How to get an Idaho real estate license

1. 1. Education: Take your prelicense classes (Module 1 and Module 2). Go to the Education Lookup to search for available prelicense courses.
   2. Exam: Pass the state and national portions of the salesperson licensing exam. Read the Pearson VUE Candidate Handbook for more information on topics covered in the exams. See the Approved Textbook List for resources and books helpful in preparing for the exams. You can download the Idaho License Law and Rules Booklet and guidelines from the IREC website. Schedule the exam appointment through Pearson VUE. The italicized resources referenced here can be located on the Library page of the website.
   3. Fingerprints: You must have your fingerprints taken for the background check. Fingerprints can take anywhere from 1 week to 12 weeks for processing. Read Pearson VUE’s Hard Card Fingerprint Submission Process and Fingerprint Privacy Statement on the Forms page of the website. Schedule the fingerprint appointment through Pearson VUE.
   4. Register: Register a user name and password for the IREC online services. The online services allow you to track your own fingerprint status, license history, and education records. Your fingerprints must clear before you send in your application. You can check your fingerprint status by logging in to the online services. The message “RES-OK” on your fingerprint status means your prints have cleared. Contact IREC staff for assistance if you have ever had a felony or a professional license revoked.
   5. E&O insurance: The Commission has a group policy available through Rice Insurance Services Co, or ask your designated broker if you will be covered under a firm policy at the brokerage. Either way, you must have E&O coverage in place before your license can be activated.
   6. Application: Read and carefully complete the Salesperson License Application Form on the Forms page of the website.

*VERY IMPORTANT* Be sure to answer every question and include all required attachments and the correct fee. IREC cannot accept incomplete paperwork, and all incomplete paperwork will be returned to you.

Requirement Checklist

1. Education: Take your prelicense classes (Brokerage Management, Real Estate Law, plus two electives from this list: Valuation & Analysis, Finance, GRI 101/102, GRI 201/202, or CCIM courses CI 101, CI 102, CI 103, CI 104). Go to the Education Lookup to search for available prelicense courses. To be a Designated Broker, you must complete the Idaho Business Conduct and Office Operations (BCOO) course before you can be licensed. (BCOO is included as part of the Idaho Brokerage Management course.)
2. Exam: Pass the state and national portions of the broker licensing exam. Read the Pearson VUE Candidate Handbook for more information on topics covered in the exams. See the Approved Textbook List for resources helpful in preparing for the exams. You can download the Idaho License Law and Rules Booklet and guidelines from the IREC website. Schedule the exam appointment through Pearson VUE. The italicized resources referenced here can be located on the Library page of the website.
3. Fingerprints: You must have your fingerprints taken for the background check even if you already hold an Idaho salesperson license. Fingerprints can take anywhere from 1 week to 12 weeks for processing. Read Pearson VUE’s Hard Card Fingerprint Submission Process and Fingerprint Privacy Statement on the Forms page of the website. Schedule the fingerprint appointment through Pearson VUE.
4. Register for IREC’s Online Services: If you have not already done so, register a user name and password for the IREC online services. The online services allow you to track your own fingerprint status, license history, and education records. Your fingerprints must clear before you send in your application. You can check your fingerprint status by logging in to the online services. The message “RES-OK” on your fingerprint status means your prints have cleared. Contact IREC staff for assistance if you have ever had a felony or a professional license revoked.
5. E&O insurance: The Commission has a group policy available through Rice Insurance Services Co, or ask your designated broker if you will be covered under a firm policy at the brokerage. Either way, you must have E&O coverage in place before your license can be activated.
6. Application: Read and carefully complete the Broker License Application Form on the Forms page of the website.

*VERY IMPORTANT* Be sure to answer every question and include all required attachments and the correct fee. IREC cannot accept incomplete paperwork, and all incomplete paperwork will be returned to you.

License Requirement Checklist

Opening a new office as a Designated Broker?
Then the following additional items must also be completed before you can be licensed:

1. Education: Complete the IREC Business Conduct & Office Operations (BCOO) course within the 3 years immediately preceding your application date. Search for available courses through IREC’s Education Lookup.
2. Authorization to do Business in Idaho: To license a business entity or operate under a “DBA”, you must first register your entity and DBA name with the Idaho Secretary of State.
3. E&O insurance: Obtain E&O insurance for your business entity (not required for a sole proprietorship).
4. Application: At the same time you submit your Designated Broker application to IREC, you must also submit the appropriate Company application and fee available on the Forms page of the website.
5. Trust Account Form: Submit a Trust Account Notification Form from the Forms page of the website.

*VERY IMPORTANT* Be sure to include all attachments and complete all sections of all paperwork. Incomplete paperwork will be immediately returned to you without processing.

Idaho has no reciprocal or other license agreements with any jurisdiction. However, Idaho waives the national portion of the licensing exam, prelicense education, and broker experience requirements (if applicable) if you are licensed on active status in another state. You may obtain the same type of license in Idaho (salesperson or broker) as you hold in your primary state of licensure, unless your primary state is a “single licensure” state (everyone holds a broker license). If you are licensed in a “single licensure” state, you must hold a Principal or Designated Broker license to qualify for an Idaho broker license.

1. Waiver: Order a certified license history from your primary state of licensure (typically takes 3 to 6 weeks). Ask the agency to mail the certified license history to you. Send the history to IREC with a completed Exam Waiver Request Form from the Forms page of the website to obtain a waiver of the national portion of the licensing exam. You will need to register for a candidate ID through Pearson VUE and note this on your waiver request form. The certified license history must show your license is on active status to receive a waiver. Certified license histories are good for 6 months from the date of issuance. Your waiver must be applied prior to scheduling an appointment to take the licensing exam. Otherwise you are required to take both portions of the exam. No exceptions!
2. Education: To be an Idaho Designated Broker, you must also take the Idaho Business Conduct and Office Operations (BCOO) course before you can be licensed. We recommend you take this class before you take the state exam. Go to the Education Lookup to search for available live and online BCOO courses. All other prelicense education is waived with the exam waiver.
3. Exam: Read the Pearson VUE Candidate Handbook for more information on topics covered in the exams. See the Approved Textbook List for resources helpful in preparing for the exams. You can download the License Law and Rules Booklet and guidelines from the IREC website. The italicized resources referenced here can be located on the Library page of the website. Schedule the exam appointment through Pearson VUE. 
4. Fingerprints: You must have your fingerprints taken for the background check even if you already hold an Idaho salesperson license. Fingerprints can take anywhere from 1 week to 12 weeks for processing. Read Pearson VUE’s Hard Card Fingerprint Submission Process and Fingerprint Privacy Statement on the Forms page of the website. Schedule the fingerprint appointment through Pearson VUE.
5. E&O Insurance: The Commission has a group policy available through Rice Insurance Services Co., or ask your designated broker if you will be covered under a firm policy at the brokerage. Either way, you must have E&O coverage in place before your license can be activated.
6. Application: Read and carefully complete the Salesperson Application Form or Broker Application Form on the Forms page of the website.
7. . You must send in a certified license history from your primary state of licensure with your application. If the history you used to obtain your exam waiver is more than 6 months old, you must obtain a new certified license history before IREC can accept your application.

*VERY IMPORTANT* Be sure to answer every question and include all required attachments and the correct fee. IREC cannot accept incomplete paperwork, and all incomplete paperwork will be returned to you.

NOTE
You may obtain a waiver of the national portion of the licensing exam, if you hold an active status license in another jurisdiction. Prelicense education and broker experience (if applicable) will also be waived.