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Real Estate Licensing
Government licensing fees for real estate agents vary from as low as $80 in New York to as high as $749 in Connecticut. The national average is approximately $307 in exam, license, and background check fees.
51
Jurisdictions
$307
Avg Total Cost
$80
Lowest Cost
$749
Highest Cost
Getting your real estate license involves several government fees: a state exam fee (typically $50–$150), a license application/issuance fee ($50–$400), and often a fingerprinting or background check fee ($30–$100). These are separate from pre-licensing education costs.
Pre-licensing course costs vary by provider and state hour requirements. States requiring more education hours (like Texas at 180 hours) generally have higher course costs than states with fewer hours (like Florida at 63 hours).
Use the sortable table below to compare government licensing fees across all jurisdictions. Click any column header to sort, or click a state name to view full requirements.
Click any state to see full requirements, costs, and step-by-step instructions →
| State ▲ | Exam Fee | License Fee | Other Fees | Total Cost |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Alabama | $70 | $210 | $48.25 | $328.25 |
| Alaska | $100 | $390 | N/A | $490 |
| Arizona | $75 | $60 | $69 | $204 |
| Arkansas | $50 | $75 | $111.25 | $236.25 |
| California | $100 | $350 | $49 | $499 |
| Colorado | $45 | $83 | $228 | $356 |
| Connecticut | $59 | $590 | $100 | $749 |
| Delaware | $85 | $149 | $97 | $331 |
| District of Columbia | $69 | $65 | $280 | $414 |
| Florida | $36.75 | $62.75 | $50 | $149.5 |
| Georgia | $121 | $170 | $38.25 | $329.25 |
| Hawaii | $61 | $382 | $55 | $498 |
| Idaho | $80 | $160 | $61 | $301 |
| Illinois | $58 | $150 | $62 | $270 |
| Indiana | $53 | $60 | $38.19999999999999 | $151.2 |
| Iowa | $95 | $125 | $102 | $322 |
| Kansas | $82 | $125 | $170 | $377 |
| Kentucky | $100 | $100 | $281 | $481 |
| Louisiana | $78 | $90 | $209.75 | $377.75 |
| Maine | $85 | $121 | N/A | $206 |
| Maryland | $62 | $98 | N/A | $160 |
| Massachusetts | $31 | $150 | $89 | $270 |
| Michigan | $79 | $88 | $60 | $227 |
| Minnesota | $63 | $110 | $42 | $215 |
| Mississippi | $75 | $120 | $50 | $245 |
| Missouri | $52 | $100 | $44 | $196 |
| Montana | $92 | $80 | $50 | $222 |
| Nebraska | $150 | $135 | $45 | $330 |
| Nevada | $100 | $140 | $65 | $305 |
| New Hampshire | $67 | $90 | $50 | $207 |
| New Jersey | $45 | $160 | $66.05000000000001 | $271.05 |
| New Mexico | $95 | $270 | $89 | $454 |
| New York | $15 | $65 | N/A | $80 |
| North Carolina | $63 | $100 | $60 | $223 |
| North Dakota | $131 | $150 | $70.85000000000002 | $351.85 |
| Ohio | $81 | $81 | $52 | $214 |
| Oklahoma | $75 | $100 | $95 | $270 |
| Oregon | $75 | $300 | $61 | $436 |
| Pennsylvania | $49 | $107 | $22 | $178 |
| Rhode Island | $50 | $165 | $120 | $335 |
| South Carolina | $25 | $50 | $103 | $178 |
| South Dakota | $294 | $225 | $50 | $569 |
| Tennessee | $39 | $91 | $154.14999999999998 | $284.15 |
| Texas | $43 | $206 | $48.25 | $297.25 |
| Utah | $69 | $157 | $12 | $238 |
| Vermont | $110 | $50 | N/A | $160 |
| Virginia | $60 | $230 | $52 | $342 |
| Washington | $210 | $223 | $44 | $477 |
| West Virginia | $25 | $75 | $153.6 | $253.6 |
| Wisconsin | $65 | $60 | N/A | $125 |
| Wyoming | $141 | $300 | $39 | $480 |
The total cost to get a real estate license varies by state, typically ranging from $200 to $1,000+. This includes exam fees, license application fees, and fingerprinting/background check fees. Pre-licensing education courses are an additional cost that varies by provider, usually $200–$600.
Real estate licensing fees typically include the state exam fee (paid to the testing provider), the license application/issuance fee (paid to the state real estate commission), and background check/fingerprinting fees. Pre-licensing education costs are separate and vary by school and format.
States with the lowest government licensing fees include those that combine exam and license fees under $200. However, total cost also depends on pre-licensing education requirements — states with fewer required hours tend to have lower overall costs when education is factored in.
Beyond government fees, budget for pre-licensing courses ($200–$600), exam prep materials ($50–$150), MLS/board dues ($200–$500/year), E&O insurance ($200–$400/year), and brokerage fees. Many new agents spend $1,500–$3,000 total in their first year including all costs.