It may seem like the real estate websites like realtor.com, zillow.com, and trulia.com may be making Realtors obsolete. In fact, there are tens of thousands of real estate agents in Chicago and throughout Illinois who are making a very good living, and enjoying the freedom, independence, and opportunity that being a Realtor offers. Being in business for yourself, you should expect to work hard, but if you ask any agents you know, they’ll probably tell you that it’s a great business to be in!

Most people are surprised at how relatively easy it is to get a real estate license in Illinois. The whole process can be done in about 2 months. The steps are…
– take the 75-hour Pre-license Course
– pass the state exam
– find a Sponsoring Broker
– apply for the license, and begin selling immediately!
The course is typically 5 weeks long.

An Illinois Real Estate License must be renewed every two years. Real Estate Agents actually have what is called a Broker License, but unlike other states, a Broker in Illinois does not work independently. Instead, they must have a Sponsoring Broker for at least two years, at which point they can get their Managing Broker license. A Managing Broker may have their own agency, or work on their own.

Whether entering Real Estate as a full or part time career, the opportunities are endless. Chicago Real Estate School has experienced staff available to speak with directly in assisting you with finding the best agency to provide the best training, access to lead generating programs, and ongoing support.

It’s always tricky to answer the question “how hard is something”? But here are two things to consider:
1. The material isn’t complex or difficult to understand – there’s just a lot to remember! That’s why a good school will present the material in a number of ways – live classes / webinars, pre-recorded videos, audiobooks, review sessions, etc.
2. Math is often a top concern for people considering taking the real estate exam. Look for a realtor school that provides in-depth video explanations of the most important math concepts, along with valuable test-taking tips.

Essentially, you need to…
1. be at least 18 years old
2. attend an approved real estate school
3. pass the state exam
4. find a Sponsoring Broker
5. apply for the license
At that point, you can begin selling immediately under a provisional license. Note that your real estate school will help you through the process, up to the point where you find a Sponsoring Broker, and they’ll assist you from there!

No degree is required in order to become a real estate agent. In fact, the only educational requirements are (1) completion of High School or equivalent, and (2) completion of the 75-hour pre-license course with an approved real estate school.

There actually is not a difference between these terms! Back in 2011, the State of Illinois changed the terminology, and what used to be known as a “Broker” is now called a “Managing Broker”. The first license you get is officially known as the “Real Estate Broker’s License”.

Whether you wish to start on a part time basis or dedicate yourself as a full time agent you’ll find there are tremendous opportunities awaiting you.

You’ll have numerous options once you get your license – see this page for a list of some of them!

As of January 1, 2018, students are no longer required to take a final course exam. In lieu of a course exam, students are required to take chapter quizzes and pass each of them with a score of 75% or more.

The state calls the course the “75 hour course” because it should take the average person about 75 hours to learn the material. After years of experience, we have found that 35 hours is the optimal amount of time to spend in a classroom learning the material from an instructor. Any more than that, and the instructor would just be reading the textbook to you. We think your time is too valuable for that! With 35 hours of classroom instruction and time spent out of class taking the required quizzes and studying the text, you will be successful! In fact, over 90% of our students pass the Illinois Real Estate Exam on their FIRST TRY!

We have 2 different options, both of which take about 4-5 weeks to accomplish.

Our instructor-led course is priced at $549, which includes the basics which are your textbook and class materials, plus a practice exam, audiobook, and more.

For the online course, the price is $499, this includes Part I and Part II. You can read more about the online course here.

Yes, we do have a payment plan! To read more about the payment plan, click here.

We offer a 10% discount to any 2 or more people who sign up on the same day. Once you’ve all signed up, send an email to [email protected] that same day, and we’ll either refund 10% of your registration (if you pay in full) or take 10% off of your final payment (if you use the payment plan). So you can save $50 each if you purchase our Hybrid option!

We have morning, evening, and weekend schedules. To see our full schedule for the next few months, click here.