How to Get a Real Estate License in Utah

Utah’s real estate market has a little bit of everything: fast-growing cities like Salt Lake City and Lehi, tight-knit communities along the Wasatch Front, and steady demand in vacation and second-home areas throughout the state. If you’re thinking about becoming a real estate agent in Utah, you’re not alone–and the path is very doable once you understand the steps. 

Utah offers a dynamic environment for real estate professionals, shaped by steady population growth, diverse housing needs, and an active residential market. The Utah Division of Real Estate (UDRE) regulates the profession statewide, ensuring agents meet consistent standards of professionalism and legal compliance. For those looking to establish a career in real estate, Utah provides both opportunity and structure. 

At a high level, here’s what the Utah real estate licensing process looks like:

• Be at least 18 years old
• Complete 120 hours of prelicensing education
• Pass the Utah real estate exam
• Submit fingerprints and a background check
• Apply for your license through the UDRE
• Affiliate with a licensed Utah broker

Table of Contents

• Steps to Get a Real Estate License in Utah
• Utah Real Estate Salesperson Continuing Education and License Renewal Requirements
• Utah Real Estate License Reciprocity for Salespersons

Steps to Get a Real Estate License in Utah

The licensing process follows a set order, and each step builds on the last. Before you start enrolling in courses or scheduling an exam, it helps to see how everything fits together:

Step 1: Confirm You Meet Utah’s Basic Eligibility Requirements

Before you invest time or money into real estate classes, make sure you’re eligible to apply for a Utah real estate license. The UDRE requires all applicants to meet these minimum requirements:

• Be at least 18 years old
• Hold a high school diploma or GED
• Be legally authorized to work in the U.S.

If you meet these criteria, you’re eligible to move forward with prelicensing education. 

Step 2: Complete 120 Hours of Utah-Approved Prelicensing Education

Utah requires prospective real estate salespersons to complete 120 hours of prelicensing education. This coursework is designed to prepare you for both the licensing exam and real-world practice. Your education will cover topics such as. Your education will cover topics such as:

• Real estate principles and practices
• Utah-specific real estate laws and rules
• Agency relationships and contracts
• Property ownership, finance, and fair housing

Once you complete all required hours, you’ll receive a certificate of completion. You must obtain this certificate before you can take the licensing exam. 

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Step 3: Pass the Utah Real Estate Licensing Exam

After completing your education, you’ll need to pass the Utah real estate licensing exam, which is administered by Pearson VUE. The exam includes a national portion and a Utah-specific portion, both of which must be passed to qualify for licensure. The exam evaluates your understanding of:

• Core real estate concepts and terminology
• Utah licensing laws and regulations
• Practical scenarios you may encounter as a real estate agent

If you don’t pass on your first attempt, Utah allows exam retakes, though additional fees may apply. 

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Step 4: Complete Fingerprinting and a Background Check

All Utah real estate license applicants are required to submit fingerprints for a criminal background check. This step helps the UDRE verify that applicants meet the state’s professional and ethical standards. 

Fingerprinting must be completed through an approved provider, and results are sent directly to the UDRE. While this step can be done earlier, it must be completed before your license can be issued. 

Step 5: Submit Your Utah Real Estate License Application

Once you’ve passed the exam and completed fingerprinting, you can apply for your Utah real estate license. Applications are submitted to the UDRE and must be completed within the required timeframe following the successful completion of the exam. Your application will typically include:

• Proof of completed prelicensing education
• Passing exam results
• Background check confirmation
• State licensing fees

Submitting accurate information is important, as errors or missing documents can delay approval. 

Step 6: Affiliate With a Licensed Utah Real Estate Broker

Before you can begin practicing real estate, you must affiliate with a licensed Utah real estate broker. New agents work under a broker’s supervision, gaining support with transactions, compliance, and day-to-day operations.

Many agents take time to compare brokerages based on training, mentorship, commission structure, and long-term growth. Once your broker affiliation is complete, your license can be activated, and you can legally start working with clients. 

