How to Get Your Real Estate License in Highland Park, Illinois

If you are considering a real estate career in Highland Park, Illinois, an approved online pre-licensing course can help you complete the required education while studying around work or family responsibilities. Explore an Illinois pre-licensing course designed to prepare students for the state licensing exam and the first steps of a real estate career.

Illinois generally licenses entry-level real estate professionals as brokers. A broker may work with buyers, sellers, landlords, and tenants, but must operate under the supervision of a sponsoring broker. The Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation, or IDFPR, administers the licensing process.

Illinois Real Estate 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 approved pre-license education.
Pass the Illinois broker licensing examination.
Complete the application process through IDFPR.
Satisfy applicable background-check and fingerprinting requirements.
Obtain sponsorship from an Illinois sponsoring broker before practicing.

IDFPR identifies the minimum age as 18, requires a high school diploma or GED, and lists 75 hours of pre-license education for the broker license.

Some application instructions may describe additional age or education conditions depending on the application procedure and rule version. Review the current IDFPR application checklist before enrolling or submitting an application.

How Many Education Hours Are Required?

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

The curriculum is intended to cover foundational subjects such as:

Real estate principles.
Illinois license law and regulations.
Agency relationships.
Contracts.
Real estate finance.
Fair housing.
Brokerage operations.
Property ownership and transfers.
Professional responsibilities.

The course must be provided by an education provider and through a course approved by IDFPR. Completing an unapproved course may not satisfy the licensing requirement, so confirm the provider and course approval before paying tuition.

Online Illinois Pre-Licensing Courses

Illinois permits approved distance-education options, which may be useful for Highland Park residents who want to study from home. Online programs can offer recorded lessons, digital materials, practice questions, and flexible scheduling, although the exact format varies by provider.

Before registering, confirm:

The course is approved for Illinois broker pre-license education.
It includes the full required curriculum.
The provider explains attendance, progress, and final-exam rules.
You understand whether course materials, exam preparation, and support are included.
The course remains approved when you enroll.

An online course can make the education portion more convenient, but it does not eliminate the state examination, application, sponsorship, or post-license obligations.

Step-by-Step Application Process

1. Complete approved pre-license education

Finish the required 75-hour broker pre-license curriculum with an approved provider. Retain your completion documentation because it may be needed during the application process.

2. Prepare for the licensing examination

After meeting the education requirement, register for the Illinois broker examination through the state’s designated testing vendor. The exam includes state and national subject matter, and applicants must pass the required examination before licensure.

Testing procedures, scheduling rules, identification requirements, and examination fees can change. Use the current examination candidate bulletin and IDFPR instructions when scheduling.

3. Complete background-check and fingerprinting requirements

Illinois licensing applicants may be required to submit personal-history information and undergo a criminal-background review. Fingerprinting procedures, approved vendors, forms, and submission deadlines can vary by application type and current IDFPR instructions.

Answer all application questions accurately and disclose information as required. A criminal record does not automatically mean an applicant cannot obtain a license, but omissions or inaccurate answers can create separate licensing problems. If you have a record, consider obtaining professional legal advice before submitting the application.

4. Submit the license application

Submit the broker application and required supporting documents through the current IDFPR process. IDFPR provides online licensing resources and accepts online payments for certain paper applications and transactions through its ePay system.

The application generally requires documentation related to:

Education completion.
Examination results.
Identity and personal information.
High school or GED completion.
Background information.
Sponsoring-broker information, when required.
Applicable fees.

5. Obtain sponsorship from a sponsoring broker

A newly licensed Illinois broker must be sponsored by a sponsoring broker before conducting licensed real estate activity.

A sponsoring broker is not merely an office affiliation. The sponsoring broker typically provides supervision, policies, transaction procedures, training, and access to brokerage systems. Before selecting a firm in or around Highland Park, compare:

Commission and fee structures.
Training and mentoring.
Desk, technology, and transaction fees.
Lead-generation policies.
Office and remote-work expectations.
Marketing support.
Geographic coverage.
Compliance and supervision procedures.

Do not perform activities requiring an active license until your license status and sponsorship are properly established.

Illinois Real Estate License Exam

The Illinois broker examination contains state and national components. Applicants must pass the required state and national examination before receiving the license.

A practical preparation plan includes:

Completing all course lessons rather than relying only on memorization.
Reviewing Illinois-specific license law.
Practicing contract, agency, finance, and calculation questions.
Taking timed practice exams.
Studying the examination candidate handbook.
Reviewing missed questions and the underlying concepts.

If you fail one portion, the testing vendor’s current rules will determine whether you must retake only that portion or follow another procedure. Confirm the retake policy before scheduling.

Real Estate License Costs in Illinois

The total cost depends on the education provider, study materials, examination charges, fingerprinting or background-check services, application fees, and brokerage-related expenses.

Potential expenses include:

Pre-license course tuition.
Textbooks or digital materials.
Practice examinations.
State examination fee.
Fingerprinting or background-check fee, if required.
License application fee.
Post-license education.
Continuing education.
Association, MLS, technology, marketing, and brokerage fees.

IDFPR’s professional-requirements materials list an initial broker license fee of $150. However, another IDFPR online-licensing instruction document lists a $125 application fee. Because official materials show different figures, confirm the amount displayed in the current IDFPR application system or current fee schedule before submitting payment.

