How to Get a Real Estate License in Georgia

In order to kickstart your career as a real estate agent in Georgia, it’s essential to obtain a Georgia 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 Georgia 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.

Real Estate License Georgia

In order to get your Georgia real estate license and start working in this 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. Passing the Georgia Real Estate Exam
4. Passing a Background Check
5. Submitting a License Application
6. Activating Your License

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

Step 1: Meet the Georgia Real Estate License Requirements

Before continuing ahead with your application for a Georgia real estate license, you’ll first need to confirm that you’re actually eligible for it by ensuring you meet the following prerequisites:

• Age Requirement: You must be at least 18 years of age; this ensures that all applicants have reached the age of maturity necessary to undertake the responsibilities of a licensed real estate salesperson
• Educational Background: You must be a high school graduate or hold a certificate of equivalency (GED) in order to meet the educational qualifications required for licensing

Georgia offers reciprocity for real estate licenses from all states. This means that if you hold a license from a different state that was obtained by passing an examination — and are currently in good standing — you will be eligible for a reciprocal license without further examination.

To do this, you will need to fill out this Real Estate Reciprocal Application form in order to get started.

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 a Georgia real estate license.

Specifically, you will have to complete one of the following three educational paths:

• Salesperson Prelicense Course: You will have to enroll in and successfully complete a 75-hour pre license course at a school that’s approved by the Georgia Real Estate Commission (recommended)
• Accredited College Courses: You will have to complete at least 10 quarter hours or 6 semester hours in real estate-related coursework — such as real property, agency, or contracts — at an accredited U.S. or Canadian college
• Prelicense Coursework from Another State: You can choose to complete 75 hours of pre-license coursework that has been approved by another state or Canadian province

Step 3: Pass the Georgia Real Estate Exam

The next step you’ll need to complete is to pass Georgia’s real estate examination.

Administered by PSI, this examination tests your understanding of both national and state-specific real estate practices and laws, and requires a $119 application fee to be paid when registering.

In order to schedule your real estate exam, you’ll need to head over to the PSI 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.

Right after completing the exam, your score will be displayed on screen and a detailed score report will be emailed to you.

If you do not pass, this email will also include a diagnostic report that highlights your strengths and weaknesses across the different sections of the exam.

Should you need a duplicate score report later on, you will be able to request one by emailing PSI at scorereport@psionline.com.

Note: After taking the examination, you will have 12 months to apply for your real estate license; if more than 12 months pass, you will need to retake the exam.

Step 4: Pass a Criminal Background Check

Before you can proceed with your application and become a Georgia real estate agent, you will need to undergo a background check that’s conducted by the Georgia Crime Information Center (GCIC) of the Georgia Bureau of Investigation.

This is because you will be legally required to obtain a Certified Criminal History Report — also known as a Georgia Crime Information Report — no more than 60 days prior to submitting your license application.

You can obtain this report either directly from the GCIC or alternatively at almost any sheriff’s office or police station throughout Georgia.

Keep in mind that there is a processing fee of $38.25 that will need to be paid for your criminal history report; this includes the cost of fingerprinting through the Georgia Applicant Processing Service (GAPS).

Should you have any questions about the background check process (e.g., its implications in relation to employment, licensing, etc), you are encouraged to contact the GCIC’s Applicant Services team via email at gaapplicant@gbi.ga.gov.

Step 5: Submit a License Application

After passing the state real estate exam and satisfying all other licensing requirements, you’ll be ready to move on to submitting your license application.

You can do this in person at any of the four PSI Test Centers across Georgia.

Remember that licenses are issued on a first-come, first-served basis between 9:00 am and 12:00 pm and between 2:00 pm and 4:45 pm Monday through Friday.

If you pass your exam in the afternoon, you’ll need to come back in the next business day in order to submit your application.

Note: You will need to pay a nonrefundable license fee of $170 to complete this step. You can do this via a cashier’s check, money order, or a credit/debit card, but personal checks, company checks, and cash will not be accepted.

Step 6: Activate Your License

Once you’ve passed the Salesperson licensing examination and submitted your license application, you will have the option of either activating your license with a broker or placing it on inactive status.

This is because, in order to work in Georgia’s real estate market, you will need to be affiliated with a state-licensed broker.

If you’ve already found a sponsoring broker and are ready to start your real estate career, you’ll need to complete the Sponsoring Broker Statement Application, which is found in this Candidate Information Bulletin.

If you are not ready to begin working immediately or prefer to wait before committing to a brokerage, you can choose to place your license on inactive status.

It should be noted that while your license is on inactive status, you will not be allowed to engage in any real estate transactions.

Having said that, you will still be required to meet all post-license educational requirements and pay the necessary renewal fees needed in order to maintain your license.

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 Georgia Real Estate Commission containing a license document in two to four weeks.

You will also receive an 8½” x 4” wall certificate, two pocket cards, and a larger 8½” x 11” wall certificate that’s suitable for framing.

Keep in mind that — in accordance with state law — your sponsoring brokerage firm will be required to retain your wall certificate or a copy of your pocket card as long as you are affiliated with them.

Georgia Real Estate License Renewal

In order to keep your license valid and continue working as a real estate sales agent, you’ll need to comply with the state’s education requirements.

• Post-License Education: You will be required to complete a 25-hour Salesperson Post License course that’s approved by the Georgia Real Estate Commission within one year of receiving your license
• Continuing Education: Beyond the initial period, you will need to complete at least 36 hours of approved continuing education (CE) every four years to maintain your license; out of these, at least 3 hours of coursework must focus on license law

Once you’ve completed the required educational components, you will need to renew your license, which can be done in one of two ways:

• Online Renewal: You can renew your license online through the “Login to Online Services” option on the Georgia Real Estate Commission’s website; this requires a $100 processing fee
• Mail-in Renewal: If you prefer to renew by mail, you will have to download the Mail-in Renewal form from the “Forms and Applications” section of the Georgia Real Estate Commission’s website; a $125 renewal fee will need to be paid for filings carried out via mail

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.

Georgia Real Estate Commission

Mailing Address:
229 Peachtree Street, N.E.
International Tower, Suite 1000
Atlanta, GA 30303-1605

Phone: (404) 656-3916

Fax: (404) 656-6650

Email: grecmail@grec.state.ga.us

Website: https://grec.state.ga.us/