StateLicensed

Real Estate Agent License Requirements in Idaho

Verified · July 2026
Training hours
90 hrs
Upfront cost
$240
Exam
Idaho Real Estate Salesperson Examination (National + State portions)
Renewal cycle
Every 2 years
Issuing board
Idaho Real Estate Commission (IREC), Division of Occupational and Professional Licenses (DOPL)

How to get licensed

  1. 1

    Meet the prerequisites

    Be at least 18 years old, pass a criminal background check. Applicants must complete fingerprinting (electronic appointment or hard-card mail-in) for a background check as part of the application, separate from the education/exam requirements. A new salesperson's license is issued 'Inactive' until affiliated with (hung under) a licensed Idaho real estate broker; agents cannot conduct transactions independently. [3]

  2. 2

    Complete approved training

    Complete 90 hours of training at a state-approved program. 90 hours across two required modules: Salesperson Prelicense Module 1 (45 hours, fundamental real estate concepts) and Module 2 (45 hours, knowledge/applied skills for listing, selling, buying, and closing property). May be taken in a classroom, live remote via Zoom, or self-paced online. Verified via archive snapshot [2026-05-15] because dopl.idaho.gov blocks automated fetches. [1]

  3. 3

    Idaho Real Estate Salesperson Examination (National + State portions)

    Pass the Idaho Real Estate Salesperson Examination (National + State portions) (fee: $80). National section 80 questions/150 min, State section 40 questions/90 min 70% required to pass. [1]

  4. 4

    Submit your application

    Submit your application to Idaho Real Estate Commission (IREC), Division of Occupational and Professional Licenses (DOPL) with the $160 application fee. [2]

  5. 5

    Receive your license

    Once your application is approved, Idaho Real Estate Commission (IREC), Division of Occupational and Professional Licenses (DOPL) issues your Real Estate Salesperson License for Idaho.

Fees

Fee Amount
Application fee [2] $160
License fee [2] None specified
Renewal fee [2] $0
Idaho Real Estate Salesperson Examination (National + State portions) [1] $80
Fingerprinting/background check fee [2] $61.25

The $160 salesperson application fee is understood to cover license issuance as well (no separate license fee is published), so license is null. Renewal is recorded as $0 because DOPL announced a Real Estate Commission renewal-fee holiday effective 2026-01-01 (Broker, Branch Office, Company, and Salesperson renewals) to reduce excess board cash reserves; DOPL states it will monitor cash balances and reinstate the fee later, and the holiday does not apply to initial (new-licensee) applications. Verified via archive snapshot [2026-03-08] because dopl.idaho.gov blocks automated fetches.

Renewal & continuing education

Renew every 2 years. 14 continuing education hours required per cycle.

Active-status renewal requires 2 IREC Commission Core courses plus 12 elective CE hours (14 total) per 2-year cycle. First-time salesperson renewals must instead take the 2 core courses plus 12 hours of Post License Education (including the 8-hour Post License Fundamentals course). No CE is required to renew on inactive status. Verified via archive snapshot [2026-05-08] because dopl.idaho.gov blocks automated fetches.

Reciprocity

Endorsement/reciprocity from another state is available.

No interstate compact covers real estate licensing, and Idaho has no formal reciprocity/mutual-recognition agreements with other states for licensure itself (course-certification reciprocity is also explicitly not offered). However, an applicant actively licensed on active status in another state can have the national portion of the exam, the pre-license education, and (where applicable) broker experience requirements waived — they must still pass the Idaho state-specific portion of the exam.

Cost calculator

  • $160
  • $80
Total$240

Frequently asked questions

How many pre-licensing hours does Idaho require for a real estate salesperson license?

90 hours across two 45-hour modules: fundamental real estate concepts, and applied listing/selling/buying/closing skills.

Who administers Idaho's real estate salesperson exam and what does it cost?

Pearson VUE, under contract with the Idaho Real Estate Commission. The exam fee is $80.

How much does it currently cost to renew an Idaho real estate salesperson license?

$0 — DOPL is waiving Real Estate Commission renewal fees effective 2026-01-01 to reduce excess cash reserves. This is temporary and does not apply to new/initial applications, which are still $160.

Do I need a sponsoring broker in Idaho?

Yes. A new license is issued 'Inactive' until you affiliate with a licensed Idaho broker; you cannot conduct real estate transactions independently.

Does Idaho offer license reciprocity with other states?

Not formal reciprocity, but if you hold an active license elsewhere, Idaho waives the national exam portion, pre-license education, and broker experience requirements — you still must pass Idaho's state-specific exam portion.

Sources

  1. [1] dopl.idaho.gov/rec/rec-education-applicants/ — accessed 2026-07-12
  2. [2] dopl.idaho.gov/pressrelease/big-changes-are-on-the-way-stay-informed-about-important-changes-to-your-fees-6/ — accessed 2026-07-12
  3. [3] dopl.idaho.gov/rec/rec-faqs-and-consumer-info/ — accessed 2026-07-12