How to Get Your Real Estate License in Chicago, Illinois

If you want to become a real estate agent in Chicago, the first step is completing Illinois-approved pre-licensing education and preparing for the state licensing exam. An Illinois pre-licensing course can provide the required coursework in a structured format and may offer online study options for students balancing work, school, or other commitments.

Illinois licenses real estate professionals as brokers, rather than using “salesperson” as the entry-level license title. Once licensed, a broker must generally work under the sponsorship of an Illinois sponsoring broker before conducting licensed real estate activities.

Illinois Real Estate License Requirements

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

Be at least 18 years old.
Have a high school diploma or GED.
Meet Illinois character and fitness requirements.
Complete the required Illinois-approved pre-license education.
Pass the Illinois real estate licensing examination.
Submit a license application and required fee.
Complete any required background-check and fingerprinting procedures.
Obtain sponsorship from an Illinois sponsoring broker.

Illinois law requires applicants to complete 75 hours of approved broker pre-license education, including 15 hours focused on situational and case-study material. That portion must be delivered in an approved classroom, live interactive webinar, or qualifying online distance-education format.

Applicants should use an education provider approved by the Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation, or IDFPR. Completing a course from an unapproved provider may not satisfy the licensing requirement.

Required Illinois Pre-Licensing Education

The 75-hour curriculum typically covers subjects such as:

Real estate principles and practices.
Illinois license law and regulations.
Agency relationships and fiduciary duties.
Contracts and disclosures.
Fair housing and civil rights laws.
Real estate finance and mortgages.
Property ownership and land descriptions.
Leasing and property management concepts.
Professional conduct and risk management.
Illinois-specific real estate procedures.

The education requirement must be completed before taking the licensing examination. Course providers may require students to pass quizzes, unit exams, a final course examination, or other assessments before issuing a completion certificate.

Online Course Options

Illinois permits approved distance education and online formats for qualifying real estate education. However, not every online course is identical. Before enrolling, confirm that the provider:

Is approved to offer Illinois broker education.
Includes the full 75-hour curriculum.
Includes the required 15 hours of situational and case-study education.
Explains identity verification and attendance rules.
Provides documentation required for the examination or license application.
Clearly separates pre-license education from post-license education.

Online learning can be convenient for Chicago residents because it avoids commuting to a physical classroom. Live interactive courses may also allow students to ask questions in real time while satisfying the delivery requirements for approved education.

How to Apply for an Illinois Real Estate License

After completing education and passing the exam, the typical application process involves the following steps:

Complete an approved 75-hour course. Keep your completion certificate and any education records provided by the school.
Register for the state examination. Follow the testing vendor’s current registration instructions and identification requirements.
Pass the examination. The Illinois examination includes state and national content, and results are transmitted to the Illinois Division of Real Estate by the testing vendor.
Complete background-check requirements. Follow IDFPR and testing or application instructions concerning criminal-history disclosures, fingerprinting, and any required documentation.
Submit the license application. The application must be completed according to current IDFPR procedures.
Pay the application fee. IDFPR’s online broker licensing instructions list a $125 application fee, but applicants should verify the amount in the current application materials before submitting payment.
Secure sponsoring-broker sponsorship. A new broker generally cannot practice independently and must be sponsored by an Illinois sponsoring broker.

The application may require information about prior licenses, criminal convictions, disciplinary history, legal proceedings, or other matters relevant to character and fitness. Answer all questions accurately. An issue in an applicant’s history does not necessarily mean automatic denial, but omissions or inaccurate answers can create additional problems.

Background Checks and Fingerprinting

Illinois applicants should expect the licensing process to address criminal-history and character-and-fitness information. IDFPR may require background-check or fingerprinting steps depending on the application process and the applicant’s circumstances.

Because fingerprint vendors, forms, deadlines, and submission procedures can change, applicants should follow the current instructions supplied by IDFPR and the examination or application system. Do not assume that a fingerprint submission made for another profession, employer, or state will satisfy Illinois real estate licensing requirements.

