Pre-Licensing Course: How to Get Started in Real Estate

Found yourself feeling ready to jump-start your career in real estate, but unsure of where to start? That’s where we come in! Once you’ve made your decision and checked off the basic qualifications for getting a real estate license, it’s time to get started on your pre-licensing education. After all, completing your pre-licensing education is the first step to becoming a real estate agent and building a successful real estate career!

So, let’s get started on what you need to know about taking a real estate pre-licensing course!

What Exactly is a Pre-Licensing Course for Real Estate?

As mentioned before, a pre-licensing course is the first educational step to becoming a licensed real estate agent. The course is made up of a variety of real estate-related classes in order to meet your state’s real estate requirements. In the state of Utah, for example, aspiring real estate agents are required to complete 120 hours of approved pre-licensing education. Once completed, real estate students will have covered important topics such as property management, real estate finance, contracts, ethics, and more.

Before choosing a school, whether it be in-person or online, you’ll want to make sure that the school and pre-licensing course are approved and certified by your state. You can find this information by checking with your state’s Division of Real Estate. You definitely don’t want to skip this step, since your time and education won’t count if it’s not from an approved source! Be sure to select your state based on where you plan to practice as a real estate salesperson. ARTI Academics currently has a pre-licensing class approved for the state of Utah and the state of Nevada.

How are the Pre-Licensing Hours Broken Down?

According to Real Estate Principles and Practices in the state of Utah, the 120 hours of coursework are broken down as follows:

• 12 hours of Ownership of Real Estate
• 12 hours of Real Estate Brokerage and the Law of Agency
• 16 hours of Contracts
• 4 hours of Property Management
• 8 hours of Settlement
• 2 hours of Federal Taxation
• 16 hours of Real Estate Finance
• 6 hours of Valuation and Appraisal
• 2 hours of New Construction
• 4 hours of Math Skills
• 6 hours of Federal Laws
• 24 hours of Utah Law
• 8 hours of Testing and Review

This combines for a total of 120 hours of real estate education. This will look different depending on the state where you plan to practice, so always double-check the requirements for your state!

Choosing a Pre-Licensing Course

Now that you know what pre-licensing courses are and what they entail, it’s time to decide which one is right for you. When looking at different schools and courses, there are a variety of things you’ll want to consider:

1. The quality of the course material
2. The price of the course
3. he length of the course
4. The format of the course (online real estate education vs in-person)

The quality of the course material is important because you want to make sure you’re getting a quality education, not to mention your money’s worth. Some courses will come with live support options, real estate practice exams, and additional exam prep courses. On top of that, you’ll want to look for a course that is produced by an approved and reputable source, as well as one that has positive reviews from other students. Positive feedback given by past students is usually a good sign for the school and its courses.

The price is also an important factor since you’ll want to find a course that is affordable for you. There are many options out there for real estate school and pre-licensing courses to help fit within any budget. In fact, Arti Academics even offers its 120-hour pre-licensing course for free to its real estate students!

The length and format of the course are something you’ll want to consider based on your personal schedule and learning style. If you’re someone who learns best by being in a classroom setting, then you might want to look for an in-person course. These courses may require a little more travel from you, but they offer the benefit of having a teacher there to answer any questions you might have. If you’re someone who prefers to learn at your own pace, then an online course might be a better option for you. The time it takes to complete online courses can vary, as you are able to go more at your own pace. Online learning also gives you extra flexibility to work on the material when it’s convenient for you.

In the end, no matter which type of course you choose, make sure that you’re comfortable with the material and that you have a good understanding of the topics covered. The last thing you want is to be unprepared when it comes time to take your sales agent exam!

When Can I Take the Real Estate License Exam?

After you’ve completed your state approved pre-licensing course and met your hour requirements, it’s time to take the sales agent exam! Keep in mind that, although you are likely fresh out of your classes, it still pays to study. You wouldn’t want to spend even more time, energy, or money when you could buckle down and study to help you pass the first time around. It’s worth it!

The good news is that you don’t have to take the exam right away if you don’t feel ready. In fact, in most cases, you have up to one year from the date of your course completion to pass the real estate exam and apply for a license. This gives you some extra time to study and make sure you’re prepared. Just remember that you’ll want to take the exam within a year so that your training and coursework don’t expire. And if you choose to wait to take your exam, be sure to continue to study hard until you pass the test.

Is a Pre-Licensing Course the Only Education I’ll Need to be a Real Estate Agent?

No! While a pre-licensing course is required to get your initial real estate license, it’s not the only education requirement you’ll need to meet throughout your real estate career. In order to keep your license active, you’ll need to fulfill continuing education requirements for every license renewal period. These continuing education courses help to ensure that you’re keeping up with the latest changes in the industry and that you’re prepared to best serve your clients as real estate professionals.

The good news is that, just like with pre-licensing courses, there are many different continuing education courses available to fit your budget, schedule, and learning style. You can even find courses that are offered online (and FREE through Arti Academics) so that you can complete them at your own pace.

Ready to Take Your First Step? Let’s Go!

If you’re really interested in becoming a real estate agent, the first step is to sign up for a pre-licensing course. From there, your classes will help you to learn the basics of real estate and prepare you to take the real estate sales agent exam. Then, once you’ve completed your coursework and met all your pre-license education requirements, you’ll be one step closer to an exciting new career in the real estate industry!