If you want to become a real estate agent in Standard, Illinois, the usual path is to earn an Illinois real estate broker license, pass the state and national licensing examination, complete the application process, and work under an actively licensed sponsoring broker. A state-approved Illinois pre-licensing course can help you complete the required education and prepare for the exam in a structured format.

Because Standard is a village in Illinois, residents follow the same statewide licensing rules as applicants in every other Illinois municipality. Local career opportunities may depend on nearby communities, the Illinois market, brokerage hiring needs, and your ability to build a client base; the state does not create a separate real estate license for Standard.

Illinois Real Estate License Requirements

Illinois generally requires a new real estate broker applicant to meet these basic conditions:

• Be at least 18 years old.
• Have a high school diploma or GED.
• Complete the required approved pre-license education.
• Pass the Illinois real estate licensing examination.
• Complete the application and licensing process through IDFPR.
• Provide any required background-check and fingerprint information.
• Obtain sponsorship from an Illinois sponsoring broker to practice with an active license.

IDFPR’s professional requirements document identifies the Illinois entry-level license as a real estate broker license rather than a separate “salesperson” license. It lists a minimum age of 18, a high school diploma or GED, 75 hours of pre-license education, successful completion of the state and national examination, sponsoring-broker sponsorship, and 45 hours of post-license education during the first renewal period.

Applicants should verify their eligibility directly with IDFPR if they have criminal-history issues, prior professional discipline, education questions, or a license from another state. Approval is not guaranteed solely because an applicant completes a course or passes the examination.

Required Education: 75 Hours

The standard Illinois broker pathway requires 75 hours of approved pre-license education. The education must be completed through an approved real estate education provider before the applicant takes the licensing examination.

A pre-license program typically combines instruction in subjects such as:

• Illinois real estate license law
• Real estate principles and practices
• Agency relationships
• Contracts
• Fair housing
• Financing
• Property ownership
• Leasing and property management
• Illinois-specific rules and disclosures
• Licensee responsibilities and professional conduct

Course providers determine their own schedules, instructional formats, materials, and pricing. Confirm that a provider and course are approved for Illinois licensure before paying tuition.

Online Illinois Pre-Licensing Courses

Online education may be a practical option for residents of Standard who need a flexible schedule. Depending on the provider and course approval, online programs may allow students to complete lessons from home rather than attend a traditional classroom.

Before enrolling, check:

• Whether the provider is approved by IDFPR.
• Whether the course includes the complete required curriculum.
• Whether attendance, identity verification, quizzes, or timed sessions are required.
• How the provider issues proof of completion.
• Whether exam preparation is included.
• The school’s refund and course-access policies.
• Whether the course is fully online or uses scheduled live instruction.

An online course does not remove the requirement to pass the Illinois licensing examination or complete the application process. For a flexible study option, review the Illinois broker pre-licensing course details before registering.

Step-by-Step Application Process

1. Complete an approved pre-license course

Finish the required 75 hours through an approved Illinois provider. Keep your completion documentation because it may be required during the licensing process.

2. Register for the licensing examination

Illinois uses a state-approved testing vendor for the broker examination. The exam includes state and national components, and the testing vendor transmits examination results to the Division of Real Estate.

Review the current candidate handbook before scheduling. It should explain registration, identification requirements, testing rules, score reporting, retakes, and any examination fees.

3. Pass the state and national portions

You must successfully pass the required examination portions. If you pass one portion but not the other, the testing vendor’s current policies will determine what must be retaken and when.

Focus your preparation on both general real estate principles and Illinois-specific law. Practice questions can help identify weak areas, but they should supplement—not replace—the approved course material and official candidate information.

4. Complete the application

After meeting the education and examination requirements, submit the Illinois broker license application through the method authorized by IDFPR. The application generally requires personal information, education details, examination information, and disclosures relating to criminal or disciplinary history when applicable.

An IDFPR online licensing instruction document identifies an application fee of $125, while other current IDFPR materials list a $150 initial broker fee. Because official materials show differing amounts, confirm the fee displayed in the current application instructions or IDFPR payment system before submitting payment.

