Continuing-Education Instructor

The continuing-education route is different. The DRE’s current checklist calls for evidence showing both subject-matter knowledge and teaching ability. Depending on the course, acceptable evidence may include:

• Full-time experience as a real estate licensee in the relevant field.
• College-level education related to the course subject.
• A teaching certificate or education coursework.
• A professional teaching designation from a related industry association.
• References or other documentation demonstrating teaching ability.
• At least 12 months of full-time teaching experience, or equivalent part-time teaching experience.

The DRE’s published materials should be read together because older application forms and newer checklists may describe experience qualifications differently. For example, an application form refers to a combination of relevant full-time experience and/or college-level education, while the checklist also emphasizes teaching experience and evidence of instructional competence.

Applicants should therefore prepare a detailed résumé, transcripts, teaching credentials, professional designations, and reference letters where applicable. If the applicant lacks the stated teaching background, ask the Division whether an instructor-development option or another substitute is currently available.

The continuing-education application generally requires:

1. A completed and signed Continuing Education Instructor Application.
2. Certification of Legal Presence.
3. The required supporting checklist and documentation.
4. A nonrefundable application fee, currently listed as $50 for a real estate continuing-education instructor.
5. Submission at least 30 days before the first proposed class.

The DRE may delay or deny an incomplete application, and the fee is nonrefundable.

Course Approval Is a Separate Responsibility

Instructor approval does not necessarily approve every course the instructor wants to teach. A provider or sponsor must generally submit a separate course application, including materials such as:

• Course title and description.
• Learning objectives.
• A timed outline describing the subject matter in each 15-minute segment.
• Copies of course materials.
• Procedures for verifying attendance.
• Information required for live virtual or distance education courses.
• The approved instructor’s certification or a new instructor application.
• The applicable course-approval fee.

The DRE’s course application states that real estate continuing-education applications must be submitted at least 30 days before the first class. Courses should not be marketed as qualifying Utah continuing education until the required approval has been obtained.

Licensing and Professional Background

Utah’s instructor process is not identical to obtaining a sales agent or broker license. For prelicensing instruction, the DRE specifically requires the applicant to pass the examination for the license category the applicant plans to teach.

For continuing education, the applicant must show relevant expertise and teaching ability. An active Utah real estate license may be useful—and may be expected for some subjects—but the published materials allow other forms of subject-matter qualification, such as related college education or demonstrated expertise. Because the exact standard can depend on the course and current rule, verify the requirement with the DRE before applying.

A practical professional background usually includes:

• Experience in Utah real estate practice, brokerage, transactions, property management, finance, law, or another relevant subject.
• Familiarity with Utah statutes, administrative rules, forms, and current Division guidance.
• Classroom, webinar, corporate-training, or college teaching experience.
• The ability to create accurate materials and document student attendance.
• A commitment to avoid using approved education courses primarily to market personal products or services.

Recommended Application Process

1. Choose the instructional category

Decide whether you will teach prelicensing education, continuing education, or both. Review the DRE’s instructor page and the relevant rule before preparing materials.

2. Confirm the current qualifications

Check whether your experience, education, examination history, and teaching background satisfy the current requirements. Do not rely solely on an old PDF or an informal statement from a school.

3. Prepare the documentation

Collect the appropriate application, résumé, transcripts, teaching records, professional credentials, references, legal-presence documentation, and any explanations required for application questions.

4. Submit the instructor application and fee

Submit the correct application to the Utah Division of Real Estate using the current instructions. For continuing education, plan for the application to arrive at least 30 days before the first class.

5. Work with an approved education provider

Coordinate with a Utah-approved provider or school that can sponsor the course, maintain student records, and submit course materials for approval when required.

6. Obtain approval for each course

Submit the course application and supporting materials before advertising the class as qualifying for Utah real estate credit. Keep the approved outline and course materials consistent with what is actually taught.

7. Maintain compliance

Keep attendance records, use approved materials, teach the required subject matter, avoid improper solicitation, and monitor changes to Utah statutes, rules, curriculum requirements, fees, and application forms.

Where to Confirm Current Utah Rules

Requirements can change, and the DRE’s website may contain both webpages and downloadable forms with different revision dates. Before applying, verify:

• The current instructor application.
• The current instructor checklist.
• The applicable version of Rule R162-2f.
• Current fees and submission instructions.
• Whether a particular course requires separate approval.
• Whether the provider and instructor appear in the DRE’s current education records.

For definitive guidance, contact the Utah Division of Real Estate directly or ask a Utah-approved real estate education provider to confirm the current procedure. The Division’s published contact information identifies its office in Salt Lake City and provides the general real estate email address, realestate@utah.gov.

Authoritative Sources

• Utah Division of Real Estate — Education
• Utah Division of Real Estate — Education Providers and Instructors
• Utah Division of Real Estate — Continuing Education Instructor Checklist
• Utah Division of Real Estate — Continuing Education Course Application
• Utah Division of Real Estate — Education Course Search