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Real Estate Licensing
Everything you need to know about getting your real estate license.
It’s no secret that real estate is a booming industry! In fact, it’s likely that the real estate market is only going to continue to grow in the years to come. So, if you’re thinking of starting a new career or have always wanted to jump into the real estate agent life, now might be the perfect time to get your real estate license!
But where do you start? That’s where we come in. In this article, we’ll walk you through everything you need to know about getting your real estate license – from the basics of what it is and how it works, to what you need to do in order to qualify for licensure. We’ll also give you a few tips on how to get started in your new career. So read on for all the information you need to get your real estate license!
What Is a Real Estate License?
A real estate license is a credential that allows an individual to legally practice the profession of real estate in their state. To obtain a real estate license, an individual must successfully follow and complete a few key steps. To help you get a general idea, here’s a simplified rundown of the licensing process:
- Complete the required hours of approved pre-licensing education
- Pass the state-approved Real Estate License Exam
- Fill out and submit the license application
- Choose a Real Estate Broker to work with
Once an individual has finished these steps, they will be able to use their license and legally work as a real estate agent in their state. (Be sure to keep in mind that requirements may differ slightly depending on the state in which you live and plan to work as a licensed real estate agent.)
Where Do I Start?
There are a few basic things to think about before jumping on the real estate express.
Make Sure You Meet Basic Qualifications
In the state of Utah, three basic qualifications must be met before you can get your license.
- Meet statutory licensing qualifications of integrity, honesty, truthfulness, competency, and reputation.
- Be at least 18 years old when you apply
- Have a minimum of a High School diploma or equivalent
Consider Your Individual Timeline
After you’ve found you meet the basic qualifications, one of the first things you should do is sit down and create a timeline for getting your real estate license. The average time it takes to finish pre-license education is around 4-6 months, but it can sometimes be completed as quickly as 8 weeks. Depending on how quickly you want to get started in your new career, you might want to set a goal of completing the licensing process within a certain number of months. Consider how much free time you’ll have to dedicate to getting your license and plan to go at your own pace- whatever you’re comfortable with. Just remember that every situation is different. Some people might be able to complete the process more quickly than others, while some may need more time and there’s nothing wrong with that.
Think About Your Career Goals
It’s also important to think about your goals for your new career as a real estate agent. Do you want to work with buyers? Sellers? Renters? Do you want to specialize in a certain type of property, such as residential or commercial properties? Consider your overall goal and think about the steps you’d like to take so you can reach it.
Determine Your Budget
Another thing you’ll need to think about as you start the process of getting your real estate license is the cost. There are a few different fees associated with obtaining your license such as the cost of pre-licensing education, the state licensing exam, and the license itself. It’s important to create a budget so you can be prepared for the financial investment required to obtain your license.
Choose a School
There are a variety of real estate school options to choose from. Some people opt to go through an online real estate school, while others prefer in-person classes. There are Pros and Cons to both types of courses, depending on things like your budget, time availability, learning style, and location. You’ll want to make sure the school of your choice is accredited and approved as a Real Estate Pre-License School as well. Some schools also offer practice tests and exam prep in addition to the required coursework. So, do some research beforehand and figure out which option is best for you.
If you’re looking for an online real estate school with great reviews, flexibility, and a variety of online courses, Arti Academics could be right for you. Not to mention, it’s free! Plus, it offers a mobile app so you can take your coursework on the go.
Real Estate Courses
Next, you’re ready to enroll in your chosen real estate courses. In Utah, it’s required to complete 120 hours of real estate education. These hours will be filled with classes about the legal and financial processes of real estate sales. Examples include property management, contracts, ethics, real estate finance, property appraisals, Utah laws, and federal laws.
Follow The Steps to Earn a Real Estate License
Since real estate licensing requirements vary depending on the state, it’s important to follow those set by the state in which you plan to practice real estate. The overall steps are generally the same, but some of the specific details may change. So, here we will focus on getting a real estate license in the state of Utah.
