Getting a real estate license in Georgia is rather easy compared to other states. However, you still need a total of 75 classroom hours of commission-approved prelicensing courses and meet several other requirements, including passing an exam, before you can apply for your license. This guide will walk you through the steps you need to complete before you can become a real estate agent in The Peach State.
Here we go, dawgs.
Meet the State’s Legal Requirements
The Georgia Real Estate Commission (GREC) requires applicants to be at least 18 of age or older. You do not have to be a U.S. citizen, but if you aren’t a citizen, you must be a lawfully admitted alien. You also need to have at least a high school diploma or GED in order to apply for a license in Georgia.
All applicants are expected to provide fingerprints, which will be forwarded to the Division of Criminal Justice Information Systems and to the Federal Bureau of Investigation. That said, applicants who have an existing criminal record are still able to apply for a real estate license, provided they include their criminal history along with the necessary documents related to the conviction, if any, on their application.
Did you know? Georgia offers full reciprocity, meaning if you already have a license in another state, you can transfer it as long as you pass necessary background checks. The only exception is Florida licensees, who must pass the Georgia portion of the real estate exam. It is also a cooperative state, meaning you do not need to be a resident to conduct real estate business either. You can learn more about these terms in our Real Estate License Reciprocity & Portability Guide.
Complete Required Prelicensing Courses
In order to get your real estate license, you will need to take a number of classes, known as prelicensing courses, which can range in price from $275 to $538 from accredited providers. The courses will cover such topics as:
- The Real Estate Business
- License Law and Qualifications for Licensure
- License Law and Commission Rules
- Authorized Relationships, Duties, and Disclosure
- Real Estate Brokerage Activities and Procedures
- Violations of License Law, Penalties, and Procedures
- Federal and State Laws Pertaining to Real Estate
- Property Rights: Estates and Tenancies, Condominiums, Cooperatives, and Time Sharing
- Title, Deeds, and Ownership Restrictions
- Legal Descriptions
- Real Estate Contracts
- Residential Mortgages
- Types of Mortgages and Sources of Financing
- Computations and Closing of Transactions
- The Real Estate Market and Analysis
- Real Estate Appraisal
- Real Estate Investments and Business Opportunity Brokerage
- Taxes Affecting Real Estate
- Planning, Zoning, and Environmental Hazard
Luckily, the state of Georgia does not require you to attend these classes in person. There are also a number of schools offering the courses you need to fulfill these licensing requirements, so you have plenty of selection. However, we have found Real Estate Express to be one of the best online schools in Georgia in terms of overall value for new agents.
Did you know? There are exemptions that allow you to skip the required coursework. For example, you can qualify for exemption of prelicensing education if you have completed a minimum of six semester hours or 10 quarter hours of coursework majoring in real estate, real property, agency, or contracts from a U.S. accredited university or college.
Take the Exam
Once you have completed your coursework, it’s time to schedule and take your exam. While the Georgia Real Estate License exam has a higher average passing rate (about 60%) compared to the averages in other states, you should still take studying for the test seriously. In the event you do not pass your exam, you can reschedule your exam 24 hours after your attempt. You can only take the Georgia exam three times in one year, and if you do not pass by your third attempt, the state requires additional education.
Exam Details
Test Format | Multiple choice |
Test Length | 100 national-focused questions 52 state-specific questions |
Time Limit | 4 hours |
Items to Bring to the Exam | 2 valid forms of identification with signatures; one must be a government-issued photo ID Confirmation number when the test reservation was made |
Passing Score | 75% or better to pass the Georgia Real Estate Exam (75/100 for the national portion; 39/52 for the state portion of the exam) |
Pass Rate | 50-60% |
The exam is administered by a company called PSI. You can schedule your licensing exam with them on their website, by calling 1-800-345-6559, or by mailing in your application. Upon registration, you must include a copy of the Certificate of Completion you receive from whichever prelicensing school you attend. The exam fee of $121 can be paid directly on the PSI website via credit card or by sending a certified check or money order.
Enrolling in a prep course can help reduce the risk of having to pay the exam fee more than once. If you’re looking for help in studying for the test, we recommend the Real Estate Exam Scholars prep course. They offer top-notch exam prep for an affordable price. Even better, they also offer a money-back guarantee if you don’t pass on the first try.
Visit Real Estate Exam Scholars
Pick a Company to Work For
In order to represent buyers or sellers, you must find a sponsoring brokerage to work under. This is because only brokers are legally responsible for real estate transactions. There are small, mid-, and big-box firms to choose from, and each has their own benefits. Check out our guide on how to choose a real estate company to work for to get you thinking about what option is best for you.
While you do not have to have a sponsoring brokerage lined up before you apply for a license, interviewing brokerages is a good way to spend your time while you wait to receive your exam results. This is because you will need to provide a completed Sponsoring Broker Statement Form when you apply for your license in order for your license to be marked as “Active.”
Examples of Best Real Estate Companies to Work for in Georgia
Rank | Team Name | Company | City | Volume |
|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | Method Real Estate Advisors | Compass | Atlanta | $145,385,465.00 |
2 | Janice Overbeck Team | Keller Williams Realty | Marietta | $101,845,595.00 |
3 | Teresa Cowart Team | RE/MAX Accent | Savannah | $101,132,617.71 |
4 | IHARA Team | Keller Williams Realty | Decatur | $91,751,228.00 |
5 | The Peters Company | Keller Williams Realty | Peachtree Corners | $86,962,897.23 |
*Data from Real Trends Market Leaders 2021
Georgia Counties With Highest Median Sales Price 2021
When considering who you want to work for, you also want to consider where you want to work. Let’s face it: higher listing prices mean higher commission checks. To get a sense of which counties offer the best opportunities for big bucks in Georgia, check out this sales data from Towncharts.com below:
Ranking | County | Median Home Value |
|---|---|---|
1 | $339,700 | |
2 | $313,300 | |
3 | $286,600 | |
4 | $281,400 | |
5 | $253,900 | |
6 | $253,500 | |
7 | $230,500 | |
8 | $230,300 | |
9 | $229,000 | |
10 | $223,900 |
Apply for Your License
After you take the exam and receive a passing grade, you can complete and submit your license application at the PSI testing center within 12 months of your exam date. To do this, you will need to complete a Lawful Presence Notarized Affidavit and bring it with you to the testing center along with a completed Sponsoring Broker Statement form, if you have one. You also need to be prepared to pay the licensing fee.
- Georgia Real Estate License fee: $170 (paid online, certified check, or money order)
- Processing time: On average, it will take three to nine weeks for your application to be processed and approved
If you do not yet have a completed Sponsoring Broker form, and have not yet selected the brokerage you intend to work with, you can still apply for a license, but it will be designated as inactive. While you cannot provide real estate services with an inactive license, your license will, at least, be in the system ready to be activated with a broker as soon as you find a team. It’s worth pointing out, however, that licensing and renewal fees still apply even if your license is marked as inactive.
Start Your Real Estate Career
After you’ve completed these steps, you’re ready to start your real estate journey. For more information, take a look at our article on real estate agent tips to jump-start your career.