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How to Get Your Ohio Real Estate License in 5 Steps
Last updated: January 15, 2026 · Sources: Ohio Division of Real Estate & Professional Licensing, PSI
Ohio License Requirement Summary: To get an Ohio real estate license, complete the steps below:
- Complete 100 hours of approved real estate classes
- Find a sponsoring Ohio broker
- Submit your application to the state
- Complete fingerprints + background check
- Pass the PSI national + state exams
Many people finish in 8–16 weeks and spend around $1,500–$6,000 depending on the school and required fees.
In this article you will learn how to get your Ohio Real Estate License including the amount of time it takes and approximate cost. 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.
5 Steps to get your Ohio Real Estate License
Content Outline
Ohio Real Estate Licensing Requirements
- Total Cost: $1,500 to $6,000
- Time: 8 Weeks to 4 Months
Before you read further on how to get your Ohio Real Estate License, it is important to make sure that you can qualify in the first place. To summarize the below requirements, you need to be a high school graduate and in general have a fairly clean track record. If you can meet those criteria, chances are good that you’ll be able to become a real estate agent in Ohio.
Here are the requirements for an Ohio Real Estate Salesperson’s License from the Ohio Department of Commerce:
- Be at least 18 years old.
- Be a United States citizen or a legal resident alien* (must provide proof of being a legal resident alien)
- Be honest and truthful.
- Have not been convicted of a disqualifying offense as determined in accordance with section 9.79 of the Revised Code.
- Have not been finally adjudged by a court to have violated any municipal, state, or federal civil rights laws relevant to the protection of purchasers or sellers of real estate or, if the applicant has been so adjudged, at least two years have passed since the court decision and the superintendent has disregarded the adjudication because the applicant has proven, by a preponderance of the evidence, that the applicant is honest and truthful, and there is no basis in fact for believing that the applicant again will violate the laws involved.
- Have not, during any period in which the applicant was licensed under this chapter, violated any provision of, or any rule adopted pursuant to this chapter, or, if the applicant has violated such provision or rule, has established to the satisfaction of the superintendent that the applicant will not again violate such provision or rule;
- Have a high school diploma or its equivalent as recognized by the Ohio Department of Education if you were born after 1950.
- Be sponsored by an Ohio broker.
Did you know that to become a real estate agent in Ohio you need 100 Hours of pre-licensing classes as per the Ohio Department of Commerce Real Estate & Procession Licensing Division?
That might sound like a lot, but compare it to becoming a lawyer which takes 7+ years.
Step 1 - Take 100 Hours of approved pre-licensing classes
- Education Cost: $999 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 $999 (Hondros College) to $5,050 (Edison State Community College).
Our partner Hondros College was ranked the overall best real estate school in Ohio by Agent Advice. The Ohio Real Estate School Hondros College provides self-paced online class options for 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: 10 hours
- Real Estate Finance: 10 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 Salesperson License Application
- 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 ~$999 to $5,050 to get your Ohio real estate license?
That's a large range! With Hondros College ($999), you can also pay using a monthly payment plan.
Step 4 - Complete a Background Check
- 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
Did you know the average Ohio real estate agent salary is $77,209 per year according to Indeed?
That's $29,346 more than the average Ohio salary. Actual earnings differ significantly by agent.
Step 5 - Schedule and Pass the Ohio Real Estate Salesperson Licensing Exam
- 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 Hondros 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 education, you’re looking at in investment of around $999 to $5,500 and 100 hours of class time.
To clarify some terminology so it doesn’t become confusing later, to become a real estate agent in Ohio the State refers to license you need as a real estate salesperson’s license. You have to take Ohio real estate salesperson pre-license classes to meet that requirement. An Ohio REALTOR is a licensed real estate agent who has signed up for the trade association called the National Association of REALTORS and agrees to abide by their code of ethics.
FAQ
Most students finish in 8–16 weeks, depending on how quickly they complete the 100 hours of required education, schedule fingerprints/background check, submit the application, and book the PSI exam.
If you’re studying part-time, plan for the longer end. For example, it will take 10 weeks to finish just the courses at 10 hours/week. Then you have to account for taking the exam, background check and other activities.
Source: Ohio Division of Real Estate & Professional Licensing (ODRE) – Education requirements/process
Ohio requires 100 hours of approved pre-licensing education for the salesperson license needed to become a real estate agent. You’ll need to complete the approved coursework before you can qualify to take the licensing exam.
The required classes are:
- 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 (10 hours)
- Real Estate Finance (10 hours)
Source: ODRE – Real estate licensing / education requirements
Yes—many Ohio-approved providers offer online (self-paced) options. The key is choosing a provider whose course is approved for Ohio pre-licensing so your hours count toward the licensing requirement.
We work with and recommend Hondros College for their excellent classes and many positive reviews.
Source: ODRE – Approved education providers / licensing program information
https://com.ohio.gov/divisions-and-programs/real-estate-and-professional-licensing
You need to affiliate with (or be sponsored by) an Ohio broker as part of the licensing process, so it’s smart to start broker outreach while you’re finishing classes—not after.
Source: ODRE – Salesperson licensing (broker affiliation requirement details are typically covered in licensing instructions)
https://com.ohio.gov/divisions-and-programs/real-estate-and-professional-licensing
Ohio applicants must complete fingerprints for a BCI and FBI background check (often done through an authorized WebCheck provider). Timing can vary, so schedule this step as soon as you’re eligible to avoid delays.
Source: ODRE – Fingerprinting/background check guidance
https://com.ohio.gov/divisions-and-programs/real-estate-and-professional-licensing
Ohio’s real estate licensing exam is administered by PSI. You’ll schedule your exam through PSI and take both a national and state portion.
Source: PSI Exams – Ohio Real Estate
https://www.psiexams.com/
Passing requirements can vary by exam structure and PSI policy updates, so the safest approach is to confirm the current passing score and rules in the PSI candidate bulletin for Ohio.
Source: PSI Exams – Ohio Real Estate candidate information
https://www.psiexams.com/
Total costs commonly land around $1,500–$6,000, depending on the school you choose and required fees (education, exam, fingerprints/background check, and application-related fees). Your course provider is usually the biggest variable.
Source: ODRE (fees/process) + PSI (exam scheduling/fees)
https://com.ohio.gov/divisions-and-programs/real-estate-and-professional-licensing
https://www.psiexams.com/
The fastest path is to (1) choose an approved online course you can complete consistently, (2) start broker outreach early, (3) schedule fingerprints as soon as you’re eligible, and (4) book the PSI exam date immediately after you complete the education requirement.
Source: ODRE + PSI (process + exam scheduling)
https://com.ohio.gov/divisions-and-programs/real-estate-and-professional-licensing
https://www.psiexams.com/
After passing, you typically still need to ensure all licensing requirements are complete (application, background check, broker affiliation, etc.) before the state issues the active license. In other words, passing the exam is a major step—but not always the final step.
Source: ODRE – Licensing process overview
https://com.ohio.gov/divisions-and-programs/real-estate-and-professional-licensing