How to get your Idaho real estate license

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

Note: Idaho's 90 hours come as two 45-hour courses: Salesperson Prelicense Module 1 (fundamental real estate concepts) and Module 2 (the applied skills of listing, selling, buying, and closing). Both must be finished within the 3 years before you apply, you must attend 100% of each course, and each course final requires a 70% or better.

• Confirm eligibility: at least 18 years old with a high school diploma or GED, plus proof of lawful U.S. presence and a Social Security number.
• Complete Salesperson Prelicense Module 1 (45 hours) — fundamentals — via live classroom, live Zoom, or self-paced online study, with 100% attendance required.
• Complete Salesperson Prelicense Module 2 (45 hours) — the applied side: listing, selling, buying, and closing transactions.
• Pass each course's final exam with at least 70%; both courses must fall within the 3 years immediately before your license application.

Idaho uses Pearson VUE to administer the licensing exam. You'll need a passing score of 70 (scaled score) on each portion. The exam fee is $80. Expect roughly 100 national questions and 40–50 state-specific questions. Format: Computer-based at Pearson VUE test centers: a national portion (80 scored questions) and an Idaho state portion (40 scored questions). You must pass both; if you split the results, you only retake the failed portion..

• Get fingerprinted through Pearson VUE ($61.25) — you can do this at the test center the day of your exam. The state and FBI background check takes several weeks to process, and your application can't be approved until results come back.
• Schedule and pass both portions of the salesperson exam through Pearson VUE ($80 per attempt, cash not accepted).
• Apply for the license through the Idaho DOPL online portal with the $160 license application fee, uploading proof of your two 45-hour modules and your exam pass — don't dawdle, since education is only valid for 3 years and background results have a limited shelf life.
• Decide on active or inactive issuance: Idaho will issue your license inactive with no broker attached, or active if a designated broker signs your application.
• For active status, provide certification of Errors & Omissions insurance — E&O is mandatory for every active Idaho licensee (the state's group carrier runs roughly $150/year), and there is no grace period for lapses.
• Note for out-of-staters: if you hold an active license in another state, Idaho waives the national exam portion and the prelicense education — you take only the Idaho state portion.

Your Idaho 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.