Requirements to take the State Exam
Applicants are eligible to take the licensing agent examination only after they have met the education and age requirements:
- they must also be able to demonstrate that they have met the other requirements set out by the Illinois Real Estate License Act of 2000 and any associated rules.
- The test may be administered only at times and places approved by the Department.
- Each test taker must pay the required fee to the appropriate testing center but will forfeit the fee if failing to appear at the scheduled time, date, and place to take the exam following receipt and acknowledgment of one’s application by the Department or testing center.
- Candidates must register with the testing service in advance of the test and pay any fees to reserve a spot at one of many convenient locations throughout Illinois on a day that is convenient to them.
- All candidates must bring to the testing center two pieces of current identification. The first MUST be a driver’s license with photograph, a passport or military identification with photograph, or an official state identification card with photograph. The second form of identification must display the name and signature of the candidate for signature verification.
- All examinations are given on a computer that displays all the test questions on a monitor and records all the answers. No special knowledge of computers is necessary.
- After completing the test, candidates are immediately informed if they passed or failed.
- Passing candidates will be given a score report, which will let them know they passed, but will not be given an actual score unless they fail.
- Passing candidates also receive a license application, including directions for applying for a real estate license, and an applicant sponsor card.
- Passing candidates have one year in which to apply for a license, after which time a new examination will be required.
- Candidates who fail the examination will be told their score and be given diagnostic information in addition to directions on how to apply for a future test.
- Candidates who fail only one portion (either the state or national portion) of the exam are required to retake only the failed portion.
After four failures, the applicant must successfully repeat all pre-license education before further testing. The fifth attempt to pass the exam is then treated by the Department as if it were a first attempt (Section 5-35c).
