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

In this article, we discuss the time commitment required to complete each part of the Kentucky real estate licensing process.

We break down every element of the process, including how long you should study for the real estate exam and how much time is taken by all steps before and after this.

Keep reading to know how much time you need to get a real estate license in the Bluegrass State.

Estimated Timeline to Get a Real Estate License in Kentucky

Since the process for getting your real estate license in Kentucky can be long and include a lot of details, it’s best to begin by doing your research.

Look into all the requirements related to the license by visiting the Kentucky Real Estate Commission (KREC) website.

Here you’ll find all the basic requirements, as well as the appropriate forms to download and complete, prior to receiving your application.

You’ll also want to begin researching options for Errors & Omissions insurance as well as finding options for a sponsoring broker.

Just getting started like this can help keep the process from becoming overwhelming, preparing you for each step before it happens.

As Kentucky sets pre-licensing requirements based on college course hours as well as hours taken in an approved proprietary school, time varies a lot.

For a sales associate license, you must complete six hours at an accredited college, but 96 hours at an approved school.

Since most college classes are worth three credit hours, it could take a whole semester to meet this requirement.

Outside of college, completing 96 hours that cover principles and practices could take anywhere from three weeks to a few months.

For a broker license, you’re required to complete 21 hours of academic credit or 336 hours at a proprietary institution. Coursework is broken down into three categories:

• Brokerage management
• Broker curriculum
• Broker electives

Completing this requirement could take up to a year in college, or happen in as fast as nine weeks, if you’re working at your own pace online.

The best way to complete this requirement quickly is to find a self-paced course. If you can treat it like a job, devoting 40 hours per week to it, you’ll get done fast.

College courses could take the longest, but if you’re already in school, it might be easiest.

The other option is to take an in-person class, which offers a regular, set schedule and a chance to connect with your peers.

If you need help deciding which format is best for you, make sure to look at the pros and cons of real estate classes online vs classroom courses.

Survey of Experts

Did you take your pre-licensing real estate course online or in person?

Do you think taking a real estate pre-licensing course online can save students time compared to in-person courses?

Before you can register for your real estate exam, you must complete the fingerprinting process so a background check can get run.

The KREC gives you two options to get this piece of the process done:

1. You can go through the FBI and schedule your fingerprint appointment. A complete report is then mailed to you, and you’re responsible for delivering it to the KREC. It can take up to a week to get your report, but the cost is only $18.
2. The other option is to go through the Kentucky State Police. To do this, schedule an appointment online using service code 27GJR5. The cost is $51.25, but your report will be sent directly to the KREC.

All reports expire within 90 days of being issued.

Read — Can You Get a Kentucky Real Estate License with Violations such as Felony, DUI or Misdemeanor? — for all the details involved in getting licensed with a criminal record.

Once you feel ready to take the real estate license exam in Kentucky, registering is pretty quick and easy.

PSI Exams proctors the test, so you’ll need to schedule your exam through them. You can register online or call 855-746-8176. The cost is $100.

For other costs associated with acquiring your license in the state, read our article — How Much Does It Cost to Get a Real Estate License in Kentucky?

How soon you actually get to take your test depends on availability, so you may have to wait a little bit between when you call and when you actually sit for the exam.

On your exam date, PSI recommends you arrive at least 30 minutes early to sign in and familiarize yourself with the examination process.

You’ll need to bring two forms of identification. Both must still be valid, but only one needs to have both your signature and a photograph.

The exam, regardless of license type, is 240 minutes long, broken into two parts. You’ll have to complete both a national and a state section, receiving a minimum score of 75 to pass.

While both the sales associate and the broker exam have 50 questions within the state portion, the total for the national section varies.

The sales associate exam has 130 questions in the national section, while the broker exam only has 125.

If you do not pass the Kentucky real estate exam on your first try, you can contact PSI the following day to schedule a retake. The cost is $100 whether you’re retaking one or both sections.

If you only fail one section, you have four months to pass it before having to retake both.

Survey of Experts

How difficult was it for you to study and pass the Kentucky real estate license exam?

How many attempts did it take you to pass your real estate license exam?

Expert Insight

Tips to help future agents pass the real estate exam.

Learn the vocabulary words. Have a good knowledge of those and make sure that you study the different types of property ownership, land use controls and regulations, contracts, and property disclosures.

I can not emphasize enough on studying the vocabulary words. After passing the required course exam, give yourself at least 1-2 weeks to study before taking the real estate exam. It will pay off in the end.

— Karen Sigler, Keller Williams Experience Realty, Realtor

Answer app of the questions in the QBank in Kaplan. Buy the PSI prep tool with 500 practice questions and answer them until you get them all correct.

— Chris Kennedy, Keller Williams Realty Services, Sales Associate

Once you pass the real estate license exam in Kentucky, you become eligible for E&O insurance through the KREC.

