How to Get Your Ohio Real Estate License in 2025 | Step-by-Step Guide

May 5

Written By Allison Coffman

📝 If you're looking to launch a real estate career in Ohio, 2025 is a great year to do it.

Here's a complete step-by-step guide to getting your real estate salesperson license in Ohio, with clear steps and estimated costs.

1: ✅ Meet the Basic Requirements

To qualify, you must:

Be at least 18 years old
Have a high school diploma or equivalent (if born after 1950)
Be a U.S. citizen or legal resident
Have no disqualifying criminal offenses or violations

(How to get your OH License)

2: 📚Complete 100 Hours of Pre-Licensing Education ($900)

Here's what's included:

Real Estate Principles & Practices: 40 hours
Ohio Real Estate Law: 40 hours
Real Estate Finance: 10 hours
Real Estate Appraisal: 10 hours

Take these courses through an accredited provider. (Check out these online licensing courses)

3:👩‍💼 Get a Sponsoring Broker

You need a broker to sponsor you before applying for the exam. This is the person or company who will oversee your work once licensed.
👉 Interested in our team? Learn more JOIN
👉 Ready to apply to eXp? EXP

4: 📝 Submit Your Exam Application ($81)

Apply through the Ohio Division of Real Estate & Professional Licensing.
You can get the application HERE. It includes fingerprinting instructions for your background check.

5: 🔎 Get Fingerprinted ($81)

Use a Webcheck®-approved fingerprinting location for both BCI (state) and FBI (federal) checks. Send results directly to the Division. Webcheck

6: 💯 Pass the Exam ($63)

The exam is proctored through PSI and consists of:

80 national multiple-choice questions
40 state-specific questions

You will be sent the link to schedule your exam once your entire application and background check have been approved. You need 70% on both sections to pass.

7: 🪪 Receive Your License

Once you pass, PSI notifies the state. If all your paperwork is in order, you’ll receive your license number and be prompted to set up:

MLS access
RAGC & NAR membership
SentriKey access

8: 🎓 Complete 20-Hour Post-Licensing $150

This must be done within your first year. We recommend taking the post-licensing course with [Check out Hondros].

🔁 Quick Snapshot: Your Roadmap

Step Task Estimated Time

1 Pre-licensing Education 4 weeks – 3 months (self-paced)

2 Find a Broker & Affiliate 1–4 weeks

3 Background Check 2–4 weeks

4 Apply for License (may be in conjunction with finding your broker!)

5 Take Licensing Exam 1–2 weeks of prep

6 Launch Your Real Estate Career Ongoing

📌 Additional Tips for Success:

Stay organized. Use a checklist to track progress and deadlines.
Study thoroughly. The Ohio-specific material is often the most challenging.
Start networking early. Connect with brokers and local agents while still in class.
Generate Success NOW. Ask about our 90 day success plan and other programs >>> HERE
Get your KY real estate license. Check out this blog about getting your KY real estate license >>> HERE
RECIPROCTY. Did you know the reciprocity rules between states changed recently? Ask us about our reciprocity bootcamp where we help agents like yourself get that DUAL LICENSE status 💯

💬 Need Help?

Ohio Division of Real Estate (ODRE)
🔗 Website 📞Phone: 614-466-4100 📧 Email: webreal@com.state.oh.us

** This information is intended to be a general guide, always check with your local administration, like the ODRE, to get the most up to date and accurate information to successfully get your license.

Allison Coffman