How to Get Your Real Estate License in Burr Ridge, Illinois

If you want to become a real estate agent in Burr Ridge, Illinois, the first step is completing an approved Illinois broker pre-licensing course. A flexible Illinois pre-licensing course can help you complete the required education and prepare for the state and national licensing examinations while building knowledge that applies to residential and commercial transactions.

Illinois does not issue a separate “real estate agent” license. Instead, most new real estate professionals apply for an Illinois real estate broker license. A broker may work with buyers, sellers, landlords, and tenants under the supervision of a sponsoring broker.

Illinois Real Estate Broker 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 GED.
Complete the required Illinois-approved pre-license education.
Pass the Illinois real estate licensing examination.
Complete the application process through the Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation, or IDFPR.
Complete any required background check and fingerprinting procedures.
Obtain sponsorship from an active Illinois sponsoring broker before conducting licensed activities.

The license is issued by Illinois rather than by the Village of Burr Ridge. However, a licensee may choose to live in Burr Ridge and serve clients throughout the surrounding suburban market, subject to Illinois license law, brokerage policies, and any applicable local rules.

Complete 75 Hours of Pre-Licensing Education

Illinois requires 75 hours of approved pre-license education for a broker applicant. The curriculum includes coursework intended to develop both foundational real estate knowledge and practical decision-making skills; Illinois law specifies that 15 of the 75 hours must consist of situational and case-study instruction.

A typical approved curriculum may cover:

Real estate license law and regulation
Agency relationships
Contracts
Financing and mortgages
Property ownership and title
Real estate valuation
Leasing and property management
Fair housing
Disclosures
Escrow and transaction procedures
Illinois-specific brokerage practices
Situational and case-study applications

Before enrolling, confirm that the provider and course are approved for Illinois broker pre-license education. Completing an unapproved course may not satisfy the state requirement.

Online Illinois Real Estate Courses

Illinois permits approved education through online distance education, and the state’s licensing materials also recognize classroom and live, interactive webinar formats for applicable education.

Online study can be useful for Burr Ridge residents who need a flexible schedule around work, family, or other commitments. Before registering, check:

Whether the course is approved by IDFPR.
Whether the format is self-paced, live online, or blended.
How attendance and participation are recorded.
Whether course exams are included.
Whether technical requirements apply.
Whether the provider offers exam preparation.
Whether the course has a stated completion deadline.

An online course does not eliminate the licensing examination, application, background-check, or sponsoring-broker requirements.

Apply for the Illinois Real Estate Exam

After completing the required education, the next step is applying for the Illinois broker licensing examination through the state’s designated testing process. The examination includes state and national portions, and applicants must follow the current candidate handbook and registration instructions.

The usual process is:

Complete the 75-hour approved education.
Obtain the education completion documentation required by the testing vendor or IDFPR.
Register for the examination.
Schedule an available testing appointment.
Bring the identification and other materials required by the current candidate instructions.
Pass both the national and Illinois portions, if applicable.
Follow the retake procedure if one portion is unsuccessful.

Testing rules, appointment availability, identification requirements, and examination fees can change. Review the current IDFPR and testing-vendor instructions before scheduling.

Background Check and Fingerprinting

Illinois licensing applicants may be required to complete a criminal-history background check and submit fingerprints through an approved process. The exact procedure depends on the current IDFPR application instructions and the fingerprint vendor or vendors authorized at the time of application.

Applicants should:

Use only an approved fingerprinting provider.
Confirm whether electronic fingerprint transmission is required.
Bring acceptable identification.
Keep any receipt or transaction number.
Disclose requested criminal-history information accurately.
Ask IDFPR about potential eligibility issues before spending money on education or testing if there is a significant criminal record.

A criminal record does not automatically mean an applicant cannot obtain a license, but the Department may review relevant information. Do not assume that an old or expunged matter can be omitted unless the official instructions permit that omission.

Submit the License Application

After passing the examination and completing the other requirements, submit the Illinois broker license application according to current IDFPR instructions. The application may require education records, examination results, personal information, sponsorship details, and background-check information.

Applicants should carefully verify:

Legal name and contact information
Education completion records
Examination results
Fingerprint or background-check status
Disclosures relating to professional or criminal history
Sponsoring-broker information
Payment and application deadlines

Application processing times vary. Delays can occur when documents are incomplete, background information requires review, or sponsorship information is missing.

Illinois Real Estate License Costs

The total cost of becoming a real estate broker in Illinois varies by applicant and provider. Potential expenses include:

Tuition for the 75-hour pre-license course
Course materials or exam-preparation products
The licensing examination fee
Fingerprinting and background-check fees
The initial license application fee
Transportation or technology costs
Brokerage onboarding or association expenses, if applicable

Because state fees and vendor charges may change, applicants should rely on the current IDFPR fee schedule, application instructions, testing information, and the selected education provider’s published tuition. A single all-in cost would be unreliable without confirming those current charges.

How Long Does It Take?

Illinois does not guarantee one standard timeline for every applicant. The process may take several weeks or longer depending on:

How quickly the applicant completes the 75-hour course
Course exam and completion-document timing
Examination appointment availability
Fingerprinting and background-check processing
Application completeness
IDFPR review
Finding a sponsoring broker

A full-time student may finish the education relatively quickly, while a part-time student may take longer. Building extra time into the plan is sensible, particularly when coordinating examination, fingerprints, and brokerage sponsorship.

