How To Get Your Real Estate License In Illinois

Do you want to become a real estate agent and get your Illinois Real Estate License? Colibri Real Estate has taught thousands of aspiring real estate agents in Illinois, and we make it easy for you to get up to speed on the Illinois real estate license requirements.

45 Mandatory Hours
0 Elective Hours
45 Total Hours
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Here's what you need to renew your Illinois Real Estate license

The information below is a summary of the minimum requirements set forth by the Illinois Department of Financial & Professional Regulation. For a more detailed requirements breakdown, please see the board's site.
If you hold Real Estate licenses in multiple states, please make sure to check each state's requirements.

Illinois Real Estate: Broker (Pre-Licensing)

Total Hours Required: 75
Mandatory Hours: 75
Elective Hours: 0

Online Info

  1. 1. Comply with the General Illinois Real Estate License Requirements:
    • Be at least 18 years old
    • Graduate from high school or obtain the equivalent of a high school degree (GED).
  2. 2. Meet the Educational Real Estate License Requirements in Illinois by completing the following courses - Enroll Today
    • A total of 75 hours of pre-license coursework at a real estate school approved by the Department of Financial and Professional Regulation
    • 60-hour IL Broker Prelicense Topics Course can be taken through online distance education
    • 15-hour IL Broker Prelicense Applied RE Principles-Interactive course must be taken interactively in a classroom, by webinar, or through online distance education
  3. 3. Take the Illinois real estate license exam
    • You will need a scaled score of 75 or better to pass your Illinois Real Estate license exam.

Online Limitations

The 75 hours of Broker pre-license coursework is made up of two courses:
-IL Broker Prelicense Topics (60 hours)
-IL Broker Prelicense Applied RE Principles-Interactive (15 hours)

Roster

Roster Required: yes
Roster Process:

Rosters are sent electronically each business day. 

Rosters are not submitted until the student has passed the course final exam and provided their PSI ID mentioned below to the school.

Illinois students must register with PSI as a student prior to course completion, and course completion information must be received electronically from the school to complete the examination registration process. Use this link to register as a student with PSI so the school may electronically submit your course completion(s): https://home.psiexams.com/#/home?bc=ilre

Roster Sent: Every 1 days

Governing Agency

Name: Illinois Department of Financial & Professional Regulation
Phone: 8005606420
Fax: 2177823390
Address: Division of Professional Regulation 320 West Washington Street Springfield, 62786

Illinois Real Estate: Broker (Continuing Education)

Total Hours Required: 12
Mandatory Hours: 4
Elective Hours: 8
Renewal Cycle in Years: 2
License Expiration Date: 04/30/2024
Education Cycle in Months: 24
Next Education Due Date: 04/30/2024

Online Info

Continuing Education and Renewal Date: April 30th even years.

Hours Required by DRE: 12 hours

-4 mandatory hours
    -4-hour Core course
-8 elective hours
    -must include 1-hour Sexual Harassment Prevention Training course

Expiration Date of Course: Course expiration dates vary but are generally 6 months after enrollment date.

Seat Time: The Illinois Real Estate Division requires a timing device for all distance education courses to ensure that courses cannot be completed in less time than the approved credit hours. Please note that your course will time out after 15 minutes of inactivity.
Final Exam: DRE permits only one retake after a failed course final examination. After two failed attempts, the licensee must retake the entire course.  

Certificate: With few exceptions, online course completion certificates are available for download at course conclusion and posted directly to your dashboard account.  

Online Limitations

There is no limit to the number of CE hours that may be taken online.

Roster

Roster Required: yes
Roster Process:

Rosters are sent electronically each business day.

Roster Sent: Every 1 days

Governing Agency

Name: Illinois Department of Financial & Professional Regulation
Phone: 8005606420
Fax: 2177823390
Address: Division of Professional Regulation 320 West Washington Street Springfield, 62786

Illinois Real Estate: Post License (Post Licensing)

Total Hours Required: 45
Mandatory Hours: 45
Elective Hours: 0

Online Info

Post License Education (which includes  1 hour Sexual Harassment Prevention Training) is required for Brokers renewing for the first time.

  • If your Real Estate Broker License was issued between 11/1/2021 and 10/31/2023, you are required to complete 45 hours of Post License education (which includes the required 1 hour of Sexual Harassment Prevention Training) prior to renewing your license by 4/30/2024.
  • If your Real Estate Broker License was issued on or after 11/1/2023 (and your license expiration date is 4/30/2026), you are required to complete 45 hours of Post License education (which includes the required 1 hour of Sexual Harassment Prevention Training) prior to renewing your license by 4/30/2026.

