If you’d like to become a real estate agent in Arizona, it helps to understand everything involved before you start the process. Here, we’ll cover the benefits of the profession as well as everything that is required to receive your license.
There are a number of steps in the Arizona real estate licensing process, so we’ve broken it down to keep things simple. To get your license, you will need to:
Step 1: Complete Pre-License Education
Step 2: Obtain Required Background Check Documents
Step 3: Schedule and Pass the Arizona Real Estate Exam
Step 4: Take the 6-Hour Contract Writing Course
Step 5: Secure a Sponsoring Broker
Step 6: Submit a Real Estate License Application
Before we move on to the steps to get your license, consider if becoming an Arizona real estate agent is right for you.
The Benefits of Working as an Arizona Real Estate agent
At salary.com, the average salary for a real estate agent in Arizona is listed as $42,986 to $55,971 per year. This varies depending on your commission percentage, the number of homes you sell, if you have any caps, what your split is with your agent, and the value of the homes sold.
In Arizona, the average price of a home is $432,850. Real estate agents often make 5.4% commission on sales, which would be $23,374.
Salary aside, becoming a real estate agent includes these other benefits:
- Flexibility in your schedule
- Unlimited income potential
- Career mobility
- Helping people
- Familiarity with your community and neighborhoods
- Varying environments and tasks
If this sounds like a good fit for you, these are the things you should consider next.
Do You Prequalify?
To prequalify as an Arizona real estate agent you need to be at least 18 years old.
1. Complete Pre-License Education
To qualify as a real estate agent in Arizona, you need to complete a 90-hour pre-license education course that has been approved by the Arizona Department of Real Estate.
The course covers these (and other) topics:
- Licensing laws
- Real estate practice
- Forms of ownership, transfer, and recording of title
- Financing and settlement
- Closing
If you’re a resident of Arizona and qualify for Out-of-State License Recognition, you might be exempt from the pre-licensing course. See the ADRE site for more information about this.
2. Obtain Required Background Check Documents
The ADRE requires that you collect a number of documents to apply for your real estate license. These include the:
- Obtain and Complete a Fingerprint Clearance Card – The Fingerprint Clearance Card is issued by the Arizona Department of Public Safety. You can get a Fingerprint Clearance Card application packet from DPS, or from the school you do your pre-licensing course with. Obtaining the card can take as long as eight to ten weeks, so you’ll want to start this process early. You can get more information about the Fingerprint Clearance Card here.
- Disciplinary Actions Disclosure Form (LI-214/244) – All applicants must complete and submit the Disciplinary Actions Disclosure Form when they apply for a license. This covers information relating to your background. You can get the form here.
Depending on disclosures made on your Disciplinary Actions form, you may need to provide additional documents and information. The Department cannot issue a license to a person convicted of a felony who is incarcerated, paroled or under community supervision or on probation.
The Department may not issue a license to a person who has been convicted of a felony or convicted of a misdemeanor offense, such as (but not limited to) theft, forgery, extortion, conspiracy to defraud, violence against another person, or crimes of moral turpitude. - Disclosure Document Checklist (LI-400) – If you do disclose a criminal conviction, adverse civil judgment, or denial of or discipline against a professional or occupational license on your Disclosure Form, you will need to complete and submit a Disclosure Document Checklist Form (LI-400) and include any additional documents and information identified.
3. Schedule and Pass the Arizona Real Estate Exam
After completing the pre-licensing course, you’ll need to register for the Arizona Real Estate Salesperson Exam. This is administered by Pearson VUE, an outside examination agency.
To register, visit the Pearson VUE website or call Pearson VUE at (888) 405-5776. You will need to pay a $75 exam fee when you register for the exam. For a list of testing centers, see the back of this Pearson VUE brochure.
On the day of the exam, you will need to provide the testing center with the following items:
- An original Pre-Licensure Education Certificate
- Two forms of current personal signature identification, one government issued with a photo
Once you’re in the exam site, you will need to place all electronic devices, bulky clothing, and other personal items in a secure location. You will then sit at a computer to take the test.
The exam has to be completed in 3.5 hours, and it includes 180 questions split between a National and State portion. To pass you need a score of at least 75%. Your exam score will appear on your screen when you are finished, and a score report will be emailed to you.
Some of the topics covered in the exam are:
- Real estate practice
- Contracts
- Property ownership
- Leasing and property management
- Transfer of title
- Valuation and market analysis
- Financing
- Real estate calculations
Your exam score will be valid for one year. To complete your application, the Commission must receive your score, the application fees, and all required documentation within one year of passing the exam.
4. Take the 6-Hour Contract Writing Course
The Arizona Department of Real Estate requires that you take a six-hour contract writing course, either in-person or online. There are a number of options to take this course, including this one through Kaplan. The class is divided into three hours of contract law and three hours of legal issues in real estate. Only ADRE-approved providers can administer this course.
You will have to submit a certificate of completion with your license application.
5. Secure a Sponsoring Broker
To become a licensed and practicing real estate agent in Arizona, you need to be associated with a registered brokerage firm or broker. Before submitting your application, you’ll need to have secured this sponsorship. It’s important to choose the right broker, as they’ll play a key role in growing your real estate career.
Consider the following when choosing a managing agent to work with:
- Their reputation as a agent or agentage firm
- The types of agents they look for
- If they provide education and training for agents
- If they provide marketing materials and potential leads
- Which systems they use
- The benefits they offer
- What is their commission structure?
- What is the growth potential?
6. Submit a Real Estate License Application
If you pass the exam – and if you have not been previously licensed with ADRE – you will be sent an email. This email will include a number (beginning with letters SA or BR) to log into the Licensee Login. Here, you’ll be able to scan your application into one PDF for review.
Note: if you are applying with a Disciplinary Action Disclosure, you need to submit your application through the Message Center under the Disciplinary Actions Disclosure topic.
If you mail your application, you will need to include a check or money order for the application fee of $60.
These are the items you will need to include with your application:
- Original Salesperson Application & Fee
- Original Arizona Exam Score Report
- 90-hour Salesperson pre-licensing Course Certificate
- 6-hour Contract Writing Course Certificate
- Proof of Legal Presence (Copy front and back)
- Valid DPS issued AZ Fingerprint Clearance Card (Copy front and
- back)
- Disciplinary Actions Disclosure Form (LI-214/244)
- Disclosure Document Checklist Form (LI-400) *if yes answers on
- LI-214/244
Once you’ve completed all of these steps successfully, you will receive your Arizona Real Estate Agent License by mail. At this point, you might want to consider if you’re interested in becoming a Realtor. Here’s what this means:
Real Estate Agent vs Realtor: What’s the difference?
For a real estate agent to become a Realtor, they need to become a member of the National Association of Realtors®. The NAR is an organization for real estate agents and other industry professionals. Members are required to subscribe to standards and a code of ethics set by the association. Membership offers access to market data and transaction management services, and other benefits.
To become a part of this community, these are the steps you need to take:
- Get your state real estate license
- Join your local REALTORS® Association – find one close to you with their “find an association” tool
- Pay the application fee – this varies by association
- Maintain membership dues – to keep your title of REALTOR®, you need to pay an annual fee of $150
Become a top Real Estate Agent!
Now that you’re a Real Estate Agent. You’ll need a website to show off your listings, attract buyers and sellers and if your ambitious get real estate coaching or digital marketing from some of the best in the field. Reach out to us at RE Digital to learn how we can help you become a top performer.
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