The real estate profession in Illinois is regulated by the Bureau of Real Estate Professions, a division of the Department of Financial and Professional Regulation. Illinois is an oddity in that it does not have separate categories for real estate brokers and salespersons; as per a recently passed law, there is only one process and only one license to pursue (though there is also a “managing broker” license, which is covered in another guide). However, as with most states, there is both an education requirement and an exam to pass. In this guide, we'll show you the steps toward getting and keeping your real estate broker's license in Illinois.

Obtaining a License

This bears stating: Illinois has a difficult licensing system that is not very user friendly, and this goes for more than just its broker's licensing. Because the division is brand new (created in May of 2014) some of the language on the web reflects the old system, and can this be confusing. Happily, the state has put together this extremely detailed step-by-step guide to help you with the process.

Note that Illinois requires brokers to be at least 21 years old, and have either a high school diploma or G.E.D. Here are the steps to obtaining a broker's license if you do not hold one in another state:

• Take the 90-hour course approved by the state. Illinois had a very strict educational requirement in that the course is longer than in most states, and is very specifically laid out by topic. You can see how it all breaks down here. A list of state-approved schools is available here. Illinois also runs a minority real estate scholarship program to help defer the educational costs.

• Note that, unlike most states, Illinois requires a specific exam be taken at the end of the course, and this is different from the Broker's exam described below.

• Take and pass the Broker's exam. Also unlike most other states – which use Pearson to administer their exams – Illinois uses a company called Applied Measurement Professionals, Inc., and you can learn more about the exam and register for it here.

• Possibly because the Bureau of Real Estate only came into being in May of 2014, Illinois provides no direct link to its application online. You can call the number on this page to obtain an application, and the fee is 125 dollars.

• All applications must be “sponsored” by a managing broker. In essence, a managing broker will fill out the proper forms and “vouch” for you.

Illinois is also unusual in that it does not require professional experience to become a broker, though this is somewhat mitigated by the more in-depth education requirements, and by the requirement to have a vouching managing broker, who will in practice often be an employer.

Illinois has a “reciprocity agreement” with the following states: Colorado, Connecticut, Florida, Georgia, Indiana, Iowa, Nebraska, South Dakota, and Wisconsin. If you hold a broker's license from one of those states, you can submit proof of that license along with the required application, which can only be obtained by containing the Department of Financial and Professional Regulation at 1-800-560-6420. If you hold a license from any other state, our apologies – your licensing procedure is the same as it is for those who hold no license at all.

Maintaining a License

Brokers must renew their license by April 30 of every even-numbered year. Thankfully, the renewal process can be done online here. Brokers must obtain a total of 12 hours of continuing education credits every two years in order for renewal to be effective, and a list of approved schools giving those classes can be found here.

Any member of the public can lodge a complaint against a real estate broker online (you can see the real estate-specific complaint form here). The Real Estate Division can then conduct an investigation, and handles discipline of brokers directly. All disciplinary actions are posted online and attached to your online license record – to see some of the sample disciplinary actions taken, you can peruse a list at this site.