Complete Pre-Licensing Coursework
The first official step you need to follow is to complete the required hours of pre-licensing education. In Utah, this means completing a total of 120 hours at an accredited real estate school. As mentioned earlier, this will include courses in real estate transactions, property management, ethics, law, and more. Once you’ve completed your education requirements, you can then schedule to take the state’s licensing exam.
Pass The State-Approved Real Estate License Exam
After you’ve completed your pre-license education, you’ll need to pass the real estate licensing exam. This is a state-approved sales agent exam that tests your knowledge of the concepts covered in your coursework. You must receive a passing grade before you can apply for a license.
Submit Your Real Estate License Application
Once you’ve completed the required education and gotten a passing score on the real estate exam, you can apply for your license. Keep in mind that there is a time limit on applying for a real estate license in Utah. You must have completed your pre-license coursework within the past year and passed the real estate exam within the past 90 days.
To submit your license application, you’ll need to gather a variety of documents to send in. This includes the Utah Real Estate Sales Agent Application, Qualifying Questionnaire, consent to a background check, proof of your completed education, and a non-refundable fee of $157. You’ll also need to be fingerprinted as part of the application process, which is most often done right after completing the exam at a Utah testing center.
Choose A Real Estate Broker
After you’ve obtained your real estate license, you’ll need to choose a brokerage to work for. A real estate broker is someone who supervises and oversees all transactions made by real estate agents. They can help guide you and answer any questions you might have as a new real estate agent. You’ll also share a percentage of your commission with your broker, so be sure to ask about the commission structure before joining just any team.
Take Advantage Of Your Real Estate License
You’ve done it! You’re now a licensed real estate agent in the state of Utah. All that’s left to do is get started in your new career. Use the resources and connections you gained during your education and broker interviews to help get your business off the ground. And don’t forget, you can always renew your real estate license every two years as long as you complete the necessary continuing education requirements.
Ready To Become a Licensed Real Estate Agent?
By following these steps, you can obtain your Utah real estate license and begin your career in this exciting industry. Just remember to stay up to date on the latest industry news and trends and always put your clients’ best interests first. Good luck!
Course Sketch
Learn Where to find Course Sketch to Study
We have replaced the study book with course and certificate sketches. In this video you will learn how to access course material before, during and after you take them to review, and study.
Real Estate Agent vs. Real Estate Broker: What's the Difference?
When it comes to buying or selling a home, there are many professionals you can work with. But sometimes having so many different options can make things a little extra confusing. For example, a real estate agent and a real estate broker can have similar job responsibilities but are still quite different positions. This might have you wondering what exactly the difference is between the two. In this article, we will explore the differing qualifications, job responsibilities, and salaries of each profession. This should help clear things up a bit, so let’s jump in!
Defining Real Estate Agent and Real Estate Broker
A real estate agent is someone who has a valid license to help clients buy, sell, or rent real estate. Real estate agents are always employed by a real estate broker or brokerage firm. A real estate broker must also be a licensed real estate agent and has the same basic duties as a real estate agent, however, they must. complete additional certification and licensing requirements. A real estate broker can choose to work independently, as well as hire other qualified real estate agents to work for them.
Qualifications for Real Estate Agents
In order to become a licensed real estate agent, you must meet certain qualifications. These qualifications vary by state, so be sure to keep that in mind as well. In most cases though, a person must:
- Be at least 18 years old and have a valid driver’s license
- Be a legal resident of the United States
- Have no criminal convictions related to fraud or misrepresentation
- Complete a pre-licensing course of education through an accredited school, meeting all hour requirements by the state
- Submit to fingerprinting, along with other background checks for their state
- Pass the state real estate license exam
- Choose a licensed real estate broker or brokerage firm to be sponsored by
Once these steps are completed correctly, you will be able to receive a real estate license in your state. After that, just keep in mind that you will need to complete a certain number of continuing education classes (check with your state for more specifics) to keep a valid license.