Applicants with criminal convictions, professional discipline, license denials, or unresolved legal matters should consider obtaining legal advice before submitting an application. Full disclosure and supporting documentation are generally safer than leaving required information out.

Illinois Real Estate Licensing Exam

The Illinois broker examination tests both general real estate knowledge and Illinois-specific laws and practices. The exam is administered through the state’s authorized testing vendor, and applicants must pass the required examination before licensure.

Preparation should include:

Reviewing the course textbook and practice questions.
Learning Illinois license law and agency rules.
Practicing real estate math.
Reviewing contracts, financing, disclosures, and fair housing.
Taking timed practice exams.
Studying terminology rather than relying only on memorization.
Confirming current identification and scheduling rules with the testing provider.

If you do not pass, check the current retake procedure, waiting period, and testing fee before scheduling another attempt. Examination fees are paid to the testing provider rather than through IDFPR’s general online payment system.

How Much Does It Cost to Become a Chicago Real Estate Agent?

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

The 75-hour pre-license course.
Textbooks or digital course materials.
The licensing examination fee.
The Illinois license application fee.
Fingerprinting or background-check charges, if required.
Memberships, technology, marketing, transportation, and business expenses after licensure.
Brokerage-related fees, such as desk, transaction, training, or marketing charges, depending on the sponsoring broker.

IDFPR’s current online broker licensing instructions list a $125 application fee. The examination fee is paid separately to the testing vendor, and the amount may change. Course tuition and brokerage fees are not fixed statewide, so compare the complete cost rather than choosing based only on advertised tuition.

How Long Does It Take?

There is no single guaranteed timeline for becoming licensed in Chicago. The process can take less time for a student who completes coursework quickly, passes the examination on the first attempt, and submits a complete application. It can take longer if the student studies part time, needs to retake the exam, has application questions requiring review, or has difficulty finding a sponsoring broker.

A practical sequence is:

Complete the required education.
Schedule and pass the examination.
Finish fingerprinting or background-check steps, if required.
Submit the application and fee.
Arrange sponsorship with a brokerage.
Wait for the license to be issued or activated under the sponsoring broker.

Course completion and examination eligibility are not the same as permission to practice. Do not perform activities requiring an Illinois real estate license until the license and sponsorship requirements have been satisfied.

Finding an Illinois Sponsoring Broker

A new Illinois broker generally needs a sponsoring broker to practice. Sponsorship connects the licensee with a licensed brokerage and places the new broker within the brokerage’s supervision and compliance structure.

When comparing Chicago-area brokerages, ask about:

Commission splits and transaction fees.
Monthly desk or technology fees.
Training for new brokers.
Mentorship and transaction supervision.
Lead-generation systems.
Office and showing support.
Marketing requirements.
Errors-and-omissions coverage.
Availability of neighborhood, rental, commercial, or luxury-market specialization.
Rules for teams, personal transactions, and independent marketing.

The highest advertised commission split is not always the best financial choice for a new broker. Training, transaction support, realistic lead expectations, and clear fee disclosures can matter more during the first year.

Post-License Education

New Illinois brokers must complete 45 hours of post-license education before the applicable first renewal deadline. 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 post-license education may be offered through an approved classroom, live interactive webinar, or qualifying online distance-education format.

A broker who completes the required 45-hour post-license education during the first license term generally does not also need to complete the standard continuing-education requirement for that same term. If the initial license is issued within 180 days before the first renewal deadline, the deadline may extend to the second renewal deadline under Illinois rules.

Continuing Education and License Renewal

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

Continuing education helps licensees stay current on:

Changes to Illinois real estate law.
Agency and disclosure duties.
Fair housing requirements.
Contracts and transaction procedures.
Risk management.
Professional conduct.
Technology and cybersecurity issues.
Other subjects approved by the state.

