Real Estate Agent

Education

Typical entry: No degree required

High school plus a state real-estate license.

1. 1

   Pre-licensing course (60–180 hrs)

   Course

   State-approved real-estate coursework; required hours vary widely by state.

   $200–$1,000 · 90 hours · varies by state source

2. 2

   Background check & fingerprinting

   Background check

   Required in most states; can run in parallel with coursework.

   $40–$100 · 2 weeks · varies by state source

3. 3

   State licensing exam

   Exam

   National + state-law portions; pass to qualify for a license.

   $50–$150 · 1 weeks · varies by state source

4. 4

   Activate license under a broker

   License

   Application fee + affiliation with a sponsoring broker.

   $200–$500 · 2 weeks · varies by state · renews every 2 yr source

Which occupations require a license and in which states: CareerOneStop License Finder (U.S. DOL). Costs/hours are curated estimates that vary by state and change — see each step's official source.