How to Become a Realtor

Co-authored by Hannah Park and Amy Bobinger

Last Updated: February 12, 2023 References Approved

If you want to have a successful career in real estate, it may benefit you to become a realtor. A realtor is a real estate agent who is a member of the National Association of Realtors, or NAR. Being a realtor can give you additional credibility in your career, and joining the NAR is easy!^{[1]
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Part 1

Part 1 of 4:

Qualifying as a Realtor

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Research the qualifications for becoming a real estate agent in your state. These qualifications are different in every state. The requirements may include being a certain age, completing required schooling, and being a legal citizen of your country.^{[2]
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- For example, in California, you must be 19 years of age, successfully complete 3 college-level real estate courses, and pass a background check.^{[3]
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- In Texas, you must be a resident of the state and at least 18 years of age. You'll also need 180 classroom hours in real estate and you'll have to submit to a background check.
2
Take the pre-licensure courses. The better you do in your courses, the better you'll do on the exam. Depending on where you live, you'll need between 40-200 hours of coursework, which you can take at your local college or university. You may also be able to take the classes online.^{[4]
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- These classes might include Principals of Real Estate, agency, ethics, marketing, and economics.
EXPERT TIP

Hannah Park
Real Estate Agent
Hannah Park is a Licensed Real Estate Agent operating in Los Angeles, California and is a part of Keller Williams, Larchmont. She received her Real Estate Certification in 2018 from the California Bureau of Real Estate, and now specializes as a Buyer's Agent and Listing Agent.

Hannah Park
Real Estate Agent

There's no set time for how long this will take. Becoming a realtor can take as short as 3 months or as long as 5 years, depending on where you live and how motivated you are to finish the course and take the test.

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3
Have a clean record. In most states, you will need to submit your fingerprints and agree to a background check. Your record will need to be free from any convictions of fraud, theft, forgery, extortion, or similar crimes.^{[5]
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- Just because you have been convicted of a crime doesn't necessarily mean you will be denied a real estate license, but crimes related to defrauding people will usually disqualify you from a license.
4
Start building a network. Making connections will make it easier for you to find clients when you start working. Real estate is a face-to-face business, so you should be comfortable talking to a variety of different people before you ever start working. When you meet new people, let them know you're going to school for real estate, and you'll be available soon if they're thinking of selling their house or buying a new one in the near future.
- For additional networking opportunities, check social media to see if there are any organizations in your area where young professionals can meet up.

Part 2

Part 2 of 4:

Passing the Exam

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Use prep materials to study for the exam. Different states may have different formats for the exam, so make sure you know whether it's multiple-choice, essay section, paper-and-pencil, or computer-based. You should be able to obtain a study guide from the agency which administers the exam, or you can search online.^{[6]
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- You may also be able to sign up for a study course at your college.
- In general, these exams will test real estate practices and principles, real estate law, contracts, deeds, appraisals, and other subjects related to real estate.
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Apply to take your state's exam. Once you have met the requirements and finished your classes, you will need to apply to take the exam in your state. This process may vary, so check with the licensing agency in your state.^{[7]
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- For example, in Arizona, you must create an account with PearsonVue, pay a $75 exam fee, and schedule the date of your test.^{[8]
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- In Montana, you will have to register for the exam online with AMP at least 4 days in advance, and the exam costs $106.^{[9]
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Get a passing score. The requirements to pass the exam will vary by state, but typically you'll need to score at least a 70%. In most cases, the score is displayed as a simple pass/fail.
- In California, you will need to score a 70% or higher on the CalBRE exam to pass.^{[10]
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- To pass the exam in Montana, you will need at least a score of 80% on the nation portion and 70% on the state portion.

Part 3

Part 3 of 4:

Building Your Career

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Study the market where you live. The type of work you will do can vary widely based on where you base your operations. For instance, the market in a resort town will likely have a lot of summertime rentals, whereas a large metropolitan area might require you to deal heavily in high-rise apartments.^{[11]
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- In addition, if your area is experiencing a time of slower economic growth, you'll need to be aware that it might take longer for you to build a strong customer base.
2
Talk to multiple brokers so you find one you're comfortable with. You'll probably have a lot of questions at first, so you'll need someone who makes you feel at ease. A good broker will help you find customers while giving you guidance into your new career in real estate.^{[12]
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- Look for a broker who specializes in the area you want to specialize in. For instance, if your dream is to help new families find their dream home, you wouldn't want to choose a broker who specializes in commercial properties.
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Reach out to your personal network. In addition to the clients your broker helps you reach, you should also try to bring new clients into the brokerage firm. If you've been building your network, your first sales will likely come much more easily.
- Try asking the people you know questions like, "Are you planning to move soon? Do you know anyone who is?"
- You can also reach out to potential clients on social media.
4
Renew your license when it expires. Your real estate license is usually good for 2-4 years depending on your state. When you obtain your license, you'll receive instructions on how to renew it.

Part 4

Part 4 of 4:

Joining the National Association of Realtors

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Find a local real estate association. There are over 1,400 associations, also called boards, across the United States. In addition, there are 54 state and territorial associations of realtors.^{[13]
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- You can browse a list of state and local boards by visiting https://www.nar.realtor/leadrshp.nsf/webassoc?OpenView&source=realtor.
- Once you find an association that is local to you, contact them to learn more about becoming a member.
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Talk to the principals in your firm about joining if they aren't members. The principals in any firm must be a member of a realtor association before their agents can join. If the owners, corporate officers, or branch office managers have not joined a board, encourage them to do so.^{[14]
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- If you are not a member of a firm and you know you intend to become a realtor, look for positions with firms where the principals are already members of an association.
3
Send your paper application to the NAR. You will need your principal to sign your application for membership, and you will have to agree to abide by the NAR's Code of Ethics.^{[15]
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- You can view the Code of Ethics at https://www.nar.realtor/about-nar/governing-documents/the-code-of-ethics.