How to Get a Real Estate License in Arkansas

Starting a real estate career in Arkansas is an exciting opportunity, whether you plan to work in Little Rock, Fayetteville, Hot Springs, or in one of the state’s many growing rural communities. To legally represent buyers and sellers, you must first earn a real estate license from the Arkansas Real Estate Commission (AREC). The licensing process is designed to ensure new agents have the knowledge, professionalism, and ethical grounding to serve clients and the local market.

The process includes prelicensing education, application forms, background checks, fingerprinting, and passing the state licensing exam. Once you affiliate with a principal broker and complete post-licensing education, you’ll be ready to launch your career in Arkansas real estate.

Here’s a quick look at the process:

• Be at least 18 years old
• Complete 60 hours of prelicensing education
• Submit your application, background check, and fingerprints
• Receive your Certificate of Examination Eligibility from AREC
• Pass the Arkansas real estate licensing exam
• Affiliate with a principal broker
• Submit activation paperwork and fees within 90 days
• Finish 18 hours of post-licensing education within six months

Table of Contents

• Steps to Getting a Real Estate License in Arkansas
• Continuing Education and Real Estate License Renewal in Arkansas
• Arkansas Real Estate License Reciprocity

Steps to Getting a Real Estate License in Arkansas

The Arkansas licensing process follows a series of structured steps. Each must be completed in order to ensure your license is issued correctly:

Step 1: Meet Age & Background Requirements

To be eligible for a real estate license in Arkansas, you must:

• Be at least 18 years old
• Hold a high school diploma or equivalent

Step 2: Complete 60 Hours of Prelicensing Education

Arkansas requires 60 hours of prelicensing education through an AREC-approved provider. This coursework is designed to give you the foundation you’ll need to pass the exam and begin practicing as a new agent. Key requirements include:

• At least 30 hours must cover basic real estate principles
• Remaining hours may include topics such as contracts, property management, Arkansas real estate statutes, and agency law
• Courses may be taken in-person or online, depending on your schedule and learning preferences

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Step 3: Submit Your Application, Background Check, and Fingerprints

Once you’ve completed your education, submit the following to the AREC:

• Application for Real Estate License Examination
• Background Check Acknowledgement Form
• Payment for the application and background check fees

As part of this step, you’ll also complete fingerprinting, which is processed through both the Arkansas State Police and the FBI.

Applicants with prior convictions or disciplinary actions must disclose them during this stage. AREC will review each case individually to determine eligibility. This review process may extend the time it takes to receive your exam approval. 

Step 4: Receive Your Certificate of Examination Eligibility

After the AREC reviews your application and clears your background check, you'll receive a Certificate of Examination Eligibility. This certificate is required to schedule your exam with Pearson VUE. Processing usually takes about three weeks, so plan ahead if you’re on a tight timeline.

Step 5: Pass the Arkansas Real Estate Licensing Exam

The Arkansas licensing exam is administered by Pearson VUE and includes two sections:

• National Portion: General real estate principles and practices.
• State Portion: Arkansas-specific real estate laws and regulations.

To pass, you must score at least 70% on both sections. Results are provided immediately after testing. If you don’t pass on your first attempt, you can retake the exam, but additional fees may apply. 

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Step 6: Affiliate with a Principal Broker

You must affiliate with a licensed principal broker in Arkansas to activate your license. Your broker will: 

• Sign your score report 
• Verify your sponsorship with the AREC
• Provide mentorship, training, and resources as you begin your career in real estate

Choosing the right brokerage is a key decision since this partnership helps you establish your foundation as a new agent.

Step 7: Submit Final Paperwork and Pay Fees

Within 90 days of passing your exam, submit your final paperwork and fees to the AREC. This includes:

• Your signed score report from your broker
• License activation forms
• Required activation and recovery fund fees

Failure to submit within 90 days may require restarting parts of the process.

Step 8: Complete Post-Licensing Education

All new Arkansas salespersons must complete 18 hours of post-licensing education within six months of licensure. These courses build on your prelicensing education and prepare you to apply your skills in real-world transactions. Failure to complete these hours on time may result in license suspension.

Continuing Education and Real Estate License Renewal in Arkansas

Maintaining an active Arkansas real estate license requires completing both initial post-licensing and annual continuing education (CE) before renewal. These requirements ensure you’re equipped with updated knowledge on safety, agency law, and best practices in Arkansas’s evolving real estate market.

Browse Our Continuing Education Courses

First-Time License Renewal (Post-Licensing Requirements)

Your first license renewal is uniquely tied to your post-licensing education requirement. Within six months of initial licensure, Arkansas salespersons must complete 18 hours of post-licensing coursework, which may include state-mandated topics and foundational real estate skills. This step directly supports your first renewal and is separate from the annual CE obligation.

Failure to complete the 18 hours on time can result in your license becoming inactive, so staying on track is critical.

Subsequent Renewals and Annual Continuing Education

After you’ve completed your first renewal, all active salespersons must complete 7 hours of CE annually to remain in good standing.

Arkansas CE requirements break down as follows:

• 1 hour on Personal Safety in Real Estate 
• 3 hours on an Arkansas-specific mandatory topic, which changes each year
• 3 hours of elective CE 

All CE must be from AREC-approved providers, and most providers submit credits electronically; otherwise, you’ll need to mail completion certificates to the AREC.

Additionally, Arkansas CE hours do not carry over–any excess credit will not apply to future renewal cycles.

Arkansas Real Estate License Reciprocity

Arkansas offers streamlined licensing for salespersons already licensed and in good standing in select U.S. states, allowing them to bypass the national portion of the licensing exam and instead focus solely on passing the Arkansas-specific portion.

Currently, Arkansas has real estate reciprocity agreements with the following states: 

• Alabama
• Colorado
• Florida
• Georgia
• Iowa
• Kansas
• Louisiana
• Mississippi
• Nebraska
• Ohio
• Oklahoma
• Pennsylvania
• South Dakota
• Washington
• West Virginia

How Reciprocity Works

Agents licensed in one of the reciprocal states must still:

• Hold a current, active license in good standing in their home state
• Submit an application for licensure to the AREC
• Provide a Certificate of Good Standing of license history from their state licensing authority
• Complete state and federal background checks, including fingerprinting
• Pass only the Arkansas law portion of the licensing exam

This streamlined reciprocity process helps agents licensed in participating states transition more efficiently into Arkansas while ensuring they understand local regulations.