How long do you have to be a real estate agent before becoming a broker in Georgia?

Thinking about getting your Georgia real estate license?

The Georgia real estate market has been thriving over the last decade, especially in the Metro Atlanta area. Becoming a real estate agent in Georgia is an excellent choice for those thinking about making a career change.

We’re going to share everything you need to know about getting your Georgia real estate license, including:

• Requirements for Getting a Real Estate License in Georgia

• Finding the Best Georgia Real Estate Schools

• How to Research and Select a Real Estate Broker

• What Does It Cost to Get a Georgia Real Estate License?

• How Hard is it to Become a Successful Real Estate Agent?

• Commonly Asked Questions

Requirements for Getting a Real Estate License in Georgia

The Georgia Real Estate Commission (GREC) has some basic requirements you have to meet in order to secure your real estate license and become a real estate agent in Georgia:

• Have a high school diploma or GED.
• Be at least 18 years old – if you are 17, you may sit for the exam, however, the license cannot be activated until you are 18
• Pass a background check
• Successfully complete 75 hours of pre-licensing classes with a state-approved real estate school
  • Please note: You may bypass the 75 hours of pre-licensing courses if you’ve completed six semester hours (or 10 quarter hours) of coursework eligible for a Major in Real Estate from an accredited college or university OR if you complete a course in real property, agency, or contracts through an accredited School of Law. If one of these options apply to you, you’ll have to submit transcripts to Applied Measurement Professionals (AMP) to review and approve.
• Pass the Georgia real estate exam

Once you’ve completed your Georgia real estate course and passed the school exam, you can apply to take the state exam with Applied Measurement Professionals. The cost for the examination is $121. In order to pass the exam, you have to get a minimum score of 72%.

If you don’t pass the first time, no worries! You can take the exam again without having to retake the course.

Once you’ve passed, you will have 12 months to find a sponsoring broker and officially activate your real estate license. If you don’t activate your license within 12 months, you’ll have to retake the Georgia state exam.

In your first year as a real estate agent, the Georgia Real Estate Commission requires that you take a 25-hour salesperson post-license course. If you fail to take the course before the end of the 12 month period, your license will lapse.

While you do have to jump through a few hoops to become a real estate agent in Georgia, this is an incredible opportunity to build a lifelong business.

Finding the Best Real Estate Schools

In order to get your Georgia real estate license, you’ll have to attend a school that’s approved by GREC. There are quite a few approved real estate schools in Georgia. Some are online, others in person, and a few do a combination of the two. Here are a few of the most popular GA real estate schools:

• The CE Shop (online)
• Barney Fletcher (online and in person)
• McKissock Learning (online)
• Georgia MLS Training Institue (online and in person)
• Real Estate Express (online)

When you are shopping for the best real estate schools, make sure that they offer additional support for exam prep and sample exams for practice. Some schools even offer weekend cram courses or online support / chat to make sure that you pass the real estate salesperson exam on the first try.

How to Research and Select a Georgia Real Estate Broker

In Georgia, you must affiliate with a real estate brokerage in order to activate your real estate license. This is often referred to as the “sponsoring broker.”

We would recommend shopping for the best broker once you’ve completed the pre-licensing course and are waiting to take your state exam. There are a few ways to do this:

• Ask around. Find out which brokerages your friends and family have worked with in the past and see what they liked most about them. Don’t hesitate to reach out to local agents in your area to see what they like most about their broker.

• Research online. Once you’ve narrowed down your choices to 3 to 5 companies, do some research online. There are always dozens if not hundreds of YouTube testimonials and feedback from real estate agents.

• Check out Facebook/Meta. There are quite a few Facebook groups for aspiring agents and you’ll get lots of (honest) feedback from agents at different brokerages.

• Schedule interviews. We highly recommend meeting with two or three brokerages, because the benefits and compentation plans can be dramatically different.

The most important thing you should look for in a brokerage is how they support brand new real estate agents. Do they have a formal training program? Will you have at least 3 people you can reach out to if you have questions? Do they have mentors – and what exactly will the mentors do to assist you?

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Cost to Get A Real Estate License in Georgia

There are several fees involved when working to become a real estate agent in Georgia…

• Georgia Pre-License Real Estate Course – $250 to $400

• Exam Fee – $121
  • If you have to retake the exam, arrive 15+ minutes late or don’t have the proper ID, you will have to pay the $121 a second time.

• Background Check – $25 to $40

• GA License Application Fee – $170 to $340
  • If you activate your license (by selecting a broker) within 90 days of passing the exam, the fee is $170. If you wait, the fee doubles to $340.