Utah Real Estate Salesperson Continuing Education and License Renewal Requirements

After you earn your Utah real estate license, maintaining it requires ongoing education and timely renewal every two years. The UDRE sets specific continuing education (CE) requirements to keep your knowledge up to date and your license active. Licenses must be renewed on time–if you miss the deadline, your license can expire and may require extra steps to reinstate. 

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Continuing Education for Your First License Renewal

When you renew your Utah salesperson license for the first time after initial licensure, your CE requirements are a bit different from later renewal cycles. For your first renewal period:

• Complete the 12-hour New Sales Agent CE Course certified by the UDRE
• Complete a 3-hour UDRE-approved Mandatory CE Course (such as Mandatory Residential, Mandatory Commercial, or Mandatory Property Management)
• Complete 3 additional hours of CE that may be core or elective courses

All required CE hours must be completed and recorded by the education provider by the 15th day of your license’s renewal month to renew on time. 

Continuing Education for Subsequent License Renewals

After your first renewal, Utah requires all active sales agents to complete CE in every two-year renewal cycle before renewing:

• Complete 18 hours of certified CE during the current license period
• At least 9 of the 18 hours must be core topic courses
• At least 3 hours must be a UDRE-approved Mandatory CE Course, which counts toward the core requirement
• Remaining hours may be elective or additional core topic courses

Like the first renewal, all CE must be finished and properly banked by the 15th day of the renewal month to qualify for on-time renewal. 

What Happens If You Don’t Renew on Time

If you let your license lapse by missing the renewal deadline, Utah treats your license status differently depending on how long it’s expired:

• If you renew within 30 days after expiration, you still complete the standard CE requirements and pay a late fee
• If your license is expired beyond 30 days, it may convert to expired-inactive status, requiring reactivation with a brokerage and payment of fees before reinstatement

Renewing on time and tracking your CE credits early helps you avoid interruptions in your ability to practice real estate in Utah.

Utah Real Estate License Reciprocity for Salespersons

Utah’s real estate licensing system does offer reciprocity agreements, but it’s more limited than in some other states–meaning only a jurisdictions have formal written agreements with the UDRE. Reciprocity makes it easier for licensed agents from other states to obtain a Utah salesperson license without repeating all education or exam steps, but the rules are specific and must be followed closely.

What Reciprocity Means in Utah

Reciprocity in Utah allows a real estate salesperson licensed in good standing in another jurisdiction with which Utah has a written agreement to apply for a Utah real estate license based on that existing license. To qualify for this pathway, your out-of-state license must be active and in good standing. Expired or inactive licenses generally won’t qualify for reciprocity and must instead follow the standard licensing process or seek waivers.

States (and Jurisdictions) With Formal Reciprocity Agreements

As of the most recent guidance from the UDRE, Utah currently has formal reciprocal licensing agreements with the following jurisdictions:

• Georgia
• Mississippi
• Alberta, Canada

If you hold an active real estate salesperson license in either of these states or Alberta, you may be eligible to apply for a Utah license under reciprocity rather than completing the full Utah licensing process.

How Reciprocity Applications Work

Agents seeking to use reciprocity in Utah must submit the required documentation to the UDRE, which typically includes certified license history from your home jurisdiction and any previous jurisdictions where you’ve held a license, along with other licensing forms. Reciprocity does not automatically activate a license–you still must formally apply through Utah’s online system and meet all specific documentation requirements.

What If Your State Doesn’t Have a Reciprocity Agreement?

If your current license is from a state not on Utah’s reciprocity list, you may still be able to seek a waiver of some education or national exam requirements, depending on your license standing and qualifications. Waivers are discretionary, require separate application forms, and are only granted if your license is active and in good standing.

Important Considerations

Reciprocity does not mean you can begin practicing real estate in Utah immediately–you must complete Utah’s application process and receive your Utah real estate license before representing clients or earning commissions in the state. Always consult the UDRE for the most up-to-date requirements and documentation instructions.