How to Get Your Real Estate License in Georgia

Becoming a licensed real estate agent in Georgia involves completing approved pre-licensing education, passing the state examination, submitting a license application, completing a background check, and affiliating with a sponsoring broker if you want to practice as an active salesperson.

Georgia requires prospective salespersons to complete a 75-hour Salesperson Prelicense Course at a school approved by the Georgia Real Estate Commission, unless they qualify through approved college coursework or equivalent education completed in another state or Canadian province.

For a flexible option, review Leap Real Estate’s Georgia real estate pre-licensing course and confirm current approval details before enrolling.

Georgia Real Estate License Requirements at a Glance

To qualify for the Georgia salesperson examination and license, applicants generally must:

Be at least 18 years old.
Meet the education requirement through a 75-hour approved pre-license course or an accepted education alternative.
Apply to take the Georgia salesperson examination through the approved testing provider.
Pass the salesperson examination.
Obtain the required criminal-history documentation.
Submit the Georgia license application and applicable fees.
Complete the required post-license education within the first year.
Work under a Georgia-licensed sponsoring broker to conduct real estate activities as an active licensee.

Applicants with criminal convictions, licensing discipline, residency complications, or education completed outside the United States or Canada should contact GREC before applying. The Commission may require additional documentation or a federal background investigation.

Step-by-Step: How to Become a Georgia Real Estate Agent

1. Complete the Required Georgia Pre-Licensing Education

The standard education path is a 75-hour Georgia Salesperson Prelicense Course from a school approved by GREC.

A qualifying course typically covers subjects such as:

Real estate principles and practices
Georgia real estate license law
Agency relationships
Contracts
Property ownership and transfer
Financing
Fair housing
Real estate mathematics
Property management
Real estate closings and related procedures

Before enrolling, confirm that the school and specific course are currently approved by GREC. The Commission publishes an approved-schools list, and approval status should be verified directly with the regulator.

For a convenient online option, review Leap Real Estate’s Georgia real estate pre-licensing course. Prospective students should confirm the current course format, tuition, enrollment terms, and GREC approval details before purchasing.

2. Apply for the Georgia Salesperson Examination

After completing the required education, applicants submit documentation to the official testing provider, PSI. PSI also accepts certain alternatives to the 75-hour course, including qualifying real estate coursework from an accredited U.S. or Canadian college, university, or law school, or at least 75 hours of approved pre-license education completed in another state or Canadian province.

PSI’s Georgia candidate bulletin states that the salesperson examination fee is $119 and is nonrefundable and nontransferable.

Applicants should carefully follow PSI’s instructions for:

Creating an examination account
Uploading education documentation
Scheduling the test
Selecting an examination location
Requesting approved accommodations
Reviewing identification requirements
Rescheduling or canceling an appointment

3. Complete the Criminal-History and Background-Check Requirements

Georgia applicants must obtain a certified criminal-history report no more than 60 days before applying for a license.

Georgia residents generally use a certified report issued through the Georgia Crime Information Center. Applicants who have not lived in Georgia may need an equivalent certified report from their state, province, or territory of residence.

If the report shows a record in another jurisdiction—or if an acceptable report cannot be obtained—GREC may require fingerprints, additional authorization, fees, or a federal criminal-history check through the FBI.

A criminal record does not automatically mean an applicant cannot become licensed. However, applicants should disclose information accurately and contact GREC in advance if they are uncertain about what must be reported. An incomplete or inaccurate application can delay processing or create additional licensing problems.

4. Pass the Georgia Real Estate Examination

The Georgia salesperson examination is administered through PSI. Candidates should use the current PSI bulletin to review the examination structure, identification rules, scheduling procedures, content areas, and testing policies.

Prepare for both:

General real estate concepts
Georgia-specific real estate law and Commission rules

A pre-license course helps satisfy the education requirement, but passing the examination requires focused preparation. Candidates should review course materials, practice real estate math, study Georgia license law, and take practice examinations before scheduling the test.

If a candidate does not pass, PSI’s current rules should be reviewed for retesting procedures, waiting periods, and additional examination fees. Applicants should not rely on outdated third-party pass-rate claims unless those figures are published by an authoritative source.

5. Submit the License Application

After passing the examination, the candidate must apply for an active or inactive license. GREC rules require a successful salesperson examination candidate to apply within one year of taking the examination.

PSI’s candidate bulletin lists the Georgia license fee as $170. The fee is separate from costs such as:

Pre-license education
Examination preparation materials
The $119 examination fee
Criminal-history reports
Fingerprinting or federal background-check services, if required
Travel or rescheduling expenses
Brokerage or association fees

The official GREC fee schedule also lists a $45 activation fee for an original individual license, which includes a contribution to the Real Estate Education, Research, and Recovery Fund. Because the amount due can depend on the application and activation method, applicants should confirm the total before submitting payment rather than assume that every applicant will pay the same combination of fees.

6. Choose a Sponsoring Broker

A Georgia salesperson generally needs a sponsoring broker to practice with an active license. The broker provides supervision and allows the salesperson to perform licensed activities through the brokerage.

When comparing brokerages, consider:

Commission split and fees
Training and mentoring
Lead generation
Technology and transaction-management systems
Desk, marketing, or monthly fees
Availability of managers and compliance support
Geographic coverage
Expectations for new agents
Whether the brokerage supports part-time or full-time work

A new licensee may also choose to hold a license on inactive status. An inactive license does not authorize the person to perform activities that require an active Georgia real estate license.