Qualifications for Real Estate Brokers
It’s always important to double-check with the state where you live since the process can vary slightly, but initially, the qualifications to become a real estate broker are the same as those of an agent. You can refer back to the previous section for a reminder of what those qualifications are. However, for a real estate broker, the process doesn’t stop there.
Real estate brokers continue with their education and successfully complete any further state requirements to receive their state real estate broker license. In general, the additional qualifications to become a broker are as follows:
- Once you become a licensed real estate agent, work as a real estate agent for on-the-job training and experience
- Continue to complete required real estate certifications approved by the state licensing board
- Complete a state-approved real estate broker course
- Take and pass the real estate broker exam
These steps make it possible for brokers to work on their own (without being sponsored by another brokerage) and even start their own brokerage where they can choose to hire other agents.
What Do Real Estate Agents Do?
A real estate agent wears many hats and often juggles many different job responsibilities at the same time. This includes everything from meeting with clients and giving them advice on possible houses to buy or sell, showing properties to potential clients, filling out real estate contracts and paperwork, doing research on the housing market in their area, working with mortgage brokers and lenders, etc.
It is important for agents to build relationships with their clients. This not only helps attract new clients, but it can also be very beneficial for existing clients to get the best possible service. Real estate agents must keep their clients informed about market trends and statistics, which can help them make knowledgeable decisions about buying or selling real estate. It’s also the real estate agent’s responsibility to ensure that their clients understand the requirements for completing a sale. This includes any necessary home inspections, paperwork, signatures, and important dates like moving or closing dates.
Real estate agents can take on a few different roles. A listing agent represents the sellers while the buyer’s agent represents the buyers. A listing agent will help their clients set an asking price for the property, suggest possible home updates that would increase the value of the home, help stage the home for open houses, and market the listing for a successful sale. A buyer’s agent works to locate properties that meet the buyer’s wish list as closely as possible. They also help set up home inspections and appraisals as needed. Both listing and buyer’s agents will complete paperwork and help make sure all the required forms and documents get signed and submitted promptly.
What Do Real Estate Brokers Do?
A real estate broker manages and helps their agents with all of the above duties. They oversee daily operations and transactions, supervise, train new hires, and manage other administrative staff. Brokers often oversee an entire team of agents as well as help market properties. This can mean they help come up with marketing plans, create ad copy for print and digital media, schedule open houses and property showings, write newsletters to current clients or those that may be looking to buy or sell soon, and even help create videos to market homes if needed.
There are three main job positions that a broker can have, each one with varying responsibilities. There are associate brokers, managing brokers, and principal brokers. An associate broker has a broker license but still chooses to work under another broker and not supervise other agents. A managing broker supervises and oversees daily operations and transactions within the office. They can also hire, train, and manage staff. A principal broker, also known as a designated broker, oversees the agents to make sure they are meeting all state and national real estate laws. In general, each office will have one designated broker.
Similar to real estate agents, brokers must also stay current on the latest market trends and information in order to be successful. Brokers need to help keep their team of agents up-to-date as well, so they can share best practices or offer guidance when needed. Brokers may also regularly meet with other members of the real estate community, such as mortgage brokers, other real estate agents, or inspectors to stay up-to-date on the latest news.
How Much Does a Real Estate Agent Make?
In most cases, real estate agents are paid based on a commission. This simply means that they receive a percentage of the closing sale price of a property. A real estate agent’s salary varies based on factors such as the. current real estate market, home sale prices, commission percentage, location, size of the brokerage, and type of transactions completed. Generally speaking though, a real estate agent makes anywhere from 5-6% of the purchase price.
It’s important to note that real estate agents don’t walk away with the entire commission amount. Typically, that amount is divided up between the listing agent, buyer’s agent, and the employing brokerage firms. This will impact the overall payout that each agent receives.
