What is required to get a license in Ohio?

For salespersons:

  • Complete application form.
  • Complete the approved pre-license education: Real Estate Principles and Practices (40 hours), Ohio Real Estate Law, including instruction in civil rights, housing discrimination and desegregation problems (40 hours), Real Estate Appraisal (20 hours), Real Estate Finance (20 hours).
  • Have a high school diploma or its equivalent as recognized by the Ohio Department of Education if you were born after 1950.
  • Not have been convicted of a felony or crime of moral turpitude.
  • Real estate examination successfully completed.
  • Proof of age 18 and above.
  • Have sponsorship from an Ohio Broker.
  • Fees: Examination Fees (Salesperson: $63). License (Salesperson: $60)

For brokers:

  • Complete application form.
  • If licensed prior to 1/01/1972, no further education is needed, If licensed from 1/02/72 to 1/03/84, you must have taken a 120 hours course.
  • If licensed on or after 1/03/84, you must have taken:
  1. Ohio Real Estate Law (40 hours)
  2. Ohio Real Estate Principles & Practices (40 hours)
  3. Real Estate Appraisal (20 hours)
  4. Real Estate Finance (20 hours)
  5. A Financial Management course
  6. A Human Resources or Personnel Management course
  7. An Applied Business Economics course
  8. A Business Law course
  9. A minimum of two years of post-secondary education, or equivalent hours of (60) sixty semester or (90) ninety quarter hours. Courses #5 – 8 may be included in your postsecondary education possess a minimum of two years of post-secondary education (#9), or the equivalent hours of sixty (60) semester or ninety (90) quarter hours.
  • Proof of age 18 and above.
  • Real estate examination successfully completed.
  • Not have been convicted of a felony or crime of moral turpitude.
  • Meet a total of twenty transactions keeping in mind the following formulas:
    • Listing agent in the sale of property owned by another = ½ transaction
    • Selling agent in the sale of property owned by another = ½ transaction
    • Listing agent in the lease of commercial or industrial real estate owned by another for a term of at least one year = ½ transaction
    • Procuring agent in the lease of commercial or industrial real estate owned by another for a term of at least one year = ½ transaction
    • Listing and /or procuring agent in the lease of four residential real estate properties owned by another for a term of at least one-year = 1 transaction
  • Fees: Examination Fees (Broker: 43$). License (broker: 100$).

What score do I need to pass?

The salesperson exam consists of 80 national questions and 40 state-specific questions. To pass, you must correctly answer at least 70% of each portion.

The broker exam consists of 80 national questions and 50 state-specific questions. To pass, you must correctly answer at least 75% of each portion.

You will receive your score immediately after you complete your exam.

How much time do I have to complete the exam?

For the salesperson exam: you are allowed 120 minutes for the national portion and 60 minutes for the state portion, for a total of 180 minutes.

For the broker exam: you are allowed 120 minutes for the national portion and 60 minutes for the state portion, for a total of 180 minutes.

What should I bring with me for the exam?

  • 2 Forms of identification with matching names, non-expired and containing a valid signature, one of them must be photo bearing (Driver’s license, passport, green card, U.S. social security card, debit or credit card with signature).
  • Basic, silent, non-scientific calculator.

What is the format of the exam?

The exam is given on a computer and is multiple choice.

What is on the exam?

The national portion consists of the following sections:

  • Property Ownership
  • Land Use Controls and Regulations
  • Valuation and Market Analysis
  • Financing
  • General Principles of Agency
  • Property Condition and Disclosures
  • Contracts
  • Transfer of Title
  • Practice of Real Estate
  • Real Estate Calculations
  • Subdivisions
  • Commercial, Industrial, and Income Properties

The state-specific portion consists of the following sections:

  • State Governance of the Real Estate Profession
  • Licensing Requirements
  • License Law and Rules of the Ohio Real Estate Commission
  • Brokerage Relationships

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