Find a Sponsoring Broker

A new Illinois broker generally must be sponsored by an active sponsoring broker before performing licensed activities. The sponsoring broker is responsible for supervision and operates the brokerage through which the new licensee practices.

When comparing brokerages serving Burr Ridge and nearby communities, ask about:

Commission splits and transaction fees
Monthly, desk, technology, or administrative fees
Training and mentorship
Lead distribution
Required office or floor time
Marketing policies
Transaction coordination
Technology platforms
Independent-contractor or employee classification
Errors-and-omissions coverage
Availability of residential, commercial, leasing, or relocation work

The highest commission split is not always the best financial arrangement. New licensees should compare the total cost of support, training, leads, and technology.

Complete the Required Post-License Education

New Illinois broker licensees must complete 45 hours of post-license education during the first license term. The requirement consists of three 15-hour courses addressing applied brokerage principles, risk management and discipline, and transactional issues. Each course requires its own provider-administered 50-question final examination.

The post-license education generally must be completed before the first renewal deadline. An exception applies to individuals who receive an initial broker license within the 180 days before the next broker renewal deadline; those individuals receive additional time under the statute and rules.

The 45-hour post-license requirement is separate from the initial 75-hour pre-license requirement. It is designed to help new brokers apply licensing concepts to actual brokerage practice.

Continuing Education and License Renewal

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

The continuing education structure includes:

At least six hours of core curriculum.
At least six hours of elective curriculum.
At least two hours of fair-housing training within the core curriculum.

The 45-hour post-license program satisfies the continuing education requirement for the initial broker license term under the applicable rules, so a new broker should not assume that an additional 12 hours is required during that same initial term.

Renewal deadlines and course requirements can change. Track the current IDFPR renewal calendar and retain course-completion records.

Potential Earnings in Burr Ridge

Real estate income is commission-based and can vary substantially. Earnings depend on transaction volume, property type, market conditions, brokerage arrangements, client referrals, expenses, and whether the individual works full time or part time.

Public wage data can provide broad occupational context, but it should not be treated as a guaranteed income forecast for a Burr Ridge real estate agent. The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reports occupational wage information for real estate brokers and sales agents, but local earnings may differ significantly from statewide or national figures.

New agents should budget conservatively because they may face:

Irregular income
A lengthy period before the first closing
Marketing expenses
Transportation and showing costs
Association or listing-service expenses
Brokerage and transaction fees
Taxes and insurance
Continuing education costs

A written first-year budget is often more useful than relying on an advertised income claim.

Career Opportunities for Illinois Brokers

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

Residential buyer representation
Residential listing services
New-construction sales
Leasing and rental representation
Property management, where separately permitted and properly structured
Commercial real estate
Investment-property transactions
Relocation services
Land and development transactions
Real estate teams
Brokerage operations and transaction coordination

Burr Ridge-based professionals may choose to focus on the village, surrounding suburbs, or a broader service area. Any geographic specialization should be based on genuine market knowledge, lawful advertising, and the sponsoring brokerage’s policies rather than unsupported claims about local prices or demand.

Practical Steps for a Burr Ridge Applicant

A practical path is:

Confirm that you meet the age and education requirements.
Enroll in an IDFPR-approved 75-hour Illinois broker pre-license course.
Complete the course and required school examinations.
Review the current examination handbook.
Schedule and pass the state and national examination portions.
Complete fingerprinting and the background-check process when required.
Submit the Illinois broker application and required fee.
Interview sponsoring brokerages that serve Burr Ridge and the surrounding area.
Activate and practice under the appropriate sponsoring-broker arrangement.
Complete the 45-hour post-license education before the applicable renewal deadline.
Complete continuing education during later renewal periods.

For course planning, prospective students can review the Illinois real estate pre-licensing program, then independently confirm all licensing details with IDFPR.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is there a separate real estate license for Burr Ridge?

No. Real estate licensing is administered at the Illinois state level. Burr Ridge is a village, but applicants pursue an Illinois broker license rather than a separate Burr Ridge real estate license.

How many education hours are required?

Illinois requires 75 hours of approved pre-license education for a broker applicant.

Can the required course be completed online?

Approved Illinois education may be available through online distance education, live interactive webinars, classroom instruction, or a combination, depending on the provider and course approval.

Do new brokers need a sponsoring broker?

Yes. A new Illinois broker must generally be sponsored by an active sponsoring broker to practice through a brokerage.

What happens after passing the exam?

Passing the examination is only one part of the process. The applicant must complete the required application, background-check or fingerprinting steps, fees, and sponsorship requirements before practicing.

Is post-license education required?

Yes. New Illinois brokers generally must complete 45 hours of post-license education consisting of three 15-hour courses and pass a final examination for each course.

How much can a real estate agent earn?

There is no guaranteed income. Earnings vary according to closings, commissions, expenses, brokerage terms, experience, and market conditions. Public occupational wage data should be used as general context rather than a promise of local earnings.

Authoritative Sources