5 Steps to Get a Michigan Real Estate License & Become a REALTOR®

Step 1 – Complete the Required 40 Hours of Pre-licensing Coursework
LARA requires that all applicants take a 40-hour Michigan real estate pre-licensing course from an approved educator. Four of the coursework hours must cover civil rights law and equal opportunity in housing. The remaining 36 hours include topics that are on the licensing exam such as financing, state regulations, and property ownership. Courses can be taken in person or online.

• CLICK HERE for a list of approved pre-licensing courses
• CLICK HERE for BCAAR’s Affiliate link – The CE Shop Online 40-Hr. Packages
• CLICK HERE for BCAAR’s Affiliate link – YouLearnIt 40-Hr. Packages

Step 2 – Pass the Michigan Real Estate Licensing Exam
Before you can get a real estate license you have to prove you understand the basics by passing the state licensing exam. Once your information is received by PSI Services, LLC, you can register to take the exam at PSIexams.com. It’s a pass/fail exam that covers national and Michigan-specific real estate questions. As soon as you get a sponsoring broker and they submit the Employing Broker Notification form your Michigan real estate license will be issued. If you don’t pass the Michigan real estate pre-licensing exam on your first attempt it’s okay. It happens to a lot of people. You’ll be able to retake the test and can still get a real estate license even if it takes a few tries. That’s it! Now that you know how to get a real estate license in Michigan it’s time to take the first step. In a matter of a month or two, you can be working as a Michigan real estate agent.

• CLICK HERE for BCAAR’s Affiliate link – The CE Shop Real Estate Exam Prep
  After completing your Michigan Pre-Licensing course, your next step is to pass real estate exam. The CE Shop’s industry-leading Exam Prep Edge provides everything you need to feel confident on the day of your licensing exam.

Step 3 – Find a Broker Sponsor
Michigan real estate agents are independent contractors, but they aren’t completely on their own. You must work under the supervision of a broker sponsor. Any licensed broker in Michigan can act as a sponsor, but it’s important to find a brokerage that’s a good fit for your career goals. Once you find a broker, they must log in to the MI Plus system to approve the relationship and verify that they will, in fact, act as your broker. Technically, you can wait to find a sponsoring broker until after you pass the licensing exam, but you won’t be issued an active license after passing. LARA will only issue active licenses to agents that have a verified sponsoring broker. Exam results are only valid for one year so you’ll need to find a broker sponsor within that period. Also, LARA requires that you designate a sponsoring broker within one year of applying or you’ll have to resubmit and pay the application fee again.

Step 4 – Submit an Application
Now that you’ve met the education requirement and found a sponsoring broker it’s time to send in your real estate licensing application. You can submit an application online using the MI Plus system. You’ll also have to pay the $88 application fee when you submit. You’ll be able to include your sponsoring broker’s information if you have one, but they still need to verify the working relationship after the application is submitted. After LARA processes the application, your information will be passed along to PSI, the licensing exam administrator.

Step 5: Join a REALTOR® Association
Becoming a member of a REALTOR® Association is an essential step in advancing your real estate career. As a member, you’ll gain access to valuable industry resources, networking opportunities, and tools that can help you succeed. Additionally, the REALTOR® designation is a respected mark of professionalism in the real estate industry.

Each REALTOR® Association may vary in terms of benefits, pricing, and membership requirements, so it’s important to research the options available to you and choose the one that best aligns with your professional goals. CLICK HERE for a list of BCAAR membership benefits.

Important: To join a REALTOR® Association, your brokerage must also be a member of the association you wish to join. Be sure to confirm that your brokerage is affiliated with the association before applying for membership.

Please note that REALTOR® is a trademark and can only be used by members of a REALTOR® Association. By joining, you gain the right to use the REALTOR® title, which sets you apart as a professional in the real estate industry.

You can join the REALTOR® Association of your choice once you meet the membership criteria and complete the necessary application process.