Becoming an Idaho 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 Idaho Real Estate Broker License is a fairly simple process, but it does require you to complete six 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.

Idaho Real Estate Agent vs. Real Estate Broker

Idaho offers two different types of real estate license: Sales and Broker.

A 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 Idaho.

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.

Idaho 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 Idaho.

These prerequisites are:

• Be a US citizen or lawful resident
• Never had a professional license revoked
• Hold an active real estate salesperson license for a minimum of two of the last five years

How to Become a Real Estate Broker in Idaho

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

Step 1: Complete an Idaho Broker Pre-Licensing Course

The first step to getting your real estate broker license in Idaho is to take 90 hours of pre-licensing courses. Courses must be IREC-approved and can be taken online or in person.

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

These real estate courses cover the basic concepts and principles of working in the industry, completing real estate transactions, and broker management. You must complete these pre-licensing courses before applying for your broker’s license.

The required 90 hours of qualifying real estate courses include the following topics:

• License law and rules of the IREC
• Broker management 
• Licensing requirements
• Duties and powers of the IREC
• Real estate practice
• Idaho principles and practices
• Real estate contracts and agency
• Property value and appraisal
• Forms of ownership, transfer, and recording title
• Financing and settlement
• Calculations and closing costs
• Property disclosures and environment issues
• Real estate math calculations
• Brokerage representation (agency law)

While Idaho does not have a reciprocity agreement with any other state, Idaho will recognize your broker’s license from that state. IREC will waive the education and national exam requirements, but you will still be required to submit a certified copy of your license history, along with a completed Request for Waiver form.

Once you’ve completed all of the required pre-licensing coursework, your school will administer an end-of-course exam. You must receive a minimum grade of 70% on this final exam to move on to the next phase. The broker pre-licensing course exam is not the state broker examination.

Step 2: Pass the Idaho Real Estate Broker Exam

Once you’ve completed the pre-licensing coursework and obtained a passing score on your end-of-course exam, you will need to take the Idaho real estate broker licensing exam. This test is administered by Pearson VUE.

The examination fee for the broker exam is $80 and is payable by debit card, credit card, electronic check, or voucher.

In Idaho, the broker’s exam consists of 130 questions divided into two sections. The state-specific section covers Idaho law and consists of 50 questions. The general section has 80 questions. You will have 240 minutes (four hours) to complete both sections.

The state requires brokers to pass with a score of 75. If you fail one or both parts of the exam, Idaho allows you to retake the portions you failed. If you’re unable to pass both sections within one year, you must retake the pre-licensing coursework.

To learn more about the exam, Pearson VUE provides each applicant with a Candidate Handbook. Pearson VUE encourages each candidate to review this handbook before scheduling their exam, as it contains an exam outline and other practical resources to help prepare for the exam.

Taking an exam prep course provides you 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 3: Get a Fingerprint-Based Background Check

Now that you’ve received a passing score on your broker exam, there’s just a couple more items to take care of before you can submit your application. You will need to have your fingerprints taken and submit them to Idaho Appraiser and Real Estate Fingerprints for a background check.

Historically, applicants were able to have their fingerprints collected at a Pearson VUE testing site. This service is currently unavailable. Pearson VUE provides detailed instructions regarding how to obtain and submit your fingerprint card.

The fingerprinting fee is $61.25.

Processing times are longer than normal and can take up to 12 weeks to come back. You can submit your fingerprints for processing before you take your broker exam.

Step 4: Obtain Errors and Omissions Insurance 

Before you submit your application to the Idaho Real Estate Commission (IREC), you will need to obtain an active Errors and Omissions (E&O) insurance policy. 

If your real estate brokerage firm has a group E&O policy that covers all brokers during their time with the firm, the state will accept this as proof of coverage. Many of these policies only cover brokers during the time they’re associated with the firm. Should you leave the firm, you will need to purchase a new E&O policy, as well as “tail” coverage. Tail coverage provides protection for claims that occurred during the policy period, but were reported after the policy coverage has ended.

Step 5: Submit an Idaho Broker License Application

Now that you’ve finalized all the necessary pre-licensing requirements, you’re ready to apply for your broker’s license.

All Idaho real estate broker applications must be notarized and submitted by mail. The application fee is $160. Fees must be paid upon submission of the application and are payable by credit/debit card or check. If you’re paying by credit/debit card, you will need to complete a Credit Card Authorization Form.

Step 6: Application Review

Once you’ve successfully submitted your application, all that’s left to do is wait for IREC to review and approve your application.

Application processing times are approximately 10 business days. IREC asks that applicants not contact the office to check on the status of their applications. To check the status of your application, you can log on to the IREC website.

When a license number appears in the license lookup, your application has been approved.

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.

Idaho Real Estate Broker License Renewal and CE

In the state of Idaho, real estate broker licenses must be renewed every two years. Renewal dates are based on your birth date. The current licensing period ends on the last day of your birth month and the new licensing period starts the first day of the next month.

Licenses are renewed using the IREC online portal. The renewal fee for brokers is $160.

To renew your broker license in Idaho, you will be required to complete 18.5 hours of continuing education (CE) every two years. This includes 12 elective hours and 6.5 hours of Idaho Commission Core Courses. CE courses can be taken in the classroom or online.

IDREC – Idaho Real Estate Commission

Mailing Address:

Idaho Real Estate Commission
P.O. Box 83720
Boise, ID 83720-0063

Hours: Monday to Friday, 8:00am – 5:00pm

Phone: (208) 334-3285

Email: IREC-licensing@dopl.idaho.gov 

Website: https://irec.idaho.gov/