Arkansas Real Estate

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IMPORTANT NOTE FOR ARKANSAS RESIDENTS: Do NOT have fingerprints made until you receive an email from AREC authorizing you to do so.

Introduction

The Arkansas Real Estate License Examinations are developed and administered by Pearson VUE, a National Independent Testing Company. The testing method in Arkansas is an electronic system that is PC-based which eliminates the use of paper answer sheets. The PC-based program is easy to operate. Knowledge of computers and typing is NOT required or needed. Further information about Pearson VUE and the examination process, including an Application for Examination can be found in the “Real Estate Candidate Handbook”, which is available at most schools and providers of Real Estate Education.

Real Estate License Requirements

Salesperson applicants must:

  1. Have reached the age of majority, eighteen (18).
  2. Successfully complete sixty (60) classroom hours of real estate education of which thirty (30) classroom hours must be in the basic principles of real estate, from an accredited postsecondary school or a school or organization licensed by the Arkansas Real Estate Commission [ACA Sect. 17-42-303 and Commission Regulation 4.1];
  3. Submit a salesperson application to the AREC including information required for State and Federal Background Checks.
  4. Receive approval to sit for the exam from the Arkansas Real Estate Commission.
  5. Pass the licensure examination.
  6. Send the proper forms and fees to the Arkansas Real Estate Commission no later than ninety (90) days after passing the examination.
  7. Post-license Education

Broker applicants must:

  1. Have reached the age of majority, eighteen (18).
  2. Successfully complete sixty (60) hours of real estate education, of which forty-five (45) hours must be the commission developed Broker Pre-License Education course, from an accredited postsecondary school or a school or organization licensed by the Arkansas Real Estate Commission within 36 months immediately preceding the date they apply to take the broker’s exam.
  3. Have been licensed as an active real estate salesperson or broker for a period of not less than twenty-four (24) months within the previous forty-eight (48) month period immediately preceding the date of application; however, upon written request such experience requirement may be waived for a real estate broker applicant who has held an active real estate broker license for a period of not less than eighteen (18) months; (if experience requirement was met in another jurisdiction, please furnish an official license history from that jurisdiction) or has experience acceptable to the commission in a field considered real estate related for a period of not less than twenty-four (24) months within the previous forty-eight month period immediately preceding the date of application (must submit a written history of experience for review by commission) [ACA Sect. 17-42-303 and Commission Regulation 4.1]
  4. Submit a broker application to the AREC including information required for State and Federal Background Checks.
  5. Receive approval to sit for the exam from the Arkansas Real Estate Commission.
  6. Pass the licensure examination; and
  7. Send the proper forms and fees to the Arkansas Real Estate Commission no later than ninety (90) days after passing the examination.
  8. Post-license Education

Workforce Expansion Act Waivers

As mandated by Act 725 of 2021, the Arkansas Real Estate Commission has implemented a waiver of the initial licensing fee for applicants who qualify for the Workforce Expansion Act of 2021. If the initial applicant is currently receiving assistance through the Arkansas Medicaid Program, Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants and Children (WIC), Temporary Assistance for Needy Families Program (TANF), Lifeline Assistance Program and/or the applicant was approved for unemployment with the last twelve (12) months and/or the applicant’s income does not exceed two hundred percent (200%) of the federal poverty income guidelines that applicant may qualify for the waiver.

If you meet the qualifications for the Workforce Waiver, please contact the office at (501) 683-8010 or areclic@arkansas.gov to provide documentation and request the waiver for the initial application fee.

Military Members, Veterans, and Spouses

Pursuant to Act 725 of 2021, active-duty military members, returning veterans, and spouses may qualify for automatic licensure or expedited application processing. Please contact the AREC for additional information.

Applicants currently licensed in another state:

A salesperson applicant currently licensed in another state and seeking licensure in Arkansas at the same level, may request a waiver of the GENERAL portion of the examination. A salesperson applicant who meets all three (3) of the following requirements may be required to take only the Arkansas Law Portion of the Examination.

  1. Has passed a uniform, general, or multi-state part of an examination for a real estate license in another state in which the examination is determined by the Commission to meet generally acceptable standards of real estate testing, and
  2. The other state requires a minimum passing grade no lower than that required for the general part of the Arkansas examination (70), and
  3. The applicant at the time of taking the Arkansas examination is licensed in the other state. [Commission Regulation 4.2 (d)]

Application Information — Arkansas Residents

Effective January 1, 2006, the Arkansas Real Estate Commission requires all applicants for original licensure as a real estate salesperson or broker to complete a state and federal criminal background check. The federal criminal background check requires resident applicants to submit digital fingerprints.

The Arkansas State Police conducts the criminal background check on each applicant, including an FBI check, which requires the taking of fingerprints, and submits the report to the Commission. 

In order to process the application, the following must be received by AREC: 

  1. Completed Application to take the real estate examination
  2. Proof of having reached the age of majority, eighteen (18).
  3. $50.00 application fee, Make cashier’s check or money order payable to “AREC”.  (No personal or business checks will be accepted.)
  4. Background Check Acknowledgment Identity Form (BCA)
  5. Certificate of Course completion for Pre-license education.*

*NOTE:  AREC will now accept Applications for Real Estate License Examination prior to completion of the sixty-hour (60) pre-licensing course.

Applications can be submitted prior to completion of pre-license education. Please note that Certificates of Exam Eligibility will not be issued until 1) AREC receives proof of completion of pre-license education AND 2) Complete Background Check Acknowledgment (BCA) Form has been submitted to AREC.

The criminal background reports must be received and approved by the Arkansas Real Estate Commission before the Real Estate Commission will issue the license.

Applicants should frequently check their email including spam folders for information on the criminal background check process.

Application Information — Non-Resident

Effective January 1, 2006, the Arkansas Real Estate Commission requires all applicants for original licensure as a real estate salesperson or broker to complete a state and federal criminal background check.  The Arkansas State Police conducts the criminal background check on each applicant, including an FBI check, which requires the taking of fingerprints. Non-resident applicants will submit requests for the state and federal background checks using an applicant fingerprint card. 

In order to process the application, the following must be received by AREC: 

  1. Completed Application to take the real estate examination
  2. Proof of age
  3. If you are required to the take exam your fee for your application will be $86.25 Make cashier’s check or money order payable to “AREC”.  (No personal or business checks will be accepted.) 
  4. If you are not required to take the exam, your fee for a salesperson fee will $161.25. For a broker, the fee will be $181.25. Make cashier’s check or money order payable to “AREC”.  (No personal or business checks will be accepted.)
  5. Completed Fingerprint Card
  6. License histories from all states where you have a real estate license or have had a real estate license.
  7. Background Acknowledgement Form
  8. Non-reciprocal applicants will need to show proof of completing sixty-hours (60) of pre-license education.  If applicant is applying for a broker’s license, the sixty-hours (60) of pre-license education must have been completed within the last 36 months.*

*NOTE:  AREC will accept Applications for Real Estate License Examination prior to completion of the sixty-hour (60) pre-licensing course.

Applications can be submitted prior to completion of pre-license education. Please note that Certificates of Exam Eligibility will not be issued until 1) AREC receives proof of completion of pre-license education AND 2) the Applicant’s fingerprint card is submitted to AREC.

The criminal background reports must be received and approved by the Arkansas Real Estate Commission before the Real Estate Commission will issue the license.

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