How to Get Your Real Estate License in Palos Hills, Illinois

Becoming a real estate agent in Palos Hills requires an Illinois real estate broker license. Illinois does not issue a separate entry-level “salesperson” license; new agents generally begin as brokers and must work under the supervision of a sponsoring or managing broker. The Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation (IDFPR) lists the basic broker requirements as being at least 18 years old, having a high school diploma or GED, completing 75 hours of pre-license education, passing the state and national examination, and obtaining sponsorship from a sponsoring broker.

Illinois Real Estate License Requirements

To apply for an Illinois real estate broker license, an applicant generally must:

Be at least 18 years old.
Hold a high school diploma or GED.
Complete 75 hours of approved pre-license education.
Pass both the national and Illinois portions of the 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 real estate.

The license is issued by IDFPR, not by the City of Palos Hills. Living in Palos Hills does not create a separate municipal real estate license requirement for becoming an Illinois broker, although local business, zoning, tax, and registration rules may apply depending on how an agent operates.

Step 1: Complete 75 Hours of Pre-License Education

Illinois requires 75 hours of pre-license education for an entry-level real estate broker license. The coursework must be completed through an education provider approved by IDFPR.

A compliant program should prepare students for subjects such as:

Illinois real estate license law
Agency relationships
Contracts and disclosures
Property ownership and land use
Financing and mortgages
Fair housing and federal regulations
Leasing and property management concepts
Real estate calculations
Professional responsibilities and ethics

Course providers set their own tuition, schedules, technology requirements, and policies. Before enrolling, confirm that the provider and course are currently approved by IDFPR and that the program satisfies the full 75-hour requirement.

For students in Palos Hills who need a flexible schedule, an online Illinois pre-licensing course can be a practical option. Online students should verify whether the course is fully self-paced, instructor-led, or subject to attendance and testing rules. They should also confirm that the provider explains how course completion is reported to the state or documented for the license application.

Online Course Options

Online education may be useful for Palos Hills residents balancing work, school, family, or commuting. Common formats include:

Self-paced online courses: Students complete lessons according to the provider’s schedule.
Livestream or virtual classrooms: Students attend scheduled instruction online.
Hybrid programs: Some coursework is completed online, with selected instruction or exams conducted in person.
On-demand video programs: Students watch recorded lessons and complete required assessments.

The key issue is not simply whether a course is online. It must be an approved Illinois pre-license course and must meet IDFPR’s education standards. Compare the total tuition, textbook or digital-material charges, course access period, exam-preparation resources, student support, and refund policy before enrolling.

Step 2: Apply for the Illinois Broker Examination

After completing the required education, the applicant must follow the current examination-registration process described by IDFPR and its examination vendor. The licensing examination includes both:

A national portion covering broadly applicable real estate principles.
An Illinois portion covering state-specific laws, rules, and practices.

Examination scheduling procedures, testing locations, identification rules, retake policies, and examination charges can change. Applicants should use the current IDFPR examination candidate bulletin and the examination vendor’s instructions rather than relying on outdated school materials.

A useful study plan includes:

Reviewing every topic in the official examination outline.
Completing practice questions under timed conditions.
Separating national concepts from Illinois-specific rules.
Studying contract, commission, prorations, and finance calculations.
Rechecking questions missed on practice tests.
Scheduling the examination only after consistently performing at a passing level.

Passing a school final or completing the 75-hour course does not automatically mean the state examination has been passed. The licensing exam is a separate requirement.

Step 3: Complete Background Check and Fingerprinting Requirements

Illinois broker applicants should review the current IDFPR application instructions for background-check and fingerprinting requirements. If fingerprinting is required for the applicant’s application type, it must be completed through an authorized process and within the permitted timeframe.

Applicants should:

Use the fingerprint vendor or procedure identified in the current IDFPR instructions.
Bring acceptable identification.
Keep any receipt or confirmation.
Disclose information accurately when the application asks about criminal or disciplinary history.
Contact IDFPR before submitting the application if a prior conviction, professional discipline, or licensing issue may affect eligibility.

