How to Get a Broker License in Nevada

Obtaining a Nevada 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 Nevada 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.

Nevada Real Estate Broker License

In order to get your Nevada 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. Submitting a License Application
4. Submitting Your Fingerprints and Passing a Background Check
5. Passing the Nevada Broker Licensing Exam

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 Nevada Real Estate License guide instead.

Step 1: Meet the Nevada Eligibility and Experience Requirements

Before proceeding with the application process for your Nevada real estate broker license, you’ll need to first make sure that you meet the general prerequisites outlined by the Department of Business and Industry Nevada Real Estate Division:

• You must be at least 18 years of age
• You must be a US citizen or a permanent resident
• You must show proof of high school graduation or its equivalent
• You must have been actively engaged as a licensed real estate salesperson for at least two of the four years prior to your application

Keep in mind that if you currently hold or have held a real estate license in any state within the past ten years, you will need to provide a certified license history issued by the state(s) in which you were licensed.

Note: In order to verify your experience, you will need to submit Form 509; this must be signed by the broker who employed you during the period of the experience you are claiming.

Step 2: Complete the Mandatory Pre-Licensing Education

Beyond the general requirements mentioned earlier, you must also fulfill specific educational prerequisites under NAC 645.437 to be able to apply for a Nevada real estate broker license.

In particular, you’ll need to complete 64 semester credits of prelicensing education offered by providers approved by the Nevada Real Estate Commission or accredited colleges.

These will need to focus on the following areas:

• Real Estate Principles: You will need to complete either 45 hours of coursework or earn three college credits covering the fundamental concepts of real estate
• Real Estate Law: You will have to complete either 45 hours of coursework or earn three college credits focused on real estate law; this must include a minimum of 18 hours dedicated specifically to Nevada law
• Real Estate Appraisal: You will have to complete 45 hours of coursework or earn three college credits in real estate appraisal
• Broker Management: You will need to complete 45 hours of coursework or earn three college credits in broker management, with a focus on Nevada-specific real estate practices
• Contracts in Real Estate Transactions: You will need to complete either a 15-hour course approved by the commission or earn one college credit in contract law
• Agency Relationships: You will be required to complete either 15 hours of coursework or one college credit focusing on agency relationships. This coursework must include at least 3 hours on the fundamental relationships between brokers and agents, and another 3 hours dedicated to risk reduction strategies

Given that the minimum experience required to apply for a broker license is two years, you automatically qualify for a reduction of 16 credits from the 64 credit requirement.

This means that depending on your years in the field, the actual number of educational credits required will be significantly less:

• After 4 years: You will need to complete a total of 32 credits
• After 6 years: You will need to complete a total of 16 credits
• After 8 years: Your experience will fulfill the entire 64-credit requirement, and no further coursework is needed

It should be noted that regardless of your experience, the Broker Management course and the specific 18 hours of Nevada real estate law course cannot be waived and will need to be completed.

Step 3: Submit a License Application

After completing the prelicensing education and satisfying all other licensing requirements, you’ll be ready to move on to submitting your license application.

To do this, you will need to complete the Original Licensing Application for Broker form, and submit it along with a non-refundable fee of $160 to the Nevada Real Estate Division at the following address:

State of Nevada
Department of Business and Industry
Real Estate Division
3300 W. Sahara Ave., Suite 350
Las Vegas, Nevada 89102

You will also need to include a Fingerprint Background Waiver — which grants the Nevada Real Estate Division permission to process your fingerprints — as well as the official certificates of completion or transcripts which verify that you have completed the required educational credits.

Step 4: Pass the Background Check

As part of the licensing process, you will be required to pass a fingerprint-based background check that’s conducted by an approved vendor.

To do this, you will need to choose a vendor, set up your appointment, and cover the fingerprinting fee — which generally falls between $60 and $80 — depending on the provider you choose.

You can find a list of approved vendors for scheduling your fingerprinting appointment on the Nevada Real Estate Division’s website.

It’s important to schedule your fingerprinting soon after submitting your license application, as the background check needs to be completed within six months of your submission.

Step 5: Pass the Broker Licensing Exam

In Nevada, this four hour exam is administered by Pearson VUE and comprises 130 scored 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 $100 fee at the time of reservation, as this cannot be paid at the exam center. You’ll be required to pay this fee 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 75% on each portion of the exam; if you fail one of the sections, you will need to retake that specific portion until you achieve the required score.

Note: Keep in mind that you will have 12 months from the date you submit your application to pass the exam and submit your results to the Nevada Real Estate Division.

Step 6: Application Review

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

The Nevada Real Estate Division typically takes around 10-15 business days to process your submission; however, this timeframe can vary based on the results of your background check and the specifics of your individual application.

Once your application is approved, the Division will send you your licensing document, which will allow you to officially start practicing as a licensed real estate broker in Nevada.

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

Nevada Real Estate License Renewal

In order to keep your real estate broker license valid, you’ll need to renew it on the anniversary of the original issuance date, which will be one year after you first received it.

To do this, you will need to have stayed up to date with your continuing education requirements, which include:

• 3 hours in Agency
• 6 hours in Contracts
• 3 hours in Ethics
• 3 hours in Law & Legislation
• 3 hours in Risk Reduction
• 6 hours in Broker Management
• 12 hours of General Education courses

Once you’ve completed these continuing education requirements, you’ll need to fill out the Renewal Application form (Form 580) and submit it to the Nevada Real Estate Division along with a renewal fee of $235.

Keep in mind that at least 18 of the required 36 hours must be completed through live instruction; the remaining hours can be completed online.

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: It should be noted that after your first annual renewal, all subsequent renewals will occur every two years instead.

Nevada Department of Business and Industry

Mailing Address:
Nevada Real Estate Division
3300 W. Sahara Ave., Suite 350
Las Vegas, Nevada 89102

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

Phone: (702) 486-4033

Website: http://red.nv.gov/