How to Get Your Arizona Real Estate License

Arizona offers Salesperson and Broker licenses through the Arizona Department of Real Estate (ADRE).

Salesperson License Requirements

• Be at least 18 years old
• Complete 90 hours of prelicensing education, passing the school's final exam, within 10 years of application
• Obtain a Level 1 Non-IVP Arizona Fingerprint Clearance Card through AZDPS
• Pass both the General exam (80 questions, 150 min) and the State exam (60 questions, 90 min), each at 75%, within one year of applying for licensure
• Complete the 6-hour Arizona Contract Writing Course before licensure
• Submit your application within one year of passing, with the $60 license fee
• Affiliate with an Arizona-licensed employing broker

Broker License Requirements

• Have at least 3 years of active, full-time licensed experience as a salesperson or broker within the preceding 5 years
• Complete broker prelicensing education
• Pass the single 180-question Broker exam at 75%
• Complete a signed Broker Candidate Experience Verification Form (LI-226) from every broker you worked under during the qualifying period
• Complete three Broker Management Clinic courses (9 hours total) before licensure
• Submit your application within one year of passing

Out-of-State License Recognition

Arizona has no true reciprocity agreements with other states, but it does offer an out-of-state license recognition path. Licensees moving from another state must still pass an Arizona state-specific exam: 65 questions (salesperson equivalent) or 110 questions (broker equivalent), at 75%, covering the same Arizona-specific regulatory framework as the standard state exam.

Continuing Education

Both license tiers require ongoing CE; check current requirements directly with ADRE, since CE rules are set independently of the exam structure above.

Step 1: Confirm you passed BOTH exams

Since General and State are separate, double-check you've cleared 75% on each — passing one doesn't help if the other is still outstanding.

Step 2: Complete your Fingerprint Clearance Card

If you haven't already, get your Level 1 Non-IVP Fingerprint Clearance Card through AZDPS — this can take time, so start it as early as possible.

Step 3: Complete required post-exam education

Salespersons: the 6-hour Arizona Contract Writing Course. Brokers: three Broker Management Clinic courses (9 hours total). ADRE won't issue your license without these.

Step 4: Submit your application within one year

Your passing scores are valid for one year from the date you passed. Submit your license application, the $60 license fee, and your Fingerprint Clearance Card to ADRE within that window.

Step 5: Affiliate with an employing broker

Your license can't activate without an Arizona-licensed employing broker sponsoring you.

Step 6: Wait for license issuance

Typical processing runs 2-4 weeks for a complete application.

Realistic income expectations

Median Arizona agent income runs around $51,000; brokers average $72,000.

• Year 1: $25K-$45K
• Year 2-5: $45K-$80K
• Top 25%: $80K-$150K+

Phoenix and its surrounding metro dominate Arizona's real estate market — around 125,000 home sales a year statewide, with strong, sustained growth. Tucson is the clear second market, with smaller pockets of specialized opportunity (water-rights-aware agents, new-home-sales specialists) in exurban and rural areas.

The first 30 days

Week 1: Set up MLS access, learn your brokerage's systems. Week 2: Announce your license to your network. Week 3: Shadow your employing broker on active transactions. Week 4: Start prospecting, and keep your Contract Writing Course / Broker Management Clinic completions on file.