A criminal record does not automatically answer the licensing question in every case. The effect can depend on the nature, age, and circumstances of the matter. Concealing information can create additional problems, so applicants should follow the application instructions carefully and seek qualified legal advice when necessary.

Step 4: Submit the License Application

Once the education and examination requirements are satisfied, submit the broker license application using the current IDFPR process. The application typically requires personal information, education documentation, examination information, disclosures, and payment.

The current Illinois administrative fee for an initial broker license is $150. This is only one part of the total cost. The overall budget may also include:

Pre-license course tuition
Textbooks or digital materials
Examination charges
Fingerprinting or background-check charges, if applicable
Application-related service charges
Transportation or technology expenses
Post-license education
Continuing education
Brokerage-related business expenses

Course prices and examination-related charges are not necessarily fixed by the state in the same way as the license application fee. Confirm each amount with the relevant provider or official agency before paying.

Step 5: Find a Sponsoring Broker

A newly licensed Illinois broker generally cannot operate independently. The broker must be sponsored by an Illinois sponsoring broker, typically through a real estate brokerage company.

When evaluating brokerages serving Palos Hills and nearby communities, ask about:

Commission splits and transaction fees
Desk, technology, marketing, and administrative charges
Training for new agents
Mentorship and transaction supervision
Lead-generation expectations
Office and technology access
Coverage areas and client types
Contract-review and compliance procedures
Whether the brokerage supports residential, commercial, leasing, or investment work

A higher commission split is not always the best arrangement for a new agent. Training, supervision, accessible managers, and realistic startup costs may matter more during the first transactions.

The sponsoring broker also influences how the agent builds a business in and around Palos Hills. A brokerage may focus on residential sales, rentals, relocation, investors, commercial property, or a combination of services.

How Long Does It Take?

There is no single guaranteed timeline. The process can take weeks or several months depending on:

How quickly the applicant completes the 75-hour course
Course format and availability
Examination scheduling
Whether the applicant passes on the first attempt
Fingerprinting or background-check processing
Application completeness
IDFPR processing times
The time needed to select a sponsoring broker

A full-time student with a readily available online course may progress faster than someone studying part time. Applicants should avoid promising clients that a license will be issued by a particular date until all education, examination, application, and sponsorship steps are complete.

Post-License Education

New Illinois brokers must complete 45 hours of post-license education during the first renewal period. The post-license curriculum includes the required sexual-harassment-prevention training, according to the current IDFPR renewal fact sheet.

Post-license education is different from the initial 75-hour pre-license course. It is designed for newly licensed brokers and must be completed through an IDFPR-approved real estate education provider.

New agents should track:

Course enrollment and completion
Certificates or other completion records
The applicable renewal deadline
Whether the provider reports completion
Any additional IDFPR instructions

Do not wait until the renewal deadline to begin the 45 hours. Course availability and processing time can create avoidable problems.

Continuing Education After the First Renewal Period

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 initial license date and the renewal cycle.

For the 2026 renewal cycle, IDFPR states that brokers first issued a license between November 1, 2023, and October 31, 2025, must complete 45 hours of post-license education. Brokers first issued on or after November 1, 2025, have 45 hours due by April 30, 2028. Other brokers may have a continuing-education requirement consisting of core and elective coursework, including sexual-harassment-prevention training.

Because renewal rules and deadlines can change, use the current IDFPR fact sheet for the applicable renewal period. CE and post-license courses must be completed through an IDFPR-approved provider.

