Illinois · IL
Illinois 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
Illinois abolished the 'salesperson' license in 2011 — the entry-level license is called 'broker' (the supervisory license is 'managing broker'). The 75 hours = 60 hours of coursework plus a 15-hour interactive 'Applied Real Estate Principles' course that must be taken live (in-person or live webinar — it cannot be self-paced). Application fee rose from $125 to $150 effective January 2024; some sites still list $125.
- Confirm eligibility: at least 18 years old with a high school diploma or GED
- Complete the 60-hour Real Estate Broker pre-license topics course at an IDFPR-approved education provider (self-paced online allowed)
- Complete the 15-hour interactive Applied Real Estate Principles course — live instruction only, no self-paced option
- Licensed attorneys admitted by the Illinois Supreme Court are exempt from the education requirement
- Within your first renewal period, complete the 45-hour broker post-license curriculum (three 15-hour courses)
Application & exam
- Complete both pre-license courses (60 + 15 hours) and upload certificates to PSI for eligibility
- Schedule and pass the PSI broker exam ($58 per attempt)
- Find a sponsoring (managing) broker — your license cannot be activated without one, and brokerage-issued 45-day sponsor cards let you start practicing while IDFPR processes your application
- Apply online through the IDFPR portal with the $150 application fee (increased from $125 in January 2024)
- Answer the criminal history disclosure questions — Illinois does not require fingerprinting for real estate broker applicants
- IDFPR issues the license to your sponsoring brokerage; without a sponsor the license sits inactive and you cannot list, show, or earn commissions
Budget
| Item | Estimate | Actual |
|---|---|---|
| 75-hour pre-licensing courses (60-hr + 15-hr interactive) | $300 – $700 | |
| IDFPR application fee | $150 | |
| PSI exam fee | $58 per attempt | |
| Fingerprinting / background check | Not required — disclosure questions only | |
| Estimated total | $500 – $950 |
Key deadlines
- 2-year cycle ending April 30 of even-numbered years; $150 renewal.
- First renewal requires the 45-hour post-license curriculum instead of standard CE.
- Every renewal after that: 12 hours of CE, including a 6-hour Core course (with 2 hours of fair housing) and 6 elective hours that must include the 1-hour Sexual Harassment Prevention Training.
- Confirm eligibility: at least 18 years old with a high school diploma or GED
- Within your first renewal period, complete the 45-hour broker post-license curriculum (three 15-hour courses)
- Find a sponsoring (managing) broker — your license cannot be activated without one, and brokerage-issued 45-day sponsor cards let you start practicing while IDFPR processes your application
- After passing the PSI exam, a 45-day sponsor card from your brokerage lets you start working while IDFPR processes the application.
- Budget another $150–$300 down the road for the mandatory 45-hour post-license education before your first renewal.