How to Get Your Real Estate License in Union, Illinois

If you want to become a real estate agent in Union, Illinois, the first step is completing an approved Illinois broker pre-licensing course. A flexible Illinois pre-licensing course can help you satisfy the education requirement, prepare for the state and national licensing examination, and complete coursework online while living or working in Union.

Illinois licenses real estate salespeople as brokers. After obtaining a license, a new broker must work with a sponsoring broker before practicing real estate for compensation.

Illinois Real Estate License Requirements

The Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation, or IDFPR, lists these basic requirements for an Illinois real estate broker applicant:

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.
Submit the license application and required fee.
Complete any required criminal-history disclosure and fingerprinting process.
Obtain sponsorship from an Illinois sponsoring broker before practicing.

IDFPR’s current professional-requirements document identifies 75 hours of broker pre-license education and requires applicants to pass both the state and national portions of the examination.

Age and education qualifications

A high school diploma or GED is required. IDFPR materials identify 18 as the minimum age for a real estate broker applicant, although applicants should rely on the current application instructions when confirming eligibility because some Department documents may describe different age-related exceptions or application conditions.

Complete the Required Pre-Licensing Education

The current IDFPR professional-requirements document lists 75 hours of approved broker pre-license education. The course must be provided by an education provider and in a format approved by the Department.

Pre-license instruction generally covers subjects such as:

Real estate principles and practices
Illinois license law and regulations
Agency relationships
Contracts
Real estate finance
Property ownership and interests
Fair housing
Brokerage operations
Leasing and property management concepts
Illinois-specific real estate practices

Before enrolling, confirm that the provider and course are approved for Illinois broker pre-license credit. Keep your completion certificate because it may be required during the application process or examination registration.

Online Illinois real estate courses

Online study can be useful for Union residents who prefer to avoid a daily commute or need to fit coursework around an existing job or family responsibilities. Depending on the provider and course format, online programs may be self-paced, instructor-led, or delivered through live interactive webinars.

Compare courses based on:

IDFPR approval
Total required hours
Whether final course examinations are included
Access to instructors
Exam-preparation materials
Course completion deadlines
Refund and technology policies
Whether the format is fully online or includes live attendance requirements

An online course does not eliminate the state licensing examination. It fulfills the education component; the applicant must still satisfy the examination and application requirements.

Submit the Illinois Broker License Application

After completing the education requirement and passing the examination, submit the Illinois broker license application through the process specified by IDFPR. The Department provides online licensing instructions and accepts electronic payments for many licensing transactions.

The application process generally involves:

Creating or accessing the appropriate IDFPR licensing account.
Providing personal and education information.
Reporting any criminal history, professional discipline, or other required disclosures.
Uploading or submitting proof of education if requested.
Providing examination information or allowing the testing vendor to transmit results.
Completing the fingerprinting and background-check process when required.
Paying the applicable application or initial licensing fee.
Identifying a sponsoring broker before practicing.

Do not begin providing licensed real estate services until the license is issued and the required sponsorship is in place.

Background Checks and Fingerprinting

Illinois applicants should expect the licensing application to address criminal history and background information. Fingerprinting may be required through an approved vendor or process identified by IDFPR, particularly when the Department needs a criminal-history report to evaluate an application.

Applicants should:

Follow the current IDFPR fingerprinting instructions exactly.
Use only a vendor or location authorized for the Illinois licensing process.
Keep the receipt and transaction information.
Disclose requested information accurately and completely.
Avoid assuming that an old fingerprint submission will transfer to a new application.

A criminal record does not automatically mean an applicant cannot become licensed. However, omissions or inaccurate answers can create additional problems. Applicants with questions about a prior conviction, disciplinary matter, or licensing issue should contact IDFPR or obtain qualified legal advice before submitting the application.

Pass the Illinois Real Estate Licensing Exam

Illinois requires applicants to pass the state and national portions of the broker examination. The examination is administered through the testing vendor designated in the current IDFPR instructions. One IDFPR online-licensing document identifies AMP as the examination administrator and states that results are transmitted to the Division of Real Estate.

Because testing vendors and registration procedures can change, confirm the current vendor, examination handbook, scheduling process, identification requirements, and retake rules before booking an appointment.

How to prepare

A strong study plan should include:

Reviewing every topic in the official examination content outline
Completing the pre-license course final requirements
Taking timed practice examinations
Studying Illinois license law separately from general real estate principles
Memorizing commonly tested formulas and terminology
Scheduling the examination soon after completing coursework
Reviewing incorrect answers rather than only repeating practice tests

If you do not pass one or both portions, follow the current testing vendor’s retake instructions. Additional fees and waiting periods may apply.

Illinois Real Estate License Costs

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

Pre-license course tuition
Course textbooks or digital materials
Examination fee
Fingerprinting or background-check fee
License application or initial license fee
Retake fees, if applicable
Association, multiple-listing, technology, insurance, and brokerage-related expenses after licensing

Published IDFPR materials show different broker fee figures. An online licensing instruction document lists a $125 application fee, while an IDFPR licensing brochure lists a $150 initial broker licensing fee. Because fees can change or depend on the transaction, verify the amount displayed in the current IDFPR application before paying.

The Illinois pre-licensing course is one education option to compare when estimating your total startup budget.

How Long Does It Take to Get Licensed?

The timeline depends on how quickly you complete the required education, schedule the examination, obtain fingerprints if required, submit a complete application, and secure a sponsoring broker.

A practical planning sequence is:

Complete the approved pre-license course.
Pass the course requirements.
Register for and pass the state and national examination.
Complete fingerprinting and background-check steps, if required.
Submit the application and fee.
Arrange sponsorship with a broker.
Wait for IDFPR processing and license issuance.

