How Long Does It Take to Get a Real Estate License- Worth It?

Being in the real estate as a career is one of the most lucrative means of making money. The promise of a flexible schedule, along with a good potential to build wealth, makes it one of the most lucrative and popular means of earning. 

However, this is not your average working environment. It is a highly technical working arena that does not require a formal college degree. Then again, getting a real estate license has its own set of caveats.  

One of the biggest caveats is the ETA time for getting the license. Therefore, the online forums are filled with questions like, “how long does it take to get a real estate license?” We are here with all the answers.  

How Long Does It Take to Get a Real Estate License? 

Becoming a full-time real estate agent involves some steps. These steps might sound tedious, but they do have their appeal. Do not worry, as we will help you navigate the entire process with a heightened sense of clarity.  

One small caveat: each state has its own procedure. Therefore, the estimated time or the answer to the question, how long does it take to get a real estate license, differs from one state to another.  

However, people have stated that it takes a person around four to six months to complete the entire course. Therefore, it is safe to say that it is a time-consuming process. Hence, being patient and understanding the overall estimated time of each step is crucial.  

How To Get the License? 

Apart from the timeline, there is also the question of difficulty. In other words, obtaining the license is not as easy as it sounds. Many people choose this over a college degree because they think that this is easier, but it is not the case.  

Getting a real estate license demands that you go through three vital processes. The first is understanding where you stand. In other words, understanding what you need and want from your career is very important. Otherwise, you will end up going in circles. 

The next step is very important. This step involves filling out the application. This can be a time-consuming part of the conversation. Therefore, be patient and fill out the application properly and do not cut corners.  

The final part of the conversation is the examination. Again, you need to be very serious about this aspect of the process, as it determines your success or failure. Failing the exam means that you have to start over from the top. Therefore, be careful.  

Why Bother? 

With the general process dealt with, let us ask an important question: Is it worth it? The answer is yes. You can consider getting into the market without any proper licensing. You might even pull some clients. However, it will not sustain for an extended period of time.  

In other words, you will soon enough face a dearth of clintelles. The reason is that most clients prefer a licensed real estate agent to someone who is simply ‘good at it.’ Therefore, if you are planning to do real estate professionally, you need to get a license.  

This is an important aspect of our article on how long does it takes to get a real estate license. Ignoring this aspect means that you are flying in blindly, and that will not lead to effective results.  

The Necessity of a License 

With the ‘how long does it take to get a real estate license’ dealt with, let us look at the necessity behind it. In other words, why do you need a real estate license? 

• Legality: In most regions, it is a legal requirement for real estate agents to hold some sort of license. Otherwise, they can face bans from representing clients or making revenue from property sales.  

• Trust: A licensed individual wil always be seen as a more trusted option compared to an unlicensed agent. Real estate is an investment opportunity; therefore, having a licensed individual to look at it is a necessity. 

• Professional Development: If you are someone who sees this as their choice of career, then it is highly likely that you should consider getting yourself a proper license. This will improve your professional growth and allow you to bag bigger clients.  

• MLS access: MLS, or Multiple Listing Services, is a detailed database of all the required information from multiple sources. This is only given access to people with proper credentials. This is why getting a license is necessary.  

The Disadvantages of Not Having a License 

Our article on how long does it takes to get a real estate license will be incomplete if we do not list some of the disadvantages of not having a license. Here are some things that you need to understand from the get-go! 

• Limited opportunities: As an unlicensed individual, you will mostly have to be on the sidelines. This means you will not have the legal ability to be a part of a property transaction.  

• No Commission: Many states prohibit unlicensed agents from earning commissions. This can be a major blow. The entirety of the profession is based on commission earnings. Hence, removing that from the equation can lead to a major blow to the corpus. 

• Lack of Recognition: As an unlicensed agent, you will face challenges when it comes to client representation. In other words, many clients would not choose you simply because you do not have the license. Therefore, it will make it more difficult for an unlicensed agent to go through any career development.   

How To Pass Eligibility 

Last but not least, you need to be eligible to apply for the license in order to get it. Therefore, instead of asking, ‘how long does it take to get a real estate license?’ You must also look at the eligibility criteria. These include: 

• Age: Candidates must meet an age requirement. This means that applicants must be 18 to 19 years of age.  

• Background: The candidate must not have a criminal history. 

• Examination: Candidate must pass the exam to formally receive the license.