How to Get a Broker License in Utah

Written by: Will Bond

Last updated:

Obtaining a Utah 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 Utah 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.

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Utah Real Estate Broker License 

In order to get your Utah 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 the Utah Broker Licensing Exam
  4. Passing a Background Check
  5. Submitting Your 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 Utah Real Estate License guide instead.

Step 1: Meet the Utah Eligibility and Experience Requirements

Before proceeding with the application process for your Utah real estate broker license, you’ll need to first make sure that you meet the general prerequisites outlined under Utah Administrative Rules R162-2f-201:

  • Be at least 18 years of age
  • Be a U.S. citizen, a permanent resident, or a lawfully admitted foreign national
  • Maintain a reputation of honesty, integrity, truthfulness, and competency

In addition to the general requirements outlined above, you’ll also need to demonstrate that you satisfy the following experience requirements according to Utah Code § 61-2f-203(1)(f):

  • Have three years of full-time, licensed, active real estate experience within the last five years prior to submitting your application, or two years of such experience plus one year of professional experience in a related field (Attorney, CPA, Mortgage Loan Officer) as specified in Administrative Rule R162-2f-202b
  • Have completed 60 points worth of qualifying real estate transactions or activities during the last five years, as detailed in the Utah Administrative Code R162-2f-501

It should be noted that Utah currently has reciprocity agreements for real estate licensing with Georgia, Mississippi, and Alberta, Canada.

If you have an active real estate license in good standing from any of these jurisdictions, be sure to visit the Utah Division of Real Estate’s for more information on license reciprocity.

Step 2: Complete the Mandatory Pre-Licensing Education

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

In particular, this will involve completing a total of 120 hours of targeted training at a real estate school certified by the Utah Department of Commerce, structured as follows:

  • Broker Practices (45 hours)
  • Broker Principles (45 hours)
  • Utah Law and Testing (30 hours)

Keep in mind that you will need to pass a test for each of these courses in order to complete them, after which you will receive a certificate of completion that will remain valid for one year.

You will need to schedule and pass the state licensing examination within that year; otherwise, your completion certificate will expire and you’ll need to retake the pre-licensing courses.

Important

Even though completing a course is mandatory, it would be a mistake to think of it as just “checking a box”. This is because your pre-licensing education is what will prepare you to both pass your exam and become a licensed broker.

For this reason, we always encourage our readers to invest in high-quality and reliable courses, as their study materials (like real estate practice tests and flashcards) can be invaluable during the exam prep stage.

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Step 3: Pass the Broker Licensing Exam

In Utah, this four-hour exam is administered by Pearson VUE and comprises 170 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 $59 fee at the time of reservation, as this cannot be paid at the exam center; this fee will remain 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 minimum scaled score of 75 on both the National portion and the State-Specific portion of the exam. Note that this won’t necessarily be equal to a raw score of 75% as scaled scores are adjusted to match the relative difficulty of each individual broker exam.

If you pass one section of the exam but fail the other one, you will have six months to retake and pass the failed section. If you do not pass the failed section within that period, you will be required to retake both sections of the exam.

You’ll find out how you performed on this exam immediately after finishing and should receive your passing exam score sheet with a full breakdown a few days afterwards.

Note: Keep in mind that you will need to submit your license application within 90 days from the date you passed the exam, or your scoresheet will expire and you’ll need to start the exam process over.

Step 4: Pass the Background Check

Prior to submitting your license application, you will need to undergo a fingerprint-based background check.

You can complete this at the test center where you take your exam, or, if digital fingerprinting isn’t available there, through a local fingerprinting service.