Applicants should not rely on a guaranteed number of days or weeks. Processing times, examination availability, incomplete applications, background reviews, and missing documents can all extend the timeline.

Find a Sponsoring Broker in the Union Area

A new Illinois broker generally must be sponsored by a sponsoring broker before practicing. Sponsorship connects the new licensee with a brokerage that provides supervision, policies, transaction support, and access to the tools needed to conduct business.

When comparing brokerages serving Union and surrounding communities, ask about:

Commission and fee structure
Training for new brokers
Mentorship and transaction oversight
Office and technology fees
Lead-generation expectations
Marketing support
Errors-and-omissions insurance arrangements
Desk, administrative, or transaction fees
Availability of local and regional market guidance
Whether the brokerage supports residential, commercial, land, leasing, or relocation work

Do not select a brokerage solely because of a stated commission split. A lower split with meaningful training and support may be more useful to a new agent than a higher split with substantial costs or limited supervision.

Complete Post-License Education

New Illinois brokers must complete 45 hours of post-license education during the first license term. The requirement consists of three 15-hour courses covering applied brokerage principles, risk management and discipline, and transactional issues.

Each course requires its own provider-administered 50-question final examination. The post-license education must generally be completed before the first renewal deadline. If the initial license is issued within 180 days before the first renewal deadline, the deadline may extend to the second renewal deadline under Illinois rules.

The 45-hour post-license requirement is separate from pre-license education and focuses on applying real estate concepts in actual brokerage practice.

Continuing Education and License Renewal

After the initial license term, Illinois brokers generally must complete 12 hours of continuing education during each current license term. The continuing education curriculum includes a core component, and Illinois law requires at least two hours of fair-housing education within the applicable core curriculum.

New brokers completing the required 45-hour post-license education during the initial term generally do not also complete the standard 12-hour continuing-education requirement for that same initial term.

Track deadlines carefully. A broker who does not complete the required education may be unable to renew the license until the deficiency is resolved or an approved exception applies.

Potential Earnings as a Union Real Estate Agent

Real estate income is usually commission-based rather than a guaranteed salary. Earnings can vary substantially based on:

Number of closed transactions
Property prices and transaction types
Commission arrangements
Brokerage splits and fees
Lead generation
Local competition
Experience and specialization
Part-time or full-time work
Market conditions

New agents may have inconsistent income while building a client base and learning the transaction process. Budgeting for education, transportation, marketing, technology, insurance, association dues, and periods without closings is essential.

National and state wage data can help provide broad occupational context, but it should not be treated as a guaranteed Union income estimate. The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reports compensation for real estate brokers and sales agents separately and notes that earnings may include commissions and vary by work arrangement. Review the latest BLS data before making financial decisions.

Career Opportunities Near Union, Illinois

A real estate license can support several career directions in and around Union, including:

Residential buyer representation
Residential listing services
First-time-homebuyer assistance
Relocation services
Land and rural property transactions
New-construction sales
Commercial real estate
Leasing
Property management-related work, subject to applicable licensing requirements
Investment-property transactions
Referral-based business
Brokerage management after meeting the managing-broker requirements

Union is a village in McHenry County, so aspiring agents should learn the characteristics of the surrounding service area rather than limiting their business plan to the municipality itself. Useful preparation includes studying county and neighboring-community property types, transportation patterns, zoning, taxes, schools, inspections, lending practices, and local disclosure issues.

Do not advertise expertise in a specific property type or geographic area until you have the training and practical experience to support that claim.

A Practical Action Plan

Use this checklist to organize the licensing process:

Confirm the current IDFPR broker requirements.
Enroll in an approved Illinois pre-license course.
Complete the required education hours.
Pass the course examinations.
Register for the state and national licensing examination.
Complete the examination requirements.
Follow IDFPR instructions for disclosures, fingerprinting, and background checks.
Submit the application and current fee.
Interview sponsoring brokerages serving Union and nearby communities.
Arrange sponsorship before practicing.
Complete the 45-hour post-license requirement.
Maintain the required continuing education for later renewals.
Build a realistic business budget for commission-based income.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I take the Illinois real estate course online?

Yes, Illinois-approved real estate education may be available through online or live interactive formats, depending on the provider and course approval. Confirm the course format and approval status before enrolling.

How many hours of education are required?

The current IDFPR professional-requirements document lists 75 hours of broker pre-license education. Applicants should verify the requirement in the current application and education materials because Department documents can be updated.

Do I need a sponsoring broker?

A new Illinois broker must generally be sponsored by a sponsoring broker before practicing real estate. Interview brokerages before applying or arrange sponsorship in accordance with the current IDFPR process.

Is fingerprinting required?

Applicants should follow the current IDFPR instructions regarding fingerprinting and criminal-history checks. Requirements and procedures can depend on the application and may change, so use an authorized process and do not rely on outdated fingerprint records.

How much does an Illinois real estate license cost?

The cost includes education, examination, fingerprinting or background-check charges, and the state licensing fee. IDFPR documents currently show different broker fee amounts, including $125 and $150, so confirm the amount in the current application before submitting payment.

What education is required after I receive the license?

A new Illinois broker generally must complete 45 hours of post-license education, divided into three 15-hour courses, before the applicable first renewal deadline.

Can I work independently after passing the exam?

Passing the examination does not by itself authorize independent practice. A new broker generally needs an active license and sponsorship by an Illinois sponsoring broker.

What can I earn as a real estate agent in Union?

There is no reliable guaranteed income figure for an individual Union agent. Earnings depend on commissions, closings, brokerage terms, expenses, experience, and market conditions. Use current public wage data only as broad occupational context, not as a personal income promise.

Authoritative Sources