All Alaska Real Estate License Requirements in 2024 and How to Get it Step-by-Step

This article gives you a detailed roadmap for becoming a licensed real estate salesperson or broker in The Last Frontier State.

It delves into the qualifications, costs, and timeline, and explains all aspects of the Alaska licensing process, so that you can work through each of the steps with ease.

It’s a quick but comprehensive read. So, follow along as we guide you through what you need to know and do.

To be eligible for licensure, you must be 19 or older. You cannot be under indictment for a felony or a crime that impairs your ability to capably and safely practice as a real estate agent.

Aspiring agents also have to meet a pre-licensing education requirement. For new licenses, that’s a 40-hour state-approved curriculum on the principles and laws of the real estate business.

That pre-licensing course prepares you to fulfill another requirement: passing the real estate exam.

You’ll have to take two separate exam portions as a first-time licensee applicant.

• National portion: 80 questions covering general real estate practice
• State section: 40 questions on real estate laws specific to Alaska

The two parts are scored independently. So, testing successfully means earning a passing score on each one.

Using a scale from 1 to 100, the Alaska Real Estate Commission has set the bar at 75.

Your passing exam results are valid for six months. Consequently, you need to file your license application before your scores expire.

Before you can apply, however, there are two other conditions you’re obligated to meet.

The first is purchasing errors and omissions insurance. It’s professional liability coverage that helps safeguard you from client claims of negligent acts or mistakes.

The second action is affiliating with an Alaska real estate brokerage. Your sponsoring broker has a section to complete on your application. Accordingly, you need to be hired before applying.

There is one other requirement you need to be aware of that kicks in after license issuance.

You have one year from your initial licensure to complete 30 hours of post-licensing education. Failure to do so will result in your license lapsing, and you’ll have to reinstate it and pay a fee.

Obtaining an original broker’s license in Alaska requires you to meet education, experience, and exam requirements.

As well, the same as for Alaska real estate agents, broker candidates must not be under indictment for a felony or other crime that raises doubts about their ability to act to protect the public’s interest.

As for experience, because it is a higher-level role with more responsibilities than a salesperson, you can’t be a novice in the business.

Specifically, you must have worked as a real estate licensee for 36 of the last 60 months. That must be three consecutive years, and real estate must have been your primary occupation.

If you have the necessary experience, you can complete the 30 hours of qualifying real estate education. Among the things you’ll learn are the following:

• How to set up and manage a real estate office
• Trust accounting procedures and operation
• Broker supervision and recordkeeping

Once you complete the required real estate classes and pass the course final exam, you can sit for the licensing exam.

Broker applicants take the same general exam portion as salespeople. That section has 80 scored questions.

The Alaska law section consists of 60 questions. Fifteen of those test you specifically on the topics mentioned above.

The passing mark is a scaled score of 75. You’ll need to meet or exceed that score on each portion of the test.

With your passing score report in hand, you can apply for your broker’s license. That presumes you have the required coverage for errors and omissions insurance in place.

If you have E&O insurance through the group policy with Rice Insurance Services Center, they will provide the Commission with verification of coverage. Otherwise, you must provide proof.

Also, if you are not going out on your own, you must be affiliated with a licensed broker.

Finally, Alaska requires broker post-licensing education. That’s 30 additional hours of training to complete within the first year of earning your broker’s license to keep it.

What Is Real Estate License Reciprocity?

Some jurisdictions allow out-of-state agents and brokers to get a new license in their state without repeating everything they did to earn the one they currently hold.

That recognition of qualifications is generally known as reciprocity. You’ll also hear some states use other terms to refer to the process.

Alaska, for instance, has an application by endorsement, which allows out-of-state licensees to get credit for some requirements by virtue of already being licensed.

To apply via this method, you must:

• Have proof of equivalent pre-licensing education.
• Submit an affidavit of experience (for broker license).
• Provide licensure verification from all applicable states.
• Verify that you have errors and omissions insurance.
• Provide information for the employing broker if applicable.

You don’t have to retake the national part of the exam. But you must pass the state-specific section. Additionally, you must pass a six-hour course on Alaska’s real estate laws.

Alaska Real Estate License Reciprocity with Other US States

Alaska reduces requirements for prospective licensees from all 50 US states through application by endorsement.

Pre-Licensing Classroom Courses

You can go to class in person if a school is nearby. Otherwise, you can get a real-time, instructor-led classroom experience by participating in a livestream course.

Both formats offer opportunities for productive interactions, including asking questions and receiving immediate feedback. That can provide for a more dynamic learning experience.

You’ll be locked into the school’s schedule, though. If you commute, you’ll have extra expenses. And you may be frustrated with the pace as everyone doesn’t learn at the same speed.

Read our article on the best way to pass the Alaska real estate exam for tips on how to study and what topics will be covered in the test.

Pre-Licensing Online Courses

Taking the pre-licensing course online lets you fit your studies around the other priorities in your life. You also get to ditch the commute and can choose where to study in addition to when.

Online courses are also typically more affordable than classroom options. You can often find package deals that include pre-licensing and exam prep for a discounted price.

An important note: Before you enroll, be sure that the school is on the state’s approved list.

Also, keep in mind that you’ll have added responsibility as well as freedom and flexibility.

It’s on you to develop a study schedule, buckle down, be productive, and practice strong time management.

Our guide will help you answer the question, “Is it better to take real estate classes online or in person?” if you’re debating which method is best to take.

The exam administrator Pearson VUE has test centers in the 11 Alaska cities listed below. You can take the in-person exam at whichever one is convenient for you.

