In Oregon, the entry-level real estate licensee is referred to as a broker. To earn a broker’s license, you must register online, complete 150 hours of prelicensing education, pass the state real estate exam, and complete fingerprints. This step-by-step article will show the process of becoming a real estate broker in Oregon, from beginning to end.
1. Meet the State’s Legal Requirements
Getting a real estate license in Oregon is a simple process, although there are more required hours of real estate education. You must be 18 years of age or older with a high school diploma or GED, and be a U.S. citizen or lawfully admitted alien.
Did you know?
Oregon has reciprocity agreements with five states or jurisdictions: Alabama, Alberta (Canada), Georgia, Nebraska, and South Dakota. The Oregon Real Estate Agency (OREA) does not outline specifics for reciprocal licensing candidates, please contact the agency to see if you qualify.
It is also a cooperative state, which means it allows out-of-state real estate agents and brokers to enter the state to conduct real estate business. However, in order to work on a real estate transaction, you must have a co-brokerage agreement with a licensee of that state. To learn more about real estate license portability in Oregon, check out our guide on real estate license reciprocity and portability here.
2. Complete Required Prelicensing Courses
If you meet the requirements, you can start your journey to becoming a licensed real estate broker by registering for an account in eLicense. You must pay a nonrefundable application fee of $300, then wait for your application to process. When your application has been approved, you’ll receive an Applicant ID number by email.
With your Applicant ID number in hand, you can complete your required Oregon real estate prelicensing courses. These can be completed at any accredited real estate school, either in-person or online, with prices ranging from $329 to $679. All approved providers cover the following topics:
- Property ownership
- Land use controls and regulations
- Valuation and market analysis
- Financing
- General principals of agency
- Property disclosures
- Contracts
- Leasing and property management
- Transfer of title
- Practice of real estate
- Real estate calculations
Did you know?
Any active member of the Oregon Bar who is in good standing and qualified under the real estate license law is exempt from taking the real estate broker prerequisite course.
Taking your real estate prelicensing courses online is an efficient way to complete the requirements on your own schedule. Look for an Oregon-approved online real estate school that offers engaging, high-quality education and is accessible on all your devices. Try OnlineEd, an online real estate education provider that offers affordable online courses along with exam prep tools and materials.
3. Take the Exam
Now that it’s time to take your Oregon real estate exam, you need a 75% score on both the national and state portions of the exam. However, if you fall short, you only need to retake the section you failed. Although you must wait one day to reschedule your next attempt, you have 12 months to retake and pass the remaining section of your exam. You can retake the exam as many times as needed, although you will pay the exam fee each time.
Exam Details
Test Format | Multiple choice |
Test Length | 200 questions total: 150 national-focused questions 50 state-specific questions |
Time Limit | 240 minutes |
Items to Bring to Exam |
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Passing Score | 75% to pass the Oregon Real Estate Salesperson Exam (at least 113/150 on the national portion, and 38/50 on the state portion) |
Pass Rate | Unfortunately, unlike other states, Oregon does not publish its average passing rate |
Schedule Your Exam
Like many other states, the Oregon real estate exam is administered by PSI, a national provider for state licensing exam. You can schedule your exam on the PSI website or by phone, and you will pay the $75 exam fee during registration.
After you take and pass the Oregon real estate exam, your fingerprints will be taken by PSI at the exam center. Read the fingerprinting instructions for more details on the process and locations, and be prepared to pay a fee of $56.25 at that time. Then, your prints will be forwarded electronically to the correct agencies. This can take three to four weeks to process.
If you want to be best prepared for your exam, consider purchasing a comprehensive exam prep program like Real Estate Exam Scholar. They offer top-notch exam prep for an affordable price, and include a money-back guarantee if you don’t pass on the first try.
Visit Real Estate Exam Scholar
4. Pick a Company to Work For
In order to hold an active license in Oregon, you must find a sponsoring brokerage to affiliate your license. To make your choice a bit easier, check out our in-depth guide on choosing the right real estate company to work for. Although there are many successful brokerages in the Union state, below you’ll find the top five brokerages reported for 2021.
Rank | Team Name | Company | City | Volume |
|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | Team Birtola High Desert Realty | High Desert Realty | Bend | $137,179,287 |
2 | The Drew Coleman Team | The Hasson Company | Lake Oswego | $100,972,512 |
3 | Mower Group | Keller Williams Realty | Beaverton | $96,828,810 |
4 | Turner Team Inc. | Lovejoy Real Estate | Portland | $72,890,851 |
5 | Mark Charlesworth Group | Keller Williams Realty | Portland | $70,485,225 |
(Source: Real Trends 2021)
Oregon Cities With Highest Median Sales Price 2021
The higher that homes are selling for means the higher commission you have the opportunity to get. To get a sense of which cities are bringing in the bucks in the Beaver state, check out this sales data from Towncharts.com below:
Rank | City | Median Home Value |
|---|---|---|
1 | $674,600 | |
2 | $637,200 | |
3 | $598,500 | |
4 | $557,300 | |
5 | $530,800 | |
6 | $527,000 | |
7 | $508,400 | |
8 | $493,900 | |
9 | $478,100 | |
10 | $469,600 |
5. Apply for Your License
Once your exam is passed and your fingerprints are completed, your license is already in process. The information that you gave in your initial application will be used along with your fingerprints to complete your background check. The only additional task you need to do is make sure that your sponsoring broker adds your pending license into their business via eLicense. The processing time for your background check is around three to four weeks, and you will receive an email when your license is issued.
Did you know?
Applicants who have an existing criminal record may still apply for a real estate license. It would be best if applicants were to include their criminal history along with the necessary documents related to the conviction, if any, on their application. After submitting your fingerprints, your application will be forwarded to the Division of Criminal Justice Information Systems and to the Federal Bureau of Investigation. Upon investigation, each applicant will be considered on their own merits.
6. Start Your Real Estate Career
Now that you’ve learned how to become a real estate agent in Oregon, you’re ready to start your real estate journey. For more information, take a look at our Top 25 New Real Estate Agent Tips From the Pros or 14 Real Estate Agent Tips for 2021 to jump-start your career.
