How Much Does It Cost to Get a Real Estate License in Arizona?
In this article, we break down all the fees you need to know when getting licensed in The Grand Canyon State — from studying for the real estate exam to renewing your license.
Keep reading to fully grasp the cost to get a real estate license in Arizona.
Obtaining Your License
Pre-Licensing Education: $430-$650
In getting a real estate license in Arizona, your cost list begins with pre-licensing education. Both a salesperson and broker license require a 90-hour pre-exam course.
Additional requirements vary, but you’ll have more than 90 hours to complete.
For a salesperson license you also need to take a six-hour contract writing course, and brokers have to take three, three-hour courses that make up the Broker Management Clinic.
Fingerprinting: $67+
At the same time you’re completing your pre-licensing education, you should begin to plan to get fingerprints. These are necessary to run a mandatory background check.
Often a forgotten expense to factor in, a fingerprint clearance card really is essential in calculating how much a real estate license in AZ is.
The Department of Public Safety issues fingerprint cards, and $67 is the base fee you’ll pay at any DPS location.
There may be extra fees if you go to an alternate location, or obtain electronic fingerprints.
DPS conducts a background check in conjunction with generating your fingerprint card.
To know more about this process and what to do if you have any past criminal convictions, refer to our article on getting an Arizona real estate license with violations on the record.
Exam Fee: $75 for Salesperson; $125 for Broker
When it’s time to schedule your real estate license exam, you’ll need to contact Pearson VUE. They proctor the exam.
Test reservations can be made by setting up an online account or by calling 888-405-5776.
You’ll have five hours to complete the salesperson exam, which consists of 195 questions. The broker exam has the same number of questions, but gives you five hours and 15 minutes.
The number of hours to allot in studying depends on the topics you should focus on that will be covered in the test. Read our guide on how long you should study for the Arizona real estate exam.
Fees vary by test type. For a salesperson exam, the cost is $75. For a broker license exam, you’ll pay $125.
Exam Retake: $75 for Salesperson; $125 for Broker
In obtaining a real estate license in AZ, a cost you may have to factor in is the license exam retake fee.
Should you fail the real estate license exam by not getting a minimum score of 75 percent, you can retest as many times as you need.
Although you have to wait 24 hours to schedule a retake and pay the same fee you paid initially each time, you can continue to retest until you pass.
To schedule a retake, go through the same Pearson VUE process you went through the first time.
You can avoid retakes and their associated costs by reading our tips on how to study for the real estate exam.
License Application: $60 for Salesperson; $145 for Broker
Once you pass the exam, the fee to budget for next is your license application.
In Arizona, the total fee is based on license type, though both include a real estate recovery charge.
The application fee for a salesperson license is $60. For a broker, the application fee is $145.
The best way to submit your license application is online through the License Login portal. When approved, your designated broker can print your certificate.
You can find a licensed broker to sponsor you via our vetted list of top-rated real estate brokerages in Arizona.
Know what to look for in a good real estate company by reading our guide — How to Choose the Right Real Estate Brokerage to Work for as a New Agent.
Survey of Experts
In your opinion, was the cost of getting your real estate license reasonable?
Approximately how much did it cost you to get your real estate license? Including school fees, study materials, and other related expenses.
Expert Insight
What were your ‘surprise costs’?
The packages were laid out very clearly and I don’t feel there were any surprise costs incurred.
Maintaining Your License
Continuing Education: $110-$220
When calculating how much a real estate license is in Arizona, you will also have to include all post-licensing fees.
Once licensed, you’ll still have the added expense of continuing education. For a salesperson, the total number of continuing education hours is 24. Brokers have a 30-hour requirement.
Since hours vary, cost will, too. Those with a salesperson license will most often pay less than a broker when it comes to continuing education.
The best way to get a deal is to purchase a package that includes all your required hours broken down into smaller, approved courses such as agency law or legal issues.
License Renewal: $60-$245
The cost of a real estate license in Arizona also includes renewal expenses.
The Department of Real Estate prefers all Arizona real estate agents to renew online. However, there are options to go into the office or mail in a renewal form.
The most cost-effective way to renew is online, where you’ll only pay $60 as a salesperson and $120 as a broker.
The renewal fee goes up significantly if you pick an alternate option. To go in person or mail in your renewal, the cost is $125 for a salesperson and $245 for a broker.
Expert Insight
What were your ‘surprise costs’ after getting your license?
A year of establishing and marketing an area without enough income to cover it, and the next year in the red paying back the first year debt.
I was unaware that it was a three-year process before I would be in the black.
All the board dues, MLS dues, key dues, real estate lock boxes, signs, and signing on with a broker.
How to Reduce Real Estate License Education Costs
While many costs within the licensing process are fixed, you do have options to reduce your overall expenses when it comes to real estate license education.
By doing some research and comparing prices, you will definitely find different costs for the same hours of licensing education, whether you’re just starting out or looking to continue your real estate education.
As you compare, look at the value you’re getting for each package price. Some options come with a lot of extras or guarantee a high pass rate when it’s time for the exam.
These bonus items may be worth paying a little more for in the long run, since you’ll have a higher chance of passing the Arizona exam the first time around, and fewer retakes mean less cost.
As you zero in on your preferred Arizona real estate schools, make sure to also price-compare taking online courses versus those in person. There may be a price difference there, too.
Our A-to-Z guide on real estate classes online vs. classroom courses walks you through the pros and cons of each format, other than price comparison.
Looking at price as well as value is the best combination for a cost-effective experience with your real estate license education.
Expert Insight
What costs could have been avoided and how?
If I were smart, I would have joined a team. A team consolidates expenses like marketing and advertising, and helps you to make an income in that first year.
In addition, it provides coaching, lessons learned, motivation, and camaraderie. I wish I had known and had not allowed my ego to “go it alone.”
Don’t pay for extra prep classes.
I don’t feel as though there were any unnecessary or avoidable expenses.
Now that you know the answer to the question, how much is an Arizona real estate license?, you can be in a better position to prepare for it financially.
As you navigate the licensing process in the state, you can go the extra mile by learning about what’s at stake once you begin your career. These resources offer a wealth of information:
- The pros and cons of being a real estate agent
- What to do after passing the real estate exam
- Guide to joining 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.
__
If you want to contribute your expert advice on a topic of your expertise, feel free to apply to our Expert Contributor Program.
__
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.