How to Get a Real Estate License in Puerto Rico

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

Puerto Rico Real Estate License

In order to get your Puerto Rico 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. Completing the Mandatory Pre-Licensing Education
3. Passing the Puerto Rico Real Estate Exam
4. Passing the Background Check
5. Obtaining a Valid Bail Bond
6. Finding a Sponsoring Broker
7. Submitting a License Application

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

Step 1: Meet the Puerto Rico Real Estate License Requirements

Before continuing ahead with your application for a Puerto Rico real estate license, you’ll first need to confirm that you’re actually eligible for it by ensuring you meet the following prerequisites under P.R. Laws Ann. tit. 20, § 3034:

• You must be older than 18 years of age
• You must have graduated from high school (or equivalent)
• You must not have been convicted of any serious crimes during the five years prior to your license application

Note: For the purpose of the last requirement listed above, you may be deemed not to satisfy it up until (and after) you receive your license. This means Puerto Rico’s Board of Real Estate Brokers, Salespersons and Companies (the Board) may reject your license on this basis even if you were initially deemed to satisfy it and have passed the licensing exam.

Step 2: 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 under P.R. Laws Ann. tit. 20, § 3038 in order to be able to apply for a Puerto Rico real estate salesperson license.

In particular, you must complete 60 hours of pre-licensing education at an academic institution approved by the Board. This covers topics like real estate finance, property management, and general real estate law.

Be sure to hold onto any documentation or certificate you receive upon completing this course because you’ll need to present this in order to take your state licensing exam (see Step 3).

Step 3: Pass the Puerto Rico Real Estate Exam

The next step you’ll need to complete is to pass the Puerto Rico real estate exam, which is administered by the Test Innovations, Inc.

This exam has 75 questions, including 60 scored questions that count toward your overall score plus 15 unscored questions only added for future use.

In order to take this exam, you’ll need to submit an electronic request through Reválidas Online and pay $167.25 ($150 exam fee + $17.52 sales tax). Through this portal, you’ll also have to fill in the application form and choose your preferred date and time for the exam from the options available to you.

Although the website will initially appear in Spanish, it also provides an English option you can choose instead. After completing all the required steps, you should receive email confirmation of your exam reservation within a few minutes.

On the day of your exam, you must present this confirmation as well as a valid form of photo ID issued by a government agency. In order to pass the exam, you’ll need to obtain a minimum score of 70%.

Results are typically processed the same day as the exam, but the Board notes that, in the case of completely new exams, official results may take up to four weeks to be sent to you via email.

After you pass, you’ll need to complete the rest of the application process within 90 days of the date you sat this real estate licensing exam.

Note: For more information regarding the examination process, contact Test Innovations via phone or email.

Step 4: Pass the Background Check

Next, you’ll need to prove you have a clean criminal record by requesting a background check from any Puerto Rican Police Department — either by mail or online.

This will typically involve you having your biometrics taken (i.e., fingerprints and photos of your face) at your local police department, which will then send them for a complete background check.

Once this check is complete, you should receive a Certificate of No Penal Record (“Certificado Negativo de Antecedentes Penales”). Hold onto this document because you’ll need to provide a scanned copy when submitting your application (see Step 7).

Note: Candidates who’ve been permanent residents in areas outside Puerto Rico within the last five years must obtain this certificate for these jurisdictions as well.

Step 5: Obtain a Valid Bail Bond

As per the laws regulating the real estate profession in Puerto Rico under P.R. Laws Ann. tit. 20 § 3036, all real estate salesperson licensees in Puerto Rico must obtain a bail bond in the amount of $10,000 dollars with a term of at least four years.

In addition to this, your bail bond must:

• Be issued by an insurance company that’s permitted to operate in Puerto Rico
• Be granted within 30 days of the date the Board issues your real estate license
• Stipulate you’ll adhere to all the regulations cited within the above statute

After you pay the bond amount requested by the insurance company, you should receive a letter of confirmation that serves as proof of this payment. Hold onto this because you’ll need it later on in the application process.

Next, you’ll need to complete Form DJE-2000 — the official format in which you’ll later have to upload proof of your bond when you submit your license application (see Step 7).

This document must then be notarized, with signatures from both the applicant and the insurance company on the front plus an additional signature from the applicant in the center of the back page before a notary public.

Note: You’ll need to notify the Puerto Rico Department of Consumer Affairs in writing when you obtain this bond, making sure to include the insurance company’s address and phone number.

Step 6: Find a Sponsoring Broker

The final step you’ll need to take before you can submit an application for your real estate license is to find a sponsoring broker. This is a licensed real estate professional who supervises and mentors you, ensuring you comply with essential legal and ethical standards.

While it’s a legal requirement for new real estate licensees to work under a sponsoring broker in Puerto Rico, it’s important you don’t treat this as just a rule you need to follow. This is because this real estate broker will provide you with essential training, support, and access to valuable networks that will help you to learn the industry, avoid pitfalls, and grow your business effectively.

Once you find your sponsoring broker, you’ll need to obtain a certified letter from them that contains the following details:

• Authorization for you to use their escrow account
• The broker’s or brokerage firm’s license number
• The name of the bank they use
• Their bank account number

Step 7: Submit a License Application

After passing the state real estate exam and satisfying all other licensing requirements, you’ll be ready to move onto submitting your license application. You must do this online by submitting an electronic request through the Puerto Rico Department of State website.

If this is your first time using this website, you’ll need to create an account before you can proceed. Once you create your account and begin the application process, you’ll see a prompt to fill in a number of different forms.

After completing all of these forms, you’ll have to accompany your application request with scanned copies of all of the following documentation:

• A recent passport-type photo of yourself (2” x 2”)
• A currently valid photo ID (issued by either Puerto Rico or the federal government)
• Your high school diploma (or equivalent)
• Your criminal record certificate issued within the last six months
• Your Certificate of Completion for a course that meets all pre-licensing requirements
• A signed and notarized original bond in the amount of $10,000 (submitted using Form DJE-2000)
• Receipt of full payment for this bond
• A certified letter from your sponsoring broker or real estate firm

After you upload all of the above documents, all that’s left to do is pay the $200 application fee required by the Board to release your license.

Note: For a more detailed look into the documentation requirements you’ll need to satisfy when applying for your real estate license, visit the Puerto Rico Department of State website.

Step 8: 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 the license application process should be completed by the Puerto Rico Department of State in less than 30 days.

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, you may contact the Puerto Rico Department of State by phone or email.

Puerto Rico 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 four years.

Just like initial applications, all real estate license renewals in Puerto Rico must be submitted through the Department of State website.

Additionally, in accordance with P.R. Laws Ann. tit. 20, § 3038, you must complete a minimum of 16 hours of continuing education (CE) per four-year renewal period to be able to submit your license renewal application. A minimum of four hours of CE must be taken each year of a renewal period.

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 ongoing education course content is a central part of ensuring you continue to grow professionally.

Puerto Rico Department of State

Mailing Address:
Assistant Secretary of Examining Boards
Board of Real Estate Brokers, Salespersons and Companies
P.O. Box 9023271, San Juan, PR 00902-3271

Physical Address:
Calle San José esq. San Francisco
Old San Juan, PR 00902

Phone: (888) 773-9266 

Email: prbienesraices@pcshq.com 

Website: https://www.statedepartment.pr.gov/juntas-examinadoras/real-estate-brokers-salespersons-and-firms