How to Get a Real Estate License in Arkansas

In order to kickstart your real estate career in Arkansas, it’s essential to obtain an Arkansas 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 Arkansas 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.

Arkansas Real Estate License

In order to get your Arkansas real estate license and start working in the real estate industry, there are several key steps you’ll need to complete, including:

1. Ensuring You Meet the Licensing Eligibility Requirements
2. Completing the Mandatory Pre-Licensing Education
3. Applying for the Arkansas Real Estate Exam
4. Passing a Background Check
5. Passing the Arkansas Real Estate Exam
6. Sending Your Final Documents to AREC

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

Step 1: Meet the Arkansas Real Estate License Requirements

Before continuing ahead with your application for an Arkansas real estate license, you’ll first need to confirm that you’re actually eligible for it by ensuring you meet the following prerequisites in accordance with A.C.A. §17-42-302:

• Be of the age of majority, which in Arkansas is 18
• Have no record of unprofessional conduct
• Be able to provide evidence that you possess the honesty, trustworthiness, and integrity required to protect the public’s interests
• Successfully complete the education and experience requirements (see Step 2)
• Pass a criminal history background check according to § 17-42-315 (see Step 4)

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 Arkansas real estate license.

In particular, you’ll be expected to complete 60 classroom hours of pre-licensing real estate education. According to A.C.A. §17-42-303, this must be from an accredited Arkansas real estate school and include at least 30 hours on the basic principles of real estate.

After completing these hours and passing the pre-licensing course final exam, you will receive a Certificate of Completion — which you must present at the testing site in order to sit for your state licensing exam.

Unlike in many other states, this Certificate of Completion has no expiration date for real estate person applicants — meaning you can complete the rest of the application process at any point in the future after completing it once.

Step 3: Apply for the Arkansas Real Estate Exam

After ensuring that you’ve satisfied the mandatory pre-licensing education requirements, the next step in your licensing journey is to submit an Application for Real Estate License Examination to AREC.

If you’ve completed all education and experience requirements, you’ll be emailed an Authorization to Test letter by email from Pearson VUE.

Alongside the application form, you’ll also be required to submit the following to AREC:

• A cheque or money order in the amount of $50
• A copy of your driver’s license, birth certificate, or any other document that proves you’re at least 18 years old
• A Background Check Acknowledgement Form
• The official transcript/certificate showing completion of your pre-licensing education

After AREC grants you permission to take the real estate licensing exam, you’ll be sent an authorization email which enables you to take both portions of the exam as many times as you need in order to pass for up to one year.

Step 4: Pass the Background Check

According to A.C.A. § 17-42-302, you will be required to undergo a background check once you receive the authorization email from AREC.

A state and federal criminal background check will be commenced as soon as you submit your fingerprints to the Identification Bureau of the Division of Arkansas State Police. You may be contacted during this process if they need you to provide any additional information or documentation to clear up any findings.

Arkansas State Police and the FBI will then forward the results of their respective reports to AREC for review — approval by the Commission is required for you to be able to obtain a real estate license.

With that said, you’re able to take the real estate license examination before receiving the results of this check (as long as it’s been initiated) according to A.C.A. § 17-42-302(a)(4).

Note: Once approved by AREC, it’s important to continue with the rest of the application process quickly, as you’ll only be authorized to test for one year from the date of approval.

Step 5: Take the Arkansas Real Estate Exam

Once you’ve received authorization to sit the Arkansas Real Estate Exam, you can make a reservation by heading to the Pearson VUE website. 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 an examination fee of $75 will need to be paid at the time of reservation. Additionally, you’ll also be required to have all of the following information before you can make a reservation:

• Your legal name, Social Security Number, address, and contact information
• Your preferred test center location and examination date
• The details contained within the Authorization to Test letter you received from AREC

From August 2024 onwards this exam will consist of 120 questions spread across two sections: a General/National portion and an Arkansas Law portion. The first of these consists of 80 scored and 10 unscored questions, while the second is made up of 30 scored and 10 unscored questions.

Each candidate will have between two to four hours to complete this exam and will need to obtain a scaled score of at least 70 in order to pass.

Note: To find the test center located closest to you, be sure to check out Pearson VUE’s website.

Step 6: Send the Final Documents

After passing the state real estate exam and satisfying all other licensing requirements, you’ll be ready to send some final required documents to AREC — which must be completed within 90 days of passing.

To do so, you’ll need to submit all of the following paper forms to AREC:

• All the pages of a successful score report for the real estate examination (proof that you passed)
• A license fee of $50.00
• A recovery fund fee of $25.00
• A signed post-license requirement notice

Failure to submit all of the above within 90 days of passing the test will result in your passing examination score being voided. As a result, you’ll be required to restart your application and do the exam again in order to apply.

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 a letter from the Arkansas Real Estate Commission containing a license document within seven to 14 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 Arkansas Real Estate Commission by phone.

Arkansas 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 two years.

Under the regulations contained within A.C.A. §17-42-307(d)(2) and §17-42-303(c)(1), (2), you’ll be required to complete 18 classroom hours by the end of the six months following the date you were first licensed. This is a one-off requirement for all newly-qualified real estate salespersons.

As an example, if you were granted your real estate salesperson license on October 23, 2024, you would be required to complete this post-licensing education by the end of April 2025. As the name suggests, these hours of instruction can only be completed once you’ve been licensed, not before.

Additionally, you’re required to renew your real estate license and complete seven hours of continuing education (CE) each year under A.C.A. §17-42-307. However, renewals are not required during the year in which your license is granted.

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.

It’s worth being aware that you’ll no longer hold an active real estate salesperson license if you fail to renew it by the deadline.

Arkansas Real Estate Commission

Mailing Address:
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/