The Most Frequently Asked Georgia Real Estate
Career Questions

• Complete 75 Hours of Approved Pre-Licensing Education. To start, you must successfully complete an approved 75-Hr. Pre-Licensing course. You can complete this education online or in person, depending on the school you select.
  You may qualify for an education exemption if you have successfully completed course work related to real estate, or if you hold a current license in another jurisdiction. Please see the Georgia Real Estate Commission's website for further information.
• Pass Your Course Final Exam. After completing your Pre-Licensing course, you’ll need to pass a course final exam. This exam must be taken in the presence of a proctor. Find out more about our online proctoring process.
• Provide a Certified Criminal History Report. Within 60 days of applying for your license, you’ll need to provide proof of a background check. You’ll do this by completing a background clearance application through the Georgia Criminal Information Center (GCIC).
• Find a Sponsoring Broker. Before you can submit your Georgia real estate salesperson application (and take your real estate exam), you need to be sponsored by an active Georgia real estate broker (aka sponsoring broker). It's important to find the right brokerage to work with. Your broker will serve as your mentor as you start your new career in real estate.
• Pass the Georgia Real Estate Salesperson Exam. The Georgia Real Estate Salesperson Exam is administered by PSI. Read all about exam registration and preparation procedures in PSI’s Candidate Information Bulletin.
• Obtain Your Georgia Real Estate Salesperson License.Upon passing the Georgia Real Estate Salesperson exam, you can apply for and obtain your license at any one of the four PSI test centers in Georgia. See a list of the required documents you’ll need to bring with you to apply for your license on page 14 of the Candidate Information Bulletin.

You must take and pass 75 course hours from an approved education provider to get a Real Estate Salesperson license in Georgia. If you treat your education like a 40-hour workweek, you can finish your coursework in as little as two weeks.

• Your Pre-Licensing education in Georgia ranges in cost from $200 to $600, depending on the package you purchase.
• The initial license and new application fee for a Georgia real estate salesperson is $170.
• The Georgia Real Estate Salesperson Exam fee (through PSI) is $119.

You must be at least 18 years old to become a Georgia real estate salesperson. You must also have earned a high school diploma or its equivalent.

It is possible to get a real estate license in Georgia with a criminal record in certain cases. To qualify for a Salesperson license, the Georgia Real Estate Commission requires that you complete a background check through the Georgia Crime Information Center. See this form for more information and for instructions on disclosing felony convictions.

Georgia offers real estate license reciprocity with all states. This means licensed real estate agents in other states are eligible for expedited licensing in Georgia if Pre-Licensing requirements are met. Reciprocal agents must hold an active license and be in good standing in their state of origin.

Learn more about Georgia’s reciprocity rules in our License Portability and Reciprocity Guide. You can also review GREC’s real estate reciprocal application and learn more on the GREC website.

Georgia offers real estate license reciprocity with all states. This means licensed real estate agents in other states are eligible for expedited licensing in Georgia if Pre-Licensing requirements are met. Reciprocal agents must hold an active license and be in good standing in their state of origin.

Yes. After becoming a licensed Salesperson, you are required to complete 25 hours of Georgia Post-Licensing education within the first year of licensure. Failure to complete a Post-Licensing course during the first year of being licensed will cause the license to lapse

Georgia salespersons and brokers must complete at least 36 hours of CE coursework during each four-year license renewal period.

Georgia real estate salespersons are required to complete at least 36 hours of CE coursework. These course hours include:

• 33 elective course hours
• 3 hours of mandatory license law

Georgia brokers are also required to complete at least 36 hours of CE coursework. These hours include:

• 33 elective course hours
• 3 hours of mandatory license law

GREC requires schools to report course completions. The CE Shop will report your course to the state upon completion.

Immediately upon your CE course completion, The CE Shop will also provide you with an electronic copy of your course certificates. You can download a copy of your course completion certificates using your account at The CE Shop at any time.

In Georgia, there are two types of Broker licenses: Associate Broker and Broker.

