How to Get Your Real Estate License in St. Johns, Illinois

If you want to become a real estate agent in St. Johns, Illinois, the usual path begins with completing Illinois’s required 75-hour broker pre-license education, passing the state and national licensing examination, completing the application and background-check process, and finding an Illinois sponsoring broker. An approved Illinois pre-licensing course can help you complete the required education online and prepare for the licensing exam.

Illinois uses the title real estate broker for the entry-level real estate license. Although many people use the term “real estate agent,” a newly licensed Illinois professional generally begins as a broker sponsored by a managing broker or real estate company.

Illinois Real Estate License Requirements

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 75 hours of approved pre-license education.
Pass both the state and national portions of the Illinois real estate examination.
Complete the required application and licensing steps through the Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation.
Obtain sponsorship from an Illinois sponsoring broker before practicing real estate.

These requirements are listed by IDFPR in its professional licensing summary for Illinois real estate brokers.

A criminal record does not automatically mean an applicant will be denied, but applicants should answer all disclosure questions truthfully and provide any documentation requested by IDFPR.

Step 1: Complete 75 Hours of Pre-License Education

Illinois requires 75 hours of broker pre-license education before an applicant can take the licensing examination.

The curriculum is designed to introduce key subjects such as:

Real estate principles and practices.
Illinois real estate law.
Agency relationships and fiduciary duties.
Contracts and disclosures.
Property ownership and land-use concepts.
Fair housing and civil-rights requirements.
Financing and real estate mathematics.
Illinois license law and professional conduct.

The course must be provided by an education provider approved by IDFPR. Before enrolling, confirm that the provider and course satisfy the current Illinois broker pre-license curriculum requirements.

Online Illinois Real Estate Courses

Online education may be a practical option for St. Johns residents who need flexibility around work, family, or other responsibilities. Online courses may be self-paced, livestreamed, or delivered through another approved format, depending on the provider.

Before purchasing a course, verify:

The provider is approved for Illinois real estate education.
The course supplies the full 75 hours required for broker pre-licensing.
The format satisfies current IDFPR attendance and examination rules.
The provider explains how course completion is reported or documented.
The course includes exam preparation and Illinois-specific material.

An online course does not eliminate the examination, application, background-check, or sponsoring-broker requirements.

Step 2: Apply for the Illinois Real Estate Exam

After completing the required education, applicants must follow the current examination-registration process. Illinois requires candidates to pass both the state and national portions of the broker examination.

The examination is administered under procedures established for Illinois real estate candidates. Testing details—including registration, identification, scheduling, retesting, accommodations, and score reporting—may change, so candidates should use the current IDFPR examination bulletin and testing instructions.

A practical preparation plan may include:

Reviewing the course’s state and national exam material.
Practicing real estate calculations.
Studying Illinois license law and agency rules.
Taking timed practice examinations.
Reviewing incorrect answers rather than memorizing only the correct choices.
Scheduling the exam after completing the education requirement and allowing enough time to study.

If you do not pass one or both portions, confirm the current retesting rules and fees before scheduling another attempt.

Step 3: Complete Fingerprinting and the Background Check

Illinois applicants may be required to complete a criminal-history background check and submit fingerprints through an approved process. Fingerprinting instructions, approved vendors, forms, and submission procedures can change.

Applicants should:

Follow the current IDFPR instructions rather than relying on an old checklist.
Use an approved fingerprint vendor if fingerprint submission is required.
Bring acceptable identification to the appointment.
Keep the receipt or confirmation.
Disclose criminal or disciplinary history accurately.
Allow additional time if records require review or clarification.

A prior conviction, arrest, professional discipline, or licensing issue should not be concealed. False or incomplete answers can create a separate licensing problem.

Step 4: Submit the Broker License Application

Once the education and examination requirements are complete, submit the Illinois broker license application through the current IDFPR process. The application may require education records, examination information, identity and background-check details, disclosures, and sponsorship information.

IDFPR’s published professional licensing materials list the initial Illinois real estate broker license fee as $150. This is separate from possible education, examination, fingerprinting, transportation, and business expenses. Because fees and procedures can change, confirm the amount shown in the current application before submitting payment.

Before applying, check that:

Your legal name is consistent across your identification, education, examination, and application records.
Required disclosures are complete and accurate.
Supporting documents are available if requested.
Your sponsoring broker is prepared to complete the sponsorship step.
You understand whether the application is submitted online or through another current IDFPR procedure.

Step 5: Find a Sponsoring Broker

An Illinois real estate broker must be sponsored by a sponsoring broker to practice real estate. In practical terms, this usually means affiliating with a licensed brokerage or managing broker that can supervise your real estate activities.

When evaluating brokerages near St. Johns or the surrounding area, compare:

Commission splits and transaction fees.
Monthly desk, technology, or administrative charges.
Training for new brokers.
Mentoring and transaction supervision.
Lead-generation and marketing support.
Availability of office, phone, and administrative resources.
Geographic coverage and the types of property handled.
Rules for changing brokerages later.
Errors-and-omissions insurance arrangements.
Expectations for prospecting, open houses, and office participation.

A high commission split is not necessarily the best financial choice for a new broker. Training, supervision, transaction support, and realistic lead opportunities can be more valuable during the first year.

How Long Does It Take?

Illinois does not provide one universal timeline for every applicant. The total time depends on:

How quickly you complete the 75-hour course.
Whether you choose self-paced or scheduled instruction.
Exam appointment availability.
Whether you pass both exam portions on the first attempt.
How quickly fingerprinting and background-check information is processed.
Whether IDFPR requests additional documentation.
How quickly you secure a sponsoring broker.

