Ohio FAQs

1. Be honest, truthful and of good reputation.
2. Be at least 18 years old.
3. Be sponsored by an Ohio Broker.
4. Not have been convicted of a felony or a crime of moral turpitude.
5. Have a high school diploma or its equivalent as recognized by the Ohio Department of Education if you were born after 1950.
6. Complete the classroom education requirements:
   • Real Estate Principles and Practices (40 hours)
   • Ohio Real Estate Law, including instruction in civil rights, housing discrimination and desegregation problems (40 hours)
   • Real Estate Appraisal (20 hours)
   • Real Estate Finance (20 hours)

An applicant for an Ohio salesperson’s license should submit:

1. A completed Salesperson Examination Application with fee.
   (Note: If you answer “yes” to any of the Ethical Conduct questions, please submit a detailed explanation. Your application will be reviewed by our Legal staff.)
2. Proof of completion of the Education Requirements (a copyof official transcripts or course completion certificates)

Once the Division processes a complete application, the applicant’s information is sent to the testing vendor. The testing vendor will process the information and send a Candidate Information Bulletin with instructions on scheduling the exams.

The applicant must pass the State and National portions of the Ohio Real Estate Salesperson exam in order for a license to be issued. Passing score: 70.

Educational Requirements to Obtain a Broker's License:

The applicant must hold an active salesperson license for two (2) of the last five (5) years and comply with the following requirements:

1. If licensed prior to 1/01/1972, no further education is due
   • If licensed from 1/02/72 to 1/03/84, you must have taken the required 120 hours (courses #1 - 4 listed below)
   • If licensed on or after 1/03/84, you must have taken courses #1 - 8 listed below and possess a minimum of two years of post-secondary education (#9), or the equivalent hours of sixty (60) semester or ninety (90) quarter hours.

Education Requirements

1. Ohio Real Estate Law (40 hours)
2. Ohio Real Estate Principles & Practices (40 hours)
3. Real Estate Appraisal (20 hours)
4. Real Estate Finance (20 hours)
5. A Financial Management course
6. A Human Resources or Personnel Management course
7. An Applied Business Economics course
8. A Business Law course
9. A minimum of two years of post-secondary education, or equivalent hours of (60) sixty semester or (90) ninety quarter hours. Courses #5 – 8 may be included in your postsecondary education

Experience Requirements – 20 transactions
The Division calculates the transactions to ensure the applicant meets a total of twenty by using the following formulas:

1. Listing agent in the sale of property owned by another = ½ transaction
   • Selling agent in the sale of property owned by another = ½ transaction
   • Listing agent in the lease of commercial or industrial real estate owned by another for a term of at least one year = ½ transaction
   • Procuring agent in the lease of commercial or industrial real estate owned by another for a term of at least one year = ½ transaction
   • Listing and /or procuring agent in the lease of four residential real estate properties owned by another for a term of at least one-year = ¼ transaction

An applicant for an Ohio broker’s license should submit:

1. A Broker Examination Application with fee.
2. Proof of completion of all Education Requirements (A copy of official transcripts or course completion certificates)

Once the Division processes a complete application, the applicant’s information is sent to the testing vendor. The testing vendor will process the information and send a Candidate Information Bulletin with instructions on scheduling the exams.

The applicant must pass the State and National portions of the Ohio Real Estate Broker exam in order for a license to be issued. Passing score: 75

Not earlier than the date of issue of a real estate salesperson’s license to a licensee, but not later than twelve months after the date of issue of a real estate salesperson license to a licensee, the licensee shall submit proof satisfactory to the superintendent, on forms made available by the superintendent, of the completion of ten hours of classroom instruction that shall be completed in schools, seminars, and educational institutions approved by the commission.

Educational Requirements to renew a Salesperson License: The state of Ohio requires 30 hours of continuing education to be completed every three years by the licensee’s birthday. The first continuing education due date for a new licensee is three years after the licensee's first birthday following licensure. The 30 hours must include 9 hours in 3 separate mandatory core courses.

No later than twelve months after the date of issue of a real estate broker’s license to a licensee, the licensee shall submit proof satisfactory to the superintendent, on forms made available by the superintendent, of the completion of ten hours of classroom instruction in real estate brokerage at an institution of higher education or any other institution that is approved by the commission.

Educational Requirements to renew a Broker License:
The state of Ohio requires 30 hours of continuing education to be completed every three years by the licensee’s birthday. The first continuing education due date for a new licensee is three years after the licensee's first birthday following licensure. The 30 hours must include 9 hours in 3 separate mandatory core courses.

For more information, contact the Ohio Division of Real Estate & Professional Licensing at 614-466-4100.  All information provided is subject to change.  If you have specific questions, please visit the Ohio Real Estate Commission website.

