How to Get Your Arkansas Real Estate License

Arkansas offers Salesperson and Broker real estate licenses, plus separately licensed Property Management Associate and Broker tracks, all through AREC.

Salesperson License Requirements

• Be at least 18 years old
• Complete 60 hours of real estate education, 30 of which must be in basic principles of real estate
• Submit an application for license examination to AREC and receive an Authorization to Test
• Pass the Salesperson exam (110 scored questions across national and state portions, 70 scaled score)
• Submit your application, score report, and $50 fee to AREC within 90 days of passing — no extensions
• Complete post-licensing education within 6 months of initial licensure

Broker License Requirements

• Be at least 18 years old
• Have at least 24 months of licensed experience as a salesperson or broker within the preceding 48 months, equivalent to full-time practice
• Complete 60 hours of broker education within 36 months of application, 45 of which must be the Commission's own Broker Pre-License Course
• Pass the Unified Broker exam (120 scored questions, general and Arkansas content combined, 70 scaled score)
• Submit your application within 90 days of passing

Reciprocity for Out-of-State Licensees

If you're licensed at the same level in another state and passed a uniform, general, or multi-state exam with a passing grade no lower than 70 (Arkansas's own threshold), you may qualify for a waiver of the national portion — meaning you'd only need to pass the 30-question Arkansas law portion.

Workforce Expansion Act Waiver

Arkansas waives the $50 initial application fee for applicants currently receiving Medicaid, SNAP, WIC, TANF, or Lifeline Assistance, or who were approved for unemployment in the past 12 months, or whose income doesn't exceed 200% of the federal poverty guidelines.

Military Members, Veterans, and Spouses

Active duty military, veterans, and spouses may qualify for expedited application processing, and those holding a substantially equivalent license from another jurisdiction may qualify for automatic licensure.

Step 1: Submit your application within 90 days

Arkansas's 90-calendar-day deadline after passing has no extensions. Gather your score report, application, $50 fee (or Workforce Expansion Act waiver documentation), and Background Check Acknowledgment Form immediately.

Step 2: Complete your background check

A state and FBI background check is initiated once AREC processes your application.

Step 3: Affiliate with a sponsoring broker

Your license needs an affiliated broker to become active.

Step 4: Wait for license issuance

Processing begins once your complete application, fees, and background check clear.

Step 5: Complete post-licensing education within 6 months

Miss this deadline and your license lapses — schedule it as soon as you're active, don't wait.

Realistic income expectations

Median Arkansas agent income runs around $43,000; brokers average $58,000.

• Year 1: $20K-$35K
• Year 2-5: $35K-$60K
• Top 25%: $60K-$110K+

Little Rock and Northwest Arkansas (Fayetteville, Bentonville, Rogers — driven by corporate headquarters growth) are Arkansas's strongest markets, with roughly 42,000 home sales a year statewide.

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 sponsoring broker on active transactions. Week 4: Start prospecting, and confirm your post-licensing course is scheduled.