How to Get Your Real Estate License in Brookhaven, Georgia

If you want to start a career in real estate in Brookhaven, Georgia, the good news is that the path is set by the state, not by the city. That means the same Georgia real estate salesperson licensing rules apply in Brookhaven as they do anywhere else in the state. Whether you plan to work in Brookhaven, across DeKalb County, or throughout the Atlanta metro area, you’ll follow the Georgia Real Estate Commission’s requirements for education, examination, and licensing.

Below is a practical, up-to-date guide to the Georgia salesperson licensing process, including education hours, the application and exam steps, sponsoring broker rules, post-license education, continuing education, costs, timeline, and career outlook.

Licensing Requirements in Georgia

To qualify for a Georgia real estate salesperson license, you must meet the state’s baseline requirements:

Be at least 18 years old
Have a high school diploma or GED equivalent
Complete the required pre-license education
Pass the state licensing exam
Apply for the license within the allowed timeframe

These are state requirements, so Brookhaven does not have separate city-specific licensing rules for real estate salespersons.

Required Education Hours

Georgia requires 75 instructional hours of pre-license education approved by the Georgia Real Estate Commission.

This coursework is the foundation for the exam and covers the legal, practical, and ethical topics needed to begin working as a salesperson. If you are comparing schools, make sure the provider is approved in Georgia and that the course satisfies the full 75-hour requirement.

If you are still researching schools and formats, Georgia real estate pre-licensing courses can help you understand what the state requires before you enroll.

Online Course Options

Many future agents choose online classes because they offer flexibility for working adults and career changers. Online options can be a good fit if you need to study around a job, family schedule, or commute in the Brookhaven area.

When evaluating online courses, confirm that the course is Georgia-approved and includes the full 75 instructional hours. Some students prefer self-paced study, while others do better with live virtual instruction and built-in quizzes or instructor support.

If convenience matters, a Georgia-approved online school can make it easier to complete the pre-license step without disrupting your schedule. Just remember that the course itself must still meet the state’s education standard.

Application Process

After completing your pre-license education, the next major step is the licensing exam and then the official application for the license.

Georgia applicants have one year after passing the exam to apply for the license. That makes timing important: passing the exam is not the final step, and you should plan to complete your licensing paperwork promptly.

Also note that Georgia’s current nonrefundable license fee at the PSI licensing step is $170.

A practical way to stay organized is to finish your education, schedule the exam, and then move quickly into your application and sponsorship steps.

Background Check and Criminal-History Disclosure

Georgia requires criminal-history disclosure and review as part of the licensing process.

Importantly, applicants should be careful about assuming that fingerprinting is automatically required in every case. Under Georgia law, fingerprinting authority appears in investigation-related situations, so the safest approach is to follow current official instructions for your individual circumstances. If you have any prior history or questions about documentation, review the latest guidance from the Georgia Real Estate Commission or PSI before submitting your application.

Licensing Exam

Georgia uses PSI Services LLC for the licensing exam.

The exam is the state’s formal test of whether you are ready to enter the profession. After you pass, PSI states that licenses are issued at the test center and successful candidates should allow 24 hours after passing to return and obtain the license.

That detail matters because it can help you plan your next steps, especially if you want to move quickly into active practice with a broker.

For many applicants, the exam is the most stressful part of the process, but solid preparation through a Georgia-approved pre-license course can make it much more manageable.

You can also review a Georgia real estate pre-licensing course to make sure your study plan matches the exam content.

Sponsoring Broker Requirements

If you want an active license immediately, you must submit a sponsoring broker statement.

If you do not yet have a broker, you may instead obtain an inactive license first. That can be a useful option if you are still interviewing brokers or deciding where you want to begin your career.

For many new agents in Brookhaven and the greater Atlanta market, choosing a sponsoring broker is a major career decision. Look for a broker who offers training, mentorship, commission structure clarity, and a market focus that fits your goals.

Costs

Based on the verified facts provided, one specific current cost is the $170 nonrefundable fee at the PSI licensing step.

Other costs can vary by provider and personal circumstances, including:

Pre-license education tuition
Exam-related expenses
Potential background-review or record-related costs, depending on the applicant’s situation
Post-license course fees

Because fees change and some costs are provider-specific, it is best to confirm the current total directly with the school, PSI, and the Georgia Real Estate Commission before you begin.

Timeline

A realistic licensing timeline depends on how quickly you complete the coursework, schedule the exam, and submit your application.

Key timing rules to remember:

You must complete 75 hours of approved pre-license education
You have one year after passing the exam to apply for the license
After passing, PSI says to allow 24 hours before returning to obtain the license at the test center
New salespersons must complete the post-license course within one year of original licensure

If you stay organized, the process can move efficiently from coursework to exam to licensure.

Post-License Education

Georgia requires new salespersons to complete a 25-hour post-license course within one year of original licensure.

This is separate from the pre-license course and is not optional. It is designed to help new agents move from classroom learning into practical, real-world competence.

If you are planning your first year in the business, do not overlook this requirement. Missing the deadline could affect your standing and progress in the profession.

Continuing Education

Georgia also has a continuing education requirement for license renewal.

Salespersons must complete 6 instructional hours per year during the four-year renewal period, for a total of 24 hours.

That ongoing education helps licensees stay current on law, practice, and professional standards. It also means real estate professionals should plan for education as a continuing part of the career, not just as a one-time entrance requirement.

Potential Earnings

Real estate income can vary widely based on experience, market conditions, brokerage, commission splits, and how actively an agent works.

For a benchmark, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reported a Georgia annual mean wage of $64,410 for real estate sales agents in the reviewed data. Nationally, the BLS reported a median annual wage of $56,320 and 3% projected employment growth from 2024 to 2034.

Private salary websites also publish earnings estimates, but those figures vary by methodology, sample size, and whether they measure base pay, commissions, or total compensation. For that reason, it is smart to treat third-party salary figures as directional rather than definitive.

Career Opportunities

A Georgia real estate license can open the door to several career paths, including:

Residential sales
Buyer representation
Listing services
Rental and leasing work
New construction sales
Investment property transactions
Commercial real estate support roles

Brookhaven’s location in the Atlanta metro area may make it attractive for agents who want access to a busy, competitive market with diverse property types and client needs. Still, success depends less on location alone and more on training, brokerage support, prospecting, and consistency.

Final Thoughts

Getting your real estate license in Brookhaven, Georgia, means following the state’s licensing pathway: meet the age and education requirements, complete 75 hours of approved pre-license education, pass the PSI exam, handle the application and fee steps, and choose the right sponsorship path for your goals.

Because Georgia sets the rules statewide, the process is essentially the same whether you live in Brookhaven or elsewhere in the state. If you plan carefully and verify each step with official sources, you can move from first class to first transaction with confidence.

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