State Licensing Requirements

Professional & Continuing Education Center

Real Estate Salesperson

State of Illinois License Requirements and Qualifications, Real Estate Salesperson:

Who needs an Illinois real estate license: According to the IDFPR, a person needs a real estate license if they provide assistance which is in any way intended to result in the sale or lease of real estate. The Real Estate License Act provides 11 examples of the types of “assistance” that require a real estate license. Included are representing clients in the negotiation of real estate sales contracts or leases, and issuing advertisements for the sale, purchase or lease of real estate. The assistance must be provided for others. Accordingly, a person who buys, sells, or leases real estate as a “principal” does not need a real estate license. Compensation is required. Therefore, a person who provides assistance on a real estate transaction to a friend or relative, without compensation, does not need a license.

* To be eligible for the Illinois Real Estate Salesperson Examination, candidates must meet all of the requirements in one of the following categories:

Category A - 45 Class Hour Qualifications:
To qualify for an Illinois Real Estate Salesperson’s license under Category A, applicants must:

Be at least 21 years old.
Have graduated from high school or obtained the equivalent of a high school degree (GED).
Have successfully completed the 45-class-hour Real Estate Transactions course at a real estate school approved by the Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation (IDFRP).

NOTE: Persons qualifying under Category A MUST bring an original Uniform Real Estate Transcript, bearing an embossed seal, to the test center on the day of the examination. Your transcript will NOT be accepted if altered by any method (e.g., correction fluid, handwritten or typed).
THE UNIFORM REAL ESTATE TRANSCRIPT IS VALID FOR THREE YEARS FOLLOWING THE COMPLETION OF THE COURSE

Category C - Attorney Qualifications:
To qualify for an Illinois Real Estate Salesperson’s license under Category C, applicants must:

Be at least 21 years old.
Be admitted to practice law by the Illinois Supreme Court.

NOTE: Persons qualifying under Catagory C must register for the examination by submitting the registration form found in the Candidate Handbook (www.goamp.com) the consent to audit form, and a photocopy of their current Illinois attorney registration pocket card certificate by mail to AMP at the address provided on the form for approval prior to taking the examination.

Category D - Reciprocity Qualifications:
To qualify for an Illinois Real Estate Salesperson’s license under Category D, applicants must:

Be at least 21 years old.
Be a resident of the reciprocal state at the time of application for examination as well as licensure.

Documentation Required: Certification required from each state of licensure. (See page 25 of the Candidate Handbook.)
NOTE: It will be necessary for the applicant to contact the DFPR to obtain a reciprocity application. Please contact DFPR at (217) 782-3414 or visit DPFR's Web site at www.ildfpr.com.
Candidates applying for licensure on the basis of reciprocity need only to take the Illinois State Supplemental examination.