Course prices and brokerage expenses are not fixed statewide. Ask for a written cost breakdown before enrolling with a school or joining a brokerage.

How Long Does It Take?

There is no single guaranteed timeline for becoming licensed in Illinois. The process may take longer or shorter depending on:

How quickly you complete the 75-hour course.
Exam availability.
Whether you pass on the first attempt.
Application-processing time.
Background-check or fingerprinting processing.
How quickly you find a sponsoring broker.
Whether IDFPR requests additional information.

A self-paced online course may allow faster completion than a scheduled classroom program, but the overall licensing timeline still depends on examination and application processing.

Post-License Education

New Illinois brokers must complete 45 hours of post-license education during the first license period.

The post-license requirement consists of three 15-hour courses covering:

Applied brokerage principles.
Risk management and discipline.
Transactional issues.

Each course requires its own provider-administered 50-question final examination.

The courses generally must be completed before the first renewal deadline. If the initial broker license is issued within 180 days before the next renewal deadline, the deadline may extend to the second renewal deadline under Illinois law.

A broker completing the required 45-hour post-license education during the first license term is not required to complete separate continuing education during that same initial term.

Continuing Education After the First Renewal

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

The required continuing education includes a core component, and the core curriculum must include at least two hours of fair-housing training. Requirements can change, so review the current renewal instructions and approved-course list for the applicable license period.

Continuing education is separate from pre-license education. Completing a pre-license course does not satisfy ongoing renewal requirements.

Potential Earnings as a Highland Park Real Estate Agent

Real estate income is not guaranteed and can vary substantially. Most residential sales professionals are compensated through commissions or other brokerage arrangements rather than a fixed salary. Actual earnings may depend on:

Number and type of transactions.
Sales prices and transaction volume.
Commission arrangements.
Brokerage splits and fees.
Lead sources and marketing.
Experience and specialization.
Seasonal and broader market conditions.
Time spent prospecting, showing property, negotiating, and completing transactions.

There is no reliable official public salary figure specific to real estate agents in Highland Park. National or statewide wage data may not reflect a new agent’s first-year income, commission structure, expenses, or periods with no closed transactions. Treat earnings claims from schools or brokerages as promotional unless they clearly explain the underlying data and expenses.

Build a conservative financial plan that accounts for licensing costs, transportation, marketing, technology, insurance, taxes, and the possibility of irregular income during the first year.

Career Opportunities in and Around Highland Park

A Highland Park license can support several real estate career paths, subject to Illinois licensing rules and brokerage supervision:

Residential buyer representation.
Residential listing services.
Rental and leasing activity.
New-construction sales.
Relocation assistance.
Property-management-related roles where permitted by law.
Commercial real estate.
Investment-property transactions.
Real estate team support.
Transaction coordination and brokerage operations.

Local knowledge can help an agent serve clients effectively, but avoid presenting neighborhood, school, tax, zoning, commuting, or market claims as facts unless they are verified through current public records or authoritative local sources.

Agents should also understand that real estate work involves more than showing homes. A successful practice may require prospecting, client communication, pricing analysis, contract management, compliance, negotiation, marketing, and ongoing relationship development.

Choosing a Brokerage

Before affiliating with a sponsoring broker, interview multiple firms. Ask each brokerage to explain:

How sponsorship is established and maintained.
Who supervises new brokers.
What training is included.
How commissions are split.
Which fees apply to each transaction.
Whether leads are provided.
Who pays for signs, photography, advertising, and technology.
What happens if a transaction is canceled.
Whether the firm handles rentals, residential sales, commercial work, or multiple specialties.
How compliance questions are handled.

The best brokerage for a new agent is not necessarily the one advertising the highest commission split. Training, supervision, transaction support, and realistic expectations can be equally important.

FAQ

Do I need a college degree to become an Illinois real estate broker?

No college degree is generally required for the standard broker license. Illinois requires a high school diploma or GED, along with the required education, examination, application, and other licensing requirements.

Can I complete the Illinois pre-license course online?

An approved distance-education course may be available, but confirm that the specific provider and course are currently approved by IDFPR before enrolling.

Do I need a sponsoring broker?

Yes. An Illinois real estate broker must be sponsored by a sponsoring broker to practice under the applicable licensing structure.

How much does the Illinois license cost?

IDFPR materials list different broker application or initial-license fee amounts, including $125 and $150. Confirm the current amount in the IDFPR application system before paying. Your total cost will also include education, examination, fingerprinting or background-check charges if applicable, and other professional expenses.

What happens after I pass the exam?

Passing the exam does not by itself complete the career-start process. You still need to submit the application, satisfy applicable background and fingerprinting requirements, obtain sponsorship, and maintain the license through required post-license education and later continuing education.

Is real estate a good career in Highland Park?

It can be a viable career for people who are comfortable with commission-based income, sales, networking, and self-directed business development. Results vary, and no particular income or number of transactions should be expected.

Authoritative Sources

Illinois Real Estate 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 approved pre-license education.
Pass the Illinois broker licensing examination.
Complete the application process through IDFPR.
Satisfy applicable background-check and fingerprinting requirements.
Obtain sponsorship from an Illinois sponsoring broker before practicing.

IDFPR identifies the minimum age as 18, requires a high school diploma or GED, and lists 75 hours of pre-license education for the broker license.