StateLicensed

Real Estate Agent License Requirements in Iowa

Verified · July 2026
Training hours
96 hrs
Upfront cost
$220
Exam
Iowa Real Estate Salesperson Examination
Renewal cycle
Every 3 years
Issuing board
Iowa Real Estate Commission (Department of Inspections, Appeals, and Licensing)

How to get licensed

  1. 1

    Meet the prerequisites

    Be at least 18 years old, pass a criminal background check. Applicants must be 18 years of age or older at the time of application submission and undergo a national criminal history background check through the FBI, which can take four weeks or longer and remains valid for 210 calendar days. A license must be activated under a sponsoring broker to practice; the Commission approves broker transfers between a licensee's current and new broker. [1]

  2. 2

    Complete approved training

    Complete 96 hours of training at a state-approved program. Applicants must complete a 60-hour pre-license course in real estate principles and practices, plus three additional 12-hour courses (Developing Professionalism & Ethical Practices, Listing Practices, and Buying Practices), for a total of 96 hours. All coursework must be completed less than one year before the completed application is received by the Commission. [1]

  3. 3

    Iowa Real Estate Salesperson Examination

    Pass the Iowa Real Estate Salesperson Examination (fee: $95). Candidates must pass both a national and a state-specific portion in a single sitting. Exams are given by appointment only and remain valid until the last business day of the sixth month following the pass date. [1]

  4. 4

    Submit your application

    Submit your application to Iowa Real Estate Commission (Department of Inspections, Appeals, and Licensing). [1]

  5. 5

    Receive your license

    Once your application is approved, Iowa Real Estate Commission (Department of Inspections, Appeals, and Licensing) issues your Real Estate Salesperson License for Iowa.

Fees

Fee Amount
Application fee [1] None specified
License fee [1] $125
Renewal fee [1] $125
Iowa Real Estate Salesperson Examination [1] $95
National criminal history background check [1] $51

No separate application fee is published; the $125 figure is the original license fee, and renewal is also $125 for the three-year cycle. The FBI/state background check fee is $51. The exam fee ($95) is paid separately to PSI, the testing vendor.

Renewal & continuing education

Renew every 3 years. 36 continuing education hours required per cycle.

Renewal is triennial. Continuing education totals 36 hours: 8 hours Law Update (mandatory), 4 hours Ethics (mandatory), and 24 hours of Commission-approved electives. At most 24 of the 36 hours may be completed via distance learning; at least 12 hours must be live instruction. There is no grace period after December 31 of the renewal year.

Reciprocity

Endorsement/reciprocity from another state is available.

Iowa has reciprocity agreements with only seven states: Arkansas, Georgia, Louisiana, Massachusetts, Minnesota, Mississippi, and North Dakota. Reciprocal applicants must be a resident of and originally licensed in one of those states, maintain their Iowa license with the same company, complete a criminal history background check, submit a certificate of license history from their home state, and provide proof of Iowa errors-and-omissions insurance; the exam requirement is waived. Applicants from all other states/territories (including AK, AL, AZ, CO, CT, DE, DC, FL, HI, ID, IL, IN, KS, KY, MD, ME, MI, MO, MT, NC, NE, NV, NH, NM, NY, OH, OK, OR, PA, SC, SD, TN, TX, UT, VA, WA, WV, WI, WY) do not qualify for reciprocity and must instead apply under Rule 5.3 (Licensees of Other Jurisdictions), which requires sitting for the Iowa exam.

Cost calculator

  • $125
  • $95
Total$220

Frequently asked questions

How many hours of pre-license education are required to become an Iowa real estate salesperson?

96 total hours: a 60-hour pre-license course plus three 12-hour courses in Developing Professionalism & Ethical Practices, Listing Practices, and Buying Practices, all completed within one year of applying.

Who administers the Iowa real estate salesperson exam?

PSI (Psychological Services, Inc.) administers the exam by appointment for a $95 fee, covering both national and Iowa-specific content.

How often must an Iowa real estate license be renewed, and what continuing education is required?

Iowa licenses renew every three years. Licensees must complete 36 hours of continuing education: 8 hours Law Update, 4 hours Ethics, and 24 hours of electives, with at least 12 hours delivered live.

Does Iowa offer license reciprocity with other states?

Yes, but only with seven states: Arkansas, Georgia, Louisiana, Massachusetts, Minnesota, Mississippi, and North Dakota. Applicants from other states must apply under Rule 5.3 and sit for the Iowa exam.

Do I need a sponsoring broker to hold an Iowa salesperson license?

Yes. Salespersons practice under a supervising broker, and the Commission must approve broker transfers when a licensee moves from one brokerage to another.

Sources

  1. [1] dial.iowa.gov/licenses/other-professional-licensure/real-estate-licensees — accessed 2026-07-12
  2. [2] dial.iowa.gov/licenses/other-professional-licensure/real-estate-licensees/irec-ce-requirements — accessed 2026-07-12
  3. [3] dial.iowa.gov/licenses/other-professional-licensure/real-estate-licensees/re-reciprocity-licensing — accessed 2026-07-12