How to Get an Arizona Real Estate Broker License

Written by: Mary Gerardine

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How to Get an Arizona Real Estate Broker License

Becoming an Arizona real estate broker is a strong step forward in your career. Not only does this advanced license look great on a resume, it also allows you to work independently, open real estate brokerage firms, and manage other agents within these firms.

Getting the Arizona Real Estate Broker License is a fairly simple process, but it does require you to complete five steps and have a few prerequisites before applying or taking the broker’s exam.

This guide covers all of these requirements in a simple, easy-to-understand way that will make it easier for you throughout this process.

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Arizona Real Estate Agent vs. Real Estate Broker

Arizona offers two different types of real estate licenses: Sales and Broker.

sales agent’s license is the initial license that real estate agents get in order to sell real estate.

A broker’s license is an advanced license that allows the license holder to operate at a higher level within real estate businesses in Arizona.

People often confuse sales agents and brokers. A simple way to look at the difference is that holders of the sales agent’s license are called real estate agents, while holders of the broker’s license are called real estate brokers.

If you are working towards getting your first license, check out our Arizona Real Estate License guide. If you’re working on the Arizona real estate broker license, keep reading this page!

Arizona Real Estate Broker License Requirements

First, to be eligible for a real estate broker’s license, you must meet the prerequisites to become a real estate broker in Arizona.

These prerequisites are:

  • Proof of Arizona residency
  • Completion of 90 hours of pre-licensure coursework before taking the exam, as well as six hours of a Contract Writing Class
  • Three years of actual experience as a licensed real estate agent or broker within the past five years
  • Completion of the Arizona Real Estate Salesperson Exam with a score of 135 or higher

The pre-licensure examination is proctored. You will take it as well as the state examination. The test is closed-note and closed-book, but you are allowed to have scratch paper and a basic-function calculator.

How to Become a Real Estate Broker in Arizona

Once you meet all the requirements listed above, you can follow these seven steps to easily help you get your real estate broker license in Arizona.

Step 1: Complete an Arizona Broker Pre-licensing Course

The first step to getting your real estate broker license in Arizona is to take 90 classroom hours of qualifying real estate courses and six hours of a contract writing course.

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These real estate courses mostly cover the fundamentals of working in real estate and must be completed within one year of your broker’s license application. This requirement is divided into two sections:

The required 90 classroom hours of qualifying real estate courses, including the following mandatory courses, are:

  • Real estate license law
  • Land development and zoning
  • Deeds and title transfer
  • Agency
  • Real property
  • Ownership
  • Taxes
  • Escrow and settlement
  • Real estate financing
  • Appraisal
  • Property condition and disclosures
  • Real estate math

As part of the 90-hour classroom requirement, you must also take six additional hours (96 in total) in:

  • Contract writing

Arizona offers an out-of-state license recognition, so if you’re an agent (or broker) in a different state, your experience and those CE credit hours may count towards your prerequisites. You must submit an Out-of-State License Recognition Attestation Form to be able to do so.

After completing the courses, you must also pass the final broker course exam. The minimum passing grade is 70%. The final pre-license exam is to be supervised by a proctor, whether on-site or online. This is not the same as the state broker exam.

After passing your broker course exam, your pre-license education provider will provide you with your course completion documents.

Step 2: Get a Fingerprint-Based Background Check

After submitting your license application, you must have a fingerprint-based background check. You must submit your fingerprints to the Applicant Clearance Card Team.

To start the fingerprinting process, you need to complete an application for a Fingerprint Clearance Card to get fingerprinted via the Arizona Department of Public Safety (DPS) Public Services Portal. Only handwritten or typed applications are accepted. The fingerprinting fee is $67.

After you complete your fingerprints, the background check process begins to make sure you’re eligible for your real estate license. If you previously had a judgment or criminal offense on your record, you may need to fill out the Disciplinary Actions Disclosure Form (LI-214/244) along with a Disclosure Document Checklist (LI-400) to go with your submission.

Note

If you aren’t sure whether you are eligible for a real estate license based on your history, check out our article on Real Estate License Eligibility.

Step 3: Submit a Broker Candidate Experience Verification

Before submitting your license application, you must submit a Broker Candidate Experience Verification (Form LI-226) that demonstrates three years of actual experience as a licensed real estate agent or broker within the past five years.

