StateLicensed

Real Estate Agent License Requirements in Ohio

Verified · July 2026
Training hours
120 hrs
Upfront cost
$144
Exam
Ohio Real Estate Salesperson Examination (National and State portions)
Renewal cycle
Every 3 years
Issuing board
Ohio Division of Real Estate & Professional Licensing (Ohio Department of Commerce)

How to get licensed

  1. 1

    Meet the prerequisites

    Be at least 18 years old, High school diploma or equivalent recognized by the Ohio Department of Education (required for applicants born after 1950); completion of the 120-hour pre-licensing curriculum (see training)., pass a criminal background check. Must be a U.S. citizen or legal alien (proof required), be honest and truthful, have no disqualifying criminal offense under ORC 9.79, and must be sponsored by an Ohio broker before taking the exam. Background check is an Ohio BCI + FBI fingerprint check completed via a Webcheck location within 10 business days of submitting the application; results must be sent directly to the Division (agency reason code 4735.143). Verified via archive snapshot 2023-03-31 of the Division's salesperson requirements page (current live page 404s). [1]

  2. 2

    Complete approved training

    Complete 120 hours of training at a state-approved program. Four required courses: Real Estate Principles and Practices (40 hrs), Ohio Real Estate Law including civil rights/housing discrimination (40 hrs), Real Estate Appraisal (20 hrs), and Real Estate Finance (20 hrs), totaling 120 hours. Courses must be completed at an institution of higher education that awards at least a two-year (associate) degree, within the 10 years preceding the salesperson exam application (or within 4 years if previously licensed). The current live Division page 404s; content verified via archive snapshot 2023-03-31 of the Division's 'Requirements for an Ohio Real Estate Salesperson's License' page. [1]

  3. 3

    Ohio Real Estate Salesperson Examination (National and State portions)

    Pass the Ohio Real Estate Salesperson Examination (National and State portions) (fee: $63). $63 covers the combined National and State portions in one sitting, per the Division's PSI Candidate Information Bulletin fee schedule. Passing score is 70 (on a 100-point scale) on each portion. Separate re-take application fees apply if only one portion must be retaken. This is distinct from the $81 salesperson exam application fee paid to the Division. Verified via archive snapshot 2025-12-22 of the Division's Candidate Information Bulletin page (current live page 404s). [2]

  4. 4

    Submit your application

    Submit your application to Ohio Division of Real Estate & Professional Licensing (Ohio Department of Commerce) with the $81 application fee. [3]

  5. 5

    Receive your license

    Once your application is approved, Ohio Division of Real Estate & Professional Licensing (Ohio Department of Commerce) issues your Real Estate Salesperson License for Ohio.

Fees

Fee Amount
Application fee [3] $81
License fee [3] None specified
Renewal fee [3] $182
Ohio Real Estate Salesperson Examination (National and State portions) [2] $63
License reactivation from inactive/suspended status (first-year suspension) [3] $34

The $81 Salesperson Examination Application fee covers the license application/exam-approval process; the Division does not charge a separate license-issuance fee beyond it. Renewal fee is $182 for salespersons, due triennially (with an interim first-year renewal that carries the same fee schedule structure but no CE). Verified via archive snapshot 2025-06-13 of the Division's Real Estate FAQ page (current live page 404s).

Renewal & continuing education

Renew every 3 years. 30 continuing education hours required per cycle.

License renewal is on a 3-year cycle by the licensee's birthday, requiring 30 hours of continuing education including three hours each of Canons of Ethics, Core Law, and Civil Rights. A salesperson's very first renewal (due on the first birthday after licensure) requires only the renewal fee and no CE; the first CE-bearing renewal comes three years after that. A separate 20-hour Post Licensure course is due within one year of initial licensure (not counted toward the 30-hour CE renewal requirement). Verified via archive snapshot 2025-06-13 of the Division's Real Estate FAQ page (current live page 404s).

Reciprocity

Endorsement/reciprocity from another state is available.

Ohio does not have formal reciprocity agreements with specific partner states; instead, a 2023 Ohio law created four pathways for out-of-state applicants (substantially-similar license/government certification, private certification, work experience, or the standard initial-license path), each still requiring sponsorship by an Ohio broker, the $81 application fee, an Ohio/national background check, and passing at minimum the State portion of the Ohio real estate exam. Verified via archive snapshot 2025-08-27 of the Division's 'Out of State Licensed Salesperson Applicants' page (current live page 404s).

4 state-approved training providers in Ohio — browse programs and compare schools on tradecolleges.org.

Cost calculator

  • $81
  • $63
Total$144

Frequently asked questions

How many hours of pre-licensing education does Ohio require for a real estate salesperson license?

120 hours across four courses: Real Estate Principles and Practices (40 hrs), Ohio Real Estate Law (40 hrs), Real Estate Appraisal (20 hrs), and Real Estate Finance (20 hrs), completed at a degree-granting institution of higher education.

Who administers the Ohio real estate salesperson exam, and what does it cost?

PSI Licensure:Certification administers the exam under contract with the Division. The combined National and State exam costs $63, separate from the $81 exam application fee paid to the Division.

Does an Ohio real estate salesperson need a sponsoring broker?

Yes. Applicants must be sponsored by an Ohio-licensed broker before they can apply to take the salesperson exam; the license cannot be activated without one.

What is the renewal cycle and continuing education requirement?

Salesperson licenses renew every 3 years and require 30 hours of continuing education (including 3 hours each of Canons of Ethics, Core Law, and Civil Rights). The renewal fee is $182. A separate 20-hour Post Licensure course is also due within the licensee's first year.

Can someone licensed in another state get an Ohio real estate license?

Yes, through one of four pathways established by a 2023 Ohio law (based on holding a substantially similar license, a private or government certification, or relevant work experience), but the applicant must still pass at least the State portion of the Ohio exam and secure an Ohio sponsoring broker.

Sources

  1. [1] com.ohio.gov/divisions-and-programs/real-estate-and-professional-licensing/salespersons-and-brokers/guides-and-resources/requirements-for-an-ohio-real-estate-salespersons-license — accessed 2026-07-12
  2. [2] com.ohio.gov/divisions-and-programs/real-estate-and-professional-licensing/salespersons-and-brokers/guides-and-resources/salesperson-and-broker-candidate-information-bulletin — accessed 2026-07-12
  3. [3] com.ohio.gov/divisions-and-programs/real-estate-and-professional-licensing/salespersons-and-brokers/guides-and-resources/real-estate-faq — accessed 2026-07-12
  4. [4] com.ohio.gov/divisions-and-programs/real-estate-and-professional-licensing/salespersons-and-brokers/guides-and-resources/out-of-state-sales-applicants — accessed 2026-07-12