Pre-Broker Licensing Requirements
For further information, visit www.plb.iowa.gov.
Getting your Broker’s License:
- A person whose application for licensure has not been rejected in this or any other state or jurisdiction within 12 months before the date of application.
- A person whose real estate license has not been revoked in this or any other state within two years before the date of application.
- Shall be 18 years of age or older.
- An applicant is not ineligible because of citizenship, sex, race, religion, marital status, or national origin, although the application form may require citizenship information.
- An applicant for a real estate broker’s license was convicted of forgery, embezzlement, obtaining money under false pretenses, theft, extortion, conspiracy to defraud, another similar offense, or any crime involving moral turpitude.
- An applicant who has had a professional license revoked in this or any other jurisdiction may be denied a license by the commission on the grounds of the revocation.
- Actively licensed and engaged in real estate for a period of at least 24 months preceding the date of application. (An applicant may submit a waiver of Commission rules or substitution of experience)
- Passes a qualifying broker examination and will receive a passing score report and an application form for licensure from the testing service. (and apply by the last working day of the sixth calendar month following the qualifying real estate examination)
- A completed background check (within 210 calendar days of the completion of the criminal history check)
- Licenses are issued for three years, counting the remaining portion issued as a full year. The license expires on December 31, the third year of the license term.
- Shall complete at least 60 classroom hours of commission-approved real estate education within 24 months before taking the broker examination
60 classroom hours was updated from 72 hours by the Iowa Real Estate Commission in January 2020. The new course outline includes the following:
- Contract Law & Contract Writing (6 hours)
- Iowa Real Estate Trust Accounts (6 hours)
- Principals of Appraising and Market Analysis (6 hours)
- Real Estate Law & Agency Law (6 hours)
- Real Estate Finance (6 hours)
- Federal & State Laws Affecting Real Estate Practice (6 hours)
- Real Estate Office Organization, Administration & Human Resources (12 hours)
- Real Estate Technology & Data Security (6 hours)
- Ethics & Safety Issues for Brokers (6 hours)
Background Checks & Fingerprints:
Background checks can take 8-10 weeks with the Iowa Real Estate Commission, so it is wise to start the fingerprinting process early. Once the background check is complete, per Iowa Administrative Rules 193E, it is good for 210 days. You must use the fingerprint card the Iowa Real Estate Commission sends you, and even if you already have done a background check, the commission still requires you to do your own.
To find a fingerprint location, try your local police station. Be sure to call ahead to verify availability, determine cost, and confirm payment forms.