The average salary for a real estate agent working in the United States can fall anywhere between $40,000-90,000 per year. It’s quite the range but commonly falls closer to $50,000. In order to be successful in any sales position, it’s important to have a strong tolerance for rejection and persistence when going after new clients. In addition, real estate agents must be attentive and detail-oriented to complete all the necessary tasks and paperwork on time. All of these things can greatly affect a real estate agent’s overall income.
How Much Does a Real Estate Broker Make?
A real estate broker’s salary also varies depending on similar factors to those of an agent and is earned mostly through commission. Commission is one of the biggest rewards that real estate brokers receive. However, their overall income is often higher than an agent’s. This is because, in addition to the commission they make on their own deals, brokers may net additional revenue from the commissions earned by the real estate agents working under them.
The average yearly pay for a real estate broker in the United States is $54,000 per year but can reach as high as $210,000 yearly. As mentioned before, there are always multiple factors that can impact how much they make. This includes the current real estate market and location.
Another difference between the salary of a real estate agent and a real estate broker is that brokers aren’t required to split their commissions with the firm. Any commissions that the broker earns on their own real estate transactions will be theirs. That’s one bonus aspect of continuing education and training to become a broker.
Resources Available To Students
What Resources Are Available To The Students?
The ARTI Academics team is dedicated to providing valuable resources to our students enrolled in the pre-licensing certificate. As a pre-licensing student, we recognize that you have to learn several concepts, facts, theories, and laws while learning about the real estate complexities. To help with the education journey, we provide the following tools to help you succeed and develop your real estate acumen.
First, the ARTI academics course manual. The course manual is designed with quizzes and concepts from each course. Furthermore, an ARTI Academics certified coach is assigned to assist with any questions as you progress with the pre-licensing certificate. The coach is an industry and subject matter expert. Additionally, we offer real estate licensing test prep. Test prep is a class (both live and virtual) designed to prepare our students for the exam successfully. And, of course, the Director of Education and the education team will be here to guide you every step of the way.
We also provide support and resources for existing real estate agents utilizing Continuing Education services. These include support through the online community, course banking, and additional assistance.
Be assured that ARTI Academics places the highest value on your success and we’re committed to helping you on your real estate journey.
What Skills Are Needed To Be A Successful Real Estate Agent
Be A Successful Real Estate Agent
Learn what skills are needed to be successful in the real estate industry.
As real estate agents, we must continuously enhance and develop our skill sets. ARTI Academics often gets the question, “what skills do I need to be a successful real estate agent?” There are various sets of skills that will position you to be a successful real estate agent, such as communication, collaboration, time management, marketing, advanced knowledge of market conditions, and adaptability (and a great sense of humor).
Communication
Being able to convey important information to clients, real estate agents, and other individuals in a real estate transaction is critical. As the agent, your relied upon to be level-headed and informed about the sale that you’re working on. The difference between a deal getting done or not getting done may be correlated with how the agent listens to the client and then communicates information between the parties. Individuals who use poor grammar, misguided phrases, and are unresponsive should be cautioned about getting into the real estate business.
Collaboration
Real estate is a team business. You will be working together with various parties, including title officers, lenders, home inspectors, 3rd party intermediaries, attorneys, and more to ensure that the deal goes smoothly. A team mindset is crucial to ensuring the real estate transaction makes it past the closing line.
Time Management
Utilizing good time management is critical to your success. You will be managing multiple tasks at once and there are many items that can take up your time but do not keep you productive. Utilizing time blocking, coming into the office, and building relationships will help you best find what is most important to running and growing your business.
Marketing
You don’t have to have good marketing skills to be an excellent real estate agent, but if you aren’t a marketing expert then you better work with a real estate brokerage that has a marketing team behind them and can deliver for your clients’ needs. If you are an expert marketer, you may be best suited to start a marketing agency instead of a real estate career.
