How to Get a Broker License in Kentucky

Obtaining a Kentucky 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 Kentucky 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.

Kentucky Real Estate Broker License

In order to get your Kentucky 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 Kentucky Broker Licensing Exam
5. Obtaining Errors and Omissions (E&O) Insurance
6. 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 Kentucky Real Estate License guide instead.

Step 1: Meet the Kentucky Eligibility and Experience Requirements

Before proceeding with the application process for your Kentucky real estate broker license, you’ll need to first make sure that you meet the general prerequisites outlined under the Kentucky Revised Statutes § 324.040(3):

• Must be at least 18 years of age
• Must have achieved at least a high school diploma (or an accepted equivalent)

In addition to the general eligibility requirements outlined above, you’ll also be expected to satisfy the following experience requirements under KRS § 324.046(1)(b):

• Must have been practicing as a sales associated in the real estate industry for at least 24 months prior to applying
• Must have been averaging 20 hours per week in this role throughout the entirety of this period

On top of all the requirements outlined above, all applicants will be required to be able to demonstrate an honest, trustworthy, and competent character according to KRS § 324.045(1). In order to confirm this, the Commission will look for a clean criminal record check (see Step 3).

Step 2: Complete the Mandatory Pre-Licensing Education

Beyond the general requirements mentioned earlier, you must also fulfill specific educational prerequisites under KRS § 324.046(1)(a) to be able to apply for a Kentucky real estate broker license.

In particular, this will involve completing a total of 21 credit hours of pre-licensing real estate classes offered by an approved proprietary school or accredited college.

This total time must be broken down as follows:

• Real Estate Courses (12 hours)
• Broker Management Course (3 hours)
• Approved Elective Courses (6 hours)

Unlike in many other states, there’s no time limit between when you satisfy these pre-licensing education requirements and when you eventually take the broker examination.

However, you will be required to request a review of your education using Form 207 after completing all of the requirements above. This is to allow the KREC to verify that you’ve satisfied these requirements, and must be done before you can register for the broker exam (see Step 4).

Be aware that it typically takes KREC between seven and 10 days to process this document.

Step 3: Pass the Background Check

Before you’ll be able to take the broker exam, you’ll need to request a national criminal history check from the FBI according to KRS § 324.045(5).

To do this, you’ll need to provide your fingerprints to one of the following bodies:

• FBI: After requesting a criminal history check through the FBI website, it should be mailed directly to you in less than a week ($18)
• Kentucky State Police: After scheduling an appointment through the IdentoGO website using the KREC service code “27GJR5”, the Kentucky State Police then forwards your report to KREC ($51.25)

Remember that the record of your criminal history check will only remain valid for 90 days. This means that you’ll need to submit your broker license application to KREC within this period, or re-complete this step all over again.

Note: For more information on how to complete this step, we recommend checking out the FBI’s guide on How to Challenge and How to Obtain Your FBI Identity History Summary.

Step 4: Pass the Broker Licensing Exam

In Kentucky, this 4-hour exam is administered by Pearson VUE and comprises 125 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 PSI 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 $100 fee at the time of reservation, as this cannot be paid at the exam center. This fee remains 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 at least 75% in each of the exam’s portions. How you perform should be immediately shown on screen after you finish, regardless of whether you pass or fail.

Be aware that if you only failed one of the exam’s portions (i.e., national or state law), you’ll only need to retake this one. However, you must pass both modules within four months of each other — if you take any longer than this, you’ll be required to retake both.

Note: After you successfully achieve a passing score on this exam, you’ll be required to send a completed application for your broker license within 60 days of this date.

Step 5: Obtain Errors and Omissions (E&O) Insurance

The final step you’ll need to complete before submitting your application is to obtain Errors and Omissions (E&O) insurance — this is mandatory for all licensees.

This professional liability insurance provides protection to both you and your clients from any potential legal claims arising from mistakes or negligence in the provision of your professional services.

In Kentucky, you can satisfy this requirement in one of two ways:

• KREC’s Group E&O Program: If you choose to enroll in this program, which is offered by Rice Insurance Services Company (RISC), you can do so quickly and easily online through RISC’s website
• Private Carrier: If you instead decide to make use of a private carrier policy, you’ll need to inform KREC of this by filling out and submitting KREC Form 203 as proof of your coverage alongside your broker license application

It’s worth noting that not all private carriers’ policies will qualify for the purposes of Kentucky’s laws. If you intend to follow this route, be sure to check your policy satisfies all of the following criteria under 201 KAR 11:220:

• Minimum liability limit of $100,000
• Minimum annual aggregate of $1,000,000
• Deductible cannot be greater than $2,500

After selecting an insurance carrier, you’ll need to update KREC with their information through your eServices account for a fee of $10.

Note: For more information on this, we recommend checking out KREC’s website.

Step 6: 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.

Along with your passing score report, you should receive an email from ppc.krec@ky.gov containing more detailed instructions on how to finish off the application process.

This is typically completed online through using the link in the email you’ll receive within 36 to 48 hours after passing both of the exam’s portions. However, you’re also able to collect a paper application from the exam testing site and mail it to the following address:

Public Protection Cabinet
500 Mero St.
218 NC
Frankfort, KY 40601

Finally, you’ll need to complete your application by signing it and certifying that the information and documentation it contains is true and correct, before paying either a $120 application fee (inactive licenses) or $130 application fee (active licenses).

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 KREC containing a license document within five business days. It’s worth noting that this estimation can take slightly longer depending on how busy the Commission is.

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, we recommend reaching out to KREC directly over the phone.

Kentucky Real Estate License Renewal

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

In Kentucky, you can either do this electronically through KREC’s eServices system or by submitting a License Renewal Form by mail — both of these submission methods cost $120 to renew an inactive license and $130 to renew an active one.

However, before you can submit a renewal request for your Kentucky broker license, you’ll need to complete 12 hours of continuing education (CE) during each renewal period according to KRS § 324.085.

These hours must be divided equally across the biennial license period (i.e., six hours of CE per year), with three hours of each year’s CE requirement dedicated to courses focused on real estate law.

On top of this all active real estate licensees will be required to complete an state-specific module called the Kentucky Core Course once every four years. You’ll need to take this six-hour course on top of all other CE requirements for that year.

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.

Kentucky Real Estate Commission

Mailing Address:
Mayo-Underwood Building
500 Mero Street 2NE09
Frankfort, KY 40601

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

Phone: (502) 564-7760

Email: PPC.KREC@ky.gov

Website: http://www.krec.ky.gov/