If you are considering a real estate career in Arlington, Illinois, the first step is completing an approved Illinois broker pre-licensing program. A flexible Illinois pre-licensing course can help you satisfy the education requirement while preparing for the state and national licensing examinations.

Illinois licenses real estate salespeople as brokers, rather than using “salesperson” as the entry-level license title. To work with buyers, sellers, landlords, or tenants, you generally must complete the state’s education requirements, pass the licensing examination, submit an application, complete required screening, and work under an Illinois sponsoring broker.

Illinois Real Estate License Requirements

The Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation identifies these basic requirements for an entry-level real estate broker license:

• Be at least 18 years old.
• Have a high school diploma or GED.
• Complete 75 hours of approved broker pre-license education.
• Pass the Illinois real estate licensing examination.
• Meet Illinois suitability and application requirements.
• Work under a sponsoring broker after receiving the license.

Applicants must also demonstrate good moral character under the Illinois Real Estate License Act. A criminal record does not necessarily make licensure impossible, but applicants should disclose required information accurately and provide any documentation requested by IDFPR.

Step 1: Complete 75 Hours of Pre-Licensing Education

Illinois requires 75 hours of approved education before an applicant can qualify for the broker licensing examination. The curriculum is designed to introduce the legal, practical, and professional topics used in Illinois real estate practice.

Coursework commonly addresses subjects such as:

• Real estate license law and regulations
• Agency relationships
• Contracts and disclosures
• Real estate finance
• Property ownership and land use
• Fair housing
• Leasing and property management
• Real estate calculations
• Brokerage operations
• Illinois-specific practices and requirements

Choose a provider that is authorized to offer Illinois-approved education. Completing a course from an unapproved provider may not satisfy the licensing requirement.

Online Illinois Real Estate Courses

Online education can be a convenient option for Arlington residents who need flexibility around work, family, or other commitments. Depending on the provider and course format, online programs may include self-paced lessons, scheduled virtual instruction, progress tracking, quizzes, and a final course examination.

Before enrolling, confirm that the program:

• Is approved for Illinois broker pre-license education.
• Provides the full 75 hours required by Illinois.
• Explains attendance, testing, and completion rules.
• Offers support for Illinois licensing questions.
• Clearly states tuition and any separate materials or exam-preparation costs.

An online course can satisfy the education requirement, but it does not replace the state licensing examination or the license application.

Step 2: Prepare for the Illinois Licensing Exam

After completing the required education, apply to take the Illinois real estate broker examination through the approved testing process. The examination includes state-specific material and a national portion, and applicants must pass the required portions before applying for licensure.

Study topics should include:

• Illinois license law
• Agency and fiduciary duties
• Contracts
• Property ownership
• Finance and mortgages
• Valuation and market analysis
• Fair housing
• Leasing
• Real estate mathematics
• General real estate principles

Use the current candidate handbook and examination instructions identified by IDFPR and the testing vendor. Examination scheduling, testing-center availability, retesting rules, and examination charges can change, so verify the current information before registering.

Step 3: Complete the Background Check and Fingerprinting Process

Illinois licensing applicants may be required to complete a criminal background check and submit fingerprints through an authorized process. The exact fingerprinting instructions, approved vendor, submission method, and timing can vary according to current IDFPR procedures.

Plan to:

• Follow the fingerprinting instructions provided with the application.
• Use only an approved fingerprinting or background-check provider when required.
• Disclose criminal history truthfully and completely.
• Keep receipts, confirmation numbers, and copies of submitted documents.
• Contact IDFPR if a prior conviction, disciplinary matter, or licensing issue may affect the application.

Do not assume that an old or minor matter will automatically disqualify you. At the same time, failing to disclose a required matter can create a separate licensing problem.

Step 4: Submit the Broker License Application

Once you have completed the education and examination requirements, submit the Illinois broker license application through IDFPR’s licensing system or the procedure specified by the Department.

The application generally requires information such as:

• Personal identification details
• Education completion information
• Examination results
• Background or disciplinary disclosures
• Supporting documents, if requested
• The required application fee

IDFPR’s online broker licensing instructions list a $125 application fee, but applicants should confirm the amount before submitting because fees and administrative procedures may change.

The application is not complete until all required information, documentation, screening materials, and payment have been submitted in the required format.

Step 5: Find an Illinois Sponsoring Broker

A new Illinois broker generally must be sponsored by a sponsoring broker to perform licensed activities. Sponsorship connects the licensee with a real estate brokerage that provides supervision and is responsible for the broker’s authorized practice.

When comparing brokerages serving Arlington and the surrounding area, ask about:

• Commission splits and transaction fees
• Desk, technology, or administrative charges
• Training and mentorship
• Lead-generation programs
• Contract and transaction support
• Availability of managing brokers
• Office, hybrid, and remote-work expectations
• Marketing rules
• Insurance and business expenses
• Requirements for independent contractors or employees

A brokerage’s commission split is only one part of the compensation structure. A lower split with strong training and support may be more useful to a new agent than a higher split with substantial fees or limited supervision.

How Long Does It Take to Get an Illinois Real Estate License?

Illinois does not provide one universal timeline for every applicant. The total time depends on:

• How quickly you complete the 75-hour course
• Course testing and completion processing
• Examination appointment availability
• Whether you pass the exam on the first attempt
• Background-check and fingerprinting processing
• Application completeness
• IDFPR review time
• How quickly you secure sponsorship

A prepared applicant may move through the process efficiently, but it is safer to treat licensing as a multi-step process rather than promise a specific number of days or weeks. Check current IDFPR processing information before making employment or income plans.