Real Estate Market Analysis
Helping buyers and sellers with pricing recommendations is something you are depended upon to do. This includes understanding and analyzing market data and trends as well as helping clients make decisions that are in their best interest.
Adaptability
Real estate is an ever-evolving industry. It is important that you are open to new ways of doing business and changing your skillset to meet the needs of buyers and sellers.
At ARTI Academics, our team designs classes based on the skills you will need to succeed in the real estate market. We collaborate with industry professionals to learn from their experiences. Additionally, the instructors will provide forward-thinking and diverse insights to help you launch a successful real estate career. Please visit ARTI academics and develop your skill sets by enrolling in our classes or certificates.
ARTI Academics Offers First Real Estate Education Licensing App
ARTI Academics goes Mobile!
ARTI Academics offers first real estate education licensing app.
Learning about real estate and obtaining a license just became a whole lot easier with the release of the industry’s first mobile app, according to internal research. Released by education leader, ARTI Academics, the mobile app is now available for download on phones and tablets for Android and Apple devices. It is tailored for the public and real estate students who seek coursework for Utah and Nevada.
In addition to providing the ARTI Academics app and education offerings 100% free, the school provides students with study guides, practice exams, certified coaches and personalized service at no cost.
Regarding this new initiative, Director of Education, Dr. Amanda Wickra, Ed.D said, “Within just over a year since we offered our first course, ARTI has become the fastest growing and highest rated real estate school in Utah. Our continuing education and pre-licensing courses have become the industry standard for high quality content, forward thinking and innovative learning modalities. The ARTI Academics App will further accelerate adoption of our education platform providing additional opportunities for real estate agents to improve their craft and develop new competencies.
Since the school started in 2019, students have completed thousands of continuing education courses. ARTI’s CE offerings include courses focused on marketing, contracts, law, ethics, commercial real estate, luxury, finance and more. New courses continue to be added monthly. Existing real estate agents can complete online state required continuing education coursework in Nevada and Utah through the app.
Prospective real estate agents in Utah can complete all of their 120 hours of pre-licensing education using the mobile app which is integrated with ARTI’s exclusive 100% free online learning platform, which has been approved by the Utah Division of Real Estate. Hundreds have graduated and passed state licensing exams.
Pre-licensing students are assigned their own personal coach who is certified by ARTI Academics to meet the highest standards of excellence and industry experience. Additionally, the certified coach and the director of education communicates regularly with the students to ensure an excellent student-centered learning experience.
Matt Walter, Chief Technology Officer said, “Offering this app is a game changer for real estate professionals and people interested in learning about real estate. Our in-house software and creative teams have done an incredible job taking this from a vision years ago to a first class learning platform.”
A Unique Online Learning Experience
Our team at ARTI® Academics Real Estate School is dedicated to creating an engaging online learning education experience. We publish interactive real estate courses with specific learning outcomes and provide online support to guide our students to success - all for free. Our learning management system is designed to be user friendly and easy to navigate. There has been a myth that eLearning is for tech-savvy individuals; however, that is not the case—the ARTI academics learning management system is designed to be user friendly for all types of learners regardless of technical skills.
If you're ready to create an account to start your Real Estate School Education with either Continuing Education or Pre-Licensing in the ARTI Academics platform, all you need to do is click 'sign up' to create your account and then select your first course!
At ARTI® Academics, our goal will always be to provide high-quality education with engaging and relevant content. We look forward to connecting with you.
Introducing Your Certified Real Estate School Coach
Providing the best overall real estate school experience is extremely important to us - and you! We are now introducing your ARTI® Academics Certified Coach. As a student striving to complete the real estate pre-licensing coursework, you now have a personal real estate coach available at your fingertips. ARTI® Academics has vetted this coach as an expert in the real estate industry.
Their primary purpose as a certified coach is to provide professional skills training and prepare you to be successful in the real estate field and pass the real estate exam. They will be a great resource to utilize through the 120 hours of Pre-Licensing and will be the direct contact to answer questions and help fulfill learning outcomes.
