In order to kickstart your real estate career in Alaska, it’s essential to obtain an Alaska Real Estate License. However, despite the fact that the application process is mainly completed online nowadays, many applicants can still find it quite confusing and complicated.
For this reason, this How to Get a Real Estate License in Alaska article will break down the main steps involved in the licensing process, covering everything from educational requirements to exam preparation and having your fingerprints taken.
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Alaska Real Estate License
In order to get your Alaska real estate license and start working in the real estate industry, there are several key steps you’ll need to complete, including:
- Ensuring You Meet the Licensing Eligibility Requirements
- Completing the Mandatory Pre-Licensing Education
- Passing the Alaska Real Estate Exam
- Obtaining Errors and Omissions (E&O) Insurance
- Finding a Sponsoring Broker
- Submitting a License Application
In the sections below, we’ve explored each of these steps in more detail.
Step 1: Meet the Alaska Real Estate License Requirements
Before continuing ahead with your application for an Alaska real estate license, you’ll first need to confirm that you’re actually eligible for it by ensuring you meet the following prerequisites according to AS 08.88.171:
- Be at least 19 years old
- Not be facing charges for a felony or crime considered by the Commission to impair your ability to safely practice as a real estate salesperson (e.g., forgery, theft, extortion, or fraud)
- Satisfy the appropriate education requirements (see Step 2)
It’s important to be aware that if you’ve been convicted of a disqualifying crime, you’ll need to wait seven years after finishing the sentence for it before you’ll be able to make an application for a real estate license.
Step 2: Complete the Mandatory Pre-Licensing Education
In addition to the general requirements outlined above, there are certain educational prerequisites you’ll be expected to meet in order to be able to apply for an Alaska real estate license.
In particular, you’ll be expected to complete 40 classroom hours of pre-licensing education from an approved course provider.
Once that is completed, you will receive a Certificate of Completion, which you must present at the exam site in order to sit for your state licensing exam.
Keep in mind that this certificate will remain valid for a period of 18 months, meaning that after this period you will be required to retake a pre-licensing course in order to continue with the licensing process.
Important
Even though completing the courses is mandatory, it would be a mistake to think of this step as just “checking a box”. This is because your pre-licensing education is what will prepare you to both pass your exam and become a better real estate agent.
For this reason, we always encourage our readers to invest in high-quality and reliable courses, as their study materials (like real estate practice tests and flashcards) can be invaluable during the exam prep stage.
On top of this, some of the top courses also offer money-back guarantees in the event that you do not pass your exam on your first attempt after taking their course.
Recommended Course
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Step 3: Pass the Alaska Real Estate Exam
The next step you’ll need to complete is to pass the Alaska real estate exam, which is administered by Pearson VUE.
This four-hour exam is made up of 120 scored questions spread across two sections: a general portion (80 questions) and a state-specific portion on Alaska law (40 questions).
In order to schedule your real estate exam, you’ll need to head over to the Pearson VUE website and make an online reservation. If this is your first time using the platform, you’ll be required to create an account, after which you’ll be shown step-by-step instructions on how to complete the reservation.
Keep in mind that exam reservations will cost $100 to make for each attempt, and must be made at least 24 hours before the date you plan to sit the exam.
Immediately after sitting the Alaska real estate exam, you’ll find out whether you passed or failed the test. In order to pass, you must obtain a scaled score of at least 75 on both portions.
Note: After passing this exam, be sure to continue with the rest of the licensure process quickly as your results will only be valid for six months from your exam date.
Step 4: Obtain Errors and Omissions Insurance
With this out of the way, the next crucial step you’ll want to take toward obtaining your Alaska real estate license is to secure Errors and Omissions (E&O) insurance.
While legally required under 12 AAC 64.600, obtaining this insurance is a good idea for real estate salespersons anyway. This is because it allows you to operate freely without the threat of any potential legal claims or financial losses due to any professional mistakes or omissions you may make.
Since the Alaska Real Estate Commission (AREC) works closely with Rice Insurance Services Center (RISC), we generally recommend going with this provider as it’s far more convenient.
However, there’s no requirement to obtain your E&O insurance from RISC, and you can actually use any AREC-approved provider as long as you report them using the Affidavit of E&O Insurance Equivalent Coverage form.
Note: Be aware that while all licensees are required to provide proof that they’ve met this E&O requirement, only those that don’t obtain their coverage from RISC will be required to submit the form that demonstrates equivalence.
Step 5: Find a Sponsoring Broker
The final step you’ll need to complete before you can apply for a real estate license is to secure a sponsoring broker. This is an experienced real estate business or professional that’s qualified to guide and oversee you, ensuring adherence to vital legal and ethical standards.