Before selecting a brokerage, ask how the firm handles license affiliation, transfers, advertising approval, transaction supervision, continuing education, and post-license education.

Can You Complete Georgia Real Estate School Online?

Online education may be available, but the course must satisfy Georgia’s requirements and be offered by a school approved by GREC. Do not assume that every nationally advertised online real estate course qualifies in Georgia.

An online student should verify:

The school’s current GREC approval
Whether the course is specifically approved for Georgia salesperson pre-licensing
Required attendance or identity-verification procedures
Course-completion and final-examination rules
Technical requirements
Student-support availability
Refund and cancellation policies
How completion is reported or documented

Leap Real Estate’s Georgia pre-licensing course is one option to investigate. Confirm current approval and course details with the provider and GREC before enrolling.

Georgia Real Estate License Costs

The total cost varies by provider and individual circumstances. The principal government and examination charges currently identified in official materials include:

| Expense | Current amount or description |
|---|---:|
| Georgia salesperson examination | $119, nonrefundable and nontransferable |
| Georgia license fee listed by PSI | $170 |
| Original individual license activation fee | $45 under the GREC fee schedule |
| Standard four-year renewal fee | $125 |
| Online renewal fee | $100 |
| Criminal-history report | Applicant-paid; amount may vary |
| Fingerprints or federal background check | May be required; cost varies |
| Pre-license course | Varies by school and course format |

The official fee schedule should be checked before payment because fees, discounts, application procedures, and technology charges can change.

Realistic Timeline to Get Licensed in Georgia

A realistic timeline depends on the student’s schedule, course format, examination availability, background documentation, and application processing.

A common sequence is:

Complete the 75-hour pre-license course.
Submit education documentation and schedule the PSI examination.
Pass the examination.
Obtain a recent certified criminal-history report.
Submit the license application and fees.
Address any additional documentation requested by GREC.
Affiliate with a sponsoring broker if seeking active status.

Applicants who study consistently and pass on the first attempt may complete the process in several weeks to a few months. A longer timeline is possible if the student takes the course part time, needs to retake the examination, has difficulty obtaining records, or requires additional background investigation. GREC states that applications requiring a background investigation may take additional time to process.

No applicant should rely on a guaranteed licensing timeline.

Georgia Post-License Education

Georgia requires each salesperson to complete an approved 25-hour post-license course within the first year after the original salesperson license is issued.

The post-license course is separate from the 75-hour pre-license course. It must be completed within the applicable deadline, and failure to complete it can cause the license to lapse or require a reinstatement process.

GREC rules allow limited additional time in certain circumstances, but applicants should not assume an extension applies automatically. Confirm the deadline shown on the license record and contact GREC before the deadline if a problem arises.

A post-license course can help new agents transition from exam preparation to practical work, including transaction procedures, brokerage operations, compliance, and professional responsibilities.

Georgia Continuing Education Requirements

To renew an active Georgia real estate license, a licensee must complete 36 instructional hours of continuing education during the renewal period.

At least three hours must cover license law during each renewal period.

Georgia individual licenses generally renew on a four-year cycle. The standard renewal fee is $125, while online renewal is listed at $100 by GREC.

Licensees should track course completion and allow time for education providers to report credits. GREC advises that schools commonly post course completion within one to two business days, but licensees remain responsible for confirming that education is recorded before renewal.

Continuing education is different from the first-year post-license requirement:

Pre-license education qualifies a person to take the licensing examination.
Post-license education is required during the first year after initial salesperson licensure.
Continuing education is required during later renewal periods.

What Does a Georgia Real Estate Agent Earn?

Real estate income is highly variable. Sales agents commonly earn commissions rather than a fixed salary, and actual income depends on closed transactions, commission arrangements, market conditions, experience, expenses, work schedule, and the brokerage agreement.

The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reports national wage figures for real estate sales agents, including a median annual wage of $49,850 and a mean annual wage of $66,660 in the figures displayed on its real estate industry data page. These are broad national statistics, not a guarantee of what a Georgia licensee will earn.

New agents may have irregular income during their first year because they must build a client base, develop referral relationships, learn transaction procedures, and wait for deals to close. Business expenses can include marketing, transportation, technology, licensing renewals, association dues, insurance, and brokerage fees.

Before entering the field, prepare a financial plan that accounts for variable income and several months of startup expenses.

Career Opportunities With a Georgia Real Estate License

A Georgia salesperson license can support several career paths, including:

Residential buyer representation
Residential listing services
New-construction sales
Relocation services
Rental and leasing services, where permitted
Commercial real estate sales
Property investment and acquisitions
Land sales
Real estate referrals
Property management-related work, subject to applicable legal requirements

A salesperson must operate within the scope of Georgia law and under the supervision of the affiliated broker. Additional education, experience, or licensing may be required to become a broker, manage certain properties, or provide specialized services.

Concise Georgia Licensing Checklist

Confirm that you meet Georgia’s basic eligibility requirements.
Complete a 75-hour GREC-approved salesperson pre-license course.
Submit education documentation to PSI.
Pay the $119 examination fee and schedule the test.
Pass the Georgia salesperson examination.
Obtain the required certified criminal-history report within the permitted timeframe.
Submit the license application and applicable fees.
Choose a sponsoring broker for active practice.
Complete the 25-hour post-license course within the first year.
Complete 36 hours of continuing education during each renewal period.
Confirm current requirements and fees with GREC before applying.

For a quick refresher on the education step, you can also compare Leap Real Estate’s Georgia real estate pre-licensing course before you enroll.

Authoritative Sources