How Long Does It Take to Get Your Real Estate License in Georgia?

So you’ve decided to get your Georgia real estate license. Yay, you! One of your first questions about the process is likely to be: How long is this thing going to take, anyway? The answer depends on how much time you can devote to studying, but the quickest you can realistically go from zero to licensed is about 5.5 weeks.

Let’s break that down!

Complete Your 75 Hours of Pre-licensing Education: 2.5+ Weeks

The first step in getting your license is completing your pre-licensing education. The Georgia Real Estate Commission requires applicants to take 75 hours of classes before they take the state exam. You can do that online or at an in-person class. (Wait! Before you sign up for a class, make sure you meet the qualifications for licensure.)

Full-time Study

If you’re willing to put your life on hold to study real estate, you can complete the 75-hour course in two-and-half weeks or so. If you’re working 40 hours per week on your course, you’ll have it done in less than two full weeks, leaving you a few days to study up for your final exam.

Part-time Study

Realistically, most people can’t devote a full 40 hours per week to studying real estate. If you’re working on your pre-licensing education part-time, the amount of time it takes is up to you:

• If you spend five hours a week, you’ll be done in 15 weeks

• If you can spend an hour a day every day, you’ll be done in two-and-a-half months

• If you spend eight hours each weekend day, then you’ll be done in five weeks

Create a study schedule that works for you and stick with it! The easiest way to get through your required pre-licensing education is work on your course regularly.

Criminal History Report: 3+ Weeks (Concurrently)

If you really want to speed run getting your license, Georgia lets you get your background check done while you’re finishing your pre-licensing education. Learn more about how to apply and get a background check at the GREC website.

Note that you’ll need to disclose any criminal history as part of your background check. While it is possible to get a license if you have previous charges on your record, it might take a little longer and require a little more paperwork. Here’s more information about that process.

Take and Pass the State Licensing Exam: 2 Weeks

Once you’ve completed your pre-licensing education and passed the final, you can complete your application and get approved to take the state licensing exam. You can apply online, by phone, or by mail. The candidate handbook has details about application process.

There is a $170 licensing fee and a $119 exam fee. (Here are more details about how much it costs to get a Georgia license.) Once you’ve been approved to take the exam, you’ll schedule a time to go to a testing center and take it. The whole process takes at least two weeks or so, and you can use that time to study. Failing the exam will cost you time and money, so make sure you go in prepared!

Sponsoring Broker

After you pass the exam but before you get an active license, you’ll need to have a sponsoring broker picked out. Start looking for someone who will be a good fit for you when you begin your licensing process, so you don’t delay things at the end trying to find a broker.

Reciprocal Licensure

Already licensed in another state? Getting your Georgia license will be even quicker. Georgia has license reciprocity with all 49 other states. Everybody but Floridians can simply submit an application and other required documents, get a background check, and pay the fee.

Sorry Florida residents, you’ll be required to pass the Georgia part of the state exam before you can get a reciprocal license (but that’s still quicker than going through the whole process!).

Total Time to Get Your License: 5.5+ Weeks

So that’s it! If you really put your nose to the grindstone and get all your paperwork started early, you can have that sweet Georgia real estate license in just five-and-a-half weeks. That’s less time than a single semester of college!

Ready to get started? Get your Georgia real estate course today!