Online Limitations

The 45 hours of Post License Education is made up of the following courses:

  • Broker Post License Transactional Issues (15 Hours)
  • Broker Post License Risk Management/Discipline (15 Hours)
    • includes the required 1 hour of Sexual Harassment Prevention Training
  • Broker Post License Applied Broker Principles (15 Hours)

Roster

Roster Required: yes
Roster Process:

Rosters are sent electronically each business day.

Rosters will not be submitted until proctor has been verified and accepted.

Roster Sent: Every 1 days

Governing Agency

Name: Illinois Department of Financial & Professional Regulation
Phone: 8005606420
Fax: 2177823390
Address: Division of Professional Regulation 320 West Washington Street Springfield, 62786

Illinois Real Estate: Managing Brokers (Pre-Licensing)

Total Hours Required: 45
Mandatory Hours: 45
Elective Hours: 0

Online Info

All new licensees who require managerial privileges are required to obtain a Managing Broker license. 

Each Managing Broker applicant must complete 45 hours of pre-license education, including an interactive 15-hour course in Applied Management and Supervision, which must be taken in a classroom, by webinar, or through online distance education.

Online Limitations

The 45 hours of Managing Broker pre-license coursework is made up of two courses:
-IL Managing Broker Prelicense Topics (30 hours)
-IL Managing Broker Pre Applied Management & Supervision (15 hours)

Roster

Roster Required: yes
Roster Process:

Rosters are sent electronically each business day. 

Rosters are not submitted until the student has passed the course final exam and provided their PSI ID mentioned below to the school.

Illinois students must register with PSI as a student prior to course completion, and course completion information must be received electronically from the school to complete the examination registration process. Use this link to register as a student with PSI so the school may electronically submit your course completion(s): https://home.psiexams.com/#/home?bc=ilre

Roster Sent: Every 1 days

Governing Agency

Name: Illinois Department of Financial & Professional Regulation
Phone: 8005606420
Fax: 2177823390
Address: Division of Professional Regulation 320 West Washington Street Springfield, 62786

Illinois Real Estate: Managing Brokers (Continuing Education)

Total Hours Required: 24
Mandatory Hours: 16
Elective Hours: 8
Renewal Cycle in Years: 2
License Expiration Date: 04/30/2025
Education Cycle in Months: 24
Next Education Due Date: 04/30/2025

Online Info

Continuing Education and Renewal Date: April 30th odd years.

Hours Required by DRE: 24 hours

-16 mandatory hours
    -4-hour Core course
    -12-hour Broker Management course
-8 elective hours
    -1-hour Sexual Harassment Prevention Training course

Expiration Date of Course: Course expiration dates vary but are generally 6 months after enrollment date.

Seat Time: The Illinois Real Estate Division requires a timing device for all distance education courses to ensure that courses cannot be completed in less time than the approved credit hours. Please note that your course will time out after 15 minutes of inactivity.
Final Exam: DRE permits only one retake after a failed course final examination. After two failed attempts, the licensee must retake the entire course.  

Certificate: With few exceptions, online course completion certificates are available for download at course conclusion and posted directly to your dashboard account.  

Online Limitations

There is no limit to the number of CE hours that may be taken online.

Roster

Roster Required: yes
Roster Process:

Rosters are sent electronically each business day.

Roster Sent: Every 1 days

Governing Agency

Name: Illinois Department of Financial & Professional Regulation
Phone: 8005606420
Fax: 2177823390
Address: Division of Professional Regulation 320 West Washington Street Springfield, 62786

Illinois Real Estate: Leasing Agent (Continuing Education)

Total Hours Required: 8
Mandatory Hours: 8
Elective Hours: 0
Renewal Cycle in Years: 2
License Expiration Date: 07/31/2024
Education Cycle in Months: 24
Next Education Due Date: 07/31/2024

Online Info

Each Leasing Agent licensee shall complete a minimum of 8 CE hours from a single core curriculum recommended by the Board and approved by the Department.

Effective January 1, 2020, all licenses issued by DRE will be required to complete a one-hour course in sexual harassment prevention training. This 8-hr curriculum includes the one-hour sexual harassment prevention training.

Seat Time: The Illinois Real Estate Division requires a timing device for all distance education courses to ensure that courses cannot be completed in less time than the approved credit hours. Please note that your course will time out after 15 minutes of inactivity.


*A licensee is not required to complete CE requirements for the first renewal following the issuance of the initial leasing agent license.

Roster

Roster Required: yes
Roster Process:

Rosters are sent electronically each business day.

Roster Sent: Every 1 days

Governing Agency

Name: Illinois Department of Financial & Professional Regulation
Phone: 8005606420
Fax: 2177823390
Address: Division of Professional Regulation 320 West Washington Street Springfield, 62786

Good to know

Other facts and insights about completing your CE

Note: This license renewal information is provided as a convenience only and is subject to change at any time. It's ultimately the responsibility of the licensee to be sure that he or she is meeting all requirements for each license and corresponding renewal period.