How to Get Your Real Estate License in Bensenville, Illinois

If you want to become a real estate agent in Bensenville, Illinois, the usual path is to earn an Illinois real estate broker license, pass the state and national licensing examination, complete the application and background-check process, and work under a sponsoring broker. A state-approved Illinois pre-licensing course can help you complete the required education online and prepare for the licensing exam.

Bensenville is a village in DuPage and Cook counties, so local agents may serve clients throughout the surrounding Chicago metropolitan area. However, the license is issued by the State of Illinois rather than by the Village of Bensenville. Local familiarity can be valuable, but the licensing requirements are statewide.

Illinois Real Estate License Requirements

Illinois generally licenses entry-level real estate professionals as brokers rather than using “salesperson” as the initial license category. To qualify for an Illinois broker license, an applicant must generally:

Be at least 18 years old.
Have a high school diploma or GED.
Meet the state’s character and eligibility requirements.
Complete the required pre-license education.
Pass the Illinois real estate licensing examination.
Submit an application and required fee.
Obtain sponsorship from an Illinois sponsoring broker before practicing.

IDFPR’s professional-requirements summary lists a minimum age of 18, a high school diploma or GED, 75 hours of pre-license education, passage of the state and national examination, sponsorship by a sponsoring broker, and 45 hours of post-license education during the first renewal period.

Applicants with certain legal, professional, or licensing histories may face additional review. A prior conviction does not necessarily mean automatic denial, but it should be disclosed accurately and evaluated by IDFPR.

Complete 75 Hours of Pre-License Education

Illinois requires 75 hours of approved pre-license education for a broker applicant. The education must come from an approved Illinois real estate education provider.

The coursework is designed to cover subjects such as:

Real estate principles.
Illinois real estate law.
Agency relationships.
Contracts.
Fair housing.
Property ownership and transfer.
Financing.
Leasing and property management concepts.
Real estate calculations.
Professional responsibilities and risk management.

Illinois law specifies that part of the required education must address situational and case studies. Those subjects may be delivered in a classroom, through a live interactive webinar, or through approved online distance education.

Before enrolling, confirm that the school and course are approved for Illinois broker pre-licensing. A course provider may also impose its own attendance, identity-verification, testing, and completion rules.

Online Illinois Pre-Licensing Courses

Online education can be a practical option for people in Bensenville who need flexibility around work, family, or other commitments. Depending on the provider and course format, online instruction may be self-paced or delivered through live, interactive sessions.

A suitable online course should:

Be approved for Illinois broker pre-licensing.
Clearly provide all 75 required hours.
Explain how attendance and course completion are documented.
Include examinations or assessments required by the provider.
Offer access to instructors or academic support.
Prepare students for both the national and Illinois portions of the licensing exam.

You can review an Illinois real estate pre-licensing course before committing to a provider. Course tuition is separate from state application fees, examination fees, fingerprinting charges, and other possible expenses.

Apply for the Illinois Broker Examination

After completing the required education, you must register for the Illinois real estate broker examination through the testing process designated by IDFPR. The examination includes national and Illinois-specific content.

The exam commonly tests knowledge of:

Property ownership.
Land use and controls.
Valuation and market analysis.
Financing.
Contracts.
Agency.
Disclosures.
Illinois license law and regulations.
Fair housing.
Real estate calculations.
Brokerage operations.

The testing vendor, available appointment locations, examination fee, identification requirements, and retesting procedures can change. Check the current IDFPR examination instructions before scheduling.

How to Prepare for the Exam

A practical study plan may include:

Finishing the course before scheduling the exam.
Reviewing missed questions from course tests.
Studying Illinois-specific license law separately from national concepts.
Practicing real estate math without relying solely on memorization.
Taking timed practice examinations.
Scheduling the test when you can study consistently beforehand.

If you do not pass one portion of the examination, the testing rules will determine whether you must retake only that portion or follow another procedure. Confirm the current policy with the testing vendor.

