How to Get Your Real Estate License in Bartlett, Illinois

If you want to become a real estate agent in Bartlett, Illinois, the first step is completing an approved Illinois broker pre-licensing program. A flexible Illinois pre-licensing course can help you complete the required education while preparing for the state licensing examination.

Illinois real estate agents are licensed as brokers, rather than under a separate “salesperson” license category. The process generally involves meeting eligibility requirements, completing approved education, passing the licensing examination, submitting an application, completing the required background review, and working under a sponsoring broker.

Illinois Real Estate License Requirements

To qualify for an Illinois real estate broker license, an applicant generally must:

Be at least 18 years old.
Have a high school diploma or equivalent.
Demonstrate good moral character.
Complete the required Illinois-approved pre-license education.
Pass the Illinois real estate licensing examination.
Submit a completed application and required fee.
Obtain sponsorship from an Illinois sponsoring broker before practicing.

The Illinois Real Estate License Act requires broker applicants to complete 75 hours of approved real estate instruction, including 15 hours focused on situational and case-study material.

Applicants with criminal records, prior disciplinary actions, or other issues affecting character should disclose information accurately and follow IDFPR instructions. A past issue does not automatically mean an applicant cannot become licensed, but the Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation may review the circumstances.

Complete the 75-Hour Pre-Licensing Education

The Illinois broker pre-license curriculum consists of 75 hours of approved education. The course is intended to cover the legal, practical, and business concepts tested on the licensing examination and used in real estate practice.

Course content commonly addresses topics such as:

Illinois real estate law and rules
Agency relationships
Brokerage operations
Contracts
Property ownership and transfer
Financing and mortgages
Fair housing
Leasing
Property management
Real estate disclosures
Risk management
Professional responsibilities
Situational and case-study applications

Only education from an Illinois-approved provider should be used to satisfy the licensing requirement. Before enrolling, confirm that the provider and course are approved for Illinois broker pre-licensing.

Online Course Options

Illinois permits approved distance education formats, including online options. Depending on the provider, an online program may be self-paced, instructor-led, or delivered through live interactive webinars.

Before choosing an online course, review:

Whether the provider is approved by Illinois.
Whether all 75 required hours are included.
Whether the course includes the required situational and case-study component.
Attendance, identity-verification, and testing rules.
Access to instructors or student support.
Course completion documentation.
Whether the program prepares students for both the national and Illinois portions of the examination.

Online education can be useful for Bartlett residents who want to study around work, family, or commuting schedules. However, completing the course is only one part of the process; applicants must still pass the licensing examination and complete the state application requirements.

Apply for the Illinois Broker Examination

After completing the required education, you must follow the current examination-registration process established by IDFPR and its testing vendor. The examination includes state-specific material and national real estate concepts.

The test is designed to evaluate knowledge of subjects such as:

Real estate principles and practices
Contracts
Financing
Property ownership
Transfer of title
Agency
Illinois license law
Licensee responsibilities
Fair housing and consumer protection

A strong preparation plan may include:

Reviewing the entire pre-license curriculum.
Using practice questions to identify weak areas.
Studying Illinois-specific rules separately from national concepts.
Repeating missed questions until the underlying rule is understood.
Scheduling the examination when the material is still fresh.

If you do not pass, follow the testing vendor’s current retake instructions. Retake rules, fees, waiting periods, and registration procedures can change, so confirm them directly through the official Illinois licensing information.

Background Check and Fingerprinting

Illinois licensing applicants may be required to complete a criminal background check and submit fingerprints through an approved process. Fingerprint procedures can depend on the application type, vendor, timing, and current IDFPR instructions.

When completing this step:

Use an IDFPR-approved or otherwise authorized fingerprint vendor.
Bring the identification documents requested by the vendor.
Disclose criminal or disciplinary history truthfully.
Keep receipts and confirmation records.
Do not assume that an old record is irrelevant to the application.

