If you want to become a real estate agent in New Burnside, Illinois, the first step is completing the state-required education and preparing for the Illinois real estate broker licensing exam. An approved Illinois pre-licensing course can provide the required instruction in a structured format, including online options that may be convenient for people in New Burnside and surrounding Southern Illinois communities.

Illinois generally licenses entry-level real estate professionals as brokers rather than using “salesperson” as the primary license category. To qualify for an Illinois real estate broker license, an applicant must generally be at least 18 years old, have a high school diploma or GED, complete approved pre-license education, pass the required examination, and work under a sponsoring broker.

Illinois Real Estate Broker Requirements

The Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation, or IDFPR, establishes the licensing requirements for real estate brokers throughout the state, including applicants who live in New Burnside.

The basic requirements include:

• Be at least 18 years old.
• Hold a high school diploma or GED.
• Complete 75 hours of approved broker pre-license education.
• Pass the Illinois real estate licensing examination.
• Submit a license application and required documentation.
• Complete the state’s background-check and fingerprinting process when required.
• Obtain sponsorship from an active Illinois sponsoring broker before practicing.
• Complete required post-license education during the first license term.

A college degree is not listed as a basic requirement for an Illinois real estate broker license. However, strong communication, organization, sales, technology, and customer-service skills can be valuable in the profession.

Complete the 75-Hour Pre-License Course

Illinois requires 75 hours of approved broker pre-license education. The curriculum must be completed through an education provider and course approved by IDFPR.

The education covers foundational subjects such as:

• Real estate license law and rules
• Agency relationships
• Contracts
• Property ownership and interests
• Real estate finance
• Valuation and market analysis
• Fair housing and discrimination laws
• Leasing and property management concepts
• Real estate practice and professional responsibilities
• Illinois-specific procedures and disclosures

Illinois law also requires a portion of the education to involve situational and case-study instruction. The required 75 hours may be completed in a classroom, through a live interactive webinar, or through approved online distance education, subject to the applicable curriculum rules.

Online Illinois real estate courses

Online education can be a practical choice for New Burnside residents because it may reduce travel and allow students to study around work, family, or other obligations. Before enrolling, confirm that:

• The provider is approved by IDFPR.
• The course is specifically approved for the Illinois broker pre-license requirement.
• The delivery format meets Illinois rules.
• The provider explains attendance, testing, completion, and certificate procedures.
• The course prepares students for both the national and Illinois portions of the licensing examination.

Completing an online course does not by itself grant a license. You must still satisfy the application, examination, background-check, and sponsorship requirements.

Apply for the Illinois Real Estate Broker Examination

After completing the required education, follow the current IDFPR and testing-provider instructions to apply for the broker examination. The process may require proof of education, an examination application or authorization, identification, and payment of applicable fees.

The Illinois broker exam includes both:

• A national portion covering general real estate principles and practices.
• A state portion covering Illinois laws, regulations, and procedures.

The examination is separate from the pre-license course. A course can help prepare you, but passing is not guaranteed. Use the current candidate bulletin and examination instructions published through IDFPR to verify registration steps, approved identification, testing locations, retake rules, and other requirements.

How to prepare for the exam

A practical study plan may include:

• Reviewing every section of the course textbook or online modules.
• Taking practice questions for both national and Illinois topics.
• Memorizing key definitions, formulas, and license-law concepts.
• Spending extra time on agency, contracts, finance, and Illinois-specific rules.
• Scheduling the examination soon after completing the course while the material is fresh.
• Allowing additional study time before retaking any failed portion.

If you do not pass, check the current testing instructions for the applicable retake procedure and fees rather than assuming that the entire process must be repeated.

Background Check and Fingerprinting

Applicants may need to complete a criminal-background check and submit fingerprints as part of the Illinois licensing process. Fingerprinting is handled through an approved process and may involve an authorized vendor or location designated in the current application instructions.

A criminal record does not automatically mean an applicant cannot receive a license. However, applicants should answer disclosure questions accurately and provide any explanations or supporting documents requested by IDFPR. Concealing relevant information can create additional licensing problems.

Because fingerprinting procedures, vendor instructions, and related charges can change, review the current IDFPR application materials before completing this step.

