How to get a Real Estate Salesperson license in Arkansas

Arkansas real estate agent licenses

Arkansas issues 2 real estate agent credentials. Each has its own section below; the table shows what each one covers and its headline requirements.

Applies to every license level

These rules are the same for every Arkansas real estate agent license on this page, so they are shown once here. Each license's own section lists only what differs.

What it covers

Anyone who, for another and for valuable consideration, offers, attempts or agrees to perform even a single act listed in Ark. Code 17-42-103(10) or (12) is treated as a broker or salesperson and needs the license.¹

Requirements

Minimum age

18 years old²

Background check

Background check required²
Fingerprints required²
Arkansas State Police + FBI check; no license is issued until AREC receives and approves the reports. Convictions for offenses listed in Ark. Code 17-42-315(f) bar licensure unless waived after a hearing.³
You can ask the board to review your record before you apply³

Residency or citizenship

Arkansas residency is not required: non-residents apply with a fingerprint card, license histories and a consent-to-service form; nonresident salespersons must affiliate with an AREC-licensed principal broker.¹

Social Security number

Social Security Number is mandatory on the application (forwarded to Child Support Enforcement); applicants holding a federal I-766 work permit who meet the requirements are licensed.⁷

Also required

Application expires one year after filing or upon passing the exam, whichever comes first.³

Fees

Some lines are combined figures, or parts of one; do not add the lines up.

How to apply

Application form

Form (PDF, arec.arkansas.gov)⁷

Temporary or provisional license

No temporary license for new applicants; a correctly completed transfer form acts as a 30-day temporary license when changing firms.⁴

Renewal

How often

Every year⁴

When it expires

Calendar-year license expiring December 31; renewal notices about July 15; renewal due by September 30 to avoid the late fee.³

Continuing education

At least 7 hours each renewal period³

Required topics

1 hour on limiting risk / personal safety plus 6 hours of elective CE (2026)⁹
First renewal: CE is not due until the second active renewal after licensure.¹⁰

Approved courses

Courses approved by AREC or exempt under Ark. Code 17-42-503; distance education must be ARELLO certified; prelicense hours cannot double as CE.¹⁰

Exemptions

Salespersons and associate brokers aged 72+ with 25 consecutive years of active Arkansas licensure, no discipline and no late CE in the past 5 years may apply for a CE exemption.¹¹
Deployed uniformed service members and spouses are fully exempt until 180 days after return from deployment.³
Executive director may waive CE for health reasons or achievements/legislative service.³

If it expires

Renewal is due by September 30 (late fee after); licenses not renewed by December 31 expire on January 1.³
An expired license can be reinstated within one year of the last calendar year it was renewed; after that the person is treated as an original applicant.³
Renewing without CE makes the license inactive until proof is filed; activating requires 7 hours per inactive year (max 30) and the $30 activation fee.¹
Deployed service members/spouses: license expiration extended 180 days after return.³
Executive director may issue a $100 citation for missing the annual CE deadline (December 31).³

Renew online

arec.arkansas.gov¹²

From another state

Who needs a Real Estate Salesperson license

Other rules on who may do this work:

• An unlicensed person or entity may own a real estate firm if the people doing licensed activities hold active licenses.¹

Requirements for a Real Estate Salesperson license

The rules this license shares with every other level are under Applies to every license level.

Education or training

At least 60 classroom hours²
Prelicense real estate course of at least 60 classroom hours, at least 30 of them in basic principles of real estate³
Who may teach it: Accredited postsecondary school, a school/organization licensed by AREC, or one approved by an equivalent licensing jurisdiction; distance education allowed.³
Alternative: Former Arkansas licensees need not repeat prelicense education.³

Education or training

18 classroom hours¹⁰
Post-license course: 18 classroom hours, due by the end of the sixth month after initial licensure (otherwise the license goes inactive)³

Exam

Arkansas Real Estate Salesperson Examination (national/general part + Arkansas law part)³
Given by: Pearson VUE¹³
Passing score: Scaled score of 70 on each part³
When you can take it: After AREC approves the application and pre-license education and the background-check form are on file; AREC emails an approval/authorization to test.²
National/general portion: 80 scored items⁸
Arkansas law portion: 30 scored items + 10 unscored pretest items⁸
Retakes: A passed part is kept if the failed part is retaken and passed within 6 months; wait 24 hours before rebooking.³
Time limit: License fee, recovery-fund fee and forms must reach AREC within 90 days of passing, or the result is void.³
Exam waived: General part waived for salespersons licensed in another state who passed a comparable general exam.³

Also required

A licensed salesperson must work under a principal broker; a non-resident salesperson's license terminates if the affiliation ends.¹

How much a Real Estate Salesperson license costs

How to apply

1. Complete the 60-hour prelicense course (30 hours in real estate principles) at an accredited or AREC-licensed school. You may apply before finishing it.²
2. Residents: wait for AREC's email before getting fingerprinted, then complete the State Police/FBI background check.⁷
3. After the approval email, book both salesperson exam parts with Pearson VUE (book both together for one $75 fee) and pass each with a 70.¹³
4. Within 90 days of passing, send AREC the score report, $50 license fee, $25 recovery fund fee and the signed post-license notice (with a principal broker's sponsorship to be active).⁷
5. Finish the 18-hour post-license course by the end of the sixth month after licensure, then 7 hours CE each year from the second renewal.¹⁰

