Understanding the Different Education Requirements for Obtaining a Real Estate License in Indiana

If you’ve ever thought about becoming a real estate agent in Indiana, you might have some questions. You might wonder exactly what becoming a real estate agent in Indiana entails, how long it takes, what the requirements are, and how much of a challenge it is. Importantly, you may be wondering what the educational requirements are for becoming a real estate agent in Indiana. The requirements for becoming an Indiana real estate agent are fairly straightforward. Still, there are some crucial educational requirements you’ll need to meet as well as a few additional requirements. We’ll discuss what those might entail.  

Basic requirements

There are a couple of basic requirements you’ll want to ensure that you meet before starting your real estate journey. The first is that you must be at least 18 years of age in order to apply for and obtain an Indiana real estate license. The second is that you must have completed high school or an equivalent degree. So, before you can proceed with any other requirements, ensure that you:

• Are 18 years of age or older, and
• Have either a high school diploma or GED

Further educational requirements

A high school diploma or GED isn’t the only educational requirement you’ll need to fulfill. You’ll also need to complete 90 hours of Indiana Real Estate Commission-approved pre-licensing real estate education, and then pass the Indiana Broker Real Estate Exam. Once you’ve been licensed, you’ll also need to complete continuing education each year.

Completing 90 hours of IREC-approved real estate education

Assuming you’ve completed high school or earned your GED, completing 90 hours of commission-approved real estate education is your first step toward becoming a licensed real estate broker in Indiana. Indiana real estate pre-licensing classes are designed to help you further your understanding of the world of real estate in order to prepare you for becoming a real estate broker. This might involve becoming proficient in math relevant to real estate, as well as becoming familiar with Indiana’s real estate laws, and more.

Choosing a pre-license course in commission-approved real estate education can be its own challenge. Consider a few things about how you best take new information in as you contemplate possibilities. Some courses may offer different learning styles or formats. As you consider commission-approved real estate education, you can consider a few things, such as:

• What is your preferred learning style? In-person? Remote? Synchronous or asynchronous? Do you prefer to learn at your own pace, or follow along with a paced course? Consider what types of learning formats a course you’re considering offers. If you prefer to learn at your own pace, do they offer self-paced online learning? If you look forward to the structure of live courses or in-person learning, does a potential course offer those options as well?

• How much does the real estate education you’re considering cost? Ensure that the courses you look at fit within your budget. Additionally, you can consider the value of various courses; for what they cost, what do they offer? Additional learning materials? Study resources?

• Is this course Indiana Real Estate Commission-approved real estate education? Ensure that any course you consider is approved by the Indiana Real Estate Commission or IREC.

• What learning materials are you being offered? While commission-approved real estate education always aims to further inform and prepare you for the world of real estate, different courses may offer varying levels of additional support. This type of support might include things such as additional study materials, textbooks, study guides, and more. If you have an interest in further preparing yourself beyond what is required by the IREC, courses that offer additional learning opportunities may be appealing to you.

Passing the Indiana Broker Real Estate Exam

Once you’ve completed 90 hours of pre-license Indiana Real Estate Commission-approved real estate education, you’ll need to put your knowledge and skills to the test–literally.

You’ll need to register for and complete the Indiana Broker Real Estate Exam in order to move forward in your licensing process and become a licensed real estate broker in the State of Indiana. Fortunately, your 90 hours of pre-license real estate education should help prepare you, not only for the world of real estate in Indiana but for this exam as well.

What to expect

The Indiana Broker Real Estate Exam is quite comprehensive–with two sections, one covering state law, and one covering general law. In order to do well, aspiring Indiana real estate brokers may need to understand much of how real estate brokerage operations are influenced by both state and federal law.  

Should candidates fail one section, but pass the other section of this exam, they will have a one-year window, within which they are able to retake the section that they failed originally. This gives candidates an additional cushion should they fare much better on one section than the other.

Continuing education

Once you’ve been licensed, your real estate education journey still isn’t over. You’ll need to do additional continuing education in order to maintain your license. Fortunately, it likely won’t be near as time-consuming, as you’ll only need to complete 30 hours of post-licensing education within the two years following your licensing.

Additional requirements

Once you’ve completed each of these education requirements, there will be a few more steps you must take before you can be an active and licensed real estate broker in the state of Indiana. For one, you’ll need to supply proof of completion of 90 hours of commission-approved real estate education. You’ll also need to submit your licensing examination score report, and, if you wish to be licensed as an active broker, you’ll need to have found a broker or brokerage company to work under and submit their names and license numbers. This can be done through the Indiana Professional Licensing Agency.

The bottom line

Though the requirements to become a licensed real estate broker in Indiana are fairly straightforward, there are some important educational requirements you’ll need to meet in order to get started on this exciting career path. Fortunately, there are many resources available to help you along your journey. If you’re interested in becoming a licensed real estate broker in the state of Indiana, be sure to check out our courses, including pre-licensing and post-licensing.