State-approved real estate courses are necessary for anyone who wants a real estate career as a broker with their own agency, a salesperson, an appraiser, or a real estate and mortgage specialist. When you train to be a real estate agent or broker, you'll have to pass an exam upon the completion of the coursework. Since the laws are different in every state, the requirements for getting the license may vary. Courses that are available as continuing education classes may be required to keep the real estate license valid.

If your career choice is to be a broker, you can find schools in your region that have real estate courses for brokers. A number of online options are also available. Do your research before you enroll in any school to make sure they have the appropriate accreditation. Depending on the state you live in, a typical course to be licensed as a real estate agent may include approximately 150 hours of class time. The course may include Real Estate Principles which could encompass 60 hours. You could spend approximately 30 hours each on Law of Agency and Law of Contracts. An additional elective may have to be chosen. Some states require 60 hours of electives, but this may vary.

In some states, real estate courses for brokers require previous experience of between 1 and 2 years as an agent. Many states allow a broker's license from another state as an acceptable alternative. You could need up to 900 hours of education to be qualified for a real estate broker's license. In some cases, if you already hold a degree, the hourly requirement could be considerably less. Check the requirements with several online schools offering real estate courses, to find out how much of your previous experience or education may count as a portion of the requirements for a broker's license.

When you have completed the required number of hours for sales or broker real estate courses, you should sign up for one of the prep courses that are designed to get you ready for the licensing exam. The prep exams are designed to review all of the coursework that you've previously studied, and give you the opportunity to determine what weaknesses or strengths you have. Some states will allow you to take you licensing exam online to be submitted to the state for evaluation. In some cases, students take traditional proctored exams at a location convenient to their residence.

You must also be familiar with the difference between Salesperson Annual Education and Mandatory Continuing Education real estate courses. When you have to renew your license for the first time, you may have to take SAE coursework. After the license has been renewed for the first time, you may only have to take MCE coursework. When you have finished your Salesperson Annual Education (SAE) you must finish 15 hours of Mandatory Continuing Education (MCE) every two years to be able to renew your license. Six of the 15 hours are required to be on legal topics. Additional reviews are done on ethics.