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Real Estate Agent
Governing Authority
Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation (IDFPR)
Official website →Some details on this page are not yet confirmed against an official source. See sources below or contact the licensing board to verify.
To get a Illinois real estate license in 2026, you must complete 75 hours of Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation (IDFPR)-approved pre-licensing education, pass a background check, take and pass the PSI Services LLC licensing exam, and find a sponsoring broker. Most applicants finish in 8–16 weeks and spend $419–$770 including course tuition.
Pre-License Hours
$270
Total Gov Fees
140
Exam Questions
3.5 hrs
Exam Time
Renewal Cycle
Reciprocity
CE Required
Renewal Fee
18 years old
Min. Age
IDFPR
Authority
⚠ Recent Changes in Illinois
| Minimum Age | 18 years old |
| Education | High school diploma or GED |
| Residency | Not required Non-residents must submit a Non-Resident Consent Form. |
| Background Check | Required Fingerprint-based criminal background check via IDFPR-approved LiveScan vendor. |
| Sponsoring Broker | Required License must be affiliated with a sponsoring managing broker to practice. |
| Social Security Number | Required |
Not sure if you need a real estate license? Check whether your state requires one.
| Fee | Amount |
|---|---|
Application Fee Paid to: IDFPR ⚠ Conflict: PrepAgent, Real Estate Bees (pre-2024 sources) reports $125. Fee was increased from $125 to $150 effective January 1, 2024 per IDFPR. | |
Exam Fee Paid to: PSI Services | |
Fingerprinting / Background Check Paid to: IDFPR-approved LiveScan vendor + Illinois State Police | |
Total Estimated Government Fees | $270 |
Use our licensing cost calculator to estimate your total investment including education and exam fees.
See the full cost breakdown with our License Cost Estimator →
Education Requirements
Mostly verifiedTotal Hours Required
Provider Type
IDFPR-approved education providers
Required Courses
Attorneys admitted by the Illinois Supreme Court are exempt from pre-licensing education.
See our picks for the best real estate programs in Illinois.
Exam Details
VerifiedExam Provider
Total Questions
140
Total Time
210 min
Format
Computer-based, multiple-choice. Available in-person at PSI test centers or via online remote proctoring.
Exam Sections
| Section | Questions | Time | Passing |
|---|---|---|---|
| National | 100 | 150 min | 75% |
| State (Illinois) | 40 | 60 min | 75% |
Retake Policy
Candidates may retake the exam a total of 4 times (3 retakes). After 4 failures, must retake pre-licensing coursework (75 hours). $58 per attempt (full fee each retake).
5–10 additional unscored pretest questions may appear. Must pass within 2 years of completing pre-licensing coursework. Note: some sources report 70% passing score for national portion — 75% for both is more widely cited, but verify with PSI directly.
For study strategies and what to expect on test day, see our guide to passing the real estate exam.
Complete 60-hour Broker Pre-License Topics (online OK) and 15-hour Applied Real Estate Principles (must be interactive/live) from an IDFPR-approved school.
Estimated time: 2–6 weeks
Your school administers a final exam upon course completion.
Estimated time: Same day
Register with PSI Services. Pay $58 exam fee. Score 75% on both national (100 questions) and state (40 questions) portions.
Estimated time: 1–3 weeks
Visit an IDFPR-approved LiveScan vendor for a criminal background check. Cost: ~$50–$75.
Estimated time: 1 week
A licensed managing broker must agree to sponsor your license.
Estimated time: 1–4 weeks
Apply online at online-dfpr.micropact.com. Pay $150 application fee.
Estimated time: 1–4 business days processing
45 hours of post-license education required before your first renewal deadline.
Estimated time: Before first renewal (within 2 years)
Renewal Details
Mostly verifiedRenewal Cycle
CE Hours
Renewal Fee
Deadline & Late Policy
April 30, 2026
First Renewal Notes
First renewal requires 45 hours of post-license education. Specific course names confirmed by IDFPR 45-Hour Broker Post License Curriculum document.
Core CE increased from 4 to 6 hours (includes Fair Housing); electives reduced from 8 to 6 hours; total remains 12 hours for 2026 cycle.
Regulatory Board
For a deeper dive into CE requirements and deadlines, see our real estate license renewal guide or compare deadlines across all 50 states.
See full CE requirements in Illinois: Continuing education details →
Interstate Reciprocity
VerifiedHas Reciprocity
No
Type: Endorsement (not reciprocity)
Reciprocity agreements ended. Endorsement process effective Jan 1, 2026. Requires 30-hour Illinois Broker Endorsement Course (curriculum published Dec 10, 2024) + pass the Illinois state portion of the broker exam.
Moving to another state? Use our Transfer Tool to see what you need →
Compare Illinois with other states →
See how requirements, costs, and timelines differ across all 50 states.
Real Estate Agent Schools in Illinois
Compare approved training programs, costs, and requirements.
Official Sources
Real Estate Agent requirements in Illinois verified against Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation (IDFPR), April 2026.
All data on this page was verified against the following official sources. Last verified: 2026-04-02.
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