How To Become a Real Estate Agent in Arizona

For aspiring real estate agents, the Arizona real estate market, especially in metropolitan areas like Phoenix, provides an ideal place to launch your career.

So, how do you go about getting a real estate agent license in Arizona?

The Arizona Department of Real Estate (ADRE) oversees the licensing and regulation of real estate agents across the state.⁹

All real estate agents in Arizona are required to hold an active real estate license issued by the ADRE before they can legally provide real estate services to clients and earn commissions.

Arizona Department of Real Estate
100 N 15th Ave #201
Phoenix, AZ 85007
Phone: (602) 771-7700

Arizona issues real estate licenses at two levels:

• Real Estate Salesperson: This is the introductory licensure level. Salesperson licensees are required to affiliate with and work under a Broker.
• Real Estate Broker: This license is for experienced agents who can open their own brokerage or manage other agents. Broker licensees can work independently.

Getting Your Real Estate License in Arizona

Here’s a quick rundown of some key facts and requirements to become a licensed real estate salesperson in Arizona:

• You must be at least 18 years old and have a high school diploma or equivalent
• Complete 90 hours of state-approved pre-licensing education from an accredited real estate school either online or in-person
• Pass the real estate salesperson licensing exam administered by Pearson VUE
• All applicants must undergo a fingerprint background check and obtain an Arizona Fingerprint Clearance Card
• Finish a 6-hour contract writing course
• New licensees must affiliate with a Designated Brokerage within their first two years before applying for a Broker’s license
• Submit your completed license application with all supporting documents and fees to the Arizona Department of Real Estate (ADRE)
• The process of acquiring a salesperson license typically takes 4 to 6 months on average from start to finish
• License renewal happens every 2 years and requires proof of completed continuing education
• Arizona has license recognition agreements with most states making transferring an active out-of-state license easier

Meeting all the necessary benchmarks qualifies you to start a career as a licensed real estate professional in Arizona.

Key Prerequisites For Becoming a Licensed Real Estate Agent

Before diving into education and exams, you must meet a few baseline requirements set by the Arizona Department of Real Estate (ADRE) to qualify for an Arizona real estate license.¹

These requirements ensure that applicants have reached the legal age of adulthood, received a basic education, and have no criminal history that would prevent practicing real estate safely and legally.

• Attaining the minimum age of 18 years
• Possessing a high school diploma, GED, or equivalent
• Undergoing a fingerprint criminal background check

Here is an overview of each must-have requirement to become authorized to transact real estate in Arizona:

Minimum Age and Core Academic Requirements

Arizona requires that all real estate license applicants be at least 18 years old when they submit their licensing application.¹

While you can enroll in pre-licensing courses and sit for exams at 17, your license will not be approved for activation until you officially turn 18. There is no maximum age limit to obtain or renew a license.

As long as you meet renewal requirements, you can continue real estate practice well past any retirement age.

While 18 is the legal age minimum, most successful real estate agents are at least 20 to 25 years old. Greater maturity and life experience can prepare you for the customer service, sales, and relationship-building skills needed as a real estate professional.

While Arizona has no formal college education requirement, you must at minimum possess a high school-level diploma or GED certificate.¹

Submitting an official transcript or diploma from an accredited U.S. high school satisfies this prerequisite and provides evidence of essential abilities in communication, organization, math, and reasoning. These fundamental skills underpin success as a real estate salesperson.

Additionally, many real estate schools also require applicants to have a high school diploma before enrolling in pre-licensing courses. Check with your chosen real estate school to see if you must submit your diploma or transcripts as part of the enrollment process.

If you don’t have a diploma or transcript, contact your high school to request copies.

Homeschool students can provide documentation from their accredited homeschool program. Lacking the minimum education credentials will stop your real estate licensing application.

Having the academic abilities to handle college-level coursework can also help you succeed in real estate classes.

Compulsory Training Hours For Licensing

All prospective Arizona real estate agents must complete 90 hours of state-approved pre-licensing education before qualifying to take the state licensing exam.¹ Per Arizona Revised Statutes Section 32-2124, acceptable pre-licensing delivery formats include:

• Classroom courses from an Arizona Real Estate Commission-approved school or college. This includes live online/virtual instructor-led training.
• Online on-demand pre-licensing courses from an ADRE-approved provider that are completed at your own pace
• Real estate courses from an accredited college or university approved by the ADRE. Official transcripts must be submitted

While free real estate courses and content exist online, only state-approved programs satisfying the 90-hour requirement will make you exam-eligible in Arizona. The most common route involves taking the 90 hours of pre-licensure education online or in-person through an approved provider along with a separate 6-hour Contract Writing course.

