How to Get Your Real Estate License in Florence, Illinois

If you are considering a real estate career in Florence, a Village in Illinois, the first step is completing the state’s approved broker pre-licensing education. An online Illinois pre-licensing course can provide a flexible way to satisfy the required education while preparing for the state and national licensing examination.

Illinois real estate professionals are generally licensed as real estate brokers. After meeting the state’s education, examination, application, and sponsorship requirements, a broker may help clients buy, sell, lease, or otherwise transact real estate under the supervision of a sponsoring broker.

Illinois Real Estate License Requirements

The Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation, or IDFPR, identifies these basic requirements for a real estate broker license:

Be at least 18 years old.
Have a high school diploma or GED.
Complete 75 hours of approved pre-license education.
Pass the Illinois real estate licensing examination.
Obtain sponsorship from a sponsoring broker.
Submit the required application and supporting documents.

IDFPR’s current professional-requirements document lists 75 hours of pre-license education, passage of the state and national examination, and sponsorship by a sponsoring broker as requirements for an Illinois real estate broker license.

Education and Age Requirements

Illinois requires applicants to complete an approved 75-hour broker pre-license curriculum before applying for licensure by examination. The curriculum includes instruction in real estate principles, Illinois license law, brokerage practices, and related subjects. State law also requires a portion of the education to involve situational and case-study instruction, which may be delivered in a classroom, live interactive webinar, or approved online distance-education format.

Applicants must generally be at least 18 and have a high school diploma or GED. Because licensing rules and application materials can change, applicants should verify the current requirements with IDFPR before enrolling or submitting an application.

Online Illinois Pre-Licensing Courses

Online education can be useful for Florence residents who want to study from home or fit coursework around an existing job, family obligations, or other responsibilities. Before enrolling, confirm that the provider and course are approved for Illinois broker pre-license education.

A suitable online course should offer:

The complete 75-hour Illinois curriculum.
Access to approved instructional materials.
Progress tracking and completion documentation.
Practice questions or exam-preparation resources.
Clear information about course completion and final examinations.
Support for questions about Illinois-specific licensing topics.

Online courses may be self-paced or instructor-led. The format can affect how quickly you finish, but the education must still meet Illinois requirements. Completing a course does not by itself grant a license; you must also pass the licensing examination, apply to IDFPR, satisfy the background-check process, and obtain broker sponsorship.

You can review an Illinois broker pre-licensing course to compare course format, study resources, and enrollment details.

Step-by-Step Licensing Process

1. Complete the 75-Hour Pre-License Course

Enroll in an IDFPR-approved provider’s Illinois broker pre-license program. Complete all required coursework and retain the completion documentation. The school or provider should explain how your education is reported or documented for the examination and application process.

2. Prepare for the Licensing Examination

Illinois broker applicants must pass both the state and national portions of the real estate examination. IDFPR identifies the examination as a requirement for broker licensure.

Use the current examination candidate handbook and testing-vendor instructions when scheduling. Study topics generally include property ownership, contracts, agency, financing, real estate calculations, federal regulations, and Illinois real estate law.

If you do not pass one portion, the testing vendor and IDFPR rules determine which portion must be retaken and what deadlines apply. Check the current candidate instructions rather than relying on an old study guide.

3. Complete Fingerprinting and the Background Check

Applicants must complete the background-check process required by Illinois. This generally includes submitting fingerprints through an approved process and authorizing a criminal-history review.

A criminal record does not automatically answer whether an applicant can become licensed. The effect of a record may depend on the facts, the offense, the date, disclosure requirements, and IDFPR’s review. Answer all application questions truthfully and follow the current fingerprinting instructions.

Do not assume that a prior conviction is irrelevant or automatically disqualifying. If you have concerns about your history, consider obtaining legal advice before submitting the application.

4. Submit the License Application

After completing the education and examination requirements, submit the Illinois broker application through the process specified by IDFPR. The current IDFPR online licensing instructions list a $125 application fee and state that fees are nonrefundable.