  • Digital Fingerprints: If your local test center offers digital fingerprinting, you’ll need to schedule this service by visiting the Pearson VUE website, selecting the “Schedule a Fingerprinting Appointment” option, and paying the required $12 fee. Make sure to hold onto the fingerprint receipt you’ll receive after as you’ll need it later on when submitting a license application
  • Non-Digital Fingerprints: If your test center does not offer digital fingerprinting, you’ll receive two fingerprint cards (Blue FD-258) and a signed fingerprint waiver. You’ll need to take these to a local law enforcement agency to have your fingerprints taken, and then submit the completed cards along with your license application to the Utah Division of Real Estate

Note: Keep in mind that you must pay an additional $40 fingerprint processing fee when you submit your license application. This fee covers the administrative costs incurred by the Utah Division of Real Estate to process your background check results.

Step 5: 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.

To do this, you will need to complete the application form provided by the testing center after passing the examination and mail it, along with a non-refundable licensing fee of $163, to one of the following addresses:

State of Utah
Department of Commerce
Division of Real Estate
160 E. 300 S., 2nd Floor
Salt Lake City, UT 84111

OR

State of Utah
Department of Commerce
PO Box 146711
Salt Lake City, UT 84114-6711

Keep in mind that for your application to be processed by the Utah Division of Real Estate, you’ll need to include the following documents:

Note: It should be noted that the Utah Division of Real Estate has made it clear that incomplete applications will be returned without being processed. Therefore, ensure that all required documents are included in your application to avoid delays or, worse, missing critical deadlines and having to start the process all over again.

Step 6: Application Review

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

Once your complete application has been submitted, the Utah Division of Real Estate will process it within 3-5 business days, after which you will receive detailed instructions on how to print your licensing document.

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

Utah Real Estate License Renewal

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

To do this, you will need to log into your My License One account, access your renewal application, and pay the required $111 renewal fee.

Keep in mind that in order to keep your real estate broker license active, you will need to complete 18 hours of certified Continuing Education (CE) courses per two year circle.

These hours must be distributed as follows:

  • Core Topics: You will need to complete at least 6 hours of courses on real estate practices and laws in Utah
  • Mandatory Course: You will need to complete at least 3 hours in courses specified by the Utah Division of Real Estate, focusing on one of the following areas: Residential, Commercial, or Property Management
  • Elective Courses: The remaining 9 hours should be filled with either additional core topics or other approved elective 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.

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Utah Department of Commerce

Mailing Address:
Division of Real Estate
PO Box 146711
Salt Lake City, UT 84114-6711

Physical Address:
Heber M. Wells Building
2nd Floor 160 East 300 South
Salt Lake City, UT 84111

Phone: (801) 530-6747

Emailrealestate@utah.gov

Website: https://realestate.utah.gov/real-estate/licensing/broker/

Utah Real Estate Broker License FAQ

How long does it take to become a broker in Utah?

To become a broker in Utah, you will need at least 2-3 years to gain the necessary full-time real estate experience.

After that, completing the pre-licensing education, passing the licensing exam, and undergoing the background check process will typically take an additional 2-4 months.

For more information on this topic, you can have a look at our state specific How to Become a Real Estate Broker guide.

What are the requirements to be a broker in Utah?

To qualify as a broker in Utah, you must be at least 18 years old, be a U.S. citizen or lawfully admitted foreign national, and have at least three years of work experience as a Utah real estate agent.

Additionally, you will need to complete 120 hours of pre-licensing real estate education, pass the state licensing exam, undergo a background check, and submit your license application to the Utah Division of Real Estate.

How much does it cost to get your real estate license in Utah?

Getting your broker license in Utah costs around $234, which includes $163 for the license application, $59 for the Utah real estate exam, and $12 for having your fingerprints taken.

Additionally, you will need to pay for the required pre-licensing education, the cost of which varies depending on the provider you choose.

Interested in finding out more? Check out our How to Get a Utah Real Estate Broker License guide.

Does Utah have real estate license reciprocity?

Yes, Utah offers reciprocity for real estate licenses from Georgia, Mississippi, and Alberta, Canada.

If you hold an active and valid real estate license from any of these places and want to apply for a Utah principal broker license, you should reach out directly to the Utah Division of Real Estate at realestate@utah.gov.

Interested in getting started? See our How to Get a Utah Real Estate License article for more information.

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