How Long Does It Take to Get a Real Estate License in Delaware in 2024?

This article walks you through the licensing process in the state of Delaware and how long each step may take to complete.

We give you a breakdown of the average time investment you’ll make at each stage and the factors that may delay or speed up the process.

Read on as we give you an estimate down to the day to help you understand the demands of the licensing process and how you can plan your schedule accordingly.

Estimated Timeline to Get a Real Estate License in Delaware

As you begin to consider a career in real estate, seeing the big picture as it relates to the process is essential.

Understanding what the commitment really means will help you know for sure that getting a real estate license is right for you.

Giving yourself some time to research the requirements and expectations before you dive in is very much part of the process.

Start your investigation on the Real Estate Commission page of the delaware.gov website. Here you can learn all about licensure and get any questions answered.

In Delaware, the pre-licensing education requirement is wrapped up in a single, 99-hour pre-licensing course.

This course covers essential real estate topics stretching from sales and the math you’ll need to know, to national and state-wide real estate laws.

This class is the same whether you’re applying for a salesperson or broker license. It culminates in an end-of-course test which you must get at least an 80 percent on to pass.

How long you should study for the real estate exam varies based on the time you have for the class each week and the format you take the class in.

Taking the class online, and being able to work at your own pace, you could complete it in as little as three weeks, assuming you could spend 40 hours per week working on it.

Classes that meet in person, at pre-scheduled times, will get you through the class slower, but you have the benefit of being alongside other students and real estate professionals.

It’s best to consider the pros and cons of taking real estate classes online vs. classroom courses before making the choice as to which option is right for you.

The real estate exam in Delaware is administered by Pearson VUE. The cost is $85.

To schedule your exam, once you’ve passed your pre-licensing class, you can create an online account or call 800-274-2604.

Although it won’t take you very long to schedule your test, you may have a few days to wait for your test day to roll around depending on availability.

In order to have enough time to check in on exam day, make sure you report to your testing site at least 30 minutes early.

You’ll need to bring two forms of current signature identification. One must also have a photo.

You’ll have four hours to complete the exam, which is broken down into two parts — national and state.

The national portion has 85 questions, while the state portion has 50 questions on the salesperson exam and 60 on the broker exam.

Five questions on the national section and 10 on the state are considered pre-test questions and won’t count in your score, but you won’t know which questions these are when testing.

To pass, you need to earn at least a 70, which is a scaled score not based on percentages or the number of questions you got right.

While you have one year to pass the exam after finishing your pre-licensing course, you can only fail up to three times before having to retake the 99 education hours.

Make sure to check out our article on how to study for the Delaware real estate exam to properly prepare for this important test.

Before you’re able to submit your license application, you’ll need to find a sponsoring broker. This is best done once you pass the exam.

Give yourself some time to research real estate brokerages in Delaware, set up interviews, and make an educated decision on choosing the right broker to work for.

Even as you’re being interviewed for consideration, make sure you ask a few questions to ensure the work environment is one that appeals to you as well.

After you find your sponsoring broker, you’ll need to submit a Statement of Broker Record in the Delaware Division of Professional Regulation portal (DELPROS). This is a document signed by the broker employer to verify your position.

The DELPROS portal is where all paperwork gets submitted to the Real Estate Commission.

At this same time, it’s also a good idea to schedule and get your fingerprints taken for the required background check.

The Delaware Real Estate Commission requires you go through IdentoGo to get fingerprints. The cost is $30.

Make sure to retrieve a code you’ll need, through DELPROS, to properly register with IdentoGo.

Refer to our guide discussing the background check for a Delaware real estate license to fully understand what the process entails.

You’ll also use the DELPROS portal to submit your application for licensure and any other supporting documents. This is the required method of submission.

Once you finish your application, you’ll also have to pay the application fee, which varies by type. A salesperson application fee is $140, while a broker fee is $238.

You’ll also pay a guaranty fund fee of $25.

It takes 1-2 weeks for your application to be reviewed, and once approved, you can access your license through the online system.

For those getting a real estate license in Delaware for the first time, an additional educational requirement must be completed within 90 days from when your license is issued.

This requirement totals 12 hours within new salesperson course modules that breaks down into four, three-hour courses on:

• Professional standards for new licensees
• Agreement of sale and buyer representation for new licensees
• Real estate documents and seller representation for new licensees
• Real estate professionalism for new licensees

These are completed in addition to the continuing education requirements you must meet prior to each Delaware real estate license renewal period.

Real estate licenses in Delaware expire on April 30 of all even years. A few months before the expiration date, you’ll receive a renewal notice via email which contains the fee you must pay.

You’ll renew online using the DELPROS portal.

There is a separate continuing education requirement for Delaware real estate agents which varies in their first renewal period based on when they receive their license.

Hours range from none up to 21 depending on the year and month of issuance. You can find a chart that breaks down the requirement here.

After your first renewal period, you must complete 21 hours of approved continuing education, within seven modules every two years.

Your CE credits are then tracked within the DELPROS system.

The best starting point to study for the real estate exam are your pre-licensing education classes.

Most real estate schools in Delaware offer the courses via remote learning and traditional, in-person classes. Choose the most ideal method that will help you learn better.

Prepare for the exam by taking extensive notes in class and then breaking them up into topic outlines and flash cards for easier review.

Make sure to check the Real Estate Candidate Handbook from Pearson VUE as well for all the topics covered on the exam.

This resource even tells you how many questions to expect in each area.

Next, develop a study plan so you give yourself time every day to review in a location that’s free of distraction and interruption.

Making studying part of your routine will help you avoid feeling like you need to cram right before the exam.

If you find it challenging to stay focused on your own, consider forming a study group and meeting regularly to get that review work in.

Additionally, read our guide on how to pass the real estate exam the first time for tips on how to study for the test.

When you feel ready, it’s time to schedule the exam. You want to make sure you walk into your test site with confidence because you spent the right amount of time preparing.

On top of knowing the time you need to commit, you should also be aware of how much it costs to get a real estate license in Delaware.

This will help you prepare your budget for all the expenses associated with getting licensed in the state.

When all you have to do is wait for your license to get approved, use this time to absorb as much knowledge as you can about the industry. The following articles can be your best sources of information:

• What to do after passing the real estate exam
• Is being a real estate agent worth it?
• How to join a real estate team

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.