Working as a real estate agent comes with many advantages. Many agents who decide to start their journey of becoming real estate agents in Wisconsin start on the quest to build a business that offers more of a flexible schedule.
Others want to simply break the glass ceiling and enter a career that rewards them for all the hard work and effort they invest into it. If you are tired or feel stuck in an unrewarding job now might be the perfect time to chase your goals and become a real estate agent.
Do you have what it takes to work as a Wisconsin Real Estate Agent? If yes, let’s dive into the basic steps of getting your real estate license in Wisconsin.
How To Become A Real Estate Agent In Wisconsin
- Must be at least 18 years old.
- Must have a high school degree or GED.
- Complete all 72 hours of your pre-licensing classes.
- After completing pre-license education, take Wisconsin’s Real Estate Exam.
- Pass Wisconsin’s Real Estate Exam with at least 75% score.
- Find a sponsoring broker.
- Complete and submit your Real Estate License Application.
- Pay the license fee and attach relevant documents along with the application.
- Wait for your application to be reviewed.
Choose Your School And Sign Up For Classes
Before you can start listing million-dollar homes, the very first step towards getting your Wisconsin License is choosing your classes and completing the mandatory educational requirements set by the state to become a real estate agent.
Wisconsin’s Real Estate Classes
Get ready for some classroom time! To become a licensed real estate agent in Wisconsin, you must first complete your state’s mandatory education requirements. In total, you will be required to complete 72 hours of state-approved courses for pre-licensing.
Click here for state-approved real estate classes and pricing. The good news is that the state of Wisconsin allows you to take your real estate classes online. This is great because it will allow you to complete the course at your own pace and even possibly speed up the process if you put in the hard work.
Wisconsin doesn’t require any additional courses other than the Pre-license Education Courses. You must provide evidence of:
- 72 hours of Pre-license Education Courses.
- 8 hours of General Wisconsin Insurance Laws and Ethics.
- Passing the Wisconsin Real Estate License Test.
Wisconsin’s Pre-licensing Education Requirements
You must complete 72 hours of state-approved real estate pre-license education. You can complete these course hours online.
Keep in mind you must score a 75% or higher on each final exam. So, it is important to pay close attention in class.
What Will I Learn In My Pre-License Classes?
I remember sitting in my real estate pre-licensing class. For many, real estate is like learning an entirely new language. In class, you will learn many new things. One of the most important is state laws as they relate to you as a real estate agent. This will help keep you out of legal trouble once you get out in the field and start practicing real estate. Here are some subjects you will learn about in real estate school.
- Real estate math.
- Land use laws and regulations.
- Fair Housing laws.
- Real Estate Financing.
- Contracts.
- Transfer of title.
- Brokerage relationships.
- Disclosures.
- Property analysis.
- Rules of the Wisconsin Real Estate Commission.
- License law.
- Ethics.
- Agency Laws.
To become a licensed real estate agent in Wisconsin, you must first complete your state’s mandatory education requirements.
Schedule Your Wisconsin’s Real Estate Salesperson License Exam
It is recommended for you to call and schedule your test with Pearson VUE online or by calling their helpline. Here are a couple of important things to know.
- This test can be taken by computer at the testing center.
- This is not an open-book test.
- The test must be scheduled in advance.
Current Pearson VUE Test Locations in Wisconsin: Testing location
Wisconsin’s Real Estate License Background Check
Any person applying for a Wisconsin real estate license must pass a criminal background check. The current cost for the service is $10-15.
Wisconsin law requires all real estate license applicants to get a background check. This process can take several weeks to complete, but there is some good news. You do not need to wait for your completed background check before applying for your license.
What Is The Best Way To Study For The Wisconsin Real Estate Exam?
Many people fail the Wisconsin real estate exam the first time around. This is ok. Many of the great real estate agents having huge success today failed their exams the first time around. The bad news is that it costs money to retake your exam. At the time of writing, it is $65 to take the exam.
To increase the chances of passing your exam the first time we recommend checking out Prep Agent. This study tool gave me and many other agents a huge boost in confidence when taking the real estate exam.
Prep agents are so confident in their study tool that they offer a 100% refund if you use the tool and fail your real estate exam.
What Do You Need To Bring When Taking The Exam At A Testing Center?
Don’t show up on test day only to be turned down. You will need to bring two forms of identification that have not expired and have a matching name and signature. One form of identification must have a photo to qualify. Here are some examples of acceptable identification.
- Drivers license.
- US social security card.
- Passport.
- Debit Card with Signature.
- Credit Card with Signature.
- Green Card.
You are allowed to bring a basic non-scientific calculator that can be used for the math portion of the exam.