Background Check and Fingerprinting

Illinois broker applicants should expect a criminal-history review and may be required to complete fingerprinting through an approved process. Fingerprint submission is used to support the state and federal background check.

Before submitting fingerprints:

Follow the current IDFPR instructions.
Use a fingerprint vendor or method authorized for Illinois licensure.
Bring the identification documents requested by the vendor.
Keep confirmation or receipt records.
Disclose criminal history consistently across forms and applications.

Fingerprint fees are generally paid separately from the broker application fee and vary by vendor and service. Because procedures and vendor arrangements can change, verify the current instructions directly with IDFPR rather than relying on an older checklist.

Submit the Illinois Broker License Application

Once the education and examination requirements are complete, submit the broker application using the method authorized by IDFPR. The application must be accurate, complete, and supported by any required documentation.

The current IDFPR online-licensing instructions list a $125 broker application fee. Fees can be revised, and additional charges may apply for examination, fingerprinting, education, or payment processing.

The application process may require:

Proof of education completion.
Examination results.
Identity information.
High school or GED information.
Criminal-history disclosures.
Fingerprint or background-check information.
A sponsoring-broker relationship or sponsor card.
The applicable application fee.

Do not begin licensed activity until the license is issued and the sponsorship requirement has been satisfied.

Find a Sponsoring Broker in Bensenville

A newly licensed Illinois broker generally must be sponsored by a sponsoring broker to practice real estate. The sponsoring broker is typically an experienced managing broker or brokerage organization authorized to supervise sponsored licensees.

When comparing brokerages in or around Bensenville, consider:

Commission and fee structure.
Training for new brokers.
Mentoring and transaction support.
Desk, technology, and marketing fees.
Lead-generation policies.
Availability of office or remote support.
Geographic coverage.
Expectations for association membership and multiple-listing access.
Supervision, compliance, and document-review procedures.

A sponsoring broker relationship is more than a place to hang a license. It determines how you receive supervision, submit transactions, use brokerage systems, and handle questions involving contracts, disclosures, and compliance.

Complete the First 45 Hours of Post-License Education

New Illinois brokers must complete 45 hours of post-license education during the first renewal period. The post-license curriculum is separate from the initial 75-hour pre-license course.

Illinois law describes the approved post-license curriculum as three 15-hour courses addressing areas such as:

Applied brokerage principles.
Risk management and discipline.
Transactional issues.

Each course requires a final examination administered by the education provider.

The post-license requirement is especially important for new agents because missing it can affect renewal or continued authority to practice. The deadline can depend on when the initial license is issued in relation to the renewal cycle, so verify the applicable deadline with IDFPR.

Continuing Education After the First Renewal

After the initial post-license period, Illinois brokers must complete continuing education during the applicable renewal cycle. The number and type of hours, renewal dates, and any mandatory topics are established by Illinois rules and may change.

Some licensees may have additional obligations based on their license category or role. Managing brokers, for example, have separate education and management requirements. Always use the current IDFPR renewal information for the license period in question.

Continuing education can help a Bensenville agent stay current on:

Illinois license law.
Agency and disclosure duties.
Fair housing.
Advertising rules.
Contracts and forms.
Ethics and risk management.
Technology and cybersecurity.
Property management or leasing issues.

Estimated Costs

The total cost of entering the profession depends on the school, testing vendor, fingerprint provider, brokerage, and business choices. Known or potential expenses include:

| Expense | What to know |
|---|---|
| Pre-license education | Varies by approved school and course format. |
| Examination | Set by the testing vendor and subject to change. |
| Fingerprinting | Usually a separate vendor charge that varies by provider. |
| Broker application | IDFPR’s current online instructions list $125. |
| Post-license education | A separate education expense unless included in a package. |
| Continuing education | Required in later renewal periods; provider prices vary. |
| Brokerage and business costs | May include association, MLS, marketing, technology, insurance, and transaction-related fees. |

Because commission arrangements and business expenses differ substantially, prospective agents should request a written fee schedule from each brokerage before signing a sponsorship agreement.