Submit the License Application

Once you have completed education and passed the examination, submit the Illinois broker license application through the method specified by IDFPR. The application commonly requires information such as:

• Personal identification details
• Education completion documentation
• Examination results
• Background-check information
• Disclosure of criminal, disciplinary, or licensing history when applicable
• Sponsoring-broker information
• The required application fee

Applicants with prior professional licenses, disciplinary history, criminal convictions, or other issues may need to provide additional documentation. Processing times can vary depending on application completeness, background review, examination results, and IDFPR workload.

Use the current IDFPR forms and online services rather than relying on older third-party checklists. IDFPR provides real estate application, examination, licensing, and renewal resources through its Division of Real Estate pages.

Find a Sponsoring Broker

An Illinois broker generally must be sponsored by a sponsoring broker to practice real estate. Sponsorship connects the newly licensed broker with a licensed real estate business and provides the regulatory framework for conducting brokerage activities.

When evaluating brokerages serving New Burnside or the surrounding region, ask about:

• Commission splits and transaction fees
• Monthly, desk, technology, or administrative charges
• Training for new brokers
• Mentoring and transaction supervision
• Lead-generation policies
• Availability of managing-broker support
• Office, telephone, and marketing resources
• Rules for working in rural, residential, land, or investment transactions
• Whether the firm supports clients in the areas where you intend to work

A brokerage does not have to be located inside New Burnside for you to build a local practice, but it should be properly licensed and able to supervise your work in compliance with Illinois law. Confirm that the sponsoring arrangement is active before performing activities that require a real estate license.

How Much Does an Illinois Real Estate License Cost?

The total cost varies because it depends on the education provider, examination attempts, fingerprinting or background-check charges, application fees, and any brokerage-related expenses.

Potential costs include:

• 75-hour pre-license education
• Course materials or exam-preparation products
• Examination registration
• Examination retakes, if needed
• Fingerprinting and background-check services
• Initial license application
• Professional membership or association dues, if you choose to join
• Business cards, signs, photography, advertising, software, transportation, and other business expenses
• Brokerage fees or transaction charges

IDFPR fees and testing charges can change. For that reason, prospective brokers should check the current IDFPR fee schedule and examination instructions before budgeting. Avoid relying on a single advertised “total cost” unless it clearly states which expenses are included.

How Long Does It Take to Get Licensed?

There is no single guaranteed timeline. A motivated student may complete the education and examination process relatively quickly, while others may take longer because of work schedules, course pacing, exam retakes, fingerprinting, application questions, or processing delays.

A typical sequence is:

1. Confirm eligibility.
2. Enroll in an IDFPR-approved 75-hour course.
3. Complete the education requirement.
4. Apply for and pass the national and Illinois examination portions.
5. Complete fingerprinting or background-check requirements when applicable.
6. Submit the license application and required fee.
7. Secure sponsorship from an Illinois sponsoring broker.
8. Begin practicing after the license and sponsorship are properly active.

The safest approach is to plan for flexibility and verify current processing expectations directly with IDFPR and the examination provider.

First-Renewal Post-License Education

New Illinois brokers generally must complete 45 hours of post-license education during the first license term. IDFPR’s current materials state that the post-license curriculum includes the required sexual-harassment-prevention training.

The 45-hour requirement is different from ordinary continuing education. Newly licensed brokers should track the deadline tied to their license and complete the course through an IDFPR-approved provider. A broker who misses the applicable education requirement may face renewal or license-status problems.

Check the renewal notice and current IDFPR guidance because the deadline can depend on when the initial license was issued.

Continuing Education After the First Renewal

After the first license term, Illinois brokers generally must complete 12 hours of approved continuing education during each two-year license term, unless an exemption or special rule applies.

The 12 hours generally include:

• At least 6 hours of core curriculum.
• At least 6 hours of elective curriculum.
• Required subjects included in the current Illinois curriculum, which may include fair housing and sexual-harassment-prevention training.

Illinois rules and renewal requirements can be updated. The current IDFPR renewal fact sheet should control, particularly for brokers whose initial license falls within a transition period or whose license is issued close to a renewal deadline.

