About LicenseMap
What Is LicenseMap?
LicenseMap is a free reference tool that compiles verified real estate licensing requirements for all 50 US states and the District of Columbia. Our goal is simple: give anyone considering a real estate career one place to find accurate, source-linked, and date-stamped information about what it takes to get licensed.
Our Methodology
Every state's data goes through a rigorous verification process:
Primary Source Research
We start with the official state licensing board website — the authoritative source for every requirement, fee, and process. Examples include TREC (Texas), DRE (California), and DBPR (Florida).
Secondary Source Cross-Reference
We verify every data point against 2-3 secondary sources, typically established education providers like Kaplan, Colibri Group, and Aceable Agent. These companies have strong incentives to maintain accuracy because they sell courses based on these requirements.
Conflict Resolution
When sources disagree, we don't hide it. We flag the conflict prominently, record both values, and note which source we believe is more current. For example, a recent fee change might be reflected on the official board site but not yet updated on education provider sites.
Confidence Scoring
Each data point receives a confidence score: "high" (all sources agree), "medium" (minor discrepancy noted), or "low" (sources conflict, needs verification). This helps you assess the reliability of each piece of information.
Source Dating
Every source is recorded with two dates: the source's own publication/update date (if visible), and the date we accessed it. This transparency lets you see exactly how current each piece of information is.
Update Schedule
Licensing requirements change slowly — most states update fees and requirements annually or less frequently. We perform a full review of all 50 states at least once per year, prioritizing states where sources are oldest. When we become aware of a significant change (such as a fee increase or hour requirement change), we update the affected state immediately.
The “Last verified” date on each state page tells you when we last confirmed all data points for that state. Individual source dates tell you when each source was last updated.
What We Are Not
- We are not a law firm and do not provide legal advice.
- We are not affiliated with any state licensing board.
- We are not an education provider (though we may recommend providers in the future).
- We do not guarantee the accuracy of our information — always verify with your state's licensing authority.
Why This Exists
“How to become a real estate agent” is one of the most searched career queries in America. Yet there's no single source that offers verified, cross-state comparison data. Education companies only cover states where they sell courses. Blog posts are often outdated. Policy databases are designed for researchers, not consumers.
LicenseMap fills that gap with verified data, transparent sourcing, and a simple interface designed for people who just want a straight answer to a simple question.