Iowa Real Estate License Requirements

Iowa Pre-license requirements

1. Be a person 18 years of age or over.

2. Be a person whose application has not been rejected for licensure in this or any other state within twelve months prior to the date of application, and whose real estate license has not been revoked in this or any other state within two years prior to date of application.

In addition:
Applicants for the Salesperson Examination must successfully complete the Commission-approved Iowa 60-hour pre-license course in real estate education during the 12 months prior to taking the Iowa real estate salesperson examination.

Iowa Continuing Education Requirements

All salespersons originally licensed prior to January 1, 2009 that are renewing for the first time must complete the following 36 hours of Commission approved education. These courses must be taken in the classroom. They are not offered in home-study.

• 12 hours Developing Professionalism & Ethical Practices
• 12 hours Buying Practices
• 12 hours Listing Practices 

     For subsequent renewals: 

• 8 hours Law Update
• 4 hours Ethics
• 24 hours Commission approved Electives

All salespersons and brokers originally licensed after December 31, 2008 must complete the following:

• 8 hours Law Update
• 4 hours Ethics
• 24 hours Commission approved Electives  

Note: Beginning January 1, 2009 all salesperson applicants must complete the 60-hour pre-licensing salesperson course, 12-hr Developing Professionalism and Ethical Practices course, 12-hr Buying Practices course, and 12-hr Listing Practices course within 12 months prior to taking the exam.

* Please note that there are no carry over hours on continuing education and to renew active all continuing education must be done no later than the December 31st of the year of your renewal. If you do not have your continuing education done by that date you will have to renew to the inactive status or allow your license to expire. Up to 18 hours may be taken by correspondence/home study during each three year renewal period. During each three year renewal period a course may be taken for credit only once.  A course may be repeated for credit only if the course numbers and instructors are different.

Licensees residing in the following states will sign an affidavit to verify continuing education requirements:

• Alabama, Arkansas, Colorado, Georgia, Idaho, Louisiana, Massachusetts, Minnesota, Mississippi, Montana, Nebraska, North Dakota, Oklahoma, South Dakota, Tennessee, and Wyoming.

All other states must comply with Iowa's 36 hour continuing education requirement. We can accept the following courses to meet the 24 hour elective requirement:

• Courses approved by the real estate licensing body in the state of residence for their real estate continuing education requirements as long as the courses are not specific to that state's real estate license law and/or rules.
• Any courses approved by the National Association of Realtors (NAR.)