The state’s fingerprint information page provides current vendor and licensing-related instructions. Because procedures and vendor availability may change, verify the current process before submitting fingerprints.

Submit the License Application

Once the education and examination requirements are complete, submit the Illinois broker license application through the current IDFPR process. The application generally requires information about your identity, education, examination results, background history, and sponsoring broker.

The current IDFPR online licensing instructions list a $125 broker application fee. Other expenses may include:

Pre-license education tuition
Textbooks or study materials
Examination fees
Fingerprinting and background-check charges
Retake fees, if applicable
License-related business expenses
Association, MLS, technology, and marketing costs after joining a brokerage

Total startup costs vary by education provider, examination circumstances, fingerprint vendor, brokerage, and business choices. Confirm every fee with the relevant state agency, testing vendor, education provider, and brokerage before budgeting.

Find a Sponsoring Broker in Bartlett or the Chicago Suburbs

A newly licensed Illinois broker generally must be sponsored by a sponsoring broker to practice real estate. Sponsorship connects the licensee to an authorized brokerage that supervises transactions and operations.

When comparing brokerages serving Bartlett and nearby communities, consider:

Commission split and transaction fees
Desk, technology, and administrative fees
Training and mentorship
Lead-generation support
Transaction coordination
Marketing resources
Office and remote-work expectations
Availability of managing brokers
Local coverage and service areas
Contract terms and license-transfer policies

The highest commission split is not necessarily the best overall arrangement for a new agent. A brokerage with structured training, accessible supervision, and practical transaction support may provide greater value during the first year.

Interview several sponsoring brokers and ask for a written explanation of all fees, commission arrangements, training obligations, and independent-contractor responsibilities.

Complete the Illinois Licensing Process

A practical sequence for becoming a Bartlett real estate agent is:

Confirm that you meet the age and education requirements.
Select an Illinois-approved 75-hour broker pre-license course.
Complete the required education and retain your completion records.
Register for and pass the Illinois broker licensing examination.
Complete fingerprinting and background-check steps if required.
Choose a sponsoring broker.
Submit the Illinois broker license application and fee.
Wait for IDFPR processing and license issuance.
Begin practicing only after the license is active and properly sponsored.

How Long Does It Take?

There is no single guaranteed timeline for obtaining an Illinois real estate license. The education portion depends on your schedule and the provider’s format. Examination appointments, fingerprint processing, application review, document corrections, and sponsorship can add additional time.

Applicants can reduce avoidable delays by:

Using an approved education provider.
Completing every required course component.
Ensuring that names and identifying information match across documents.
Scheduling the examination promptly after finishing education.
Submitting complete and accurate application information.
Responding quickly to IDFPR requests.
Confirming that the sponsoring broker has completed the required sponsorship action.

Treat any advertised “fast” licensing timeline as an estimate rather than a guarantee.

Required Post-License Education

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

Each course includes a provider-administered final examination. The education and examinations generally must be completed before the first renewal deadline. If the initial license is issued within 180 days before the first renewal deadline, the completion deadline may extend to the second renewal deadline under Illinois rules.

The 45-hour post-license requirement is separate from the initial 75-hour pre-license education. New brokers should track the applicable deadline immediately after receiving the license.

Continuing Education After the First Renewal

After the initial post-license period, Illinois brokers generally must complete 12 hours of continuing education during each license term, subject to applicable exceptions and current renewal rules.

Continuing education helps licensees stay current on:

Changes to Illinois real estate law
Agency and disclosure duties
Fair housing
Advertising standards
Contracts and transactions
Risk management
Consumer protection
Professional conduct

Do not assume that completing the initial 45-hour post-license curriculum eliminates all future education requirements. The first renewal period has special rules, while later renewal periods require the applicable continuing education.

