Find the right real estate school for your state
Licensing rules are set state by state — hours, fees and exams all differ. We verify the requirements against each state's commission, then compare the schools approved to teach them.
The schools we recommend most often
These three place well across the majority of states. Availability and pricing differ — your state page has the specifics.
The CE Shop
- Strong built-in exam prep
- Clean, modern course platform
- Frequent 25–35% promotions
Colibri Real Estate
- Lowest starting price of the three
- Livestream classes, not just self-paced
- Pass-or-refund guarantee on higher tiers
AceableAgent
- Genuinely good mobile app
- Best for studying in short bursts
- Modern, well-produced lessons
How to choose a real estate school
Every approved school teaches the same state-mandated curriculum, because the state dictates it. Three things genuinely differ.
State approval
The course must be approved by your state's real estate commission. An unapproved course won't count toward your hours, no matter how good it is.
Exam prep included
Entry tiers usually strip it out. Retaking a state exam costs real money, so bundled prep is often cheaper than the upgrade looks.
Pass guarantees
Several schools offer pass-or-refund terms. Read what triggers them — most require you to finish every practice exam first.
How to get your real estate licence
Broadly the same everywhere, though hours and fees vary a lot by state.
Check your state's requirements
Required hours range from around 40 to over 180. Minimum age is 18 or 19 almost everywhere.
Complete pre-licensing education
Take the hours through a school approved by your state commission. Online is accepted in every state that licenses agents.
Pass the licensing exam
Usually a national portion plus a state portion. Passing scores typically sit around 70–75%.
Fingerprints and background check
Required almost everywhere, and usually the slowest step. Start it early.
Apply and join a brokerage
New agents work under a licensed broker. Your licence is issued once a sponsoring broker is on file.
Licensing requirements by state
Every state sets its own hours, fees and exam. Published guides are linked — the rest are in progress.
Common questions
Are online real estate courses accepted in every state?
Yes. Every state that licenses real estate agents accepts online pre-licensing education, provided the school holds approval from that state's commission. A few states additionally require a proctored final exam.
How much does it cost to get a real estate licence?
Course packages generally run between $100 and $1,300 depending on the state and tier. On top of that, state exam and application fees commonly total $100 to $450, plus fingerprinting.
How long does it take?
Three to six months is typical. Coursework is the largest block of time, followed by background check processing and exam scheduling.
Is this site a real estate school?
No. We're an independent comparison site. We don't provide courses, issue certificates, or hold state education approval. We review the schools that do, and we earn a commission when readers enroll through our links.
How we choose
We compare schools on state approval, course format, what each price tier actually includes, pass guarantees and platform features — using each provider's published information and the licensing requirements we verify directly with state commissions. We earn commissions from every school listed here, and those rates differ between them. Our ordering reflects editorial judgement and is set before commercial terms are considered — and we say so on every page.