Article Summary: This article will help anyone looking for information pertaining to a real estate license in the state of Ohio or anyone looking to become a real estate agent or realtor in Ohio. Contents of this article may include information on real estate education, schools, training courses, continuing education, tests and exams, laws, license requirements, renewal information, forms and more..
The
Real Estate & Professional Licensing Division of the Ohio Department of
Commerce is responsible for the licensing of all the real estate brokers and salespeople
in Ohio. The Division aims at providing fair and consistent administration of
responsibilities while protecting consumers and the public. The office of the Division is
in Columbus, Ohio.
The requirements for all applicants for a real estate agent license in Ohio include being
at least 18 years of age and being honest, truthful and of good reputation. If an
applicant has ever been convicted of a felony or crime of moral turpitude, or adjudged by
a court to have violated any civil rights laws regarding real estate within the past two
years, the application will probably be denied unless the Superintendent of the Division
of Real Estate can be satisfied that the violation will not occur again.
All applicants must successfully pass both parts of the real estate exams and apply for
their license within one year of passing their initial exam. Once licensed, all real
estate agents need to successfully complete 30 hours of specific, approved real estate
continuing education courses every three years before their date of birth. These may be
distance-education courses by correspondence or over the internet.
The
requirements
for a real estate salesperson license in Ohio include having a high school
diploma or GED, if born after 1950. All salesperson applicants need to be sponsored by an
Ohio Broker. Applicants who were not licensed as either a real estate salesperson or
broker within the four-year period immediately preceding the application, need to
successfully complete 120 classroom hours of specific real estate courses from an
approved real
estate school within the ten-year period immediately preceding applying for
their license. These real estate courses need to have been completed at a college or
university that awards a degree in at least a two-year program. All education requirements
need to be met before applying for the real estate examinations.
The
requirements
for a real estate broker license in Ohio include successfully completing the
educational requirements at an
approved real
estate school. If licensed after August 1, 2001 the applicant must
complete 240 hours of specific real estate courses plus complete a minimum of two
years of college. The 240 hours of real estate courses may be included in the two
years of college.
All applicants for a real estate broker license in Ohio need to have been actively
licensed as either a broker or salesperson for at least two years. This includes working
an average of 30 hours per week for two of the last five years immediately preceding the
license application. Applicants must have completed 20 real estate transaction, or have
the equivalent in approved experience. All education requirements need to be met before
applying for the real estate examinations.
The approved real estate schools for prelicensure are located online.
The approved continuing education
real estate schools provide mostly distance education courses.
The examinations in Ohio are handled by Experior, a professional testing company. The
examination fees are $60.00 for a salesperson applicant and $10.00 for a broker applicant,
and all fees are nonrefundable and nontransferable. There is a $40.00 rescheduling fee for
the exams.
Real estate licenses expire on the agent's birthday each year. Applicants may renew the
real estate license within 60 days prior to the expiration date.
You can locate almost all of the real estate forms you need
online.
Real estate careers are strengthened by membership in the many organizations that provide
services for the professional agent. Organizations like the Ohio Association of Realtors and the
National Association of Real Estate Brokers
(NAREB) assist many in locating real estate jobs within the industry. The Association of Real Estate License Law Officials
(ARELLO) and The National Association of Realtors
(NAR), the world's largest professional association, are excellent resources for
professional enrichment and real estate education.