Licensees should track their own education records and complete courses before the renewal deadline. Requirements can differ for managing brokers and may include broker-management education. Always check the current renewal instructions for the specific license type.

Potential Earnings in Chicago Real Estate

Real estate income is not guaranteed. Brokers may be paid through commissions, referral fees, leasing compensation, salary arrangements, or combinations of these models, depending on their role and brokerage agreement.

Earnings can vary substantially based on:

Number and type of closed transactions.
Residential sales versus rentals or commercial work.
Commission rates and brokerage split.
Lead generation and repeat business.
Market conditions.
Experience and specialization.
Business expenses.
Whether the broker works full time or part time.

Public wage data can be useful for general career research, but it may not represent commission-based income accurately. Compensation information may also be reported for the broader Chicago metropolitan area rather than the City of Chicago alone. Treat salary estimates as benchmarks, not promises, and review the methodology and date of any earnings source before relying on it.

New brokers should prepare for uneven income, especially while building a client base. A written budget should account for licensing, transportation, marketing, association, technology, insurance, taxes, and other business expenses.

Career Opportunities for Chicago Real Estate Brokers

An Illinois broker license can support several career paths in and around Chicago, including:

Residential home sales.
Buyer representation.
Listing and seller representation.
Apartment and residential leasing.
New-construction sales.
Relocation services.
Commercial real estate.
Industrial and logistics property.
Office and retail leasing.
Property management, where permitted and properly structured.
Investor and multifamily transactions.
Real estate referrals.
Brokerage operations and transaction coordination.

Chicago’s varied neighborhoods and property types can allow brokers to develop a niche. A new broker might focus on first-time buyers, rentals, condominium sales, multifamily investments, relocation clients, commercial tenants, or a particular geographic area. Specialization should be based on training, market knowledge, legal compliance, and genuine client demand rather than unsupported claims about a neighborhood’s performance.

A Practical Chicago Licensing Checklist

Use this checklist to organize the process:

Confirm that you meet Illinois age and education requirements.
Choose an IDFPR-approved 75-hour broker pre-license course.
Complete the required situational and case-study education.
Save your education completion records.
Review the current examination candidate handbook.
Schedule and pass the state and national examination.
Complete required fingerprinting or background-check steps.
Disclose legal and licensing history accurately.
Submit the current application and fee to IDFPR.
Interview potential sponsoring brokerages.
Confirm sponsorship before practicing.
Complete the 45-hour post-license requirement by the applicable deadline.
Complete ongoing continuing education before each renewal.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is a college degree required to become a real estate agent in Chicago?

No four-year degree is generally required for an Illinois entry-level broker license. Applicants must meet the state’s minimum age and education requirements and complete the required approved real estate education.

How many hours of education are required?

Illinois requires 75 hours of approved pre-license broker education, including 15 hours of situational and case-study education.

Can the Illinois real estate course be completed online?

Approved Illinois education may be available through online distance education or live interactive webinar formats. Confirm that the provider and course satisfy current IDFPR requirements before enrolling.

Do I need a sponsoring broker?

Yes. An Illinois broker generally must be sponsored by an Illinois sponsoring broker to practice real estate. Sponsorship should be arranged with a brokerage that fits your training, supervision, and business needs.

What happens after I receive my first license?

You must complete 45 hours of post-license education, generally consisting of three 15-hour courses and course examinations, by the applicable first-renewal deadline.

How much money can a Chicago real estate broker make?

There is no guaranteed amount. Income depends on transactions, commission arrangements, experience, market conditions, specialization, and expenses. Public wage figures may not accurately reflect commission-based broker income.

Can someone with a criminal record obtain an Illinois real estate license?

Possibly. The effect of a criminal record depends on the facts, disclosure, and IDFPR’s character-and-fitness review. Applicants should answer all questions truthfully and obtain professional advice when the history is complex.

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