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Becoming a Real Estate Agent

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Summary: This article provides insight into what it takes to become a real estate agent. We will cover the primary requirements to becoming an agent, such as schooling, examinations and licensing.

Real estate is an exciting industry, and it offers a level of independence that appeals to many people. Thus, how to become a real estate agent is a hot topic in career-development circles.

Here's the good news. The path to becoming a real estate agent is not a complicated one at all. Let me start by giving you the basic requirements to become a licensed real estate agent, and then I'll expand on those requirements.

Basically, all you have to do in order to become an agent is (A) receive the proper training, as recognized by your state and (B) pass a real estate exam for that state.

Not too complicated, is it? But here's the key to real estate schools and exams. You have to attend a real estate training program that is recognized / approved by the state in which you plan to practice real estate. Likewise, you have to take a real estate exam for the state in which you hope to practice.

Aside from that minor stipulation, it's a fairly straightforward path to become a real estate agent in the U.S. So let's expand on the topics of schooling and testing.

Schooling - First Step to Become a Real Estate Agent

A real estate school is an educational institution that prepares students for the state's real estate licensing exam. These schools are a necessary step in becoming a real estate agent, and they come in two main varieties — those offered by colleges and universities, and (2) those offered by industry-specific schools specializing in real estate.

At first, you will attend a real estate school simply because it's required in order to take the real estate exam. But later in your career, you might find yourself attending real estate school for career-development purposes. In other words, these schools can help you with your initial education (for licensing) and your ongoing education (for career advancement).

It's also important to note that the training / schooling you undergo must be approved by the state in which you plan to practice real estate. In other words, if you want to become a real estate agent in Texas, you must attend a real estate training program that is recognized by Texas.

On our sister website, you can find a list of approved real estate schools for each state in the U.S.

The Real Estate Licensing Exam

Once you have completed a real estate training program that is approved by your state, you are eligible to take the state's real estate licensing exam. This is the second crucial step you must complete, because you cannot become a real estate agent until you pass the licensing exam.

Some states also require you to have a college diploma or GED before you can take the real estate licensing exam.

Some people pass this exam on the first try, while others have to take it several times before passing. This will obviously depend on many factors, such as how well you have prepared for the exam, how well you do with testing situations in general, etc. Each state has different rules about how long you must wait before taking the exam over.

As with any other test, preparation is the key to success with real estate licensing exams. So if you are serious about becoming a real estate agent in your state, you will take your state's exam seriously as well. Talk to some licensed agents who have passed your state's exam. Ask them for tips on preparing. And study, study, study!

I hope you've enjoyed this guide on how to become a real estate agent, and I wish you the best with your career in real estate. If you have questions about becoming a licensed real estate agent and would like to send them our way, please feel free to do so.

© 2007, Brandon Cornett. All Rights Reserved. Duplication of this work is prohibited.