Becoming a Nevada 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 Nevada Real Estate Broker License is a fairly simple process, but it does require you to complete five 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.

Nevada Real Estate Agent vs Real Estate Broker

Nevada 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 Nevada.

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.

Nevada 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 Nevada.

These prerequisites are:

• Two years of active full-time experience within the last four years
• 64 semester college credits
• Proof of experience. Every two years of work as a real-estate agent can be converted into 16 credits toward your education components
• Proof of pre-licensing education

You will also need to get fingerprinted and should be a resident of Nevada.

How to Become a Real Estate Broker in Nevada

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

Step 1: Complete a Nevada Broker Pre-Licensing Course

The first step to getting your real estate broker license in Nevada is to take 64 classroom hours of qualifying real estate courses.

The required 64 semester college credits include:

• Three credits of Real Estate Principles
• Three credits of Real Estate Law
• Three credits of Real Estate Appraisal
• Three credits in a Broker Management Course (Nevada specific)
• 15 credits in business, management, accounting, marketing, finance, or economics
• One credit in contracts in real estate transactions
• One credit in agency
• General college-level credits: 35 for in-state, first-time applications or 37 for out-of-state, licensed applicants

In lieu of classroom experience, you may be able to use your Proof of Experience. Experiments can be granted in two-year increments. For example, eight years of real estate experience equals 64 credits needed for your broker’s license.

Nevada doesn’t allow you to transfer your real estate license from another state to be a broker, so you’ll need to take the licensing examinations again in Nevada. There is no education waiver available for broker applications.

After completing the courses, you must also pass the final broker course exam. The minimum passing grade is 70%. The final pre-license exam is to be supervised by a proctor, whether on-site or online. This is not the same as the state broker exam.

After passing your broker course exam, your pre-license education provider will provide you with your course completion documents. You’ll then send a completed Form 549 to the Department of Business and Industry Real Estate Division to have it processed.

Step 2: Submit a Nevada Broker License Application

Once you meet the broker pre-licensing education requirements and pass the course exam, you can now apply for your license.

To submit your broker license application, you must send in a paper copy of Form 549 with all of your pre-licensing documents. The cost is $160 for you as you apply for your broker license. The cost is also $160 for Broker-Salesperson applications.

Along with the documents, you’ll need to submit a fingerprint background waiver to the Nevada Real Estate Division (NRED).

Mail the entire completed packet to:

Nevada Real Estate Division – NRED
3300 W. Sahara Ave., #350
Las Vegas, NV 89102

Step 3: Get a Fingerprint-Based Background Check

After submitting your license application, you must have a fingerprint-based background check. You must submit your fingerprints via mail to NRED.

For fingerprinting, submit a fingerprint card along with a cashier’s check or money order in the amount of $40.25 (amount varies depending on location). It should be made out to the Nevada Department of Public Safety or the name of a qualifying approved Fingerprint vendor.

Step 4: Pass the Nevada Real Estate Broker Exam

After completing the steps above, you must take the real estate broker licensing exam via Pearson VUE or PSI.

The fee for the broker exam is $100.

In Nevada, brokers take the national and state sections of the examination. The national section is made up of 80 questions. The state section is made up of 48 questions. You will have up to 120 minutes to complete the national section and 60 minutes to finish the state portion.

The passing rate is 75% for the Nevada Real Estate Broker Exam.

There is no limit on the number of times you can take the exam, though you will have to pay the fee again.

For more information on the exam, Pearson VUE provides a Candidate Handbook containing the Nevada Real Estate Broker Exam Content Outline.

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 5: Application Review

Depending on who you take the exam through, you may know the results right away. Then, you will need to wait a few days for your background check to clear. It usually takes around 5-10 business days to get the documentation you need for your license application.

Once you have the license application documents in your hands, submit them to NRED to seek your license.

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.

Nevada Real Estate Broker License Renewal and CE

For licenses expiring on or after October 31, 2021, you will need to complete at least 36 hours of ongoing continuing education (CE) in the year after you receive your broker license. These hours need to include:

• Agency
• Contracts
• Law and Legislation
• Risk Reduction
• Broker Management
• Ethics
• General Education Courses

At least 18 hours of the courses must be through live instruction.

Fill out form 580 and send in the renewal fee before the deadline. The renewal fee is $235.

Subsequent renewals will be good for two years instead of one and require the same amount of CE. For brokers age 65 or older with over 30 years of experience, there is an exemption that allows you to complete fewer CE courses.

NVDBI – Nevada Department of Business and Industry

Mailing Address:

Nevada Real Estate Division
3300 W. Sahara Ave., #350
Las Vegas, Nevada 89102

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

Phone: (702) 486-4033

Website: http://red.nv.gov/