To get a real estate license in Georgia, you complete 75 hours of pre-license education from a school approved by the Georgia Real Estate Commission, pass a two-part state exam administered by PSI, line up a licensed broker willing to sponsor you, and file your application with GREC. Most people finish in two to four months and spend somewhere between $500 and $700 on coursework, the exam, and application fees.
Who Can Apply
Georgia sets a short list of baseline qualifications. You must be at least 18, hold a high school diploma or equivalent, and be a Georgia resident. Out-of-state applicants follow a separate reciprocity path.1Justia Law. Georgia Code 43-40-8 – Qualifications of Licensees; Course of Study No college degree is required, and no prior real estate experience is expected.
A criminal record does not automatically block you, but the commission will review it. Under Georgia law, a “conviction” for licensing purposes includes guilty verdicts, guilty pleas, first-offender treatment, and no-contest pleas involving a felony or a crime of moral turpitude.2Justia Law. Georgia Code 43-40-15 – Grant of Licenses; Grounds for Refusal, Suspension, or Revocation Forgery, embezzlement, theft, extortion, fraud, felonies, and sexual offenses draw the closest scrutiny, and pending charges in those categories can also be grounds for denial. If you are unsure whether your record will be a problem, contact GREC before you spend money on coursework.
Step 1: Finish the 75-Hour Pre-License Course
Every salesperson candidate has to complete a 75-hour course through a GREC-approved school.1Justia Law. Georgia Code 43-40-8 – Qualifications of Licensees; Course of Study Dozens of providers offer it online or in person, and tuition typically runs $300 to $500. The curriculum covers ownership rights, contracts, agency relationships, property valuation, and Georgia-specific regulations. Part-time students usually finish in three to six weeks.
The course ends with a school-administered final exam. Passing earns your certificate of completion, which you need before registering for the state exam. Your school will report your completion to GREC, but keep your own copy of the certificate. If there is a reporting delay, having it in hand keeps your next steps moving.
Step 2: Get Your Background Report and Documents in Order
Before you apply, you need a criminal background report from the Georgia Crime Information Center. Residents obtain it from a local police station or sheriff’s department. The report has to come from a law enforcement agency (third-party background services are not accepted), and it must be less than 60 days old when you submit your application.3Georgia Real Estate Commission. GREC Background Clearance Time this carefully so the report does not expire while you are still studying.
You will also complete a Lawful Presence Verification form and gather a valid government-issued ID. Both forms are on the GREC website.
Step 3: Line Up a Sponsoring Broker
Georgia will not activate your license unless a licensed broker agrees to supervise your work. Without that affiliation, you cannot legally do real estate work for compensation.4Georgia Real Estate Commission. GREC Real Estate Application – Firm Affiliation Information The broker signs a sponsoring broker statement that goes in with your application.
Start these conversations before you sit for the exam. Interview more than one brokerage. Ask about commission splits, desk fees, training, and mentorship for new agents. The broker you pick shapes your first year more than the coursework does.
Step 4: Pass the Two-Part Licensing Exam
PSI Services administers the Georgia salesperson exam at testing centers across the state. It has two sections. The national portion covers property valuation, financing, contracts, and fair housing. The Georgia section tests state law, including the Brokerage Relationships in Real Estate Transactions Act, agency disclosures, GREC disciplinary procedures, and closing cost prorations. You have to pass both.
The fee is approximately $121, and you register through PSI. Bring two forms of identification on test day; one must be a government-issued photo ID. The commonly reported passing threshold is 72 to 75 percent on each section. If you fail one part, you can retake just that section, but each attempt costs the full exam fee. Three failures in a year send you back for additional coursework before you can test again.
Step 5: File Your Application on Time
You have 12 months from your exam date to file, but the fee depends on how fast you move. Apply within 90 days and it is $170. After 90 days it doubles to $340. Many candidates file in person at the PSI testing center the same day they pass; testing centers generally start processing applications in the afternoon.
Your application package includes:
- GCIC background report dated within 60 days
- Completed and signed Lawful Presence Verification form
- Valid government-issued ID
- Sponsoring broker statement signed by your affiliated broker
- Application fee of $170 within 90 days, or $340 after, payable by credit card, cashier’s check, or money order
Once GREC processes the application, you receive a wall certificate to display at your broker’s office and a pocket card to carry in the field. At that point, you are licensed.
What You Have To Do In Your First Year
Passing the exam is not the end of your education. Every new salesperson has to complete a 25-hour post-license course within the first year of holding the license. Miss the deadline and your license will not stay active. This one catches new agents off guard because the clock starts the day the license is issued, not later.
The 25 hours count toward nine of the continuing education hours you will need for your first renewal, so the course does double duty. Approved online options generally run $100 to $200. Put both the deadline and the cost on your first-year calendar.
Beyond that, Georgia licenses renew on a four-year cycle requiring 36 hours of continuing education, including three hours of approved license law. Standard renewal is $125, or $100 online, with a $100 late fee if you miss the date.5Georgia Real Estate Commission. Renewing Your Individual Real Estate License A lapsed license means you cannot legally practice until it is reinstated.
Already Licensed In Another State
If you hold a current license in another state, obtained originally by passing an examination and in good standing, Georgia lets you skip the 75-hour course and, in most cases, the exam.6Georgia Real Estate Commission. Reciprocity for Real Estate Licensees You file the Real Estate Reciprocal Application with a certified license history from your current state, a background report, a Lawful Presence Verification form, and $170.
Florida residents are the exception. If you are licensed in Florida and live there, you must sit for a PSI-administered supplement exam on Georgia law and practice before GREC will issue your license.6Georgia Real Estate Commission. Reciprocity for Real Estate Licensees Applicants from other states can obtain a Georgia license without an additional exam, though the commission may deny any application where disciplinary actions appear on the record from another state.7Justia Law. Georgia Code 43-40-9 – Nonresident Licensees