1.  Complete Your Required Education

You must have a high school diploma or equivalent (if you were born after 1950) and successfully complete 120 hours of approved real estate education within a ten-year time frame immediately preceding your application. This education must be completed at an institution of higher education that awards a degree in at least a two-year program, education must consist of the following:

• Real Estate Principles and Practices (40 hours)
• Ohio Real Estate Law, including instruction in civil rights, housing discrimination and desegregation problems (40 hours)
• Real Estate Appraisal (20 hours)
• Real Estate Finance (20 hours)

To further prepare yourself and to be confident you are ready for the exam, enroll in the The Ohio Guide to Passing the PSI Exam QBank.

2.  Obtain a Sponsoring Broker

Before you submit an application to become a licensed real estate Salesperson, you must be sponsored by a Broker.

3.  Submit your Application

You must submit a completed Salesperson Examination Application, a $60 fee, and proof that you completed your education requirements to the Ohio Division of Real Estate & Professional Licensing. (You may either submit a copy of your official transcripts or course completion certificates.) The Division will process your application and send your information to the testing vendor. 

4.  Schedule Your Test

After your application has been processed, you will receive a Candidate Information Bulletin with instructions for scheduling your test.

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Both formats are delivered online via the Internet but there are distinct differences with unique advantages designed with the highest level of convenience and success in mind. This page provides details on all of our course delivery formats.

We have a team of seasoned real estate professionals who develop our materials as well as teach our courses. Meet our lead instructors.

All Brightwood College and Brightwood Career Institute, powered by Kaplan Real Estate Education licensing, postlicensing and continuing education courses are submitted and approved by that state's governing body.

Each state has a different governing body that regulates real estate professionals with requirements that vary by state. To find the requirements for your state, go to your state's landing page and select 'State Requirements' from the top navigation.

Each state handles reciprocity differently. We encourage individuals who are licensed in a state and desire to become licensed in additional states to contact the target state regulator body for details. After obtaining the requirements necessary to be licensed in that state, our customer service team can assist you with matching courses to state reciprocity rules. 

What is the difference between a sales person and a broker? A real estate salesperson or broker is a professional licensed by their state to help consumers with real estate matters.  A salesperson must work under a managing or principal broker, this is the broker who is in charge of the brokerage firm.  Some states only license brokers, in that case, new brokers may be called broker associates and are required to work under a managing or principal broker. Much like a salesperson. 

A managing, principal or employing broker is a licensed broker who is in charge of a brokerage firm and the salespersons or broker associates of the firm. Typically to become a managing broker at least two years of active license experience and further course work and sometimes license exams are required.

No matter if you are a real estate salesperson, broker associate or managing broker the job is the same work with buyers, sellers, tenants and landlords to help them reach an agreement.

This video provides a simple five-question test to determine if you fit the profile.

An appraiser gives an opinion of the quality, value, or utility of a specific property. An appraisal is usually required whenever real estate is sold, mortgaged, taxed, insured, or developed. A typical appraisal might include physically inspecting the property, measuring the improvements and collecting the associated costs, preparing a site drawing, writing the physical description of the property, researching official records and deeds, finding similar properties to compare, and writing a final appraisal report.

• Make a list of brokerage firms you want to talk with. If you don't know where to start, browse real estate ads to see if some firms seem more interesting than others.
• Visit your local Chamber of Commerce or Board of REALTORS^® to find out which firms are best represented. Pay attention to television and radio advertising, billboards, and the “For Sale” signs you see in yards.
• Make appointments with the managing or principle broker of each real estate firm on your list. Larger firms may have recruiting managers.

• Ask the broker for an itemized list of startup expenses. Are you required to join local, regional, and national professional organizations? Are there recurring monthly or quarterly expenses for membership?
• Find out if advertising expenses are paid by the agency. How about “For Sale” signs and other signs? Do they provide them to agents free of charge?
• Who pays for long distance telephone calls to clients? How about photocopies, stamps, and other office-related expenses?
• Does the firm provide in-office computers and printers for real estate agent use, or are you expected to bring your own?
• Ask if the firm carries errors and omissions insurance for agents. If so, find out what's covered. Discuss the policy with an insurance carrier to make sure it's adequate.

According to Salary.com, most real estate agents earn on average between $36,566 and $47,610 annually. How much agents make depends on the number of transactions they complete, the commission paid to the brokerage, and their split with the sponsoring broker. If you are talking with a franchised agency, be sure to ask what percentage of each sales commission is deducted and sent to the franchising company. Top producers earn a lot more than the average real estate agent. Each real estate office sets its own standards for top producers, but it's probably safe to say that a top producer would need to sell at least one home a month to qualify. Mega-stars earn $200,000 and up per year. Very few real estate professionals earn a salary versus commission.

On September 3, 2015, Kaplan concluded a previously announced agreement to sell its nationally accredited schools, including Kaplan Real Estate Education, to Education Corporation of America (ECA).  This close secures the goals of both ECA and Kaplan, as each business is strengthened. This partnership continues to be a great fit and is immediately scalable while maintaining strong, career-focused education for our students.

Going forward, your Kaplan Real Estate Education courses will be offered by Brightwood College, or Brightwood Career Institute, both are divisions of ECA. You will still receive the same high-quality education you’ve come to expect from Kaplan, written and led by the same industry-leading authors and instructors.