How to Get a Real Estate License in Nebraska

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

Nebraska Real Estate License

In order to get your Nebraska real estate license and start working in the real estate industry, there are several key steps you’ll need to complete. These include:

1. Ensuring You Meet the Licensing Eligibility Requirements
2. Submitting a License Application
3. Completing the Mandatory Pre-Licensing Education
4. Passing a Background Check
5. Passing the Nebraska Real Estate Exam
6. Obtaining Errors and Omissions (E&O) Insurance

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

Step 1: Meet the Nebraska Real Estate License Requirements

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

• You must be at least 19 years old in order to qualify for a Nebraska real estate license
• You must possess a high school diploma, a certificate of equivalency, or provide proof of participation or enrollment in a home school program approved by the Department of Education

Note: Pursuant to Nebraska Statutes 4-108 through 4-114, the Nebraska Real Estate Commission (the Commission) is required to confirm the lawful presence in the United States of all individuals applying for a professional license.

This is enforced uniformly across all applicants regardless of race, religion, gender, ethnicity, or national origin.

Step 2: Submit a License Application

After meeting the eligibility requirements, the next step in obtaining your Nebraska real estate license is to submit a completed license application to the Commission.

You can do this by completing the application online via the Commission’s website or by downloading and completing the License Application Packet Request form and then mailing it to the Commision. After receiving your request form, the Commission will send you the necessary documents to complete your application.

In either case, you’ll need to pay a $135 licensing application fee when you submit your application as well as the separate $150 exam fee.

Upon approval, the Commision will authorize Pearson VUE to send you an “Authorization to Test” email that confirms your eligibility and provides detailed instructions on how to schedule your exam.

Note: After you submit your application online, you can check its status through the Nebraska Real Estate Commission’s online portal.

Step 3: 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 Nebraska real estate license.

In particular, you’ll be expected to complete two Commission-approved courses in real estate subjects. Each course consists of at least 30 class hours and you can take them either remotely or in person. You also must complete a six-hour course on professional practice standards (Course #0003).

Upon completing these courses, you’ll receive a certificate that you must submit to the Commission. You can do this in one of four ways:

• Email the certificate as an attachment to realestate.commission@nebraska.gov
• Mail the certificate to 301 Centennial Mall S., P.O. Box 94667, Lincoln, NE 68509-4667
• Deliver the certificate in person to the Commission’s office at 301 Centennial Mall S., Lincoln, NE 68508
• Upload the certificate via the Commission’s online portal

If you take your pre-licensing courses at a college or university, the institution will have to send your official transcripts directly to the Commission’s office.

Step 4: Pass the Background Check

After you submit your application and complete the pre-licensing courses, you’ll have to pass a fingerprint-based background check before you can take the exam.

The Commission will send you two fingerprint cards once it processes your application. You must take these cards to one of the Nebraska State Patrol offices equipped with LiveScan technology.

This can be done at any of the following locations:

• Omaha: 4411 South 108th St. (Call (402) 331-3333 to schedule an appointment)
• Lincoln: 4600 Innovation Drive (Call (402) 479-4971 to schedule an appointment)
• Grand Island: 3431 Potash Hwy.(Call (308) 385-6000 to schedule an appointment)
• Norfolk: 1401 Eisenhower Ave. (Call (402) 370-3456 to schedule an appointment)
• North Platte: 300 W. S. River Rd. (Call (308) 535-6604 to schedule an appointment)
• Scottsbluff: 4500 Ave. I (Call (308) 632-1211 to schedule an appointment)

You’ll need to pay a $38 fee to complete this process after which you must mail your completed fingerprint cards to the Nebraska State Patrol at the following address:

Nebraska State Patrol
Attn: CID
3800 N.W. 12th St., Suite A
Lincoln, NE 68521

Note: The background check process typically takes four to six weeks. Once complete, you’ll receive an email notification about the status of your application.

Step 5: Pass the Nebraska Real Estate Exam

The next step you’ll need to complete is to pass the Nebraska real estate exam, which is administered by Pearson VUE and consists of two sections:

• National Section: This section includes 80 questions on general real estate principles and practices and must be completed within 2.5 hours
• State Section: This section includes 50 questions specific to Nebraska real estate laws and regulations and must be completed within 1.5 hours

You’ll have a total of four hours to complete the entire exam, and you must achieve a passing score of 75% on each section in order to pass.

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

If you pass one part of the salesperson exam, but not the other, you may carry over the passing score for up to three future test attempts of the failed section or six months — whichever occurs first. Should you fail to pass the remaining section of the exam within this timeframe, you’ll have to retake both parts.

After you successfully pass the exam, you’ll receive an official score report that you must submit to the Commission via the documents tab of the Commission’s online portal.

Keep in mind that you’ll need to complete the licensing process within 30 days of receiving notification of your passing grade. Otherwise, your application may become void and you may need to restart the process.

Step 6: Obtain Errors and Omissions Insurance

After passing the state real estate exam and satisfying all other licensing requirements, you’ll be ready to move onto the final step, which is obtaining Errors and Omissions (E&O) insurance. You can do this in one of two ways:

• Through the Commission’s Group Plan: The Commission offers an E&O insurance policy under a group plan through its program administrator, Rice Insurance Services Center (RISC), for a cost of approximately $125 per year
• Through a Qualified Carrier: You also may acquire E&O insurance from any qualified carrier as long as the coverage is equivalent to that offered through the Commission

To be considered a qualified carrier for equivalent coverage, the insurer will need to:

• Be authorized by the State of Nebraska Department of Insurance to do business in Nebraska and to write E&O policies for the term of the policy
• Have the E&O policy approved by the State of Nebraska Department of Insurance
• Maintain an A.M. Best Company rating of B+ or better
• Maintain an A.M. Best Financial Size Category rating of Class VI or better

The Commission will not approve real estate salesperson license applications until it receives proof of E&O insurance coverage. This requires you to upload your policy certificate via the Commission’s online portal.

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 the Commission containing a license document within 24 to 48 hours.

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

Nebraska Real Estate License Renewal

In order to keep your license valid and continue working as a real estate sales agent, you’ll need to renew your license every two years.

This renewal process includes meeting specific educational requirements established by the Commission:

• Post-Licensing Education: Within the first 180 days of receiving your license, you must complete a 12 hour post-licensing education course called “Course Number 7000.” You’ll then need to upload proof of your completion of this course to the Commission’s online portal or your license will go into “inactive” status
• Continuing Education: Over each two-year period, you’ll also need to complete 18 hours of continuing education from Commission-approved courses

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.

To renew your license, you can visit the Commission’s licensee portal to submit your salesperson license renewal application along with the $140 fee.

Nebraska Real Estate Commission

Mailing Address:
301 Centennial Mall South
P.O. Box 94667
Lincoln, NE 68509-4667

Phone: (402) 471-2004

Fax: (402) 471-4492

Email: realestate.commission@nebraska.gov

Website: https://nrec.nebraska.gov/