Your Employing Broker should sign the form and verify your actual experience in conducting real estate sales agent transactions. Your Employing Broker will return the form to you, which you will submit to Pearson VUE at the time of your exam, and for submission to the ADRE at the time of your license application.

Step 4: Attend a Broker Management Clinic

You will also need to attend a Broker Management Clinic (BMC) and complete a 9-hour BMC course consisting of 3 separate content courses with 3 hours each. BMC includes courses that outline Arizona brokerage rules and regulations, property management, broker policies, and so on.

You can skip this step if you have completed BMC courses during the preceding twenty-three months in Arizona.

The BMC course fee will depend on your chosen ADRE-approved BMC course provider, which ranges from $30 to $50+ in costs.

Once you complete the BMC course, you will receive a Broker Management Clinic Course Certificate to submit with your other broker’s license application requirements. The courses taken at a Broker Management Clinic are different from your broker pre-license education course.

Step 5: Submit an Arizona Broker License Application

Once you meet the above requirements, you can now apply for your license. You will be issued a License Application by Pearson VUE upon passing your state broker’s license exam. The application fee is $145.

With your application, you need to submit the following documents:

Step 6: Pass the Arizona Real Estate Broker Exam

After completing the steps above, you must take the real estate broker licensing exam via Pearson VUE.

The fee for the broker exam is $125 per attempt.

In Arizona, brokers take a single 180-scored question exam. You will have 315 minutes (five hours and 25 minutes) to complete the examination each time you take it. The Arizona real estate broker exam pass rate is 75%.

For more information on the exam, Pearson VUE provides a Candidate Handbook containing the Arizona Real Estate Broker Exam Content Outline.

Taking an exam prep course provides you with helpful tools and materials, such as quizzes and specific state-only practice exams, to increase your chances of passing your broker license exam the first time.

Step 7: Application Review

Once you pass your examination, you have to wait for your background check to be done. After that, as long as you pass, you’ll receive an email from ADRE with your licensing documents.

You can expect this process to take around five to 10 business days.

If you want to check on the progress of your application, then you can contact ADRE through its online message center or by phone at (602) 771-7700.

Congratulations!

Now that you’ve successfully passed the broker licensing exam and obtained your license, there are a few things you need to do to keep your broker license active and updated.

Arizona Real Estate Broker License Renewal and CE

In Arizona, you must renew your real estate broker license every two yearsThe renewal fee is $120. The renewal process is not the same for the broker license and sales agent license.

As part of your broker’s license renewal, you will need to take 30 hours of CE courses within the 24-month CE period.

If you’re renewing for the first time, you may include credit hours for attendance in the Broker Management Clinic (BMC) as long as they were taken before your original license date.

Once you have completed your required CE hours, you must notify ADRE by renewing online via their Real Estate Licensing System.

AZDRE – Arizona Department of Real Estate

Mailing Address:

100 N. 15th Ave. #201
Phoenix, AZ 85007

Phone: (602) 771-7700

EmailOnline Message Center

Websitehttps://azre.gov/

Arizona Real Estate Broker License FAQ

How much does it cost to get a real estate broker license in Arizona?

The costs of getting a real estate broker license in Arizona can range between $546 and $700+.
The cost breakdown is as follows:
Pre-license education courses: $209–$399
Fingerprint-based background check: $67
Application fee: $145
Broker exam fee: $125

How long does it take to get a real estate broker license?

The steps that typically take the most time when getting a broker license include taking pre-license education courses and exams. The average amount of time to get a broker license is generally three to six months.

What is the difference between a real estate agent and a real estate broker?

Real estate agents focus on working with clients on individual real estate transactions, while real estate brokers have more experience with the added responsibility of managing a team of real estate agents or brokerage business. See our Real Estate Agent vs. Broker vs. Realtor page for more information.

How much does a real estate broker make?

Real estate brokers get paid just like real estate agents by earning commissions on their agents’ sales. Brokers can also charge the real estate agents they manage a fixed monthly fee or have the option to earn money on commission sales by helping their own clients buy and sell property. According to Payscale data, brokers earn $61,314 per year in base salary, with anywhere between $10,000 and $147,000 in commissions. The Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) indicates that the median broker salary is $62,010.

How do I get a job as a real estate broker in Arizona?

Browse through available real estate broker jobs in your area using our StateRequirement Job Board!

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