How to Get a Broker License in Wisconsin

Obtaining a Wisconsin 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 Wisconsin 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.

Wisconsin Real Estate Broker License

In order to get your Wisconsin 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 Wisconsin Broker Licensing Exam
4. Submitting a 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 Wisconsin Real Estate License guide instead.

Step 1: Meet the Wisconsin Eligibility and Experience Requirements

Before proceeding with the application process for your Wisconsin real estate broker license, you’ll need to first make sure that you meet the general prerequisites outlined in Chapter REEB 24 of the Wisconsin Administrative Code:

• You must have at least two years of experience within the past four years as a licensed salesperson, directly supervised by a licensed broker (excluding any apprenticeship periods)
• You must have accumulated at least 40 points of qualifying transactions over the last four years, with each commercial transaction contributing 10 points, each residential transaction adding 5 points, each property management contract earning 0.5 points per month, and each timeshare transaction contributing 1 point

Wisconsin maintains reciprocal licensing agreements for real estate professionals with the states of Illinois and Indiana, as detailed under Wis. Admin. Code § REEB 12.017(4).

If you currently hold an active real estate broker license in either of those states, you should contact the Wisconsin Department of Safety and Professional Services (DSPS) directly at (608) 266-2112 for more information.

Note: A criminal conviction will not automatically disqualify you from obtaining a real estate broker license. DSPS reviews each application on a case-by-case basis, considering the relevance of the crime to the real estate profession, the time elapsed since the offense, and any evidence of rehabilitation.

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 Wisconsin real estate broker license.

In particular, this will involve completing one of the following educational prerequisites:

• A 72-hour pre license course for brokers, completed within the four years prior to submitting your application (refer to Wis. Admin. Code § REEB 25.023 for details)
• 20 academic semester-hour credits in real estate or real estate-related law from an accredited institution
• A current license to practice law in Wisconsin

Note: Even though you are required to complete one of the educational prerequisites to submit your Wisconsin real estate broker license application, this does not necessarily need to be done before taking the exam — although this is recommended.

Step 3: Pass the Broker Licensing Exam

Wisconsin’s broker exam is 3.25 hours (three hours and 15 minutes) long, is administered by Pearson VUE, and consists of 100 scored questions plus an additional five to 10 unscored pretest questions.

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.

The Wisconsin Department of Safety & Professional Services has set the passing score at 75%, meaning that if you score below this threshold, you will need to retake the examination; you can do this an unlimited number of times in Wisconsin.

Note: Keep in mind that your exam results will remain valid for a period of one year, and so you will need to submit your license application to the DSPS within this period to avoid having to retake the exam.

Step 4: 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 visit the Wisconsin Department of Safety and Professional Services’ LicensE website and submit your broker application along with a $60 processing fee.

You will also need to attach the following documents in order for your application to be processed:

• A copy of your passing exam results
• Your completed pre-licensing education

Note: Non-resident applicants should be aware that, in addition to the required documents, they will need to submit Form 813: Irrevocable Consent for Nonresidents, which grants legal consent for Wisconsin to have jurisdiction in any legal matters related to their real estate activities within the state.

Step 5: Application Review

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

The Wisconsin Department of Safety and Professional Services typically processes applications within 5 business days, after which your licensing document will be issued.

Having said that, processing times may occasionally be extended due to high application volumes or the need for further review.

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

Wisconsin Real Estate License Renewal

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

This can be completed in one of three ways: either online through the LicensE portal, by email at DSPSRenewal@wisconsin.gov, or by calling the Department directly at (608) 266-2112. Keep in mind that the renewal process incurs a $60 fee.

As part of the renewal process, you will also be required to complete 18 hours of continuing education, consisting of 12 hours of mandatory content and six hours of elective content, all approved by the Wisconsin Real Estate Examining Board.

The mandatory hours cover topics such as Wisconsin agency law, disciplinary actions by the Wisconsin Department of Safety and Professional Services, commissions in agency agreements, legislative updates, and fair housing in real estate transactions.

For the elective hours, you can choose from pre-approved topics like short sales and foreclosures, changing a property’s use, or drafting contracts in real estate transactions.

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.

Wisconsin Department of Safety and Professional Services

Mailing Address:
Wisconsin Real Estate Commission
Hill Farms State Office Building 
4822 Madison Yards Way
Madison, WI 53705

Hours: Monday to Friday, 7:45 am-12:30 pm

Phone: (608) 266-2112

Email: dsps@wisconsin.gov 

Website: https://dsps.wi.gov/Pages/Professions/REBroker/Default.aspx