Georgia associate brokers are active licensees who work under a qualifying broker. Georgia brokers are active licensees who have established their own brokerage firms.

Learn more about the differences in Georgia Broker license types.

You can do a LOT with a Broker license in Georgia, including:

• Help clients sell, lease, and buy properties
• Establish and manage your own real estate brokerage
• Supervise and hire other salespersons to work for you
• Become a property manager

The biggest advantage you’ll have as a Georgia broker is the ability to hire other salespersons to work for you—which can be financially rewarding!

Associate brokers work under qualifying brokers. As an associate broker, you’ll be a subject matter expert at your brokerage, possessing more real estate education and experience than a licensed salesperson. You might also:

• take on a mentor role for salesperson colleagues at your brokerage,
• be considered for in-house management roles at your brokerage, and
• enjoy greater control and flexibility in the types of transactions you work on.

Yes! When you upgrade your Georgia Salesperson license to a Broker license, you’re qualified to start your own real estate brokerage. This might mean forming an LLC, a sole proprietorship, or a corporation. When you open your business, you can also hire other agents to work under you.

GREC requires that you complete certain applications when you establish your own brokerage firm, close your firm, reinstate your firm, and change your qualifying broker. All these applications and many others can be found on the GREC website.

To earn a Georgia Broker or Associate Broker license, you must:

• Be at least 21 years old
• Have been an actively licensed Georgia Salesperson for at least three of the previous five years

Then, you’ll follow these steps:

• Complete Broker Pre-Licensing Education. First, you must complete 60 hours of Pre-Licensing coursework before you’re eligible to apply to become a broker.
• Pass Your Final Course Exam. Next, you’ll need to pass your course final exam with at least a 72%. This exam must be taken in the presence of an exam proctor. Learn more about exam proctoring.
• Pass the Georgia Real Estate Broker Exam. Then, you'll need to pass the Georgia Real Estate Broker Exam. The exam is administered by PSI. Learn all about preparing for your exam, scheduling it, and what to bring with you in the Georgia Candidate Handbook.
• Complete a Background Check. Just as you did when earning your Salesperson license, you’ll need to complete a background check to earn your Broker license. You’ll complete this through the Georgia Crime Information Center. Learn more about the process in the GREC background clearance application.
• Submit Your Application to GREC. Finally, you’ll complete your Georgia broker application, submit it to GREC, and follow a few additional instructions depending on the type of Broker license you pursue.

If you plan to become an associate broker and work for a Qualifying Broker, you can apply for and receive your license at the testing center after you pass your exam.

If you plan to become a broker, your license will be issued as “Inactive.” You must complete GREC’s Open a Firm Application and a Change of Qualifying Broker Application to activate your license.

According to ZipRecruiter, Georgia brokers make more than $100,000 per year on average. See the current average salary range here. Your average broker salary depends on your education, experience, and license level.

Yes! Many salespersons choose to only work part time, and for good reason. You can sell properties full time to receive a high salary or sell just a few homes a year for some extra pocket money.

To find a real estate brokerage to work for in Georgia, you can:

• Search Online. Conduct an online search looking for real estate brokers in your area. In general, brokers are looking for new agents and will be happy to talk to you.
• Talk to Other Agents. Get advice from other agents in your area!
• Consider an Online Brokerage. There are many real estate brokerages today that have a virtual office. You’ll meet with clients over the phone or in public places.
• Learn More Here. If you still want more advice on how to find a real estate brokerage to work for, check out this blog.

No. A salesperson in Georgia must work under the direction, control, or management of a Qualifying Broker.

Some of the best skills salespersons can have include:

• Good Communication & Negotiation: Good communication is imperative as a sales associate. You can learn good oral communication skills and negotiation strategies here.
• Market Insight: It’s important to stay up-to-date with industry changes in real estate. You can stay ahead of the competition by investing in professional development courses.
• Tech Savviness: Learning how to be tech-savvy is important to communicating with your clients and marketing your business well.
• Networking: Real estate is a career for social butterflies! Make sure to get out there and attend social events to network.

Note: These courses are optional, non-credit courses.