How Long Will I Have To Complete The Wisconsin Real Estate Exam?
The Wisconsin Real Estate License Test will consist of 140 questions. The candidate will have 240 minutes (4 hours) to complete the test. The test is not divided into parts. The test will be given as a whole. The candidate must report to the test center 30 minutes before the actual test time.
Pass Or Fail- How Long Does It Take To Get Results?
Taking the real estate exam can be nerve-racking. Once complete, we all become anxious and want to know if we passed or failed the big test. The good news is that you will know the results immediately after you complete your exam.
Can I Retake The Real Estate Exam If I Fail?
Yes, If you fail, you can retake the real estate exam. First, you must submit a new registration form and the $65 testing fee to schedule to take the test again. You can submit a retest request after 24 hours of your first attempt. But stay positive, many agents have failed the real estate exam multiple times and have gone on to have very successful careers.
How Long Does It Take To Become A Licensed Real Estate Agent In Wisconsin?
I am sure you are excited and want to get licensed ASAP. You should expect the process to take about 4 to 5 months to become a Wisconsin Real Estate Agent. The two most time-intensive parts of the process are completing your 72 hours of real estate pre-license classes and then completing your background check which can take a month or two to complete.
As you can take the pre-license classes online, it depends on you how fast you cover your syllabus.
Aside from just completing your real estate classes and studying, you will need to spend your time doing other important things like interviewing brokerages and deciding which one is the right fit for you and your new business.
This is just an average timeframe. Keep in mind everyone works at a different pace. If you are taking some of your courses online you may be able to work through the course work a little faster or maybe it takes you a little more time to get through the course work.
Either way try not to overwhelm yourself and focus on getting a little further along in the process each day. Many people set out on the journey to become a Wisconsin agent and quit before they even start because they simply overload themselves with work. Keep the focus on working towards your goal little by little each day.
How Much Does It Cost To Get A Wisconsin Real Estate License?
It will cost around $500-$750 to get a Wisconsin Real Estate attempt. Some of these costs are fixed such as the exam fee.
- $65 Test Fee per Attempt.
- $75 License Fee.
- $10 Background Check Fee.
- $349-629 Pre-licensing Courses (Estimated Cost).
Sign up for Wisconsin Real Estate Classes Here: Pre-license education course
Note: These are just averages and are subject to change at any time.
Does Wisconsin Have Reciprocity With Any Other States Regarding A Real Estate License?
Yes. Wisconsin offers a formal reciprocity with Indiana and Illinois. You can apply for a Wisconsin real estate salesperson if you have an active license in Indiana or Illinois.
How To Choose The Right Brokerage?
Selecting your broker is a business choice that we all have to make at some point in our careers. As a new agent, you likely do not know what to look for or what questions to ask. As an experienced agent who has worked at multiple offices, here are some things to consider.
Training- This is important. One of the biggest complaints I hear from new real estate agents is how lost they often feel. Many times they feel the brokerage they choose to partner with has poor mentorship or even worse no mentorship at all. When interviewing brokers you must ask if they have a mentorship program in place for new agents. If the answer is yes make sure you dig deeper and ask how the program works. What are the expectations for the new agent and what are the expectations for the mentor? You need to find out how much support and training they provide.
Splits- Every brokerage offers a different compensation model and as a new agent this is important to consider. However, do not make this your main focus. I see many new agents make commission splits the main reason they choose a brokerage. This can be a huge mistake. Focus on what kind of value and training is being offered for that split.
The harsh truth is that 100% of nothing is still nothing.
Ongoing monthly fees- Some brokerages charge monthly fees to stay a part of the company. This is something to consider if you have a small savings account. As a new agent, you might be looking to stretch your dollar until you get a couple of closings under your belt. Joining a company with high ongoing monthly fees can put a dent in your savings account.
Commission Cap- This is in the same boat as commission splits in my opinion. As a new agent, this should not be your main focus. You should be focused on support and training. However, as a business person, it is a question you should be asking. Some brokerages will cut off your commission fees once you “cap”. Every brokerage and market is different but on average we have seen the brokerage cap between 14k-21k. Once you pay that amount into the brokerage, your commission will shift to 100% in some cases with a small broker transaction fee.
Conclusion
Becoming a real estate agent in Wisconsin is something worth working towards. To make this all happen is going to require work and consistency but if you love the idea of selling homes in Madison, Green Bay, or any other city in Wisconsin it is worth all the effort and hard work to make your dream become a reality. Study hard and do not quit even if you fail your exam the first time around. Many of the greatest agents I know today in my local market did not pass the exam the first time around.