How Long Does It Take?

Illinois does not guarantee a single completion timeline. The process can take several weeks or longer depending on:

How quickly you complete the 75-hour course.
Course scheduling and provider procedures.
Examination appointment availability.
Whether you pass on the first attempt.
Fingerprinting and background-check processing.
Application completeness.
IDFPR review time.
How quickly you select a sponsoring broker.

A person studying full-time may finish the education sooner than someone studying part-time, but no specific timeline should be assumed. Build extra time into your plan for exam retakes, document corrections, and application review.

Potential Earnings for Real Estate Agents in Illinois

Real estate income is not guaranteed. Most agents are paid through commissions or commission splits, and earnings can vary widely based on transactions, prices, market conditions, expenses, brokerage arrangements, experience, and time spent prospecting.

The Illinois Department of Employment Security’s 2025 statewide wage publication reports the following wage figures for real estate sales agents:

Median annual wage: $59,760.
Lower-percentile annual wage: $37,347.
Higher-percentile annual wage: $67,853.

These figures are statewide occupational wage estimates, not a promise of income for a Bensenville agent. They may not reflect the earnings of every independent contractor, part-time agent, new licensee, or high-producing broker. Before entering the field, prepare for uneven income and maintain funds for licensing, marketing, transportation, technology, taxes, and other business expenses.

Career Opportunities Around Bensenville

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

Residential buyer representation.
Residential listing and seller representation.
Leasing and rental transactions.
Commercial real estate.
Industrial and logistics property.
Investment property sales.
Property management-related work, subject to applicable requirements.
Relocation services.
New-construction sales.
Brokerage operations and transaction coordination.
Future advancement to managing broker.

Local knowledge can help an agent explain commuting considerations, housing choices, neighborhood characteristics, property types, and transaction logistics. However, avoid making claims about local prices, demand, inventory, or earnings unless those claims are supported by current, reliable market data.

A Practical Bensenville Licensing Checklist

Confirm that you meet the age and education requirements.
Choose an IDFPR-approved 75-hour broker pre-license course.
Complete the education and retain your completion records.
Study for both the national and Illinois portions of the examination.
Follow current examination-registration instructions.
Complete fingerprinting and background-check steps as directed.
Pass the required examination.
Submit the Illinois broker application and current fee.
Interview prospective sponsoring brokers.
Obtain sponsorship before practicing.
Complete the 45-hour post-license requirement by the applicable deadline.
Track renewal and continuing-education requirements.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I become a real estate agent in Bensenville without living there?

Yes. Illinois licensing is handled at the state level, and the license is not limited to a single village or municipality. You may work in Bensenville and other Illinois communities, subject to sponsorship and license-law requirements.

Is a college degree required?

No four-year college degree is identified as a general requirement for an Illinois broker license. IDFPR lists a high school diploma or GED, along with the required education, examination, application, and sponsorship requirements.

Can I complete the 75 hours online?

Approved Illinois education may be available online. The course must satisfy Illinois requirements, and the provider’s format must comply with applicable rules. Confirm approval and delivery requirements before enrolling.

Do I need a sponsoring broker?

Yes, a new Illinois broker generally must be sponsored by a sponsoring broker before practicing real estate.

What happens after I pass the exam?

Passing the examination is only one step. You must complete the application process, satisfy background-check and fingerprinting requirements, pay the applicable fee, and establish sponsorship before conducting licensed activity.

How much does an Illinois real estate license cost?

The state broker application fee listed in current IDFPR online instructions is $125. Your total cost will be higher after adding education, examination, fingerprinting, post-license education, and business expenses.

Must I complete education after getting licensed?

Yes. A new Illinois broker must complete 45 hours of post-license education during the first renewal period, subject to the applicable deadline rules. Continuing education is required during later renewal periods.

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