What every state asks for
Each state sets its own rules, but the basic steps are the same everywhere. You take approved pre-license courses, pass a state exam, show you are honest enough to hold the license, and then work under a licensed broker. The Bureau of Labor Statistics notes that every state requires agents to be licensed, and that a license from one state usually does not carry over to another.
The sponsoring broker is the step people tend to skip in their planning. In California, a salesperson can hold a license without a broker but cannot do any licensed work. In Florida the license is issued inactive until you or your broker activates it. New York requires broker sponsorship as part of the application itself.
How hours differ in the big states
Florida asks the least: a 63-hour sales associate course, then 45 post-license hours before your first license expires. New York requires 77 hours of qualifying education. California requires three college-level courses: Real Estate Principles, Real Estate Practice and one elective from an approved list. DRE-approved courses run at least 45 hours each, so the total is roughly 135 hours.
Texas asks the most up front. A sales agent applicant needs 180 classroom hours across six 30-hour courses, including Law of Agency, Law of Contracts and Promulgated Contract Forms. Before your first renewal you need more qualifying education: a 30-hour brokerage course, two more 30-hour courses and 8 hours of Legal Update.
Costs and timeline
You pay for the pre-license course, the state exam, the license application and fingerprinting. Then come the costs of being in practice, such as brokerage fees and association or MLS dues. These vary by state and by brokerage, so ask your school and any broker you are considering for a written list before you enroll.
How long it takes depends mostly on course hours and how fast you study. Florida's 63 hours can be done much faster than Texas's 180. Don't let finished steps sit too long. Florida's course counts toward a license for 2 years after you complete it. New York's passed exam results are valid for two years, so apply for your license soon after you pass.
What the first year really looks like
Most agents are paid commission, not salary, and the commission goes through the broker. Texas rules spell this out: all of an agent's commissions must be paid through the sponsoring broker. A new agent might go months without a closing, so plan on savings or other income while you build a client list.
The pay figures below come from BLS and cover employees only. Most agents are self-employed, so most agents are not in these numbers. Commission-only agents in their first year often earn much less than these figures. BLS projects employment of brokers and agents to grow 2% from 2025 to 2035, which is slower than average.
Pay
USD a year, before tax. BLS OEWS May 2025, moved to 2026 with the Employment Cost Index, for the real estate sales agents series. BLS counts employees only, so most self-employed agents are not included; commission volume and market drive actual earnings. Refer to the Real Estate Sales & Brokerage salary guide for figures from live adverts.
What you need
- AgeYou must be at least 18 in California, Texas, Florida and New York.
- Pre-license educationFlorida requires 63 hours, New York 77 and Texas 180. California requires three approved college-level courses.
- State examEvery state requires a licensing exam. Florida's passing score is 75, and New York gives you 1.5 hours for a multiple-choice test based on its 77-hour course.
- Background checkFlorida requires electronic fingerprints with the application. Texas requires fingerprints for a criminal background check, and California says a criminal conviction can lead to denial.
- Sponsoring brokerYou cannot do licensed work until a licensed broker sponsors you or activates your license.
- Post-license educationFlorida requires 45 post-license hours before your first license expires. Texas requires its Sales Apprentice Education courses before your first renewal.
State by state
| California | The California Department of Real Estate requires Real Estate Principles, Real Estate Practice and one elective before you can take the salesperson exam. Since January 1, 2024, the Practice course must cover implicit bias and fair housing. |
|---|---|
| Texas | The Texas Real Estate Commission requires 180 classroom hours in six 30-hour courses. Before your first renewal you also need 90 hours of qualifying courses plus 8 hours of Legal Update. |
| Florida | The Florida Real Estate Commission requires a 63-hour course, fingerprints and a score of at least 75 on the state exam. You then need 45 post-license hours before your first license expires. |
| New York | The Department of State requires 77 hours of qualifying education, a passing score on the state salesperson exam and sponsorship by a New York licensed broker. |
How to get there
- Week 1Pick your state and a schoolGet licensed in the state where you plan to work, and choose a course approved by that state's regulator.
- Weeks 2-16Finish pre-license educationFlorida takes 63 hours, New York 77, California three college-level courses and Texas 180 hours.
- After courseworkApply and pass the state examSend the state application and fee, and pass the state exam. The order depends on the state: in Texas and Florida you apply first and then test, while in California and New York you pass the exam first and then submit the license application. Complete fingerprinting or the background check wherever your state requires it. Study the state law sections closely, since exam content follows the required curriculum.
- Before first clientJoin a sponsoring brokerYour broker activates or sponsors your license. All commissions are paid through the broker.
- Year 1-2Complete post-license educationFinish Florida's 45 hours or Texas's apprentice courses before your first renewal, then continuing education every renewal cycle after that.
Questions people ask
Do I need a college degree to become a real estate agent?
No. BLS says agents typically need a high school diploma or equivalent plus state-required real estate courses. California is a partial exception: its three required courses are college-level, though approved private real estate schools can offer them.
Which state has the fewest pre-license hours?
Of the four largest markets, Florida has the fewest, at 63 hours. Texas has the most at 180 hours, and New York sits between them at 77.
Can I work as an agent without a broker?
No. You may hold a license, but you can't do licensed work without a sponsoring broker. In Texas, you are first issued an inactive license and must be sponsored by a broker to move to active status and practice brokerage.
Will a criminal record stop me from getting licensed?
Not always. Regulators review honesty and integrity, and California says a conviction may lead to denial. Texas lets you request a Fitness Determination before you apply, so you can find out first.
Can I use my license in another state?
Usually not directly. BLS notes that licenses typically do not transfer, though some states have reciprocity agreements. New York, for example, may waive its 77-hour course if you can show equivalent education.
Sources
- California DRE: requirements for a salesperson license
- TREC: become a real estate sales agent
- TREC: renew your sales agent license
- Florida DBPR: sales associate licensure requirements
- New York Department of State: become a real estate salesperson
- New York Department of State: salesperson application instructions
- BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook: real estate brokers and sales agents
