If you want to become a real estate agent in Markham, Illinois, the first major step is completing an approved 75-hour Illinois broker pre-licensing program. A flexible Illinois pre-licensing course can help you meet the education requirement while preparing for the state and national licensing examinations.

Illinois calls its entry-level real estate sales license a broker license. After meeting the education, examination, background-check, application, and sponsorship requirements, a new broker can work with a sponsoring broker and serve clients in Markham and elsewhere in Illinois.

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 75 hours of approved pre-license education.
• Pass the Illinois broker licensing examination.
• Complete the required application.
• Submit to the required background check and fingerprinting process.
• Obtain sponsorship from an Illinois sponsoring broker.
• Meet any additional requirements established by the Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation, or IDFPR.

IDFPR identifies the minimum age, high school education, 75-hour pre-license education requirement, state and national examination, and sponsoring-broker requirement for an Illinois real estate broker license.

A prior college degree is not listed as a basic requirement for an Illinois broker license. However, communication, sales, finance, marketing, negotiation, and customer-service skills can be useful in the profession.

Complete the 75-Hour Pre-Licensing Education

Before taking the licensing examination, applicants must complete 75 hours of approved broker pre-license education.

The course must come from an education provider and curriculum approved by Illinois. Pre-license education typically covers subjects such as:

• Real estate principles and practices
• Illinois license law and regulations
• Agency relationships
• Contracts
• Property ownership
• Financing
• Valuation and market analysis
• Fair housing
• Property management
• Real estate mathematics
• Illinois-specific brokerage procedures

Course providers set their own tuition, schedules, instructional formats, and enrollment policies. Confirm that the provider and specific course are approved for Illinois licensing before paying tuition.

Online Illinois real estate courses

Illinois-approved education may be available through online distance education, depending on the provider and course format. IDFPR publishes approved curriculum information for the 75-hour broker pre-license program and other real estate education programs.

Online study may be useful for Markham residents who work full time, have family responsibilities, or prefer self-paced learning. Before enrolling, verify:

• Whether the course is fully online or includes live instruction.
• Whether attendance or identity verification is required.
• Whether the final course examination is included.
• How long access to the course lasts.
• Whether the provider reports completion to the appropriate licensing system.
• Whether the course remains approved under current Illinois rules.

Completing a course does not itself grant a license. You must still pass the licensing examination, complete the application, satisfy the background-check requirements, and secure sponsorship.

Apply for the Illinois Broker Examination

After completing the required education, you can apply to take the Illinois real estate broker examination through the testing process authorized by IDFPR. The examination includes both:

• A national portion covering general real estate concepts.
• A state portion covering Illinois laws, rules, and practices.

The examination vendor, application materials, and testing procedures can change. Review the current IDFPR examination instructions before registering.

How to prepare for the exam

A practical study plan should include:

• Reviewing your pre-license textbook and course materials.
• Taking practice questions on both national and Illinois topics.
• Memorizing key real estate formulas and terminology.
• Studying Illinois license law separately from general real estate principles.
• Scheduling the examination when you have enough time to prepare.
• Reviewing the current candidate handbook and testing rules.

If you do not pass one or both portions, the retesting process and any applicable fees will depend on current IDFPR and testing-vendor rules. Do not assume that passing one portion permanently preserves that result without checking the current instructions.

Background Check and Fingerprinting

Illinois licensing applicants must complete the background-check process required for real estate licensure. This generally involves submitting fingerprints through an approved process so that a criminal-history review can be conducted.

Follow the current instructions carefully because:

• Fingerprints may need to be collected by an approved vendor.
• The background check may have a validity period.
• A prior conviction does not automatically establish whether an applicant qualifies.
• Applicants may need to disclose certain criminal or disciplinary history.
• Incomplete, inaccurate, or omitted information can delay an application or create additional licensing issues.

If you have a criminal record, disciplinary history, or prior license issue, consider consulting a qualified attorney before submitting an application. IDFPR makes the final licensing determination under applicable Illinois law and rules.

