Ohio Online Real Estate Academy
How Much Does it Cost to Get a Real Estate License in Ohio? In total around $1,500 to $6,000.
In this article you will learn how much it costs to get Real Estate License in Ohio, including the amount of time it takes. Whether you’re just looking for information or ready to take the next step, we’ve got all of the information that you will need to become a real estate agent in Ohio.
In total though, you should expect it to cost between $1,500 to $6,000 and take 8 weeks to 4 months to get a real estate license in Ohio. The large difference in cost comes from the education provider. They all offer essentially the same product needed to get your Ohio real estate license, but each have different learning platforms.
In Ohio, you’re required to take your pre-license (real estate agent) classes from a school that also offers at a minimum a two years associates degree. The price for these classes ranges from $1,050 (The CE Shop) to $5,050 (Edison State Community College).
Our partner The CE Shop was ranked the overall best real estate school in Ohio by agent advice. They provide the self-paced online class option for Davis University so that students can learn from the comfort and convenience on their own homes.
- Total Cost: $1,500 to $6,000
- Total Time: 8 Weeks to 4 Months
The 5 Steps to get your Ohio Real Estate License:
Step 1 - Take 120 Hours of approved pre-licensing classes
- Cost: $1,050 to $5,500
- Time: 3 Weeks to 3 Months
In Ohio, you’re required to take your pre-license (real estate agent) classes from a school that also offers at a minimum a two years associates degree. The price for these classes ranges from $1,050 (The CE Shop) to $5,050 (Edison State Community College).
Our partner The CE Shop was ranked the overall best real estate school in Ohio by agent advice. They provide the self-paced online class option for Davis University so that students can learn from the comfort and convenience on their own homes.
Here are the four classes required to meet the Ohio real estate license education requirement:
- Real Estate Principles and Practices: 40 hours
- Ohio Real Estate Law: 40 hours
- Real Estate Appraisal: 20 hours
- Real Estate Finance: 20 hours
In Ohio, all of the required classes can be taken online or in-person, depending on the student’s needs.
Step 2 - Look for a sponsoring broker
- Cost: $0
- Time: 1-2 Weeks+
To get your Ohio real estate license, you need to be sponsored by and connected with an active Ohio real estate broker before you take the licensing exam. Take your time to choose the right broker for you because they will be your guide and resource as you start your new job in real estate.
Remember that you’re interviewing the broker just as much as they’re interviewing you. Make sure that you find a good fit before you sign up.
Some things to consider when choosing a brokerage:
- Do you prefer to work independently or on a team?
- What sort of training and education resources does the brokerage provide?
- What is the work culture like?
- What support do they have for new agents?
- What is their commission split and fee structure like?
Wondering where to start? One way is to see which brokerages the top producing agents work for. See U.S. News’s agent rankings by City.
Step 3 - Submit your Ohio Real Estate Salesperson License Exam Application
- Cost: $154
- Time: 1-2 Weeks
After you have successfully completed your education requirement, make sure to submit to the Ohio Real Estate Commission:
- Your Ohio Real Estate Salesperson License application with your
- Proof of education (a copy of official transcripts or course completion certificates) and
- Pay the $81 application fee either by mail or online. You can pay by check, money order or credit card. Cash will not be accepted.
Once the Ohio Division of Real Estate and Professional Licensing, Department of Commerce processes your complete application, they will send your information to the testing vendor PSI. PSI will then process the information and send you a Candidate Information Bulletin with instructions on scheduling the exams. You need to pass the State and National portions of the Ohio Real Estate exam with a 70% or better in order for a license to be issued.
Did you know that to it can cost anywhere from ~$1,050 to $5,050 to get your Ohio real estate license?
That's a large range! With The CE Shop ($1,050), you can also pay using a monthly payment plan.
Step 4 - Complete a Background Check
- Cost: $50 to $80
- Time: Within 30 Days
Before you can get your Ohio real estate license, the State requires you to get your fingerprints taken for a security check.
Background checks at both the State and Federal level are required, so make sure to pick a location that can send information between the state and the FBI. The provider should be approved by Ohio’s Bureau of Criminal Identification and Investigation (BCI&I).
When you go in to get your background check, be sure to bring a government issued ID like a drivers license. Depending on where you live, biometrics and background check cost ranges between $50 to $80.
The Ohio Attorney General website lists accredited locations near you for this step.
From the Ohio Real Estate Commission website:
“An applicant must have fingerprints taken by a Webcheck® user (a business, government agency or private entity that provides criminal record check services) approved by the Bureau of Criminal Identification and Investigation (BCI&I) within ten (10) days after the date of filing an application. Applicants should not have fingerprints taken before filing an application with the Division of Real Estate.
Key Call Out:
An applicant must instruct the Webcheck® user to use the following reason codes and to have BCI &I send the results (state and FBI criminal records check) to the Division at this address:
Reason Codes
- BCI&I Reason Code: 4735.143
- FBI Reason Code: 4735.143
Address
Division of Real Estate and Professional Licensing
6606 Tussing Rd
PO Box 4008 Reynoldsburg, OH 43068
Step 5 - Schedule and Pass the Ohio Real Estate Salesperson Licensing Exam
- Cost: $74
- Time: 3.5 Hours (Arrive 30 Minutes Before)
Once you’ve completed the other steps and have successfully scheduled your exam through PSI, all that is left is to take and pass the exam.
There are two parts to the test that cover both State and National requirements and have a separate exam fee of $74.0 payable to PSI. You have 2 hours to finish the 80 questions on the National test and 60 minutes to finish the 40 questions on the State test.
As soon as you finish the test, you’ll know if you passed or not. If you didn’t pass, it shows how many questions you got wrong in each subject area but not the actual answers. This information should help you get ready for the retake test. You will only retake the portion of the test that you failed.
You can take your Ohio real estate license State & National exams in-person at these locations:
- Akron
- Cambridge
- Cincinnati
- Cleveland
- Columbus
- Toledo
- Troy
Need help remembering all of the steps and timing? As a thank you for students who register with Davis College through the Ohio Online Real Estate Academy, we provide a complimentary checklist with timing to help you stay on top of your application.
Summary
While it is an investment of time, money and energy to get your Ohio real estate license, if you can earn the State average you will be able to easily pay for your education costs. If you compare the expense to many professionals that require a four-year degree, it is quite reasonable by comparison.
To get your Ohio real estate license, you’re looking at in investment of around $1,500 to $5,500 and 120 hours of class time.