These resources were put in place because our education team at ARTI® Academics wants to ensure we are preparing the next generation of real estate professionals for success. We want to foster conversations and spark new ideas. Real Estate is an evolving field, and our certified coaches have encountered several of the changes over the years. In sharing their experiences will be beneficial for future real estate agents. "We're really excited to provide this addition to our real estate education platform", said Director of Education, Amanda Wickra, Ed.D. "Our certified coaches will bring a combination of significant teaching experience and subject matter expertise. They will help us continue to deliver an exceptional learning experience for our students."
5 Things You Should Know About Real Estate School
Deciding whether or not to start and complete real estate school can be a difficult question. Before you get started, there are some key things that you should be aware of as you begin your real estate journey.
- Real estate school is not easy. For some people, the content and information from a real estate pre-license course may seem simple and straightforward, but it's not that easy. Lots of key definitions and terminology must be added to your internal knowledge base before you will successfully pass the test. There are also many different real estate specific concepts and core areas of learning that need to be mastered for you to be successful. Some of the information will be specific to the state which you reside in. For example, what may be required for the State of Utah will be different than the requirements and rules for the State of Nevada.
- It will take 120 hours of class time to complete. Deciding to become a real estate agent is a commitment. Finishing real estate school is the first step. You will have to focus the equivalent of three 40 hour weeks studying and learning what it takes to help someone with what will likely be the largest transaction of their life. The stakes are high and it is important to know your stuff. Don't think that you will be able to shortcut the prep time and education.
- You should finish real estate school within 60 days for the highest level of success. Since your goal is to become a real estate professional, it is important to retain the knowledge you've gained from your education. This is achieved by completing real estate school within 60 days. When you finish school within that timeline, you're ready for the real estate license exam and as you move into your career you're relying on recent knowledge. If you started real estate school 8 or 9 months prior, it is difficult to remember everything because you haven't put it into practice.
- You can do it all online. Did you know that you can complete real estate school 100% online? That's right! While there may be a lot of coursework involved, the online schools in real estate have proven high levels of success. In fact, ARTI® Academics has the highest overall satisfaction rating of any school in the State of Utah from Google. In addition, ARTI® Academics consistently ranks at or near the top of the list when it comes to exam pass rates. Part of the success comes from each student having their own dedicated ARTI® Certified Instructor who they can reach out to for answers to questions related to curriculum or the career.
- There is a cost to get into the real estate business. Yes. A real estate agent is a business owner. You're in control of your own destiny. Real Estate School is 100% free at ARTI® Academics, but as you begin your career you will have to plan on investing in your business. This means being prepared to pay REALTOR® fees, MLS fees, and brokerage costs. These are typically small in comparison to what you will need to spend to market and grow your real estate business after you have your license. Outside of money, the largest cost you will experience is the time and energy needed to be successful. Most real estate agents don't make it past the first year or two. While real estate school gets you started, you still have to go and compete to win business. We recommend our ARTI® 5 Contact Rule for new agents in real estate. The ARTI® 5 Contact Rule is: Have 5 Real Estate Conversations Per Day. Put those people in to your Customer Relationship Manager. Follow Up Consistently.
Thank you for reading about the five things you should know about real estate school. Please provide any comments or feedback below and we look forward to seeing you earn your real estate license with the help of ARTI® Academics.
How long does it take to become a real estate agent in Utah?
Earning your real estate license in Utah can happen in as little as 30 days. By completing 8 hours of course work per day 5 days per week you can have the pre-licensing certificate in three weeks. You then must schedule and pass the test and wait for your license from the Utah Division of Real Estate. If you are trying to plan ahead, we recommend 45 to 60 days to make sure you have ample time to make it through and get the license submitted and returned from the Utah Real Estate division.
Find out how much it costs to go to real estate school here.