Arizona · AZ
Arizona Real Estate License Checklist (2026)
Every step, fee, and deadline on one page — designed to print cleanly to PDF and check off as you go.
Before you start
- You are at least 18 years old
- You hold a high school diploma or GED
- You can pass a criminal background check / fingerprinting
Education
90 hours of ADRE-approved pre-licensing education PLUS a separate 6-hour Introduction to Contract Writing course (96 hours total). The 90-hour certificate is valid for 10 years, but the contract writing certificate must be completed within 2 years of applying. Effective January 1, 2026, the licensing exam was split into two separate parts (General and Arizona State-specific) — you must pass both.
- Enroll in a 90-hour salesperson pre-licensing course at an ADRE-approved school (in-person or online)
- Complete the separate 6-hour Introduction to Contract Writing course (must be within 2 years of your application)
- Apply early for your AZ DPS Fingerprint Clearance Card — processing can take several weeks, so start this while still in class
- Pass your school's final exam and receive both course certificates
- Schedule and pass BOTH Pearson VUE exam portions: General (80 scored questions, 150 minutes) and Arizona State (60 scored questions, 90 minutes)
Application & exam
- Pass both exam portions and keep both Pearson score reports — your application must be submitted within 1 year of passing
- Obtain your Fingerprint Clearance Card from the Arizona Department of Public Safety ($67 plus a live-scan vendor fee)
- Complete the Salesperson Application Form and the Disciplinary Action Disclosure Form (yes answers require supporting documents)
- Provide proof of authorized legal presence in the U.S. per A.R.S. 41-1080
- Pay the $60 license fee ($50 license + $10 Real Estate Recovery Fund) to ADRE
- License can be issued on inactive status without a broker; to go active, your employing broker completes the hire through the ADRE online portal
Budget
| Item | Estimate | Actual |
|---|---|---|
| Pre-licensing education (90-hr + 6-hr contract writing) | $450 – $800 | |
| Pearson VUE exam fee (both portions, combo) | $75 | |
| License fee (includes $10 Recovery Fund) | $60 | |
| Fingerprint Clearance Card (AZ DPS + live-scan vendor) | $77 – $92 | |
| Estimated total | $650 – $1,050 |
Key deadlines
- The 90-hour certificate is valid for 10 years, but the contract writing certificate must be completed within 2 years of applying.
- Every 2 years with 24 hours of ADRE-approved continuing education across required categories (agency law, contract law, commissioner's standards, disclosure, fair housing, legal issues, plus electives).
- No separate post-licensing course — the 6-hour contract writing course is completed before licensure.
- Complete the separate 6-hour Introduction to Contract Writing course (must be within 2 years of your application)
- Pass both exam portions and keep both Pearson score reports — your application must be submitted within 1 year of passing
- The wildcard is the Fingerprint Clearance Card from AZ DPS, which can take several weeks to arrive, so apply for it while you're still in class, not after.
- Do I need a broker before I apply for my Arizona license?
- Take it near the end of your pre-licensing program: the certificate is only valid for 2 years from your application date (unlike the 90-hour certificate, which is good for 10 years), and the material actually helps on the state exam portion.