Resources for our agents!

A salesperson must be assigned to a licensed broker or firm and cannot conduct business independently.

You must be 18 years of age or older. (You may actually sit for the exam before you are 18, but you MUST be 18 before you make the application for a real estate license, which must be within six months after you pass the exam.)

An applicant is not ineligible because of race, color, religion, sex, national origin, disability, residency or citizenship although the application form may require citizenship information.

You must not have had an application rejected for licensure in this or any other state within twelve months prior to the date of application. You must also not have had a real estate license revoked in Iowa or any other state within two years prior to the date of application. If you have had criminal convictions you may want to speak directly with the Iowa Real Estate Commission prior to taking classes and testing.

OUR SUGGESTION is to follow these steps in order:

1) Background Check
A criminal background check is required by Iowa law of all real estate licensee applicants. This process can take 8-10 weeks to complete, but you do not need to wait for your completed background check before applying for your real estate license. As of September 11th, 2017, all applicants and/or licensees will need to create a DataPro account on the Iowa Professional Licensing Bureau website, also known as My Iowa PLB. You’ll need to submit a request for a fingerprint packet electronically through the application named "General - Background Packet Request." There is no fee for the packet. However, the fee to be submitted to the Iowa Real Estate Commission with the completed fingerprint card and waiver form is $51.00.  

You do not need to wait for your background check to be approved to send in your license application, and once the background check has been reviewed by the commission, the report is only valid for 210 days. An applicant for an Iowa real estate salesperson license who has been convicted of forgery, embezzlement, obtaining money under false pretenses, theft, extortion, conspiracy to defraud, or another similar offense, or of any crime involving moral turpitude, in a court of competent jurisdiction in this state or in any other state, jurisdiction, territory, or district of the United States, or in any foreign jurisdiction, may be denied a license by the commission on the grounds of the conviction. “Conviction” is defined in Iowa Code section 543B.15(3) and rule 193E—2.1(543B).

2) Pre-License 60-Hour Real Estate License Course
Iowa Real Estate Commission-approved courses are required before you may take the Iowa Real Estate Exam. Go to www.iowarealtors.com/education to sign up for all classes.
Weekday Classroom 60 Hours $460
Weekend Classroom 60 Hours $485

3) Take and pass the Iowa real estate licensing exam
The real estate licensing exam costs $95 and is comprised of the following sections, with a required minimum score for each section. IF YOU DON'T PASS... DON'T QUIT! Some people ae not test takers and many have had to take it multiple times. 

The exam is administered by PSI Examination Services at locations around the state. Register for the computer-based exam by calling 800-733-9267 (24 hours) or www.psiexams.com. The cost is $95 each time you take the exam. 
Do not register for your exam until you have a completion certificate for the Commission-approved 60-hour Pre License course. Your certificate will be issued by the Iowa Association of REALTORS.
Examination results are confidential and will only be reported to you and the Iowa Real Estate Commission.
If you pass the examination, you must submit your application to the Iowa Real Estate Commission no later than the last working day of the sixth month after the qualifying examination date.
If you do not pass, you must retake the examination before you can be licensed. Submit a new registration form and the appropriate fee to PSI and schedule an appointment to retake the examination.

4) Additional required courses for an Iowa real estate license
An applicant applying for an original salesperson license must provide evidence of successful completion of the following courses:
12 hours of Buying Practices
12 hours of Listing Practices
12 hours of Developing Professionalism and Ethical Practices

5) Real Estate License Application & Errors and Omissions Insurance
Once you take and pass the Iowa Licensing exam, you’ll be asked to complete the real estate license application form and submit it to the Iowa Real Estate Commission. We can assist you with this process. Please make an appointment with us to complete the application.

6) Come to work! 

Complete contractor agreement with us

Schedule headshot

Apply for a DMAAR membership
Purchase lockboxes and set up E-Key and Showing Time
Order your first set of yard signs and business cards (We will supply a starter kit)

Come to training every TUESDAY at 10am


For questions regarding real estate licensing you may also contact:
Iowa Real Estate Commission
200 E. Grand Suite 350
Des Moines, IA  50309
(515) 725-9027

RE/MAX REVOLUTION
932 N. Shadyview Blvd
Pleasant Hill, Iowa 50327
(515) 265-7200
Ryan Mathews Broker/Owner (515) 202-1019
Stacey Carpenter Broker/Owner (515) 202-2803

 
Expected expenses associated with becoming a Realtor

Licensing Costs                                                                                 
Pre-License Course               $460.00
Buying Practices Couse        $140.00
Listing Practices Course       $140.00
Dev Professionalism/Ethics $140.00
State of Iowa Exam Fee       $  95.00
Iowa 3 year License Fee       $125.00

Des Moines Area Association of Realtors Costs                                 
New Member Dues/Fees  
Entrance Fee DMAAR                       $260.00         
Entrance Fee MLS                             $210.00         
Entrance Fee IAR                              $100.00         

Annual Dues
Annual Dues DMAAR                        $160.00          (1/2 if July through December)
Annual Dues IAR                               $110.00             ($55.00 if July through December)
IAR 1 Year Adv Campaign                $  30.00         
Annual Dues NAR                              $115.00             ($75.00 if July through December)

Other Expenses        
DMAAR Lock Box/Keycard Fees
1 New Lock Box                                 $  96.00 each
EKey Basic                                         $ 19.38 per month ongoing
Errors and Ommissions Insurance     $240.00  for 1 year (Will be prorated)
RE/MAX Annual Dues                        $410.00 Due each year on anniversary
Signs and Business Cards                 We will provide initial sign and card order at no-cost

TOTAL INITIAL INVESTMENT          Approximately $2850

Getting Licensed