Ever wondered what it takes to become a real estate agent? Maybe you’re tired of your job, and ready for the flexibility and opportunity of a career in real estate.
There are four prerequisites for getting your Illinois Real Estate License.
- You must be at least 18 years of age,
- Have a High School Diploma or equivalent,
- Be of good moral character,
- and have a US Social Security number.
We’ll break each of these down, but first, notice that prior experience in real estate is not on the list. Most people who become real estate agents start out with no prior knowledge.
First Requirement
The minimum age for getting your license, which is technically called a Broker License, is 18. It was actually 21 until January of 2020, when the State of Illinois lowered it to 18. So you’ll still see some websites that haven’t been updated – don’t let that confuse you!
Second Requirement
You must have a high school diploma or equivalent. You won’t need to show the document during the licensing process, but you will need to be able to truthfully check a box on the application which states that you have completed high school or the equivalent.
Third Requirement
You must be of good moral character. This generally means no recent felony convictions, though it is sometimes possible to get a license even with a felony. You also need to have no delinquent child support, state income tax or student loan payments. See the Chicago Real Estate School website for details.
Fourth Requirement
This one’s simple – you must have a valid US Social Security Number. There are no alternatives to this, such as a Taxpayer Identification Number. Your Social Security Number will be used when reporting your earnings as a real estate agent.
As mentioned, specific real estate knowledge or experience is not required in order to get your Illinois real estate license. Instead, you’ll be required to take and pass a 75-hour pre-license broker course, where you’ll learn what you need to know in order to pass the state real estate exam. We also provide online real estate classes. Once you have your license, your Sponsoring Broker will provide training on how to become an effective real estate broker.
For more information on the process of becoming a Broker, and the numerous benefits of a career in Real Estate, please check out our other videos, and click on the links below. We’re here to help! Thanks for watching!
