Arkansas Real Estate License Requirements
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Learn what's required to get your real estate license in Arkansas
This real estate licensing information summarizes the minimum requirements established by the Arkansas Real Estate Commission (AREC). We recommend you contact AREC for more detailed information.
Are you planning to obtain real estate licenses in multiple states? If so, we recommend you check each state's requirements.
Arkansas real estate salesperson license requirements
General requirements
To get licensed in Arkansas, you must be at least 18 years of age.
Education requirements
- You must successfully completed 60 hours of real estate education. Also note that 30 of those hours must be in the basic principles of real estate.
Exam requirements
- Pass the Arkansas licensure examination.
- Send the proper forms and fees to the Arkansas Real Estate Commission no later than 90 days after passing the examination.
Application requirements
You may submit the application prior to completing the real estate education requirement. However, you must submit proof of completing the education requirement prior to receiving eligibility to take the real estate exam. AREC will issue the Certificate of Eligibility for Examination only after receiving the application information and the education certificate.
A criminal background report and fingerprints must be received by the Arkansas Real Estate Commission before the Real Estate Commission will issue the license. The Arkansas State Police will conduct the background check, take your fingerprints and submit the report to the Commission.
To process your application, send the following to the AREC:
- Completed application to take the real estate examination
- Completed fingerprint card
- $50 application fee, $22 Arkansas criminal background check fee, and $13.00 FBI criminal background check fee. Make cashier's check or money order payable to "AREC" for a combined total of $85.00. Personal checks will not be accepted. **Effective January 1, 2019, the application fee increases to $86.25 to cover the increase in the cost of the FBI background check.
Arkansas real estate broker pre-license requirements
General requirements
To get your broker's license in Arkansas, you must be at least 18 years old and successfully complete 60 hours of real estate education. Note that 45 of the 60 hours must be the Commission-developed Broker Pre-License Education course. You have 36 months from the time you apply to take your broker's exam to sit for your broker's exam.
Experience and exam requirements
You'll also need to meet the following requirements:
- Be licensed as an active real estate salesperson or broker for at least 24 months within the previous 48 months immediately preceding the date of application.
- The Arkansas Real Estate Commission will also accept a license if you have acceptable experience within a related real estate field. Make sure this experience falls within 24 of the previous 48-month period immediately preceding the date of the application. This must be a written request.
- The experience requirement may be waived if you were licensed for at least 18 months within another jurisdiction and you met that jurisdiction's licensing requirements. You'll need to provide an official license from the jurisdiction. This needs to be a written request.
- Pass the Arkansas examination.
- Send the proper forms and fees to the Arkansas Real Estate Commission no later than 90 days after passing the exam.
How to apply for an Arkansas real estate license if you are currently licensed in another state
If you are currently licensed in another state and you want to get your license in Arkansas, you can request a waiver of the general portion of the exam. This only applies if you are a real estate salesperson requesting a salesperson license or a broker requesting a broker license. To take only the Arkansas law portion of the exam, you'll need to meet the following requirements:
- Have a minimum passing grade of 70 on the uniform, general, or multi-state part of a real estate license exam.
- Hold an active license in another state at the time you take the Arkansas exam.
Arkansas real estate continuing education requirements
The Arkansas Real Estate Commission requires the following to renew your license:
- Obtain six hours of continuing education annually.
- If you are obtaining a license for the first time you will need to complete the continuing education before renewing your license.
- Make sure you complete the continuing education hours before transferring your license from inactive to active. The continuing education hours must be completed during the year the license is activated or the preceding calendar year.
- One course cannot be used to meet both continuing education and pre-licensing education requirements.
Arkansas reciprocal states for salesperson and broker license
Arkansas currently recognizes real estate salesperson or broker licenses from the following states:
- Alabama
- Colorado
- Florida
- Georgia
- Iowa
- Kansas
- Louisiana
- Mississippi
- Nebraska
- New York
- Ohio
- Oklahoma
- Pennsylvania
- South Dakota
- Washington
- West Virginia
If you have any questions about the continuing education requirements, please contact the Arkansas Real Estate Commission, 501-683-8010 or visit its website.
Good to know
Other insights about getting your Arkansas real estate license
- Although highly useful, courses identified as exam prep generally do not fulfill the pre-license requirement; they are designed to help you pass your exam.
- For salesperson applicants, the 60-hour certificate does not expire.
- Download the state of Arkansas real estate candidate handbook to learn how to reserve for your license exam, what to expect on the day of your exam, and where to take your exam.