The application may require information such as:

Personal identification details.
Education completion information.
Examination results.
Background-check and fingerprinting information.
Answers to disciplinary or criminal-history questions.
Sponsoring-broker information.
Any additional documentation requested by IDFPR.

Application fees, forms, payment methods, and procedures can change. Confirm the current amount and instructions immediately before applying.

5. Find a Sponsoring Broker

A new Illinois real estate broker must be sponsored by a sponsoring broker. Sponsorship connects the new licensee to an established brokerage and provides the supervision required under Illinois law.

When evaluating brokerages serving Florence and surrounding communities, compare:

Commission and fee structures.
Training and mentoring.
Desk, technology, and transaction fees.
Lead-generation support.
Office and remote-work expectations.
Coverage areas.
Marketing policies.
Transaction-management systems.
Professional liability and compliance support.
Opportunities to work with residential, commercial, leasing, or investment clients.

A sponsoring broker is more than a place to hang a license. For a new agent, the brokerage’s training, supervision, and transaction support can substantially affect the quality of the first year.

Licensing Costs

The required costs vary depending on the education provider, testing arrangements, fingerprinting vendor, and other personal expenses. The currently identified state application fee is $125.

Potential expenses include:

Pre-license education tuition.
Textbooks or digital course materials.
Examination fees.
Fingerprinting and background-check fees.
The state license application fee.
Brokerage, association, listing-service, lockbox, or technology fees.
Marketing, transportation, insurance, and business expenses.

Illinois does not guarantee that every applicant will pay the same total amount because education, testing, fingerprinting, and brokerage costs may vary. Obtain a written fee schedule from your course provider and prospective sponsoring broker before budgeting.

How Long Does It Take?

There is no single guaranteed timeline for becoming licensed in Illinois. The process depends on:

How quickly you complete the 75-hour course.
The availability of examination appointments.
Whether you pass both examination portions on the first attempt.
How quickly fingerprinting and background-check information is processed.
Whether your application is complete.
How promptly you secure a sponsoring broker.
Whether IDFPR requests additional information.

A motivated applicant may complete the steps efficiently, while work or family obligations, an unsuccessful examination attempt, incomplete paperwork, or application questions can extend the process. Treat any advertised “fast license” timeline as an estimate, not a promise.

Post-License Education

New Illinois brokers must complete 45 hours of post-license education during the first renewal period, according to IDFPR’s professional-requirements information.

The Illinois Real Estate License Act describes the post-license curriculum as three 15-hour courses addressing applied brokerage principles, risk management and discipline, and transactional issues. Each course includes its own final examination.

The post-license requirement is separate from the initial 75-hour pre-license education. It is designed to help new brokers develop practical skills after entering the profession.

IDFPR states that post-license education must be completed through an approved real estate education provider. Track completion carefully and do not wait until the renewal deadline if courses are available earlier.

Continuing Education and License Renewal

After the initial post-license period, Illinois brokers must complete continuing education for subsequent renewals. The exact number and composition of required hours can depend on the broker’s first-license date and the applicable renewal cycle.

For the 2026 renewal cycle, IDFPR’s fact sheet states that brokers first issued a license on or after November 1, 2025, must complete 45 hours of post-license education by April 30, 2028. It also identifies different requirements for brokers licensed during earlier periods.

Because renewal rules are date-sensitive, use the current IDFPR renewal guidance for your license period. Approved education providers may offer online, live, or other formats permitted by Illinois rules.

Potential Earnings in Illinois

Real estate income is not guaranteed. Many brokers are paid through commissions or commission-sharing arrangements, so earnings may fluctuate with transaction volume, property prices, market conditions, brokerage agreements, expenses, and the time required to build a client base.