In Alaska, working under a licensed broker is legally required for newly-qualified salespersons. Despite this, it shouldn’t be viewed as a mere formality since an associate broker offers crucial training, support, and connections required to understand the industry and successfully expand your business.
Note: Make sure to keep your sponsoring broker’s key information noted down somewhere safely, as you’ll need it to complete your application under AS 08.88.291.
Step 6: Submit a License Application
After passing the state real estate exam and satisfying all other licensing requirements, you’ll be ready to move onto submitting your license application. This is typically done online through the Commission’s MyAlaska online portal by paying a $390 application fee.
However, you can also submit your application by mailing a paper form and the appropriate fees ($370) to the following address:
Real Estate Commission
550 West 7th Avenue, Suite 1500
Anchorage AK 99501
Regardless of how you decide to file your application, you’ll be required to submit the following supporting documentation:
- Certificate of Completion for a qualifying pre-licensing education course
- Passing score sheet Alaska real estate exam
- Proof of E&O insurance coverage
- Employer Broker Information
- Verification of License for all states you’ve ever been licensed (if applicable)
Note: You can find more detailed information regarding the process of applying online or by mail for this license on AREC’s website.
Step 7: Application Review
If you’ve managed to get this far, congratulations! With your application submitted and all the other licensing requirements satisfied, in most cases you should receive notification from the Alaska Real Estate Commission within 10 to 15 business days.
Be sure to take some time to celebrate your accomplishment. You’ve put in a lot of work and effort and deserve a celebration!
Note: If you’re not sure what’s happening with your license and it’s been longer than expected, you can reach out directly to the Alaska Real Estate Commission by phone or email.
Alaska Real Estate License Renewal
In order to keep your license valid and continue working as a real estate sales agent, you’ll need to renew your license every even-numbered year by January 31.
As part of this renewal, you’ll be required to complete 20 hours of continuing education (CE), either with online courses or real estate classes in a classroom setting. This must be broken down as follows:
- CE Core Curriculum (8 hours)
- Elective Topics (12 hours)
You can find more information on the various different Continuing Education Topics you can take for the next licensing period on the AREC website.
In addition to these CE requirements, you’ll also need to complete 30 hours of post-licensing education (PLE) under 12 AAC 64.064 within a year of the date you were initially granted a real estate license.
After finishing these PLE hours, you’ll be required to submit proof of this alongside a filled-out Affidavit of Post-Licensing Education (Form 08-4326) to the Commission. These forms must be submitted within 30 days of the due date for PLE completion and will cost $50 to file.
We always encourage our readers to think of the post licensing course they take as an investment in a successful real estate career — higher quality, more reliable course content is a central part of ensuring you continue to grow professionally.
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Note: Be aware that, as a newly-qualified real estate licensee, you won’t be required to complete these CE requirements if your license was issued within 90 days of the expiration date.
Alaska Division of Corporations, Business and Professional Licensing
Mailing Address:
Real Estate Commission
Robert B. Atwood Building
550 West 7th Avenue, Suite 1500
Anchorage, AK 99501
Phone: (907) 269-8168
Fax: (907) 269-8156
Email: realestatecommission@alaska.gov
Website: https://www.commerce.alaska.gov/web/cbpl/ProfessionalLicensing/RealEstateCommission
Alaska Real Estate License FAQ
How much does it cost to get a real estate license in Alaska?
The cost of obtaining a real estate license in Alaska varies but generally ranges between $500 and $800. This estimation includes expenses such as pre-licensing education, a $100 exam fee, and a license application fee of $200.
Additionally, you’ll also be required to pay $50 to submit the Post-Licensing Affidavit form within the first year your license was granted.
How hard is the Alaska real estate exam?
The Alaska real estate exam is considered challenging but achievable with proper preparation. It consists of two sections: a national portion and a state-specific portion, totaling 120 scored questions.
To pass, you need to obtain a scaled score of at least 75 out of 100.
What is the toughest state to get a real estate license?
While the difficulty of obtaining a real estate salesperson license can vary based on individual experiences, many consider California to be one of the toughest states.
By comparison, Alaska real estate licenses are far easier to obtain. You can find more out about it in our How to Get a Real Estate License in Alaska guide.
What score do you need to pass the Alaska real estate exam?
To pass the appropriate exam, you need a minimum scaled score of 75 out of 100. Please note that since scores adjust according to the difficulty of this Pearson VUE exam, this is different to having a passing grade of 75%.
Instead a scaled score of 75 reflects your performance relative to the test’s difficulty, rather than a straightforward percentage of correct answers.