How to Get a Broker License in Arizona

Obtaining an Arizona Real Estate Broker License is crucial if you’re looking to advance your real estate career. Despite the streamlined online application process, many aspiring real estate brokers find the requirements and procedures complex and challenging.

This How to Get a Broker License in Arizona article will guide you through each step of the process, ensuring you have a clear understanding of what it takes to achieve this license and elevate your real estate career as quickly as possible.

Arizona Real Estate Broker License

In order to get your Arizona real estate broker license and take your career to the next level, there are several key steps you’ll need to complete, including:

1. Ensuring You Meet the Eligibility and Experience Requirements
2. Completing the Mandatory Pre-Licensing Education
3. Passing a Background Check
4. Passing the Arizona Broker Licensing Exam
5. Submitting a License Application

In the sections below, we’ve explored each of these steps in more detail.

Note: If you’re just starting out, you’ll need to check out our Arizona Real Estate License guide instead.

Step 1: Meet the Arizona Eligibility and Experience Requirements

Before proceeding with the application process for your Arizona real estate broker license, you’ll need to first make sure that you meet the eligibility prerequisites outlined under A.R.S. §32-2124(A):

• You must satisfy the Commission’s honesty, truthfulness, and character requirements
• You must have a minimum of three years of “actual experience” with a broker or salesperson license in the five years prior to your application
• You cannot have had any real estate licenses denied in the year prior to your broker application
• You cannot have had any licenses revoked within the two years immediately preceding your broker application

In order to demonstrate your “actual experience” as a real estate salesperson, you’ll be required to complete the Broker Candidate Experience Verification form (LI-226) and submit it alongside your application.

Similarly, if you have any criminal convictions or professional/occupational license denials, you’ll need to report these when filling out the Disciplinary Actions Disclosure Form (LI-214/244).

Note: As stated under A.R.S. §32-2124(M), you’ll be ineligible for an Arizona real estate license of any kind if you’re currently under parole, community supervision, or are incarcerated for the conviction of a felony offense.

Step 2: Complete the Mandatory Pre-Licensing Education

Beyond the general requirements mentioned earlier, you must also fulfill specific educational prerequisites under A.R.S. §32-2124(C) to be able to apply for an Arizona real estate broker license.

In particular, this will involve completing a total of 90 hours of qualifying real estate broker education from a real estate school that has been certified by the Commission. At the end of this course, which can either be taken online or through a live classroom setting, you’ll be required to pass an in-person exam.

In addition to these general pre-licensing hours, all applicants for a brokers license are also required to attend a nine-hour Arizona Broker Management Clinic. Unlike the general hours above, this can be completed at any time before you submit your application for licensure, even after you’ve taken the exam.

After you’ve finished these required hours and passed the exam at the end of this course, you’ll receive a Certificate of Completion from your course provider. Make sure you hold onto this, as you’ll need to present it at the exam site in order to sit for your state licensing exam (see Step 4).

Keep in mind that you’ll need to complete this real estate broker course within the ten-year period immediately preceding the date of your license application. If you wait any longer than this, you’ll be required to retake a pre-licensing course in order to continue with the licensing process.

Note: Be aware that the Commission can waive this education requirement if they deem an applicant’s certified license history and education to be sufficient — though this is entirely discretionary.

Step 3: Pass the Background Check

With these mandatory hours of pre-licensing education out of the way, the next step in the licensing process is to submit your fingerprints to the Arizona Department of Public Safety (AZDPS) and pass a background check.

This can be done in one of two main ways:

• Mail: By submitting a request using the Non-IVP paper application packet
• Online: By submitting an electronic request through the AZDPS Public Services Portal

Once this is complete, you’ll typically be issued a Fingerprint Clearance Card by the AZDPS within eight to 10 weeks — make sure to hold onto this as you’ll need it to both take the licensing exam and submit your application.

Step 4: Pass the Broker Licensing Exam

After obtaining this card issued by the AZDPS, you’ll be ready to begin preparing for the Arizona broker licensing exam. This test, which is administered by Pearson VUE, lasts five hours and 15 minutes and is made up of 180 scored questions and 15 unscored “pretest” questions.

In order to schedule your real estate broker exam, you’ll need to make an online reservation using the Pearson VUE website. Note that you’ll need to create an account for this service if this is your first time using it, after which you’ll be shown step-by-step instructions on how to complete your reservation.

Keep in mind that you’ll be required to pay a $125 fee at the time of reservation — this fee cannot be paid at the exam center.

In order to pass, you’ll need to obtain a score of 75% or higher on the overall exam. If successful, you’ll be handed a passing score report on the testing site that contains a link to apply for your license online.

If you’re unsuccessful, you’ll need to wait 24 hours before you can submit a reservation request to retake it. Before calling to reserve a retake, be sure you have the score report from your examination on hand.

While there’s no limit to the number of attempts you can have in order to pass the Arizona real estate broker examination, you’ll need to finish the rest of the application process within a year of passing according to A.R.S. §32-2125.01.

Note: You may be exempt from needing to take the national portion of the Arizona real estate exam if you hold an equivalent license in another state that’s currently valid under A.R.S. §32-2124(J).

Step 5: Submit a License Application

After completing your pre-licensing education and ensuring that you satisfy all other licensing requirements, you’ll be ready to move on to submitting your license application.

Soon after passing the broker licensing exam, you should receive an email with the subject line that starts with the letters “BR” followed by a series of numbers. This email will contain a link which you can use to create an account for the Licensee Login — ADRE’s online platform for application submissions.

In order to apply, you’ll need to pay a $125 fee and upload a scanned copy of your application form on top of all the following documentation:

• Your original Passing Exam Score Report
• The Course Certificate for your 90-hour broker pre-licensing course
• The Course Certificate for your 9-hour Broker Management Clinic course
• Your Proof of Legal Presence (e.g., your passport or birth certificate)
• Disciplinary Actions Disclosure Form (LI-214/244)
• A valid Arizona Fingerprint Clearance Card issued by the DPS
• Broker Candidate Experience Verification form (LI-226)

Note: As mentioned above, you’ll need to complete this final step and submit your broker license application within a year of the date you passed the state examination to avoid having to retake.

Step 6: 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 a letter from the Arizona Department of Real Estate containing a license document within a few 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, we recommend reaching out to ADRE directly by phone.

Arizona Real Estate License Renewal

In order to keep your real estate broker license valid, you’ll need to renew it every two years. In Arizona, this is typically done online through the Licensee Login.

For each renewal, you’ll also be required to complete 30 hours of ADRE-approved continuing education courses, broken down as follows:

• Agency Law (3 hours)
• Contract Law (3 hours)
• Broker Management Clinic 1 (3 hours)
• Broker Management Clinic 2 (3 hours)
• Broker Management Clinic 3 (3 hours)
• Disclosure (3 hours)
• Fair Housing (3 hours)
• Real Estate Legal Issues (3 hours)
• Elective Courses (6 hours)

It’s important to note that the renewal process won’t be finished by showing proof that you completed these required CE hours, in fact it’s just the start. License renewal will only be complete once you’ve provided all this information within 90 days of your license’s expiry date.

We always encourage our readers to think of the post licensing course they take as an investment in their future career — higher quality, more reliable course content is a central part of ensuring you continue to grow professionally.

Arizona Department of Real Estate

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

Phone: (602) 771-7700

Email: Online Message Center

Website: https://azre.gov/