• Anchorage
• Bethel
• Dillingham
• Fairbanks
• Homer
• Juneau
• Ketchikan
• Kodiak
• Palmer
• Seward
• Sitka

You can submit a paper application or apply online. For online submission, follow the Commission’s instructions for salesperson and broker candidates as applicable.

No matter which method you use, be sure that you include the appropriate fee and required paperwork, including the following:

• Completion certificate for pre-licensing education
• Passing score report for the licensing exam
• Employing broker information
• Proof of errors and omissions insurance
• Authorization for release of records

While waiting for your license to get approval, review our pros and cons of being a real estate agent to understand what being a realtor is all about.

The Division of Corporations, Business, and Professional Licensing allows you to access your license certificate through your myAlaska account.

As a result, the Division does not mail hard-copy licenses. In your account, look for the “initial application” event and download it from there.

For guidance on setting up or accessing your account, see the MY LICENSE instructions on the Commission website.

When you get your license, you can then plan for your next step after passing the real estate exam. It should include becoming a part of a real estate team.

Our guide on joining a real estate team will show you how.

You can finish the 40 hours of Alaska real estate classes in a couple of weeks. Completing the broker pre-licensing course can be done in about half that time.

Add a week or two to that timetable if you want to do extra exam prep.

Plan for your exam appointment to have at least a one-week wait time. That could be longer or shorter, depending on how far out the test center is booked.

Allow 1-2 weeks to search for a sponsoring broker (if applicable). Make your search easier through our vetted list of the best real estate brokerages in Alaska.

Additionally, refer to this guide discussing how to choose the right real real estate brokerage to work for when deciding which real estate company to go for.

Block off a half-day for the exam. And expect to wait up to two weeks for the Commission to review your application.

Put in a work-week effort and you can complete the salesperson or broker pre-licensing coursework in as little as one week.

Following that, estimated time frames for other steps in the process are listed below.

• Additional exam prep: 1-2 weeks
• Exam wait time: 1 week
• Exam day: 4 hours (plus travel time)
• Broker research: 1-2 weeks
• Application review: 1-2 weeks

You don’t have to complete a fingerprint-based background check. However, you are required to take two actions that allow the Commission to do a criminal history review.

One is to submit an Authorization for Release of Records form, giving the professional licensing division access to records pertaining to litigation and any law enforcement records.

You must also answer several Personal Fitness Questions that explicitly ask about criminal convictions, pending charges, lawsuits, and professional disciplinary history.

We discuss this topic in detail in our article on getting an Alaska real estate license with violations.

Budget at least $375 for the 40-hour salesperson pre-licensing course. If upgrading to a broker license, expect $400 to be the starting price point.

The exam fee is the same for both license types: $100 for the initial attempt and each retake.

For a new Alaska salesperson or broker license, you will pay the following fees that total $390:

• $200 application fee
• $140 license fee
• $50 recovery fund fee

The annual premium for errors and omissions insurance is $642 when you obtain coverage under the state’s group policy.

For other expenses to keep in mind, refer to our guide discussing real estate license in Alaska costs.

You must wait at least 24 hours after your failed exam before contacting Pearson VUE to make a retake appointment. That allows time for the Commission to receive your exam results.

Refer to our guide on how long it takes to get a real estate license in Alaska to get an idea of the time commitment involved in completing all the other steps in the licensing process.

Should you fail the exam on your initial try, don’t panic. Alaska doesn’t limit your retakes. So, you can keep trying until you pass both portions of the real estate exam.

Every attempt to pass the Alaska real estate exam—retakes included—requires a registration fee of $100.

Our tips on how to study for the real estate exam can help you properly prepare for the test to avoid retakes.

Pearson VUE charges $100 for each examination retake.

A felony isn’t necessarily grounds for denial of an Alaska real estate license. But it can raise roadblocks to get one.

If you’re under indictment, you won’t get licensed. The same applies if your conviction adversely affects your ability to safely and competently practice real estate in the Commission’s view.

Additionally, at least seven years must have elapsed since you completed all sentencing conditions for a conviction before you are eligible to be considered.

Your eligibility for a license with a misdemeanor record depends on the nature and timing of your criminal offense.

Like felonies, there’s a seven-year wait period if you’re formally charged with a crime that prevents you from conducting business in a manner that’s in the public’s best interest.

Also, the Commission may not grant a license after that time or if your conviction is for an offense meeting that same criteria or specifically for crimes like forgery, theft, extortion, or fraud.

In some circumstances, you may get a real estate license if you have a DUI, also known as an OUI (operating under the influence) in Alaska.

For example, there’s a higher likelihood that the Commission will grant a license if you have a single decades-old misdemeanor than if you recently offended or have a felony conviction.

Either of the latter two instances could result in the Commission disqualifying you because they see a relationship between your criminal behavior and working in the real estate business.

Depending on the DUI, the seven-year disqualifying period can also come into play.

Lack of a diploma isn’t a problem. You can still qualify for a license without it or a GED.

We’re excited about you launching or advancing your Alaska real estate career, and we are here to help.

To help you build and grow your real estate career quickly, we at Real Estate Bees created a directory for real estate professionals.

It’s designed to help you get more exposure for your business, including receiving leads. Create a free profile by signing up here.

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About the Author

Kristina Morales is both a licensed mortgage loan originator and real estate agent in the State of Ohio. Inspired by her years of working with buyers and sellers and seeing a need for more consumer education, Kristina created loanfully.com, an online educational resource for borrowers and industry professionals. In addition to real estate sales and mortgage lending, Kristina had an extensive corporate career in banking, treasury, and corporate finance. She ended her corporate career as an Assistant Treasurer at a publicly traded oil & gas company in Houston, TX. Kristina obtained her MBA from the Weatherhead School of Management at Case Western Reserve University and her B.A in Business Management from Ursuline College.