Salesperson’s license

Initial salesperson’s license

A real estate salesperson’s license is required to act as a real estate agent in Wisconsin. To obtain a salesperson’s license, an applicant needs to satisfy educational requirements. The educational requirements can be satisfied in one of the following ways:

• Complete the board-approved 72-hour pre-license education program for salespersons within the past four years.
• Complete 10 academic semester hour credits in real estate or real estate-related law courses from an accredited institution of higher education.

After completing the educational requirements, the applicant needs to pass the salesperson examination, administered by Pearson VUE, within one year preceding the date of the application. 

Once the applicant has passed the exam, the applicant must submit an application to the Department of Safety and Professional Services (DSPS). The application must include supporting documents as well as the application fee. Materials for the application include:

• Form 3166 Application for Real Estate Salesperson License
• $60 credentialing fee
• Proof of education completion
• Evidence of passing the salesperson examination

If the applicant is a non-Wisconsin resident, the applicant must also fill out Form 813, Irrevocable Consent for Nonresidents. Online submissions are also available via the Online Licensure Application System (OLAS) to reduce processing time.

Reciprocity: applicants holding a current license in Illinois or Indiana

An applicant who is licensed as a real estate salesperson in a state or territory that has a reciprocal agreement with Wisconsin shall be licensed according to the terms of the reciprocal agreement. See Wis. Admin. Code § REEB 12.013(3) for more information. Illinois and Indiana currently have reciprocal agreements with Wisconsin. 

An applicant applying for reciprocity must still pass the Wisconsin salesperson exam. Upon passing the exam, the applicant can apply for a Wisconsin salesperson’s license through the DSPS. Materials for the application include:

• Form 3166 Application for Real Estate Salesperson License
• $60 reciprocity fee
• Evidence of passing the Wisconsin salesperson exam
• Form 2688, Verification of Examination or Registration (completed by each state from which the applicant has been issued a license)
• Active corresponding license in the reciprocal state
• Form 813, Irrevocable Consent for Nonresidents (for non-Wisconsin residents)

Endorsement: applicants who have held a salesperson’s license in another state within the past two years

An applicant who has held a salesperson’s license in another state within the past two years must satisfy educational requirements. The educational requirements can be satisfied in one of the following ways:

• Complete the board-approved 13-hour pre-license education program for salespersons.
• Complete 10 academic semester hour credits in real estate or real estate-related law courses from an accredited institution of higher education.

After completing the educational requirements, the applicant must take the Wisconsin salesperson exam. Upon passing the exam, the applicant can submit an application to the DSPS for a Wisconsin salesperson’s license. Materials for the application include:

• Form 3166, Application for Real Estate Salesperson License
• $60 credentialing fee
• Form 2688 Verification of Examination or Registration (completed by each state from which the applicant has been issued a license)
• Proof of education completion
• Evidence of passing the Wisconsin salesperson exam
• Form 813 Irrevocable Consent for Nonresidents (for non-Wisconsin residents)

Salesperson’s license renewal

License renewals are due on December 14, 2022. Renewals can be made online or through the mail. To request a paper renewal form, call the DSPS at 608-266-2112. The requirements for renewal are the following:

• $60 renewal fee
• Continuing education hours (Form 2920, Continuing Education Addendum is required if renewing via paper)
• Signature regarding previous arrests/convictions/pending charges. Completion of Form 2254, Convictions and Pending Charges, may be needed, depending on the license holder’s answer. Submit all requested documents and the background check fee.

For the 2021-22 biennium, all license holders are required to complete 18 hours of approved continuing education (CE). The 18 hours must include completion of three hours for each of the six required course topics. 

If a salesperson received an original license after October 1, 2022, the salesperson is exempt from completing the required CE for only the December 14, 2022, renewal. Any license holder issued a license prior to October 1, 2022, is required to complete CE for the December 14, 2022, renewal. 

Do not forget to renew your license by the December 14, 2022, deadline!

Broker’s license

Initial broker’s license

To obtain a real estate broker’s license, an applicant needs to satisfy educational requirements. The educational requirements can be satisfied in one of the following ways:

• Complete the board-approved 72-hour pre-license program for brokers within four years of the application.
• Complete 20 academic semester hour credits in real estate or real estate-related law courses from an accredited institution of higher education.
• Submit evidence that you are licensed to practice law in Wisconsin.

After completing the educational requirements, the applicant must pass the broker examination, administered by Pearson VUE, within one year preceding the date of the application.  

In addition to the educational requirements, initial applicants must satisfy the experience requirements.

An applicant must have practiced as a licensed salesperson under the direct supervision of a licensed broker for at least two years within the last four years preceding the application. Experience worth at least 40 points must be documented on the application and verified by the supervising broker. The experiential requirements must be submitted to the Real Estate Examining Board (REEB).

