Nebraska · NE
Nebraska 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 19 years old
- You hold a high school diploma or GED
- You can pass a criminal background check / fingerprinting
- Your provider reports completion to the Commission within 10 days — but keep your own records, and if you used college courses, an official transcript is required before a license will issue.
Education
Heads up: Nebraska raised the bar on January 1, 2026. The old 66-hour requirement is gone. You now need 96 total hours — 90 clock hours across three 30-hour courses (Real Estate Principles and Practices, Nebraska Real Estate License Law, and one approved elective) plus the 6-hour Professional Practice and Standards course (Course 0003). Plenty of older guides still say 66 hours; the Commission's own site and its January 2026 application packet confirm 96.
- Confirm you're eligible: at least 19 years old (Nebraska is one of the few states with a 19+ rule), a high school diploma or GED, and lawful U.S. presence.
- Complete the 30-hour Real Estate Principles and Practices course and the 30-hour Nebraska Real Estate License Law course through a Commission-approved provider (classroom or approved online).
- Complete a third 30-hour Commission-approved pre-license elective course of your choice.
- Finish the 6-hour Professional Practice and Standards course (Course 0003) to hit the 96-hour total.
- Your provider reports completion to the Commission within 10 days — but keep your own records, and if you used college courses, an official transcript is required before a license will issue.
Application & exam
- Apply online through the NREC portal (nrec.igovsolution.net) with the $175 application fee, the $150 exam fee, and a passport-style 2"x2" photo taken within the last year. Debit cards are not accepted.
- Start fingerprinting immediately: the Commission mails you fingerprint cards after you apply, and you pay the $38.00 background-check fee directly to the Nebraska State Patrol (covers both the state and FBI checks). Reports take 4–6 weeks on average, so this is usually your longest wait.
- Once the Commission clears your background report, you'll get an eligibility email from Pearson VUE — schedule and pass both exam portions at 75%.
- Submit your passing score report through the portal within 30 days of passing, and choose whether your license issues on active or inactive status. Inactive issuance is allowed if you don't have a broker lined up yet.
- For active status, provide your employing broker information and proof of Errors & Omissions insurance (a group policy is available through the Commission's program administrator, roughly $150/year), then pay the $90 original salesperson license fee.
- After licensure, complete the 12-hour post-license course (Course 7000) within 180 days or your license is moved to inactive status.
Budget
| Item | Estimate | Actual |
|---|---|---|
| Pre-license education (96 hours: three 30-hour courses + 6-hour Course 0003) | $450–$800 | |
| License application fee (NREC) | $175 | |
| Exam fee (per attempt, paid with application) | $150 | |
| Fingerprint background check (paid to Nebraska State Patrol; covers state + FBI) | $38 | |
| Original salesperson license fee | $90 | |
| Errors & Omissions insurance (first year, active status) | ~$150 | |
| Estimated total | $1,060–$1,410 |
Key deadlines
- Your first license is valid only for the balance of the calendar year it's issued, then rolls onto the two-year cycle.
- Salesperson renewal is $180 per two-year period, with a $25/month late penalty from December through June.
- Confirm you're eligible: at least 19 years old (Nebraska is one of the few states with a 19+ rule), a high school diploma or GED, and lawful U.S.
- Your provider reports completion to the Commission within 10 days — but keep your own records, and if you used college courses, an official transcript is required before a license will issue.
- Apply online through the NREC portal (nrec.igovsolution.net) with the $175 application fee, the $150 exam fee, and a passport-style 2"x2" photo taken within the last year.
- Start fingerprinting immediately: the Commission mails you fingerprint cards after you apply, and you pay the $38.00 background-check fee directly to the Nebraska State Patrol (covers both the state and FBI checks).
- Submit your passing score report through the portal within 30 days of passing, and choose whether your license issues on active or inactive status.
- For active status, provide your employing broker information and proof of Errors & Omissions insurance (a group policy is available through the Commission's program administrator, roughly $150/year), then pay the $90 original salesperson license fee.