How to get your Nevada real estate license

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

Note: Nevada requires 120 total hours: 45 hours of Real Estate Principles, 45 hours of Real Estate Law (including 18 hours of Nevada-specific law), 15 hours of Contracts, and 15 hours of Agency. Heads up: plenty of websites still say 90 hours — that was the old rule. The Nevada Real Estate Division raised the requirement to 120 hours for applications on or after October 1, 2021, and the official red.nv.gov requirements page confirms 120 hours as of July 2026. College credit can substitute (3 credits = 45 hours).

• Confirm you're at least 18 and have a high school diploma or GED — Nevada checks both.
• Enroll in a 120-hour pre-licensing program with a Division-approved school (Form 502 lists approved Nevada schools; approved online providers also qualify).
• Complete all four required courses: 45 hours Principles, 45 hours Law (with 18 hours Nevada law), 15 hours Contracts, and 15 hours Agency.
• Collect certified certificates of completion or transcripts — you'll submit these with your license application.
• Register with Pearson VUE and schedule your Nevada salesperson exam (no Division pre-approval needed to sit for the test).

Nevada uses Pearson VUE to administer the licensing exam. You'll need a passing score of 75% on each portion — at least 60 of 80 national questions and 30 of 40 state questions. The exam fee is $100. Expect roughly 100 national questions and 40–50 state-specific questions. Format: 120 multiple-choice questions (80 national + 40 Nevada state) in 4 hours, computer-based at a Pearson VUE test center.

• Pass both portions of the Pearson VUE exam ($100). Your passing results are only valid for 12 months, so don't sit on them.
• Sign and date the fingerprint background waiver (inside Form 549) BEFORE getting fingerprinted — the Division is strict about the order here.
• Get fingerprinted through a Division-approved vendor (Form 619 lists them; roughly $40–$70 all-in). Fingerprints expire after 2 months, so time this close to your application.
• Complete license application Form 549 and have your sponsoring broker sign it — your license is issued to your broker of record. No broker lined up yet? Contact the Division about inactive issuance; you can't practice until a broker activates you.
• Submit the application packet with your original exam results, education certificates, fingerprint verification, and the $140 application fee.
• Once issued, remember your original Nevada license is only good for ONE year — you'll need 30 hours of post-licensing education before your first renewal ($195).

Your Nevada 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.