5. Complete the background-check and fingerprinting process

Applicants may be required to undergo a criminal-history background check and submit fingerprints through an approved process. Fingerprinting procedures, approved vendors, identification requirements, and associated costs can change.

Follow the current IDFPR instructions rather than relying on an older course handout. Disclose required information accurately and completely. A criminal record does not automatically mean an applicant cannot receive a license, but IDFPR may review the circumstances and request additional documentation.

6. Secure a sponsoring broker

To practice actively, a new broker must be sponsored by an Illinois sponsoring broker. The sponsoring broker is generally an employing or supervising brokerage relationship—not merely a referral contact.

When evaluating brokerages serving Standard and surrounding areas, ask about:

• Commission structure
• Desk, transaction, technology, or association fees
• Training and mentorship
• Lead distribution
• Office and remote-work expectations
• Contract review and compliance support
• Geographic service area
• Marketing requirements
• Availability of experienced agents and managing brokers

A license without active sponsorship may not authorize you to perform brokerage activities for the public. IDFPR materials state that an applicant who does not provide sponsorship may receive an inactive license status, while active status requires sponsorship.

Illinois Licensing Exam

The Illinois broker examination includes state and national components. The exam tests knowledge needed to perform real estate brokerage activities lawfully and competently.

Prepare by:

• Completing all course quizzes and practice tests.
• Reviewing Illinois license law and agency rules.
• Memorizing key real estate formulas and definitions.
• Studying contracts, financing, fair housing, and disclosures.
• Taking timed practice exams.
• Scheduling the test only after consistently meeting your target practice scores.
• Reading the current testing-vendor candidate handbook.

If you do not pass, check the official score report and retake rules. Avoid assuming that a failed attempt requires repeating the entire education program; the applicable retesting procedure depends on the current examination rules and your results.

Costs to Expect

The total cost varies by provider and applicant. Common expenses may include:

• Pre-license course tuition
• Textbooks or digital materials
• Examination fee
• Application fee
• Fingerprinting and background-check fee
• License-related processing fees
• Professional association or multiple-listing-service fees
• Brokerage, technology, marketing, and transaction fees
• Continuing-education tuition

IDFPR’s licensing brochure lists an initial broker fee of $150, while another IDFPR online application instruction document lists $125. Applicants should use the current IDFPR application instructions and payment screen to determine the amount due.

The licensing fee is only one part of the startup budget. A new agent should also plan for transportation, business cards, advertising, phone service, insurance or risk-management expenses where applicable, and several months of personal living expenses while developing a pipeline of clients.

How Long Does It Take?

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

• How quickly you complete the 75-hour course
• Course testing and completion policies
• Examination appointment availability
• Whether you pass on the first attempt
• Fingerprint and background-check processing
• Application review
• Sponsoring-broker arrangements
• Requests for additional documents

A student studying consistently may finish the education requirement faster than someone attending part time, but no provider can guarantee a specific licensing date. IDFPR processing times and testing availability should be checked when you begin the application.

Sponsoring Broker Requirements

Illinois requires a broker who wants to work actively to be sponsored by a sponsoring broker. The sponsoring brokerage should be selected carefully because it can influence your training, compensation, compliance support, and day-to-day business model.

Interview more than one brokerage if possible. Ask each one to explain its written independent-contractor or employment agreement, commission calculations, fees, termination terms, advertising rules, lead ownership, and supervision procedures.

Do not begin representing clients, negotiating transactions, or advertising yourself as available to perform licensed brokerage services until your license status and sponsorship are properly established.

Post-License Education

New Illinois brokers must complete 45 hours of post-license education during the first renewal period. This is separate from the initial 75-hour pre-license course.

The post-license requirement is designed to help new brokers transition from exam preparation to real-world practice. It may address transaction procedures, brokerage operations, risk management, contracts, disclosures, and professional responsibilities.

Track your completion carefully and meet the applicable deadline. Failure to complete required post-license education can affect renewal or license status.

Continuing Education and Renewal

After the first renewal period, Illinois brokers must complete ongoing continuing education for each renewal cycle. The precise number of hours, required core content, elective subjects, and renewal deadline can change, so confirm the current requirements with IDFPR and an approved education provider.

