How to get your Connecticut real estate license

You must be at least 18 years old and hold a high school diploma or GED to apply for a Connecticut real estate license. A criminal background check is required — most non-violent offenses are reviewed case-by-case.

Note: One 60-hour Real Estate Principles and Practices course from a Connecticut DCP-approved provider. That's it — no separate elective courses, making CT one of the lighter education lifts in the Northeast.

• Enroll in the state-approved 60-hour Real Estate Principles and Practices course (online or classroom) — expect to pay roughly $300-$700 depending on the school and format.
• Complete the course and keep your completion certificate; you'll need to submit it with your exam application.
• Submit the Real Estate Salesperson Examination Application to the Department of Consumer Protection (DCP) with the $80 application fee, either online via eLicense.ct.gov or by paper form.
• Once DCP approves your application, you'll receive instructions to register and schedule the exam with PSI. Your exam eligibility lasts one year, with unlimited attempts during that window.

Connecticut uses PSI to administer the licensing exam. You'll need a passing score of Scaled score of 70 on both the national and state portions (each portion scored separately). The exam fee is $59. Expect roughly 100 national questions and 40–50 state-specific questions. Format: 110 scored multiple-choice questions — 80 national + 30 Connecticut state — computer-based at PSI test centers or via remote proctoring.

• Apply to DCP for exam eligibility ($80 application fee) after finishing the 60-hour course — broker supervision is NOT required just to sit for the exam.
• Pass both portions of the PSI exam ($59 per attempt, paid to PSI at scheduling) within one year of eligibility; if you miss the window, you must reapply for another year.
• No fingerprinting or FBI background check is required for a Connecticut salesperson license — you answer character/criminal-history questions on the application instead.
• Find a sponsoring Connecticut-licensed broker. You cannot activate the license without one — CT does not issue salesperson licenses on inactive status at initial licensure.
• Activate your license within 2 years of your most recent passing exam score by paying the $590 license fee to DCP (official DCP figure — many prep sites still quote the old $285 annual fee, which is outdated; CT moved to a biennial cycle).
• Your license expires May 31 of every even-numbered year, so depending on when you activate, your first period may be shorter than two years — the full $578 renewal fee applies at your first renewal cycle.

Your Connecticut license stays inactive until a licensed broker sponsors you. Interview at least 2–3 brokerages, compare commission splits, training, and lead sources, and pick the one that fits your career goals — not just the highest split.