Potential Earnings as a Bartlett Real Estate Agent

Real estate income is not guaranteed and can vary substantially. Brokers commonly earn income through commissions or other transaction-based compensation, and the amount retained by an individual depends on factors such as:

Number of closed transactions
Sale prices and transaction types
Commission arrangements
Brokerage splits and fees
Team or referral fees
Business expenses
Marketing investment
Experience and specialization
Local demand and personal lead generation

New agents may have uneven income, particularly while building a client base and waiting for transactions to close. Budgeting for licensing, transportation, marketing, technology, insurance, taxes, and other business expenses is essential.

Public wage data may combine real estate professionals with different business models and may not reflect an independent contractor’s net income. Use national or state compensation estimates only as broad reference points, not as a promise of earnings in Bartlett. A prospective agent should request a written explanation of compensation and expenses from each brokerage under consideration.

Career Opportunities in and Around Bartlett

An Illinois broker license can support several real estate career paths, including:

Residential buyer representation
Residential listing services
Relocation assistance
New-construction sales
Leasing
Property management, where permitted and properly structured
Commercial real estate
Investment-property transactions
Land and development
Referral-based business
Real estate teams
Transaction coordination or brokerage operations

Bartlett-area agents may also serve clients in surrounding communities, subject to brokerage coverage, market knowledge, and the agent’s business strategy. Local success typically depends on building relationships, understanding municipal and neighborhood differences, responding promptly, and maintaining compliance with Illinois law.

How to Prepare for a Real Estate Career in Bartlett

Before applying, create a realistic business plan that addresses:

The geographic areas you intend to serve.
Whether you will focus on buyers, sellers, leasing, or another niche.
How you will generate leads.
How many months of living expenses you can reserve.
Your transportation and technology needs.
Your preferred brokerage model.
Your continuing education plan.
Your process for maintaining transaction records and deadlines.

Learn the communities you plan to serve without making unsupported claims about prices, inventory, taxes, schools, or market performance. Reliable local data should come from current public records, official municipal or county resources, MLS information where available, and qualified market professionals.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is a college degree required to become an Illinois real estate broker?

No four-year college degree is generally required for an Illinois broker license. Applicants must meet the state’s age and high-school-equivalency requirements and complete the approved pre-license education.

How many education hours are required before the Illinois exam?

The Illinois broker pre-license requirement is 75 hours of approved education, including the required situational and case-study component.

Can the Illinois pre-license course be completed online?

Yes, approved Illinois distance education options may be available, including online courses and live interactive webinars. Confirm the provider’s current approval and course format before enrolling.

Do new brokers need a sponsoring broker?

Yes. A newly licensed broker generally must be sponsored by an Illinois sponsoring broker to practice real estate.

What is the Illinois broker application fee?

The current IDFPR online licensing instructions list a $125 application fee. Course, examination, fingerprinting, and other costs are separate and may change.

Is fingerprinting required?

Applicants may need to complete fingerprinting and a criminal background check under the current IDFPR process. Follow the instructions applicable to your application and use an authorized vendor.

What education is required after receiving the license?

New brokers must complete 45 hours of post-license education during the first license term, generally through three 15-hour courses with final examinations.

Can a new Bartlett agent work independently?

A new broker generally must work under a sponsoring broker. Independent business arrangements, brokerage ownership, or self-sponsorship involve different qualifications and should not be confused with obtaining an initial broker license.

How much can a Bartlett real estate agent earn?

There is no reliable guaranteed amount. Earnings depend on transactions, commission arrangements, expenses, experience, and business conditions. Gross commissions should not be treated as take-home income.

Authoritative Sources

Illinois Real Estate License Requirements

To qualify for an Illinois real estate broker license, an applicant generally must:

Be at least 18 years old.
Have a high school diploma or equivalent.
Demonstrate good moral character.
Complete the required Illinois-approved pre-license education.
Pass the Illinois real estate licensing examination.
Submit a completed application and required fee.
Obtain sponsorship from an Illinois sponsoring broker before practicing.

The Illinois Real Estate License Act requires broker applicants to complete 75 hours of approved real estate instruction, including 15 hours focused on situational and case-study material.