How to Get a Broker License in Idaho

Obtaining an Idaho 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 Idaho 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.

Idaho Real Estate Broker License

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

1. Ensuring You Meet the Eligibility and Experience Requirements
2. Completing the Mandatory Pre-Licensing Education
3. Submitting Your Fingerprints
4. Passing the Idaho 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 Idaho Real Estate License guide instead.

Step 1: Meet the Idaho Eligibility and Experience Requirements

Before proceeding with the application process for your Idaho real estate broker license, you’ll need to first make sure that you meet the general prerequisites outlined under the Section 54-2012 of the Idaho Real Estate License Law and Rules:

• You must be at least 18 years of age
• You must provide proof of graduation from an accredited high school, its equivalent, or hold a certificate of general education
• You must not have had a real estate or other professional/occupational license suspended or surrendered for disciplinary reasons involving fraud, misrepresentation, or dishonest/dishonorable dealing in Idaho or any other jurisdiction within the past five years
• You must not have had a real estate or other professional/occupational license revoked for disciplinary reasons involving fraud, misrepresentation, or dishonest/dishonorable dealing in Idaho or any other jurisdiction
• You must provide satisfactory evidence that you have been actively engaged as a licensed real estate salesperson on a full-time basis for two years within the five years immediately prior to the application date

Keep in mind that the Idaho Real Estate Commission may modify or reduce the broker experience requirement — in whole or in part — at its discretion based on the applicant’s educational background or experience in related business activities.

If you feel your educational or professional background might qualify for such an adjustment, contact the Commission at (208) 334-3285.

Step 2: Complete the Mandatory Pre-Licensing Education

Beyond the general requirements mentioned earlier, you must also fulfill specific educational prerequisites to be able to apply for an Idaho real estate broker license.

In particular, this will involve completing a total of 90 hours of Commission-approved pre-licensing education that must include the following mandatory courses:

• Idaho Brokerage Management
• Real Estate Law

In addition to these, you’ll need to choose two broker electives from the following options:

• Valuation & Analysis
• Real Estate Finance
• Idaho GRI 101/102 (both portions must be completed)
• Idaho GRI 201/202 (both portions must be completed)
• CCIM designation courses CI 101, CI 102, CI 103, and CI 104 (these must be attended live unless the online course is ARELLO-certified)

You must complete these courses within a three-year period prior to submitting your application. Otherwise, the Commission won’t consider them valid and you’ll need to retake them in order to meet the licensing requirements.

Step 3: Submit Your Fingerprints

As part of your application process for an Idaho real estate broker license, you’ll need to have your fingerprints taken in order to facilitate a state-mandated criminal history check.

To do this, you’ll need to collect an FD-258 fingerprint card, which is available on the FBI’s website, and schedule a fingerprinting appointment through Pearson VUE by completing the following steps:

1. Visit https://home.pearsonvue.com/id/realestate and create a profile, or log into your existing account if you already have one.
2. Select the option for “Idaho Real Estate Fingerprint Hard Card.”
3. Choose the first available appointment.
4. Pay a fingerprint fee of $61.25 via credit or debit card.
5. Print the Pearson VUE confirmation of payment email.

Remember to enter the Originating Agency Identifier (ORI) code “ID920050Z” and list “IDC-54-2012-Real Estate License” as the reason for fingerprinting to ensure your submission is processed without delays.

After your fingerprinting appointment, you’ll need to mail the completed fingerprint card and payment confirmation to the following address:

Idaho Appraiser and Real Estate Fingerprints
OHTI
1125B Avenida High View Rd.
Driftwood, TX 78619

Note: Don’t mail your fingerprint card directly to the Commission, the Idaho State Police, or Pearson VUE because this will significantly delay the processing of your submission.

Step 4: Pass the Broker Licensing Exam

In Idaho, Pearson VUE administers this four-hour exam. It includes 130 questions divided across two sections: a national section and a state-specific section.

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 $80 fee at the time of reservation because you can’t pay this at the exam center. This fee remains the same regardless of whether you take one or both portions of the exam.

In order to pass, you’ll need to obtain a minimum scaled score of 75 on each portion of the exam.

You’ll find out how you performed on this exam immediately after finishing and should receive your passing exam score sheet with a full breakdown a few days afterwards.

If you fail one section of the licensing exam, but pass the other, you have up to one year from the date you passed the first section to retake and pass the remaining section. If you don’t pass within that period, you’ll have to retake both sections of the exam.

Step 5: Submit a License Application

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

You can do this online by visiting the Idaho Division of Occupational and Professional Licenses Online Services portal and submitting your Individual Broker/Salesperson license application along with a $160 processing fee.

Importantly, if you want your license to be issued in “active” status, you’ll also need to provide proof of Errors and Omissions insurance at this stage.

You can obtain this coverage either through the Rice Insurance Services Center (RISC), the state’s group insurance policy vendor, or through any other insurance provider of your choice — as long as the provider meets the criteria outlined by the Commission in Section 54-2013 of the Idaho Real Estate License Law and Rules.

Step 6: Application Review

If you’ve managed to get this far, congratulations!

Please note that the Commission typically takes a minimum of 10 business days to review your application.

Once the Commission approves your application, you’ll receive your licensing document. You may then start your career as a licensed real estate broker.

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

Idaho Real Estate License Renewal

In order to keep your real estate broker license valid, you’ll need to renew it every two years.

Your license will expire on the last day of the month of your birth date, prior to which you will need to submit a renewal application through the Idaho Division of Occupational and Professional Licenses Online Services portal and pay a $160 processing fee.

Keep in mind that during the two-year cycle, you must complete two Commission-approved core courses plus 12 classroom hours of continuing education (CE). Otherwise, you won’t be allowed to renew your license.

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.

Note: Commission-ordered education as a result of disciplinary action can’t be used to fulfill your CE requirements.

Idaho Division of Occupational and Professional Licenses

Mailing Address:
Real Estate Commission
P.O. Box 83720
Boise, ID 83720-0063

Physical Address:
11341 W. Chinden Blvd.
Boise, ID 83714

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

Phone: (208) 334-3233

Email: irec-licensing@dopl.idaho.gov

Website: https://dopl.idaho.gov/rec/