Submit the License Application

Once you have completed the education and examination requirements, submit the Illinois broker license application using the current IDFPR process.

The application process may require documentation such as:

• Proof of education completion
• Examination results
• Fingerprint or background-check information
• Personal identification details
• Disclosures about criminal, professional, or licensing history
• Sponsoring-broker information
• The applicable state fee

Use the current application instructions rather than relying on an older checklist. IDFPR materials can be updated, and an application may be delayed if documents, disclosures, or fees are missing.

Find a Sponsoring Broker in Markham

A newly licensed Illinois broker generally must be sponsored by a sponsoring broker before practicing real estate. The sponsoring broker is usually an employing brokerage or managing broker who provides supervision and a legal framework for the new licensee.

When comparing brokerages serving Markham, consider:

• Commission split and transaction fees
• Monthly desk, technology, or administrative charges
• Training and mentorship
• Lead-generation support
• Office and transaction-management systems
• Availability of managing brokers
• Marketing requirements
• Contract and compliance support
• Geographic coverage in Markham and surrounding communities
• Whether the brokerage supports newer agents with limited experience

The highest commission split is not always the best first-year option. Training, supervision, transaction support, and lead opportunities can have a significant effect on a new agent’s ability to build a business.

A broker may not be ready to operate independently simply because the license examination has been passed. Confirm that the sponsorship is properly recorded before performing activities that require an active and sponsored license.

Illinois Real Estate License Costs

The total cost of becoming a real estate broker in Illinois varies. Common expenses include:

• Pre-license education tuition
• Course materials
• Examination registration or retesting fees
• Fingerprinting and background-check fees
• License application fee
• Initial license fee, if charged separately
• Business cards, signs, photography, and marketing
• Association or multiple-listing-service expenses, if applicable
• Brokerage, technology, and transaction fees
• Transportation and professional insurance expenses

Because fees can change and some costs depend on the education provider or brokerage, applicants should confirm the current amounts in the IDFPR application materials, examination information, and provider disclosures. Avoid relying on an online article that lists a fixed total without identifying the date and official source.

How Long Does It Take to Get Licensed?

There is no single guaranteed timeline for every applicant. The process can take different amounts of time depending on:

• How quickly you complete the 75-hour course
• Whether the course is self-paced or scheduled
• How soon examination appointments are available
• Whether you pass both examination portions on the first attempt
• How quickly fingerprinting and background checks are processed
• Whether the application is complete
• Whether IDFPR requests additional information
• How quickly you find a sponsoring broker

A motivated applicant may complete the steps in a relatively short period, while part-time students or applicants with application issues may need longer. A realistic plan is to allow time for education, exam preparation, fingerprinting, application review, and brokerage selection rather than assuming a specific number of weeks.

Complete Post-License Education

New Illinois brokers must complete 45 hours of post-license education during the first license period, subject to the timing rules that apply to the individual license.

The 45 hours consist of three 15-hour courses covering:

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

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

The 45-hour post-license requirement must generally be completed before the first broker renewal. However, Illinois provides a later deadline for individuals who receive their initial broker license within 180 days before the applicable renewal deadline.

New brokers completing the required 45-hour post-license education during the first license term are generally not required to complete separate regular continuing education during that same term.

For course options, an approved Illinois broker post-license education program may be available online or in another approved format. Confirm the provider’s current approval and whether the course satisfies the specific post-license requirement before enrolling.

Continuing Education After the First Renewal Period

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

Illinois continuing education includes a core curriculum and elective curriculum. The core curriculum must include at least two hours of fair-housing training under the applicable statute.

Continuing education rules can contain exceptions and special provisions. Track your renewal deadline, complete courses through approved providers, and retain completion records. Pre-license and post-license courses generally do not count as regular continuing education except where Illinois law specifically permits them to satisfy a requirement.