The 90 hours of prelicensing education provide the core knowledge and skills every real estate agent needs as outlined in the Pearson VUE’s Candidate Handbook.²

The 90 hours must cover:

• Real Estate Principles and Practices (30 hours)
• Real Estate Law (25 hours)
• Real Estate Brokerage (5 hours)
• Real Estate Finance (5 hours)
• Real Estate Appraisal (5 hours)
• Real Estate Contracts (5 hours)
• Plus a 6 hour Contract Writing course

For a broker license:

• Applicants must complete 60 hours of pre-licensing instruction covering advanced topics like managing agents, broker supervision, trust accounting, and running a brokerage.

Supplementary Contract Writing Course

On top of core courses, Arizona mandates all salesperson license applicants take a 6-hour Contract Writing class from an accredited provider before applying for licensure.

This additional educational requirement covers:

• Contract Law (3 hours)
• Legal Issues (3 hours)

Check if your pre-licensing school bundles the Contract Writing class for convenience. You need to keep the course certificate after passing the exam to include with your license application.

When choosing a real estate school, make sure they are listed on the ADRE’s list of Approved Real Estate Schools.³

Charges for Real Estate School Pre-Licensing

To qualify to take the state licensing exam, you must complete 90 hours of state-approved pre-licensing education plus a 6-hour Contract Writing course offered through an ADRE-Approved Real Estate school.³

On average, the tuition for the required 96 hours of pre-licensing courses ranges from $200 to $500 or more. The costs vary primarily based on the following:

• Delivery format: Online courses tend to cost less than in-person classes
• Provider selected: Different providers tend to have different charges. Therefore, compare costs across 3 to 5 approved schools.
• Supplementary components: Some schools bundle exam prep tools and retake guarantees for added fees

When selecting a provider, look around for different approved real estate schools to balance your budget with factors like instruction methods, study resources, exam pass guarantees, and technology requirements. Some students appreciate the interaction and accountability of in-person or live online formats while others prefer the flexibility of pre-recorded online courses.

Additionally, decide if you want a school that includes exam prep, sample tests, and retake guarantees in case you don’t pass the licensing exam the first time. Prep courses cost $50 to $100 on average.

Some real estate schools may offer discounts if you bundle the 90-hour pre-licensing course with the 6-hour Contract Writing course and exam prep classes or materials. For the best deal, compare tuition costs across 3 to 5 approved schools before enrolling.

Prerequisite Real Estate Background Verification (Fingerprinting Venue Information)

In addition to the pre-licensing education, all Arizona real estate license applicants must undergo a fingerprint-based background check through the Arizona Department of Public Safety (DPS) and obtain a Fingerprint Clearance Card (FCC).⁴

Your fingerprints will be matched against criminal databases by the Arizona Department of Public Safety (DPS) and Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) to uncover potentially disqualifying convictions.⁵

The ADRE requires all license applicants to obtain a valid FCC from the DPS before submitting a license application.

Here’s how:

• Applicants are required to complete an FCC application packet issued by DPS or by an approved real estate pre-licensing school
• Fingerprinting appointments can be scheduled online with DPS through their Public Service Portal (PSP) or with local law enforcement agencies.⁶ Prints can be taken via ink or through electronic submission.
• A $67 fee covers fingerprint processing and database checks through DPS and the FBI. The process for obtaining the Fingerprint Clearance Card may take as long as 8 to 10 weeks.
• Results typically take weeks. DPS then shares records internally with the ADRE for review.
• Applicants must correct any discrepancies with DPS right away before sending their application

Along with fingerprints, applicants must fully disclose criminal history and any civil judgments or disciplinary actions against professional/occupational licenses using the Disciplinary Actions Disclosure Form (LI-214/244) and the Disclosure Document Checklist Form (LI-400) if applicable.⁷

Having a past criminal record does not automatically prohibit licensure. Applications are reviewed on a case-by-case basis.

That said, certain serious offenses within the past 5-10 years like fraud, violent crimes, sex crimes, and felonies related to real estate, breach of trust, or finances may impact your eligibility.

Be sure to disclose past convictions upfront and provide any requested documents. This shows rehabilitation efforts and helps your application.

The fingerprinting and background check requirements uphold ethical standards for licensed real estate agents in Arizona.

While adding steps, they help ensure applicants can practice real estate legally and safely.

Becoming a real agent in Arizona just takes some preparation and study, but once you’ve started, you’ll be amazed at how far you can go.