How To Become a Real Estate Agent in Kentucky

Whether you are looking for your first career, to change jobs, or to break back into the working world after a long absence, becoming a real estate agent is a great choice. It’s the perfect job for anyone who considers themselves a people person, enjoys meeting interesting people, and is up for a lot of networking.

Agents find great satisfaction in helping people make one of the most important decisions in their lives, whether it is buying their first home, a new home to support their growing family, or their dream retirement abode.

But the most appealing aspect of working in this field is the unlimited income potential. The sky truly is the limit when it comes to commissions.

How To Get a Real Estate License in Kentucky

Below are the things to consider when getting a real estate license in Kentucky:

Kentucky Real Estate Agent Requirements

Getting a real estate license in Kentucky is much like getting one elsewhere in the country. So long as you meet the basic requirements such as a minimum age, complete the required course information, pass the subsequent exam, and submit your application properly, you are good to go.

The Kentucky Real Estate Commission handles licensing in the state.

Age and Basic Education Standards

Applicants must be at least 18 years of age and have a high school diploma or GED.

Prescribed Training Time for Licensure

The KREC requires a 96-hour course or 6 credits in classes from an accredited college or university.¹ How quickly applicants complete the required courses depends on how they take the classes.

A course at a college will take a few months, while someone who commits to self–paced online classes like they would a 40-hour work week could get through it in less than 3 weeks.

Some things to note about the pre-licensing education requirement:

• Appraisal courses approved by the KREC–and not the Appraisal Board– do count towards the requirement but cannot comprise more than 48 or 96 hours. If unsure whether a certain class counts, get in touch with the Commission for verification.
• Lawyers are not exempt from any of the pre-licensing requirements. Certain law school classes–provided they total 6 credit hours–do count towards the education requirement such as Contracts I, Property I, and Property 2. Other real estate classes may count as well.

Fee Schedule for Pre-Licensing Real Estate Education

The cost of pre-licensing education will vary depending on how you take the classes–online, private real estate school, college classes– but typically range from $300 to $700 dollars. Many people opt to take self-paced online courses and the companies that provide them tend to offer a number of packages.

The most basic package will just be the course itself. More comprehensive packages may include extras like exam prep materials, business building courses, the continuing education classes required for your first renewal, flashcards, a glossary of real estate terms, and even a guarantee you will pass the test.

The pre-licensing courses do not expire so taking the exam within a certain time frame after completion is not necessary.

Compulsory Real Estate Background Screening

Kentucky requires real estate agents to undergo a criminal background check to receive a license. This request must be done before registering for the licensing exam, though it is not necessary to wait for the results to sign up for the test.

Applicants who take the exam without putting in the request first will have their exam results voided.

Step 1: Visit www.krec.ky.gov and navigate to the ‘Licensing’ link on the home page.² Click ‘FBI Report Requirements’ and the ‘Overview’ to get to the ‘FBI Report’ Page’

Step 2: Click the ‘Resources’ link on the ‘FBI Report’ page to access the ‘FBI Fingerprint Card & Instructions.’ Print out this information to get your background check from the Kentucky State Police. Include ORI number KY9200229Z and the reason for the request, which is the law ‘’KRS 324.045 Real Estate License’’

Step 3: Take the instructions and FBI Fingerprint Card to the local sheriff’s office or police station where you have scheduled the request. It is best to call them ahead of time to confirm the fees and hours of operation.

Step 4: Submit the card and processing fee of $33.25 to the Kentucky State Police.

Step 5: Sign up for the licensing exam with PSI. Instructions can be found under the ‘New Candidate’ section of the KREC website.³

Step 6: Contact the KREC 3 weeks after submitting the fingerprints to confirm receipt. This is a very important step because the Kentucky State Police will not provide any candidate contact information to the Commission so they cannot tell you if the results were received or not.

The reports expire 3 months after the date they were issued. Requesting, and checking the report is received, in a timely fashion is important because aspiring real estate agents must apply for their license within 60 days of passing the test. No exceptions are made if the report still has not been issued.