Potential Earnings for Markham Real Estate Agents

Real estate income is not guaranteed and can vary substantially. A broker’s earnings may depend on:

• Number of closed transactions
• Sale prices and transaction types
• Commission arrangements
• Brokerage splits and fees
• Lead sources
• Experience and repeat business
• Hours worked
• Local competition
• Market conditions
• Business expenses and taxes

Many agents are paid through commissions rather than a guaranteed salary. Income may be limited or inconsistent during the first months while an agent builds contacts, learns transaction procedures, and develops a pipeline.

Public wage data can help provide general occupational context, but it may not represent the income of a self-employed or commission-based real estate professional in Markham. Review current data from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics and other reputable sources, and treat broad wage estimates as approximations rather than promises.

A personal financial plan should account for licensing expenses, transportation, marketing, technology, association costs, taxes, and periods without a closing.

Career Opportunities After Licensing

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

• Residential buyer representation
• Residential listing sales
• Leasing and rental transactions
• New-construction sales
• Relocation services
• Commercial real estate
• Property management, where the activity and licensing requirements allow
• Investment-property sales
• Land transactions
• Real estate marketing and transaction coordination
• Future advancement toward managing broker licensure

A new broker may focus on Markham and nearby communities or work across a broader part of the Chicago-area market, depending on the brokerage, clients, and business strategy. Local knowledge can help with neighborhood conversations, property research, commuting considerations, housing goals, and referrals, but agents must avoid making unsupported claims about schools, zoning, property values, taxes, or market conditions.

Advancing to Managing Broker

Managing broker licensure is a separate, more advanced path. IDFPR lists a minimum age of 20, a high school diploma or GED, two consecutive years of licensed broker experience during the preceding three years, additional education, and a separate examination among the managing broker requirements.

A managing broker may take on greater supervisory, office-management, compliance, and brokerage responsibilities. The exact education and experience requirements should be confirmed with current IDFPR materials before planning this career step.

Practical First-Year Plan

A new Markham broker can build a stronger foundation by:

1. Completing an approved 75-hour Illinois pre-license course.
2. Creating a study schedule for the national and state exam portions.
3. Reviewing fingerprinting and application instructions early.
4. Comparing several sponsoring brokerages before choosing one.
5. Learning the brokerage’s forms, transaction systems, and compliance procedures.
6. Completing the 45-hour post-license requirement on time.
7. Building a contact database and a consistent follow-up routine.
8. Creating a written marketing and expense budget.
9. Studying the neighborhoods and property types the brokerage serves.
10. Tracking renewal deadlines and continuing education requirements.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I become a real estate agent in Illinois without a college degree?

Yes. The basic Illinois broker requirements listed by IDFPR include a high school diploma or GED rather than a college degree.

How many hours of education are required before the Illinois exam?

Applicants must complete 75 hours of approved broker pre-license education.

Can I complete the Illinois real estate course online?

Online distance education may be available through approved providers. Confirm the provider’s approval, delivery format, testing rules, and completion procedures before enrolling.

Do I need a sponsoring broker?

Yes. A newly licensed Illinois broker must generally have a sponsoring broker to practice real estate.

How much post-license education is required?

New Illinois brokers generally must complete 45 hours of post-license education, consisting of three 15-hour courses, before the applicable first renewal deadline.

How much continuing education is required after the first license period?

Illinois generally requires brokers to complete 12 hours of approved continuing education during each license term, subject to applicable exceptions and special rules.

How much does it cost to get an Illinois real estate license?

The total varies because education, examination, fingerprinting, application, licensing, brokerage, and business expenses may all apply. Check current IDFPR and provider fee information instead of relying on an outdated total.

Can a new broker work independently immediately after passing the exam?

Passing the exam is only one part of the process. A new broker must complete the application and licensing requirements and generally must be sponsored by an Illinois sponsoring broker before practicing.

Authoritative Sources

• Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation — Real Estate Brokerage
• IDFPR Professional Requirements for Licensure — Real Estate Broker
• Illinois Administrative Code — Broker Post-License Education Requirements
• Illinois Administrative Code — Broker Continuing Education
• Illinois Compiled Statutes — Continuing Education Requirements