Illinois wage data published by the Illinois Department of Employment Security reports a statewide mean annual wage of $57,782 for real estate sales agents and $79,427 for real estate brokers in its 2025 statewide wage publication. These figures are occupational wage estimates, not a promise of what a newly licensed broker in Florence will earn.

New agents should plan for uneven income, especially during the early months. A prudent budget may include savings for licensing costs, transportation, marketing, insurance, technology, and periods without a closing.

Career Opportunities for Florence-Area Brokers

A Florence-area licensee may explore several real estate career paths, depending on local demand, brokerage support, qualifications, and personal interests:

Residential buyer representation.
Residential listing services.
Leasing and rental assistance.
Relocation services.
New-construction sales.
Land and rural-property transactions.
Commercial real estate.
Property investment and development.
Property management-related work, where separately permitted.
Eventually, managing-broker responsibilities after meeting additional requirements.

The Illinois broker license can support work beyond a single municipality. A broker may serve clients in Florence and nearby communities, subject to the sponsoring brokerage’s policies, competence, market knowledge, and applicable laws.

Success generally depends on prospecting, communication, follow-up, contract knowledge, ethical conduct, local networking, and the ability to explain complex transactions clearly. A license is the entry point rather than a guarantee of clients or income.

Choosing a Sponsoring Brokerage

Interview several brokerages before making a decision. Ask each one to explain:

The exact commission split.
Monthly, transaction, technology, and marketing fees.
Training for new licensees.
Availability of managing-broker supervision.
How leads are distributed.
Who pays for signs, photography, advertising, and lockboxes.
Whether agents must join professional organizations.
Expectations for office attendance and floor duty.
Rules for personal transactions and referrals.
The process for changing sponsorship later.

A higher commission split may not be the best overall arrangement if it comes with limited training or substantial fees. For a new broker, practical support and compliance guidance may be especially valuable.

Common Mistakes to Avoid

Enrolling in a course without confirming Illinois approval.
Using outdated information about education hours, fees, or renewal rules.
Assuming course completion equals licensure.
Waiting to review examination requirements until after finishing school.
Omitting or misrepresenting information on the application.
Treating fingerprinting as optional or delaying it unnecessarily.
Choosing a brokerage solely because of its advertised commission split.
Failing to budget for ongoing business expenses.
Missing the first post-license education deadline.
Promising clients legal, tax, lending, or inspection advice outside your competence.

FAQ

How many hours of education are required for an Illinois real estate license?

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

Can the Illinois pre-license course be completed online?

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

How much is the Illinois real estate license application fee?

IDFPR’s current online licensing instructions list a $125 application fee. Fees are identified as nonrefundable, and applicants should verify the current amount before applying.

Is fingerprinting required?

Applicants should follow IDFPR’s current background-check and fingerprinting instructions. The process is part of the state’s licensing review and may require an approved fingerprint submission method.

Do new Illinois brokers need a sponsoring broker?

Yes. Illinois requires a real estate broker to be sponsored by a sponsoring broker.

What education is required after receiving the license?

A new broker must complete 45 hours of post-license education during the first renewal period, subject to the timing rules that apply to the license.

How much money can a real estate broker make in Florence?

No authoritative source cited here provides a Florence-specific earnings figure. Statewide Illinois wage data reports occupational averages, but individual income can vary significantly based on commissions, sales volume, expenses, and experience.

Can a new broker work in commercial or land real estate?

A broker may pursue different specialties, including residential, leasing, commercial, land, or investment real estate. The appropriate choice depends on training, brokerage support, competence, and the market served.

Start Your Illinois Real Estate Career

For someone in Florence, becoming a real estate broker involves a clear sequence: complete approved education, pass the state and national examination, complete the background-check process, submit the application, and affiliate with a sponsoring broker. After licensing, complete the required post-license education and maintain the license through continuing education.

Review the current Illinois real estate pre-licensing options, verify every requirement with IDFPR, and compare sponsoring brokerages carefully before committing to a career plan.

Authoritative Sources