Estimated Costs

The Illinois initial broker application fee is $150. The complete cost of becoming licensed is higher because applicants must also account for education and examination expenses.

| Expense | What to know |
|---|---|
| Pre-license education | Tuition varies by provider and course format. |
| State license application | The initial broker application fee is $150. |
| Licensing examination | Confirm the current charge and payment instructions with the examination vendor or IDFPR. |
| Fingerprinting/background check | Confirm whether it applies and the current charge through the official application instructions. |
| Study materials | May be included in tuition or charged separately. |
| Post-license education | Required 45 hours during the first renewal period. |
| Continuing education | Required for later renewal cycles, with requirements varying by license date and cycle. |
| Brokerage expenses | May include transaction, technology, marketing, desk, and association-related charges. |

Avoid choosing a program based only on the lowest advertised tuition. A course that includes exam preparation, instructor support, and clear completion documentation may reduce confusion later.

Potential Earnings in Palos Hills

Real estate income is not guaranteed and can vary substantially. Agents are commonly paid through commissions or other transaction-based compensation, so earnings may depend on completed transactions, sales prices, commission agreements, brokerage splits, referrals, expenses, and market conditions.

New agents may have limited or uneven income while building:

A client pipeline
Local referrals
Repeat and referral business
Market knowledge
Negotiation experience
Online visibility
Relationships with lenders, attorneys, inspectors, and contractors

Public wage statistics can provide broad occupational context, but they may not represent the actual income of an individual Palos Hills agent. They may also combine different work arrangements and do not necessarily reflect business expenses or unpaid prospecting time. Before relying on a salary figure, review the latest data from a reputable source and distinguish employees from independent contractors.

A conservative financial plan should assume that income may be irregular at first. Budget for licensing, transportation, marketing, technology, insurance, taxes, education, and brokerage expenses.

Career Opportunities

An Illinois broker license can support several career directions in the Palos Hills area and throughout Illinois, subject to brokerage supervision and applicable rules:

Residential buyer representation
Residential listing services
Leasing and rental representation
Relocation assistance
Property investment services
New-construction sales
Commercial real estate
Land transactions
Property management-related work
Real estate referral business
Future advancement toward managing broker licensure

Local knowledge can help an agent serve clients who want to compare housing, transportation, schools, taxes, neighborhood services, and commute considerations. However, agents must verify current information and avoid making unsupported claims about a property, neighborhood, school, tax matter, or municipal service.

Practical Plan for a Palos Hills Applicant

Confirm the current IDFPR broker requirements.
Enroll in an approved 75-hour Illinois pre-license course.
Complete the education and retain proof of completion.
Review the current examination candidate bulletin.
Prepare for and pass the national and Illinois examination portions.
Complete fingerprinting or background-check steps if required by the application instructions.
Submit the broker license application and required $150 application fee.
Interview sponsoring brokerages serving Palos Hills and surrounding communities.
Activate the license through an eligible sponsoring broker.
Complete the required 45 hours of post-license education before the applicable first renewal deadline.
Maintain records and complete continuing education for later renewals.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is a college degree required to become a real estate agent in Palos Hills?

No. The Illinois broker requirements identify a high school diploma or GED as the minimum education credential; a college degree is not listed as a requirement.

How many hours of education are required?

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

Can the required course be completed online?

Online options are available, but the course must satisfy Illinois requirements and be provided by an IDFPR-approved education provider. Confirm the current approval and delivery rules before enrolling.

What is the Illinois license application fee?

The initial broker license application fee is $150. Course, examination, fingerprinting, and other expenses are separate.

Can a new broker work independently?

Generally, a newly licensed broker must be sponsored by a sponsoring broker before practicing real estate.

Is post-license education required?

Yes. Illinois requires 45 hours of post-license education during the first renewal period for new brokers.

How much money can a Palos Hills real estate agent make?

There is no guaranteed amount. Earnings depend on transactions, commissions, brokerage arrangements, expenses, experience, and market conditions. Broad occupational wage data should not be treated as a promise of income for a new agent.

Where should applicants check for changes?

Applicants should check IDFPR’s real estate brokerage page, current application materials, examination bulletin, approved education-provider lists, and renewal fact sheets before making decisions.

Authoritative Sources