Illinois licensing
How to Get an Illinois Real Estate License
Illinois eligibility and application rules - minimum age, pre-licensing education, sponsoring broker - each cited to the Illinois Compiled Statutes, 225 ILCS 454 (Real Estate License Act of 2000) and dated.
Published by Freehold · First published 2026-08-11 · Sources last verified 2026-08-11 · Review method
Your licensing route
From eligibility to an active license
Exact order can vary by state process. Each state-specific rule appears below with its source.
- 01Confirm eligibility
Check age and any residency, education, or background conditions.
- 02Complete approved education
Use the regulator's approved-provider list where one is published.
- 03Apply and take the exam
Follow Illinois's application order, then sit the configured salesperson exam.
- 04Activate your license
Complete any sponsorship or initial-license step that Illinois requires.
| Requirement | Illinois |
|---|---|
| Minimum age | 18 |
| Pre-licensing education | 75 hours (15 hours must be case studies) |
| Sponsoring broker | Valid sponsorship required to practice |
| Exam provider | PSI |
Requirements change. Confirm with the Illinois Compiled Statutes, 225 ILCS 454 (Real Estate License Act of 2000) before enrolling or paying anything.
More on what counts as real estate school, state by state.
Each requirement, and where it comes from
Minimum age
Illinois has had no separate salesperson tier since a 2011 reform; the entry-level license is called 'broker,' and every applicant for licensure as a broker must be at least 18 years of age.
Source: Illinois Compiled Statutes, 225 ILCS 454/5-27, Sec. 5-27. Requirements for licensure as a broker. — verified 2026-08-11
Pre-licensing education
Broker applicants must provide satisfactory evidence of completing 75 hours of Department-approved real estate instruction, 15 of which must be situational and case studies taught in a classroom, live webinar, or online distance course.
Source: Illinois Compiled Statutes, 225 ILCS 454/5-27, Sec. 5-27. Requirements for licensure as a broker. — verified 2026-08-11
Sponsoring broker
It is unlawful for anyone to act as a broker, or to advertise as one, without both a license and a valid sponsorship registered with the Department; no applicant may engage in any licensed activity until that sponsorship is on file.
Source: Illinois Compiled Statutes, 225 ILCS 454/5-15, Sec. 5-15. Necessity of managing broker, broker, or residential leasing agent license; ownership restrictions. — verified 2026-08-11
Exam provider
Illinois's real estate exam is administered by PSI.
Source: PSI — Illinois Real Estate Candidate Handbook, EXAMINATION SUMMARY TABLE — verified 2026-07-27
Once you are eligible
The Illinois salesperson exam is 140 questions in 240 minutes, administered by PSI. Practice it free: Illinois practice test · Illinois exam prep · Illinois broker exam · compare all 50 states
New to the whole process? How to become a real estate agent walks the five steps and what changes between states.
Illinois licensing FAQ
How do you get a real estate license in Illinois?
Meet Illinois's eligibility rules, complete 75 hours (15 hours must be case studies), apply to the regulator, and pass the salesperson exam. On sponsoring broker, Illinois's rule is: Valid sponsorship required to practice. Each requirement is set out below with the provision it comes from.
What are the requirements for an Illinois real estate license?
Illinois requires you to be 18 or older and to complete 75 hours (15 hours must be case studies) before sitting the salesperson exam, which is 140 questions in 240 minutes. Every figure on this page names the Illinois Compiled Statutes, 225 ILCS 454 (Real Estate License Act of 2000) page it came from and the date we checked it.
How much pre-licensing education does Illinois require?
Broker applicants must provide satisfactory evidence of completing 75 hours of Department-approved real estate instruction, 15 of which must be situational and case studies taught in a classroom, live webinar, or online distance course.
Sponsoring broker — what does Illinois require?
It is unlawful for anyone to act as a broker, or to advertise as one, without both a license and a valid sponsorship registered with the Department; no applicant may engage in any licensed activity until that sponsorship is on file.
How do you become a real estate agent in Illinois?
Becoming an agent in Illinois is the license plus one more step: complete 75 hours (15 hours must be case studies), pass the 140-question salesperson exam, and then satisfy Illinois's rule on sponsoring broker — Valid sponsorship required to practice. A license you hold and a license you can practice under are not the same thing, and the difference is set out above with its source.
Nearby states
Licensing in more than one state? Each state's license requirements covers its own license law.
Drill Illinois law free once you are enrolled
Every question sourced and explained. Guided Study Path, on-device coach, real exam settings for your state. No ads, no subscriptions, ever.