• 25-Hr Post-License Continuing Education Fee – $100 to $250

• GREC License Renewal Fee (every 4 years) – $100 to $125

• National and Local Board of Realtors – $400+ annually

• Multiple Listing Service (MLS) – $20 to $35 monthly

• Other Real Estate Expenses
  • State exam prep courses or materials – $15 to $100
  • Supra eKey to show homes – $15 to $20 monthly
  • Business cards and signage – varies
  • Marketing materials
  • Learn more about what expenses to expect as a new Realtor

It is Easy to Become a Successful Real Estate Agent?

Now that you know how to get a real estate license in Georgia and how to find the best brokerage, the next step is getting yourself in the mindset that you are building a new business.

Your pre-licensing course is primarily focused on learning the common terms and laws when practicing real estate. The courses don’t usually cover writing contracts, preparing a home valuation report for sellers, mastering your scripts, and learning how to market and promote your business.

Once you’ve become a real estate agent in Georgia, you need to be highly motivated and laser-focused on learning as much as you can. When you wake up each morning, no one is going to be there telling you what to do, you have to be focused on several key areas including:

• Building your network (aka “sphere of influence). This means that you have to get out and socialize and not be afraid to pick up the phone and connect with others.

• Becoming a neighborhood expert. You want to be the go-to agent in your area, you need to know your market. This could include studying the home sales statistics in the MLS, touring homes in the area, researching new developments, and letting as many people as possible know that you are here to serve them.

• Learning how to market yourself online. From blogging on your website to running Facebook ads, posting on social media, and networking in local online groups. You have to find out what works best for you and get up every morning and take action!

• Understanding scripts and contracts. It’s so important that you learn how to talk with people about real estate and how to overcome objections. You also have to know the basics of writing a contract, but also the strategies involved in positioning your offer in a way that will help your clients win in a bidding war.

We talk with dozens of newly licensed agents each year. Most have no idea how challenging this career path can be and how much you need to learn to be successful. We won’t sugarcoat it — it is a tough business! But if you are a self-starter who is 110% committed to being successful and you have the support of a great brokerage and mentor, it can be a rewarding and profitable business.

Commonly Asked Questions

How long does it take to become a real estate agent?

Honestly, that’s up to you! The pre-licensing course is only 75 hours, so you could finish that in as little as two weeks. In week three you would take the class exam and then about 1 to 2 weeks later, the state exam. Once you pass the state exam, you’ll have to get up and running with all the tools and systems at your new brokerage, so that could take another 2 to 4 weeks. All in all, you could be licensed in as little as a month, but we would recommend planning for 6 to 9 weeks before you would be in a place to start working with clients and writing offers.

What if I fail the real estate exam?

It’s not uncommon for people to fail on the first try. You can easily take the Georgia real estate exam again, you just have to pay another $121. You are allowed to take the Georgia real estate exam three times in one year.

How hard is the Georgia real estate exam?

There are 152 multiple choice questions and you’ll have up to 4 hours to take the exam. Most agents will tell you “it can be tricky” or “it’s not so easy,”, so it’s vital that you do as many practice exams as possible to prepare. If you’re still not feeling confident, sign up for an exam prep or cram course.

How do I get a Broker license in Georgia?

If you’ve been licensed as a Georgia Salesperson for at least 3 of the previous 5 years, you can qualify to become a broker. You’ll just have to complete 60 hours of approved Georgia Broker Pre-Licensing education and pass the state broker exam.

I’m already licensed in another state. Can I sell in Georgia?

Georgia allows real estate license reciprocity with every state in the United States (except for Florida). It’s fairly simple to get your reciprocal real estate license. You just have to submit proof of a current (not lapsed or expired) real estate license from another state. You can submit your application here.

How much do real estate agents make?

According to ZipRecruiter, as of February 2022, the average US monthly pay is $6,908 (about $82K annually). This can fluctuate dramatically from city to city, so focusing on areas where the average sale price is higher will allow you to earn more. If you are in the Metro Atlanta area, the average is $84K according to Indeed.com.

How much does it cost to become a real estate agent in Georgia?

We outlined the costs above, but to sum it up, you’re looking at about $650 to $800 to get your license and then you’ll have to join the Board of Realtors, MLS and there is usually a fee to join your brokerage. In total, the initial fees to get started in real estate could range from $1,000 to $1,500 depending on your area and the brokerage you select.

Other Articles You Might Like:

• What Expenses to Expect as a Real Estate Agent
• 20 Questions to Ask When Choosing a Brokerage
• Can You be a Successful Part-time Agent?
• What You Can Do BEFORE You’re Officially Licensed (free guide)
• Should New Agents Join a Real Estate Team
• Georgia Real Estate Commission
• Athens Area REALTOR Association
• Middle Georgia Association of REALTORS
• Atlanta Board of REALTORS

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