Renewal and continuing education

Renewal fee

$60¹⁴ (Filed by September 30)

Late renewal

Late renewal fee (After 09/30/26 Salesperson): $80¹⁴ (filed after September 30 (also the expired-license fee))
Late renewal fee: $60¹⁴ (duplicate (branch) license renewed after September 30)

Moving to Arkansas with a license from another state

These are the routes AREC publishes for the Real Estate Salesperson license. The other real estate agent licenses have their own routes in their sections below.

Real Estate Broker

Requirements

Education or training

At least 60 classroom hours²
60 hours of real estate education within the 36 months before applying, including the 45-hour AREC-developed Broker Pre-License Education course³
Who may teach it: Accredited postsecondary school or school/organization licensed by AREC (or approved by an equivalent jurisdiction).¹⁰
Alternative: Former Arkansas broker licensees need not repeat prelicense education and the exam may be waived.³

Education or training

30 classroom hours¹⁰
Post-license broker course: 30 classroom hours within 6 months of initial broker licensure (taken after the broker license is issued)³

Prior licensure

At least 24 months²
Active licensure as a salesperson (Arkansas or another state) or broker for at least 24 months within the 48 months before applying³
Supervision: Experience must equal two years of full-time activity in the business; listings, sales and other licensed activity may be considered.³
License you must hold first: Salesperson (or other-state salesperson/broker) license⁷
Substitute: Waiver possible for an applicant who has held an active broker license for at least 18 months, or has 24 months of acceptable real-estate-related experience within the last 48 months; written request + $50 non-refundable fee.³

Exam

Arkansas Unified Broker Examination (single combined general + Arkansas exam)³
Given by: Pearson VUE¹³
Passing score: Scaled score of 70³
When you can take it: After AREC approves the application (education, experience form, background check form) and emails approval to test.¹³
120 scored items + 10 unscored pretest items⁸
Retakes: Full exam must be retaken; wait 24 hours before rebooking.⁸
Time limit: License fee and forms due to AREC within 90 days of passing, or the result is void.³
Exam waived: No waiver of a general portion for brokers.⁵

Fees

Each line is a separate charge as the board lists it. The board does not publish a combined total, so none is shown here.

How to apply

1. Meet the experience rule (24 months active license in the last 48) or request a waiver ($50), and complete 60 hours of education incl. the 45-hour AREC broker course within 36 months.²
2. Send AREC the notarized broker application with the $50 fee, Broker Experience form (and out-of-state license history if experience was elsewhere), proof of age and the Background Check Acknowledgment form.⁷
3. Complete the background check when AREC emails instructions; after the approval email, book the unified broker exam with Pearson VUE ($75) and pass with a 70.¹³
4. Within 90 days of passing, send the score report, $70 license fee (plus $25 recovery fee if never paid) and the signed post-license notice; active salespersons return their current license.⁴
5. Complete the 30-hour AREC broker post-license course within six months; until then you cannot be a principal or executive broker.¹⁰

Renewal

Renewal fee

$80¹⁴ (Filed by September 30)

Late renewal

Late renewal fee (After 09/30/26 Broker): $110¹⁴ (filed after September 30 (also the expired-license fee))
Late renewal fee: $60¹⁴ (duplicate (branch) license renewed after September 30)

From another state

The rules this license shares with every other level are under Applies to every license level.

Check a license or report a problem

Before you hire a real estate agent in Arkansas, you can confirm the license is current on the board's own search. Every board we cover in Arkansas is on the Arkansas license lookup page.

Look up a license

labor.arkansas.gov¹⁶

File a complaint

arec.arkansas.gov¹⁷

Laws and rules

The requirements above come from these laws and board rules.

• Ark. Code Ann. § 17-42-101 et seq. (Real Estate License Law), incl. §§ 17-42-301, -303, -304, -305, -307, -315; AREC-published compilation current through the 2025 regular session
• 17 CAR § 220 (Arkansas Real Estate Commission Rules), incl. §§ 220-301, 220-401 to 220-406, 220-501 to 220-503, 220-601 to 220-603, 220-1101 to 220-1106 (August 2026 edition)
• 17 CAR § 220-301
• Act 457 of 2023 (Automatic Occupational Licensure for Out-of-State Licensure Act, Ark. Code § 17-7-101 et seq.)

Rule changes since January 2024

• August 1, 2026: AREC rules republished as 17 CAR § 220 (August 2026 edition), including the personal-safety CE hour and fee schedule.³

Common questions

Real estate agent licenses in other states

• Alabama
• Alaska
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• Colorado
• Connecticut
• Delaware
• District of Columbia
• Florida
• Hawaii
• Idaho
• Illinois
• Indiana
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• Kansas
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• Maine
• Maryland
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• New Hampshire
• New Jersey
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• North Carolina
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• South Carolina
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