How to Get a Broker License in Kansas

Obtaining a Kansas 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 Kansas 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.

Kansas Real Estate Broker License

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

1. Ensuring You Meet the Eligibility and Experience Requirements
2. Completing the Mandatory Pre-Licensing Education
3. Passing a Background Check
4. Passing the Kansas 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 Kansas Real Estate License guide instead.

Step 1: Meet the Kansas Eligibility and Experience Requirements

Before proceeding with the application process for your Kansas real estate broker license, you’ll need to first make sure that you meet the general prerequisites outlined under the Kansas Statutes Annotated (K.S.A.) 58-3043:

• You must be at least 18 years of age
• You must hold a high school diploma or an equivalent credential (such as a GED)
• You must have worked as a licensed salesperson for at least two of the last three years in positions that require a Kansas real estate license

Keep in mind that if you have ever faced disciplinary actions, you will need to disclose this information to the commission in order to avoid having your license denied or revoked.

Having said that, you will have the option to provide supporting documentation to help explain or clarify the situation, such as:

• A copy of the disciplinary order and an explanation for any denial, revocation, suspension, voluntary surrender of a license, or any other disciplinary action against a professional or occupational license you have held
• An explanation and a copy of the settlement agreement for any final court judgment from real estate-related litigation filed against you or a real estate company you own
• A letter explaining any pending criminal charges, convictions, or diversions related to misdemeanor or felony offenses

Moreover, you can strengthen your application by providing letters of recommendation or character references, certificates for any completed treatment or therapy programs, and a statement highlighting your character, rehabilitation efforts, or any mitigating circumstances related to your past conduct.

Note: To demonstrate your required experience, you will need to complete the Broker Experience Pages and the Broker Transaction Log and attach them as part of your license application.

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 a Kansas real estate broker license.

In particular, this will involve completing 60 hours of pre-licensing education that’s approved by the Kansas Real Estate Commission, consisting of two core courses on the following subjects:

• Kansas Real Estate Fundamentals: A 30-hour course covering the basics of real estate principles and practices
• Kansas Real Estate Broker Management: A 30-hour course focused on broker responsibilities, management skills, and supervisory duties

Upon completing these courses, you’ll receive a certificate of completion for each, which will have a specific validity period:

• The Kansas Real Estate Fundamentals course completion certificate will be valid for 12 months, during which you will need to take the licensing exam
• The Kansas Real Estate Broker Management course completion certificate will remain valid for 6 months, during which you will need to submit your license application to the Kansas Real Estate Commission

In other words, you’ll need to schedule and finish the exam within 12 months of completing the Fundamentals course and submit your application within 6 months of finishing the Management course.

Step 3: Pass the Background Check

To move forward with your Kansas real estate broker application, you will need to complete a fingerprint based background check.

To do this, you will need to submit a completed fingerprint card (Background Waiver form (REL-150)) and pay both a $60 background check fee and a non-refundable $50 application fee to the Kansas Real Estate Commission (KREC).

There are three options for having your fingerprints taken:

• Local Law Enforcement Agencies: You can visit a nearby police station or sheriff’s office to get your fingerprints taken and submit a traditional fingerprint card to the Kansas Real Estate Commission (KREC)
• Kansas Bureau of Investigation (KBI) Office: You can have your fingerprints digitally scanned at the KBI office in Topeka
• Pearson VUE Test Centers: You can also schedule your fingerprinting at the Pearson VUE centers in Overland Park, Topeka, or Wichita for an additional $16 fee. To book an appointment, you will need to go to Pearson VUE’s website and select Fingerprint KSREFP: KS RE Fingerprint Appointment

Note: It should be noted that KREC will not begin processing your background check results until they have received the completed Background Waiver form and processing fee.

Step 4: Pass the Broker Licensing Exam

In Kansas, the real estate broker exam is a four-hour exam that’s administered by Pearson VUE and comprises 120 questions divided across two sections: a National portion and a State-Specific portion.

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 $82 fee at the time of reservation, as this cannot be paid at the exam center. This fee will remain the same regardless of whether you’re sitting one or both portions of the exam.

In order to pass, you’ll need to obtain a score of 70% on both sections — if you fail one, you’ll only need to retake that section for a reduced fee of $75.

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.

Step 5: Submit a License Application

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

To do this, you will need to submit the complete license application packet that you’ll receive from Pearson VUE — along with a $175 licensing fee — to the Kansas Real Estate Commission.

In order for your application to be processed, you will also need to include the following documents:

• Certificates of completion for your pre-license education
• Broker Experience Pages
• Broker Transaction Log or Sales Detail Report
• Exam score report

Keep in mind that you can send your application and supporting documents either by email to krec@ks.gov or by fax to (785) 296-1771, as long as you do so within six months of passing the exam.

Note: Remember that if you passed different parts of the exam on separate dates, the six-month period will start from the earliest exam date.

Step 6: Application Review

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

The Kansas Real Estate Commission typically reaches a decision within two to three business days; if your application is approved, you’ll receive your licensing document by email, which will officially allow you to start practicing real estate as a licensed 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!

Kansas Real Estate License Renewal

In order to keep your real estate broker license valid, you’ll need to renew it every two years. In Kansas, this incurs a $175 fee and requires completing 12 hours of continuing education (CE).

Keep in mind that out of the 12 hours, three must be on a core course that’s chosen by the Commission titled “Kansas Required Core”.

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: Keep in mind that any CE completed as a salesperson prior to obtaining your Kansas real estate broker license will not count toward your CE requirements.

Kansas Real Estate Commission

Mailing Address:
Jayhawk Tower 700 SW Jackson Street, Suite 404
Topeka, Kansas 66603-3785

Hours: Monday to Friday, 8:00 am-4:30 pm

Phone: (785) 296-3411

Fax: (785) 296-1771

Email: krec@ks.gov

Website: http://www.krec.ks.gov/home