Illinois Real Estate License Costs

The total cost varies by education provider and personal circumstances. Common expenses may include:

• Pre-license course tuition
• Textbooks or digital materials
• Practice examinations
• Examination fees
• Fingerprinting and background-check charges, when required
• The Illinois broker application fee
• License-related technology or brokerage expenses
• Transportation, marketing, association, and professional-service costs

The IDFPR broker application instructions list a $125 application fee. Because education prices, testing charges, fingerprinting costs, and other fees may change, calculate the current total directly from the provider, testing vendor, IDFPR, and prospective brokerage.

Post-License Education for New Illinois Brokers

New Illinois brokers must complete 45 hours of post-license education during the first license period. The requirement consists of three 15-hour courses covering applied brokerage principles, risk management and discipline, and transactional issues.

Each course requires its own 50-question final examination administered by the education provider. The education and examinations generally must be completed before the first renewal deadline. However, a broker who receives an initial license within 180 days before the first renewal deadline may receive additional time until the second applicable renewal deadline.

New brokers completing the required 45-hour post-license education during the first license term generally do not need to complete separate continuing education for that same initial term.

Do not wait until the renewal deadline approaches. Completing post-license education early can provide practical training while you are beginning to work with clients and transactions.

Continuing Education After the First License Period

After the initial post-license period, Illinois brokers generally must complete 12 hours of approved continuing education during each license term.

The continuing education curriculum includes:

• A six-hour core curriculum
• At least two hours of fair housing education within the core requirement
• An elective curriculum
• Other requirements that may apply to specific license categories or renewal periods

Licensees should monitor current IDFPR renewal instructions because course subjects, deadlines, exemptions, and license-cycle rules can change. Continuing education is separate from pre-license education and should be completed through an approved provider.

Potential Earnings as an Arlington Real Estate Agent

Real estate income is usually commission-based rather than guaranteed hourly pay. Earnings can vary substantially based on:

• Number and value of completed transactions
• Commission agreements
• Brokerage splits and fees
• Local competition
• Lead generation
• Experience and referral business
• Time spent prospecting and serving clients
• Business, marketing, vehicle, technology, insurance, and association expenses

New agents may have uneven income while building a client base and learning the business. Gross commission income is not the same as take-home pay, and public salary estimates may combine employees, independent contractors, full-time workers, and part-time workers. Treat online salary calculators as estimates rather than guarantees.

A practical financial plan should include savings for licensing costs, marketing, transportation, taxes, and periods without a closing. Ask each prospective brokerage to explain exactly how commissions are calculated and paid.

Career Opportunities After Licensing

An Illinois broker license can support several real estate career paths, depending on experience, sponsorship, education, and the services permitted by law.

Potential directions include:

• Residential buyer representation
• Residential listing and seller representation
• New-construction sales
• Leasing and rental representation
• Commercial real estate
• Investment-property transactions
• Relocation services
• Property-management-related work, where properly authorized
• Referral-based real estate business
• Real estate team support
• Transaction coordination and client-service roles

Arlington agents may choose to focus on the village itself or serve clients across nearby communities in the greater Chicago region. Local knowledge, accurate marketing, prompt communication, and compliance with Illinois law can be more valuable than trying to serve every type of client immediately.

Tips for Starting a Real Estate Career in Arlington

• Learn the boundaries, neighborhoods, housing types, transportation options, and community features you can describe accurately.
• Build relationships with reputable lenders, attorneys, inspectors, contractors, and other professionals without making unsupported claims about their services.
• Follow fair-housing requirements in advertising and client communications.
• Use brokerage-approved forms, disclosures, advertising, and transaction procedures.
• Create a realistic budget for a commission-based career.
• Track expenses and retain tax records from the beginning.
• Ask experienced agents how they generate leads and manage follow-up.
• Select a sponsoring broker based on training, supervision, culture, and total costs.
• Keep your license and continuing-education obligations current.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do I need a college degree to become an Illinois real estate broker?

No. The basic education requirement is a high school diploma or GED, along with the required approved real estate education.

How many education hours are required?

Illinois requires 75 hours of approved broker pre-license education for the entry-level broker license.

Can I complete the course online?

Online options may be available through approved Illinois education providers. Confirm that the specific program satisfies the current Illinois 75-hour requirement before enrolling.

Do I need a sponsoring broker?

Yes. A new Illinois broker generally must be sponsored by a sponsoring broker to practice real estate under Illinois licensing rules.

What happens after I receive my license?

You must complete 45 hours of post-license education during the first license period, generally before the first renewal deadline. The requirement includes three 15-hour courses and a final examination for each course.

Is fingerprinting required?

Applicants should follow the current IDFPR application and background-check instructions. If fingerprints are required for the application, use the approved process and submit them as directed.

How much does an Illinois real estate license cost?

The total varies. The IDFPR broker application instructions list a $125 application fee, while education, examination, fingerprinting, and brokerage costs may be separate.

Can I earn a steady salary as a real estate agent?

Income is often commission-based and can fluctuate. Earnings depend on transactions, commission agreements, brokerage expenses, experience, and business volume; no specific income level is guaranteed.

Authoritative Sources

• Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation — Real Estate Brokerage
• IDFPR Professional Requirements for Licensure
• Illinois Real Estate License Act of 2000
• Illinois Administrative Code — Broker Post-License Education Requirements
• Illinois Administrative Code — Broker Continuing Education
• IDFPR Instructions for Online Broker Licensing
• Illinois broker post-license education provider