A straightforward application can move faster than one requiring additional review, but applicants should avoid relying on a guaranteed number of days or weeks. The safest approach is to plan for education, exam preparation, application processing, and brokerage interviews as separate stages.

Estimated Costs

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

Pre-license education tuition.
Textbooks or digital course materials.
Examination fees.
Fingerprinting and background-check charges.
The initial Illinois broker license fee.
Transportation to the testing location, if applicable.
Optional exam-preparation products.
Association, multiple-listing-service, lockbox, marketing, or technology fees after joining a brokerage.

IDFPR materials list the initial broker license fee as $150. They do not establish one single total cost for every applicant because education providers, testing services, fingerprint vendors, and brokerages may charge different amounts.

Ask each brokerage for a written explanation of recurring fees before signing an independent-contractor or affiliation agreement.

Post-License Education

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

The post-license requirement is not the same as ordinary continuing education. The current IDFPR renewal fact sheet states that the 45-hour post-license curriculum applies to brokers in the specified first-renewal categories and includes the required sexual-harassment-prevention training.

Complete this education through an IDFPR-approved provider and retain proof of completion. Do not wait until the renewal deadline because course availability, processing time, and application issues can create avoidable delays.

Continuing Education and License Renewal

After the first renewal period, Illinois brokers must complete ongoing continuing education for each renewal.

The exact education requirement depends on the license’s issuance date and the applicable renewal cycle. For example, IDFPR’s 2026 broker renewal fact sheet distinguishes between brokers first issued a license before November 1, 2023, brokers first licensed between November 1, 2023 and October 31, 2025, and brokers first licensed on or after November 1, 2025.

The fact sheet identifies different education obligations, including:

A 12-hour continuing-education requirement for certain brokers.
A 45-hour post-license requirement for brokers in their first renewal period.
Required core, elective, and sexual-harassment-prevention content in applicable categories.

Because renewal requirements are tied to the license’s issue date and renewal period, check the current IDFPR fact sheet when your license is issued and again before renewal.

Potential Earnings as a Real Estate Broker

Real estate income can vary substantially. Compensation may depend on:

Number of closed transactions.
Property prices and transaction types.
Commission agreements and brokerage splits.
Referral fees and applicable rules.
Lead generation and personal marketing.
Experience and repeat business.
Time spent prospecting, showing properties, negotiating, and managing transactions.
Business expenses, taxes, insurance, licensing, technology, and association costs.

New brokers may experience uneven income because commissions are generally tied to completed transactions rather than hours worked. Some may earn little or no commission during an initial ramp-up period, while established brokers may develop repeat and referral business.

National and state wage data can provide broad occupational context, but such figures are not a guaranteed salary for a St. Johns broker and may not reflect independent-contractor expenses. Before choosing real estate as a full-time career, prepare a personal budget for licensing costs, transportation, marketing, insurance, technology, and several months of variable income.

Career Opportunities in and Around St. Johns

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

Residential buyer representation.
Residential listing and seller representation.
New-construction sales.
Leasing and rental transactions, subject to applicable requirements.
Commercial real estate.
Land and rural property transactions.
Relocation services.
Property-management-related activities, where legally permitted.
Investor-focused transactions.
Referral-based real estate work.
Transaction coordination or brokerage operations.

St. Johns residents may choose to focus on the immediate community or serve clients across nearby Illinois communities, depending on the brokerage’s coverage and the broker’s business plan. Local success will depend on building accurate market knowledge, professional relationships, and a reliable referral network rather than on the license alone.

Avoid advertising a specialty—such as property management, commercial brokerage, or another regulated activity—until you understand the additional legal, brokerage, and education requirements that may apply.

A Practical Illinois Licensing Checklist

Confirm that you meet the age and education requirements.
Select an IDFPR-approved 75-hour broker pre-license course.
Complete the required education and retain your completion record.
Review the current Illinois examination bulletin.
Register for and pass the state and national exam portions.
Complete fingerprinting and background-check steps when required.
Disclose legal and professional history accurately.
Identify an Illinois sponsoring broker.
Submit the application and current licensing fee.
Complete the 45-hour post-license requirement during the first renewal period.
Track continuing education and renewal deadlines.
Budget for both licensing costs and ongoing business expenses.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is a college degree required to become an Illinois real estate broker?

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

How many hours of education are required?

Illinois requires 75 hours of approved broker pre-license education.

Can the required course be completed online?

Online education may be available through approved providers, but the provider and course format must satisfy current IDFPR requirements. Confirm approval before enrolling.

Do I need a sponsoring broker?

Yes. Illinois requires a real estate broker to be sponsored by a sponsoring broker to practice.

How much is the Illinois broker license fee?

IDFPR’s published licensing brochure lists an initial broker license fee of $150. Other costs—such as education, testing, fingerprinting, and brokerage expenses—are separate.

What happens after I receive my license?

New brokers must complete 45 hours of post-license education during the first renewal period and then complete applicable continuing education for later renewals.

Can a criminal record prevent licensure?

It can affect an application, but the outcome depends on the circumstances and IDFPR’s review. Disclose all required information accurately and provide supporting documents when requested.

Is real estate a salaried job?

Often, real estate brokers are compensated through commissions or other transaction-based arrangements rather than a guaranteed salary. Income varies by brokerage agreement, transactions, expenses, experience, and market conditions.

Authoritative Sources