Those licensed to practice law in Wisconsin must submit evidence of experience related to real estate. Experience 
as a real estate salesperson is not required for those licensed 
to practice law in Wisconsin. 

Applicants should submit the application to the DSPS. Materials for the application include:

• Form 809 Application for Real Estate Broker License
• $60 credentialing fee
• Proof of education completion
• Complete experience requirements: 
  • Evidence of licensure as a real estate salesperson for at least two years within the last four years under the direct supervision of a licensed broker and accumulation of 40 points of experience
  • Or evidence of experience related to real estate if a licensed attorney in Wisconsin
• Evidence of passing the broker examination

If the applicant is a non-Wisconsin resident, the applicant must also fill out Form 813 Irrevocable Consent for Nonresidents.

Online submissions are also available via the Online Licensure Application System (OLAS) to reduce processing time.

Reciprocity: applicants holding a current license in Illinois or Indiana

An applicant who is licensed as a real estate broker in a state or territory that has a reciprocal agreement with Wisconsin shall be licensed according to the terms of the reciprocal agreement. See Wis. Admin. Code § REEB 12.017(4) for more information. Illinois and Indiana currently have reciprocal agreements with Wisconsin. 

An applicant applying for reciprocity must still pass the Wisconsin broker exam. Upon passing the exam, the applicant can apply for a Wisconsin broker’s license through the DSPS. Materials for the application include:

• Form 809 Application for Real Estate Broker License
• $60 reciprocity fee
• Evidence of passing the Wisconsin broker exam
• Active broker’s license
• Form 813, Irrevocable Consent for Nonresidents (for non-Wisconsin residents)

Endorsement: applicants who have held a broker’s license in another state for at least two years within the last four years

An applicant who has held a broker’s license in another state for at least two years within the last four years must satisfy educational requirements. The educational requirements can be satisfied in one of the following ways:

• Complete the board-approved six-hour broker education program and the board-approved 13-hour pre-license education program for salespersons.
• Complete 20 academic semester hour credits in real estate or real estate-related law courses from an accredited institution of higher education.
• Submit evidence that you are licensed to practice law in Wisconsin.

After completing the educational requirements, the applicant must take the Wisconsin salesperson exam and the Wisconsin broker exam. Upon passing both exams, the applicant can submit an application to the DSPS for a Wisconsin broker’s license. Materials for the application include:

• Form 809 Application for Real Estate Broker License
• $60 credentialing fee
• Form 2688, Verification of Examination or Registration (completed by each state the applicant has been issued a license)
• Proof of education completion
• Evidence of passing the Wisconsin salesperson exam
• Evidence of passing the Wisconsin broker exam
• Form 813 Irrevocable Consent for Nonresidents (for non-Wisconsin residents)

Broker’s license renewal

License renewals are due on December 14, 2022. Renewals can be made online or through the mail. To request a paper renewal form, call the DSPS at 608-266-2112. The requirements for renewal are the following:

• $60 renewal fee
• Continuing education hours (Form 2920, Continuing Education Addendum is required if renewing via paper)
• Signature regarding previous arrests/convictions/pending charges. Completion of Form 2254 Convictions and Pending Charges, may be needed, depending on the license holder’s answer. Submit all requested documents and the background check fee.

During each two-year licensing period, the DSPS requires all broker licensees to complete 18 hours of CE courses to renew their license. There are no exemptions for brokers regardless of when during the biennium the license was received. 

For the 2021-22 biennium, all license holders are required to complete 18 hours of approved CE. The 18 hours must include completion of three hours for each of the six required course topics. 

Do not forget to renew your license by the December 14, 2022, deadline!

Real estate broker business entity license

A broker may provide brokerage services through a business entity, such as an LLC. The business entity, however, must be licensed to provide brokerage services. To obtain a real estate broker business entity license, there must be a licensed broker to act as the business representative of the entity. 

An application for a real estate business entity license is submitted to the DSPS. Materials for the application include:

• Form 815 Application for Real Estate Broker Business Entity License
• $60 credentialing fee
• Form 814 Consent to Examine and Audit Trust Account (complete if the business entity is required to maintain a trust account)
• Form 813 Irrevocable Consent for Nonresidents (complete if the business entity is outside Wisconsin)

Online submissions are also available via the Online Licensure Application System (OLAS) to reduce processing time.

Real estate broker business entity license renewal

License renewals are due on December 14, 2022. Renewals can be made online or through the mail. To request a paper renewal form, call the DSPS at 608-266-2112. The requirements for renewal are the following:

• $60 renewal fee
• Signature regarding the current broker-in-charge. The name and license number of the broker must be provided.

License renewal for the real estate broker business entity license is due by December 14, 2022!