IDFPR’s published curriculum materials identify a six-hour broker core continuing-education curriculum and a separate 12-hour broker-management curriculum. Those curriculum categories should not be treated as a complete substitute for checking the renewal rules that apply to your license and renewal period.

Keep certificates of completion and monitor your license expiration date. Continuing education is the licensee’s responsibility even when a brokerage provides reminders or training.

Potential Earnings in Real Estate

Real estate income is highly variable. Many agents are paid through commissions or commission-sharing arrangements, so earnings may depend on closed transactions, sales prices, commission agreements, brokerage splits, business expenses, market conditions, and the time required to build a client base.

New agents may have irregular income at first because they often spend time prospecting, learning contracts and systems, attending showings, and developing referrals before closing transactions. Gross commissions are not the same as take-home income; taxes, brokerage fees, marketing, transportation, association dues, insurance, and other expenses reduce net earnings.

Public wage data may not accurately represent every Illinois real estate professional because some agents are self-employed, part time, commission-based, or classified differently. Treat online salary estimates as broad reference points rather than promises. A realistic business plan should include conservative revenue assumptions and an emergency reserve.

Career Opportunities for Illinois Brokers

An Illinois broker license can support several real estate career paths, subject to the licensee’s training, brokerage structure, and applicable regulations:

• Residential buyer representation
• Residential listing services
• Commercial real estate
• Leasing and rentals
• New-construction sales
• Relocation services
• Land and farm transactions
• Property management-related work
• Real estate investment support
• Referral-based brokerage
• Transaction coordination and brokerage operations
• A future path toward managing broker licensure

Serving clients in Standard may involve building relationships locally while also working in nearby communities. Before advertising a service area, confirm that your sponsoring brokerage, local market knowledge, and professional resources support that area.

Practical Tips for Starting in Standard

• Learn the neighborhoods and surrounding communities without making claims you cannot verify.
• Build a database of personal, professional, and community contacts.
• Attend open houses and brokerage training sessions.
• Develop a written follow-up system for prospects and past clients.
• Use only advertising approved by your sponsoring broker.
• Learn how local property taxes, zoning, inspections, financing, and municipal processes affect transactions.
• Create a monthly budget for business and personal expenses.
• Continue education beyond the minimum requirements.
• Keep written records of client communications, disclosures, contracts, and transaction activities.
• Seek advice from your managing broker whenever a transaction presents a legal, ethical, or compliance question.

FAQ

Do I need to live in Standard to get an Illinois real estate license?

No. Illinois broker licensing is administered statewide. You must meet the state’s eligibility, education, examination, application, and sponsorship requirements rather than a separate Standard requirement.

Is a college degree required?

The IDFPR professional requirements document lists a high school diploma or GED as the minimum education requirement for an Illinois real estate broker license. A college degree is not listed as a standard requirement.

Can I complete the required education online?

Online options may be available through approved providers. Confirm the provider’s current Illinois approval and course format before enrolling.

How many education hours are required before the exam?

The standard broker pathway requires 75 hours of approved pre-license education.

Do I need a sponsoring broker?

You need a sponsoring broker to practice with an active Illinois broker license. Without sponsorship, IDFPR materials indicate that an applicant may receive an inactive license status.

What happens after I pass the exam?

You must complete the application, satisfy background-check and fingerprinting requirements when applicable, pay the required fee, and arrange sponsorship if you want an active license.

How much will I earn?

There is no guaranteed salary. Earnings vary with transactions, commission agreements, expenses, experience, hours worked, and market conditions.

What education is required after licensing?

New Illinois brokers must complete 45 hours of post-license education during the first renewal period. Later renewals require continuing education under the rules in effect for that renewal cycle.

Authoritative Sources

• Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation — Real Estate Brokerage
• IDFPR Professional Requirements for Licensure
• IDFPR Online Licensing Instructions for Real Estate Brokers
• IDFPR Division of Real Estate Licensing and Education Brochure
• IDFPR Real Estate Endorsement Application