You’ll receive information about this while still at the testing facility. If you decide not to go with the KREC policy, you can obtain one from a private carrier.

You must complete this step for your license application to be considered ready for review.

The KREC charges a $10 processing fee regardless of what policy you purchase.

Having completed your research of potential sponsoring brokers at the start of your licensing process, now is the time to secure one to support you.

Should you need help narrowing down the list, our article, How to Choose the Right Real Estate Brokerage to Work For as a New Agent, can help.

You can then choose one from our vetted list of the best real estate brokerages in Kentucky.

It shouldn’t take you long to complete your Kentucky real estate license application once you collect all necessary documents in advance, but you do have 60 days to apply.

You’ll receive your application along with your passing score report at your exam site. Information you receive will include a list of items that go with the application.

You’ll also have to submit a fee to complete your application. For a sales associate, the fee is $120 plus the $10 E&O insurance processing fee. For a broker, the fee is $60.

The KREC doesn’t provide an estimated wait time to get your application reviewed and approved.

While you wait, you can get started on preparing for your next journey as a licensed agent in the state. Our article featuring industry experts sharing their experiences being a real estate agent as a career is a helpful read.

Once you receive your real estate license, you’ll have a certain set of hours of continuing education to complete. This can vary from licensing period to licensing period.

For Kentucky real estate agents licensed within the first two years, they must complete 48 hours of approved post-license educational courses.

After that initial period, they must complete six hours of continuing education every year, with three of these hours being in a course approved for law credit.

Every four years you’ll also need to complete an additional six hours within a Kentucky Core Course.

All classes must be completed at a school approved by the KREC.

Survey of Experts

How long did it take you to get your real estate license? From the time you signed up for school till your license was issued.

Expert Insight

Knowing what you know now, what would you do differently to get your license faster?

I would have started taking classes as soon as registration was completed.

There was an accelerated two-week option I would have pursued. Some students wait a while before they feel ready to take the licensing exam, but the material should be the freshest to mind directly after finishing the courses.

My advice would be to register for the licensing exam within a week of receiving your course certificate.

— Kyle J. Rogers, Keller Williams Louisville East, Realtor/Sales Associate

I probably took too much time between finishing the Kaplan prep course and taking the Kaplan final exam.

I think I took about three weeks in between to prepare. The course itself prepared me well enough.

It also took two weeks after passing the Kaplan exam to study for the PSI exam which was probably the right amount of time.

— Chris Kennedy, Keller Williams Realty Services, Sales Associate

I couldn’t get it much faster. I opted to do all of my classes in 2 weeks, which is the fastest allowed by my state (96 hours of classes).

I took the final exam when I was able to, and traveled out of my city to take the exam so I could do it faster than if I had stayed locally to wait for an exam date.

— Katie Messenger, Keller Williams Louisville East, Realtor

Get the class done as fast as possible and take the test as soon as you can.

— Jim Carmichael, Berkshire Hathaway Homeservices Professional Realty Commercial Division, Senior Portfolio Manager

Studying for the real estate exam requires that you enroll in a college institution or in one of the accredited real estate agent schools in Kentucky.

Your choice of education provider largely depends on a lot of factors, but you would want to take into consideration how much time you can devote to quickly complete this step of the process.

What’s important, though, is setting aside enough time to study so you feel prepared to pass the real estate exam the first time around.

To do this, it’s best to start by taking strong notes in your pre-licensing courses. From there, create topic outlines and flashcards to streamline your studying.

Devote a little time each day to reviewing once you begin your classes. That way you aren’t cramming at the end.

If it helps, form a study group with your classmates closer to the end of your class. It may motivate you to set aside plenty of time to prepare for the exam.

A great resource to make sure you’re studying the right materials can be found in the Candidate Information Bulletin from PSI. It includes a topic outline for each exam.

Combining your notes with the exam outline, and using different methods of studying to prepare, can help gear you up properly to ace that real estate exam.

Use this information to efficiently plan your schedule when getting a real estate license in Kentucky. Once you get hold of that license, waste no time in taking the next steps to kickstart your career.

Begin by creating an action plan that details what happens after you pass your real estate exam.

You should also consider being a part of a real estate team to get a good start on your career. Our A-to-Z guide on how to join a real estate team provides all the information you need to know.

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 a REALTOR® with over 20 years of professional experience. She actively practices real estate in Ohio but also has practiced real estate in California and Texas. Conducting her real estate business in three states has allowed her to gain unique experiences that make her a well-rounded realtor. She obtained her Bachelor of Arts in Business Management and her MBA with a concentration in Banking and Finance. Prior to real estate, Kristina had an extensive corporate career in banking and treasury. She ended her finance career as an Assistant Treasurer at a publicly traded oil & gas company in Houston, TX.