Potential Earnings in New Burnside

Real estate income is usually commission-based rather than guaranteed hourly or salaried pay. Earnings can vary substantially based on:

• Number and value of closed transactions
• Local inventory and buyer demand
• Commission arrangements
• Brokerage split and transaction fees
• Lead generation and marketing
• Experience and specialization
• Time spent prospecting, showing property, negotiating, and serving clients
• Whether the broker works part time or full time

National and state wage data can provide broad occupational context, but they do not predict what a particular New Burnside agent will earn. The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics classifies real estate sales agents separately from brokers, and reported wage figures may not reflect commission volatility, self-employment, business expenses, or new-agent ramp-up time.

New agents should prepare for uneven income, especially during the first several months. A conservative budget may account for licensing costs, transportation, marketing, insurance, technology, taxes, and periods without a closing. Ask prospective brokerages to explain their compensation plans in writing rather than comparing commission percentages alone.

Real Estate Career Opportunities

An Illinois broker license can support several career directions, depending on experience, brokerage structure, and additional training. Opportunities may include:

• Residential buyer representation
• Residential listing and seller representation
• Land and rural property transactions
• Farm and recreational property
• Leasing and property management-related work
• New-construction sales
• Relocation services
• Investment-property transactions
• Commercial real estate
• Transaction coordination or brokerage operations
• Future advancement toward managing broker licensure

For someone serving New Burnside, local relevance can come from building relationships with residents, owners, buyers, lenders, attorneys, inspectors, contractors, and other professionals in the surrounding area. Do not assume that a small-community market operates like a major metropolitan market; property types, transaction volume, travel distances, and available listings may differ.

Managing Broker Advancement

A managing broker license is a later-career credential, not the normal starting point. IDFPR identifies additional age, experience, education, and examination requirements for managing brokers, including prior broker experience and additional managing-broker education.

New brokers should first focus on learning transaction procedures, disclosure obligations, contract deadlines, fair-housing requirements, client communication, and brokerage supervision. Experience with a reputable sponsoring broker can help determine whether management or independent brokerage is an appropriate long-term goal.

A Practical New Burnside Licensing Checklist

• Confirm that you meet Illinois age and education requirements.
• Select an IDFPR-approved 75-hour broker pre-license course.
• Complete the required education and retain proof of completion.
• Review the current Illinois broker examination bulletin.
• Apply for and pass both required examination portions.
• Complete fingerprinting and background-check steps when required.
• Disclose relevant history accurately.
• Submit the broker license application and current fee.
• Interview sponsoring brokerages that serve New Burnside and nearby communities.
• Confirm sponsorship before practicing.
• Calendar the 45-hour first-renewal post-license deadline.
• Complete continuing education for later renewal periods.
• Budget for ongoing business and brokerage expenses.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is New Burnside-specific licensing required?

No separate New Burnside real estate license is identified in the statewide Illinois broker requirements. The professional license is issued under Illinois law through IDFPR. Local business, zoning, tax, or advertising rules may still apply depending on how you operate.

Can I complete the Illinois pre-license education online?

Approved online distance education may be available, provided the course and provider satisfy IDFPR requirements. Confirm approval and delivery rules before enrolling.

Do I need a college degree?

No. Illinois lists a high school diploma or GED as the minimum education requirement for an entry-level real estate broker license.

Do I need a sponsoring broker?

Yes. An Illinois real estate broker generally must be sponsored by a sponsoring broker to practice.

How much will I earn?

There is no guaranteed income. Earnings depend on transactions, prices, commission arrangements, expenses, experience, and market conditions. Public wage data should be treated as broad occupational information rather than a New Burnside income forecast.

What happens after I pass the exam?

Passing the examination is only one part of the process. You must complete the remaining application, background-check, and sponsorship steps required by IDFPR before practicing as an Illinois broker.

What education is required after initial licensing?

New brokers generally must complete 45 hours of post-license education during the first license term. Later renewals generally require 12 hours of approved continuing education during each two-year term, subject to current Illinois rules and exceptions.

Authoritative Sources

• Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation — Real Estate Brokerage
• IDFPR Professional Requirements for Licensure
• Illinois Real Estate License Act
• Illinois Administrative Code — Broker Continuing Education
• IDFPR 2026 Real Estate Broker Renewal and Education Fact Sheet
• IDFPR New Applications
• U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics — Real Estate Brokers and Sales Agents