Getting your Arkansas Real Estate License is the first step to becoming a real estate agent in Arkansas. Nowadays, this process can be done almost entirely online. You will still need to take your Arkansas real estate license exam in person, but the rest of the process can be completed entirely online!

This article outlines the process to get your AR Real Estate License in an easy to understand, step-by-step manner. You’ll learn how much it will cost, how long it will take, what is on the exam, and much more.

How to Become a Real Estate Agent in Arkansas

Becoming a real estate agent in Arkansas is as simple as getting your license, finding a broker sponsor, and getting to work selling real estate! As long as you fulfill the below requirements, you are already on your way to your goal.

Arkansas Real Estate License Requirements

The requirements to become a real estate agent in Arkansas are:

• Be a citizen of the United States or a lawfully admitted alien
• Be 18 years of age or older

How to Get Your Real Estate License in Arkansas

Step 1. Real Estate Pre-Licensing Course

You must successfully complete 60 hours of real estate education. You should also note that 30 of those hours must be in the basic principles of real estate.

Most people choose to take their pre-license education course online. The majority of online courses are self-paced and include study materials like real estate practice exams and flashcards. Some also come with a “guarantee” that you will pass the exam on your first attempt if you complete their course. These benefits are all dependent on the education provider and package you choose, so be sure to get the course that best suits your needs.

Remember that the point of these courses isn’t just to check a box and complete a requirement, but rather to prepare you to pass your exam and become a better agent.

Arkansas does not require the final pre-license exam to be supervised by a proctor. This is not the same as the state exam. This test is provided by your pre-license education company and is an indication that you have completed and retained the information from your pre-license education course.

Similar to the state exam, this test is closed-book and closed-note. You are allowed a basic-function calculator and scratch paper, but no cell phones or outside internet access.

Step 2. Fingerprinting and Background Check

After submitting your pre-licensing hours, the next step is to complete your fingerprinting and background check. The Arkansas Real Estate Commission requires that all applicants have a background check performed before they can become a licensed real estate agent in Arizona.

The Arkansas Real Estate Commission requires all applicants for original licensure as a real estate salesperson to complete a state and federal criminal background check. The federal criminal background check requires applicants to provide fingerprints on fingerprint cards provided by AREC.

The Arkansas State Police conducts the criminal background check on each applicant, including an FBI check, which requires the taking of fingerprints and submits the report to the Commission.

The fee for your fingerprinting services is to be submitted together with your real estate license application.

Once you complete your fingerprints and turn them in, the background check process will begin. The Arkansas Real Estate Commission will review any findings in your background report to ensure your eligibility. During this process, they may reach out to you to provide additional information or documentation to clear up any findings. Information and documentation relating to the applicant’s background must be provided upon application for licensure.

For those who have criminal offenses or judgments against them, there’s a possibility that you may not be eligible for a real estate license in Arkansas. If this is the case, you should submit required documentation and explanation of your conviction.

Step 3. Real Estate License Application

All first-time exam applicants must submit the Application for Real Estate License Examination to the Arkansas Real Estate Commission. If the application is complete and all education and experience requirements are met, the applicant will be mailed a Certificate of Examination Eligibility.

Applicants must have this certificate before they contact Pearson VUE to make an examination reservation. Once they receive the certificate, it must be presented on the day of the exam.

You must complete the application form and send it to the address listed below at least 30 days before you want to take your exam. Make sure to include a cashier’s check or money order payable to “AREC” in the total amount of $86.25.This is the $50 application fee, $22 Arkansas criminal background check fee, and $14.25 FBI criminal background check fee.

Salesperson License applicants must submit all pages of a successful score report from the test, a license fee of $50, a recovery fund fee of $25, and a signed post-license requirement notice. The score report and fees must be received within 90 days of the examination date.

Arkansas Real Estate Commission
612 South Summit Street
Little Rock, AR 72201-4740

Step 4. Arkansas Real Estate License Exam

After you’ve received your exam eligibility, it is time to take the Arkansas Real Estate Exam.

The fee to take the exam is $75 per attempt.

The Arkansas Real Estate Exam consists of 110 questions. This includes 80 for the National section and 30 for the State section.

You will have 240 minutes (4 hours) to complete the entire exam. The National section time is 150 minutes (2.5 hours) and the State section time is 90 minutes (1.5 hours)A passing score for the Arkansas Real Estate Salesperson Exam is 56/80 on the National section and 21/40 on the State section.

Immediately after completing your exam, you will receive a scoring document that states whether you passed or failed. If it is marked “Fail,” then you will see a breakdown of your score in the different areas of the exam. If you decide to retake the exam, use this as a guide for your studies.

You can register to take your exam on the Pearson VUE Arkansas Real Estate page. On this page, you will find some other helpful resources, including the Candidate Handbook and Content Outline.

Step 5. Application Review

Once you’ve passed your exam, you will only need to wait for your background report to come back as a pass. In most cases, this process should take between 5-7 business days. After this, you should receive an email from AREC with a license document. If you have any questions at this point, you should contact AREC at (501) 683-8010.

Congratulations! 

Be sure to take some time to celebrate your accomplishment. You’ve put in a lot of work and effort and deserve a celebration!

Step 6. Real Estate License Sponsorship

When you receive your initial real estate license in Arkansas, your license will be in an “inactive” status. This means that you cannot sell real estate yet.

In order to “activate” your license, you will need to be sponsored by a licensed real estate broker in Arkansas.

If you don’t have a broker to work with yet, check out StateRequirement Jobs for a real estate salesperson opening in your area.

Arkansas Post-Licensing Education

New salespersons must complete an 18-hour AREC post-licensure course by the end of the 6th month following their initial date of licensure.

AREC – Arkansas Real Estate Commission

Mailing Address: 

Arkansas Real Estate Commission
612 South Summit Street
Little Rock, AR 72201-4740

Phone: (501) 683-8010

Fax: (501) 683-8020

Email: Contact Us

Website: https://arec.arkansas.gov/licensing/