How to get a Real Estate Salesperson license in Nebraska

Nebraska real estate agent licenses

Nebraska 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 Nebraska real estate agent license on this page, so they are shown once here. Each license's own section lists only what differs.

Requirements

Minimum age

19 years old⁶

High school diploma or GED

Required⁶

Background check

Background check required⁴
Fingerprints required⁹
Case-by-case review; felony violent or financial crimes or crimes of moral turpitude, or an unfinished sentence/probation, lead to denial unless extraordinary circumstances are present. Some convictions require an appearance before the Commission.¹⁴
You can ask the board to review your record before you apply¹⁴

Social Security number

Social Security Number required on original applications¹³

Insurance

Errors and omissions insurance required for active status: two-year policy term; minimum $100,000 per occurrence and $300,000 annual aggregate (Commission group plan through RISC, or equivalent coverage with a Certificate of Equivalent Coverage).¹⁵

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. Complete the Commission-approved pre-license education.¹⁶
2. Submit the online application with the application and exam fees through the Commission portal.¹⁶ nrec.igovsolution.net⁶
3. Complete fingerprinting for the criminal background check (Nebraska State Patrol, $75) after the application is on file.⁹
4. After approval, schedule and pass the exam with Pearson VUE.¹⁷
5. Within 30 days of passing: upload score reports, obtain E&O insurance, choose a designated broker (or set up as designated broker), and submit the License Issuance form and fee in the portal.³
6. Within 180 days of licensure complete post-license course 7000 (12 hours).¹⁸

Apply online

nrec.igovsolution.net⁶

Application form

Form (PDF, nrec.nebraska.gov)¹⁶¹²

Renewal

How often

Every 2 years⁷

When it expires

First license expires December 31 of the year issued; renewals are for 2 years; renew by November 30 to avoid late fees.⁷

Continuing education

At least 18 hours each renewal period⁸

Required topics

At least 12 of the 18 hours must be Commission-approved CE, of which at least 6 hours are designated "R" subject-matter courses; up to 6 hours may be Commission-approved training.⁸
3 hours of property management coursework each two-year period for licensees who provide or supervise property management⁸
3 hours of team/team leadership education within 180 days for team members, team leaders and supervising designated brokers⁸

Approved courses

Commission-approved providers and courses (approved provider/course list); appraisal CE approved by the Nebraska Real Estate Appraiser Board and qualifying Nebraska Supreme Court MCLE may count.⁸

Exemptions

No CE for the first renewal of a license issued in the same calendar year⁸
Non-residents and license-recognition licensees may affirm they met CE in their resident jurisdiction⁸
Inactive licenses must still be renewed (CE and E&O are conditions of renewing on active status)⁷

Late renewal

Late renewal fee: $25⁷ (per month or fraction of a month from December 1 until June 30)

If it expires

Late renewal possible until 5:00 p.m. June 30 of the following year; failure to apply before December 1 cancels the license as of December 31.⁷
A license inactive for more than 3 continuous years is reinstated only after passing the exam again⁴

Renew online

nrec.igovsolution.net⁷

From another state

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 96 clock hours²
Pre-license education: 96 hours total = three 30-hour Commission-approved courses (Real Estate Principles and Practices; Nebraska Real Estate License Law; one more approved pre-license course) plus 6 hours Professional Practice and Standards (course 0003)²
Who may teach it: Commission-approved courses offered by accredited Nebraska degree-granting institutions (or transferable programs), Nebraska community colleges, Commission-approved special institutes, or proprietary schools; the Commission may credit similar out-of-state courses.¹³
Alternative: Commission may credit equivalent courses taken at an accredited post-secondary institution¹³

Education or training

12 clock hours⁶
Post-license education: 12-hour course 7000 within 180 days of license issuance, or the license goes inactive¹⁸

Experience

None required¹⁶

Exam

Nebraska Real Estate Salesperson Examination (national and state sections)³
Given by: Pearson VUE¹⁷
Passing score: 75%¹⁶
When you can take it: After the Commission approves the application; Pearson then emails eligibility.⁶
National section³
State-specific section⁶
Retakes: Retakes allowed during the eligibility period with a new retake application and exam fee each time.¹⁷
Time limit: License must be issued within 30 days of passing or the exam must be retaken; application and background report valid 1 year.¹⁶
Exam waived: No Nebraska exam for license recognition applicants (licensed in their state of residence); they take the 3-hour course 0604R instead.¹⁹

Business requirements

A salesperson must be affiliated with a designated broker (broker affiliation approval) to have the license issued active¹⁶

How much a Real Estate Salesperson license costs

How to apply

1. Check eligibility: at least 19, high school diploma/GED (or home-school evidence), lawful presence.¹⁶

Renewal and continuing education

Renewal fee

$180⁵

Moving to Nebraska with a license from another state

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

Real Estate Broker

A Nebraska broker can have their own brokerage and supervise other licensees (as designated broker) or work under a designated broker.¹²

Requirements

Education or training

At least 60 clock hours²
60 clock hours (2 courses) of broker pre-license education in addition to the salesperson hours, plus 6 hours Professional Practice and Standards (course 0003) if not already taken²
Who may teach it: Commission-approved courses offered by accredited Nebraska degree-granting institutions (or transferable programs), Nebraska community colleges, Commission-approved special institutes, or proprietary schools; the Commission may credit similar out-of-state courses.¹³

Education or training

12 clock hours¹⁸
Post-license course 7000 (12 hours) within 180 days of license issuance¹²

Experience

At least 2 years¹²
2 years of full-time salesperson experience or the part-time equivalent²
Supervision: Experience in activities requiring a salesperson license¹³
License you must hold first: Salesperson license held (active) for two years full time¹¹
Substitute: Broker hardship provision²

Exam

Nebraska Real Estate Broker Examination (national and state sections)³
Given by: Pearson VUE¹⁷
Passing score: 75%¹²
When you can take it: After the Commission approves the application; Pearson then emails eligibility.⁶
National section³
State-specific section⁶
Retakes: Retakes allowed during the eligibility period with a new retake application and exam fee each time.¹⁷
Time limit: License must be issued within 30 days of passing or the exam must be retaken; application and background report valid 1 year.¹²
Exam waived: No Nebraska exam for license recognition applicants (licensed in their state of residence); they take the 3-hour course 0604R instead.¹⁹

Business requirements

Designated brokers operating as an entity or trade name must register with the Commission and the Nebraska Secretary of State before doing business³

Business requirements

Designated brokers maintain a trust account per Title 299 ch. 3³

Fees

How to apply

1. Check eligibility: at least 19, high school diploma/GED (or home-school evidence), lawful presence, and 2 years of full-time salesperson experience (or part-time equivalent).¹²
2. Before supervising other licensees as designated broker, complete course 6000.²²

Renewal

Renewal fee

$220⁵

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 Nebraska, you can confirm the license is current on the board's own search. Every board we cover in Nebraska is on the Nebraska license lookup page.

Look up a license

nrec.igovsolution.net¹

File a complaint

nrec.nebraska.gov¹

Laws and rules

The requirements above come from these laws and board rules.

• Neb. Rev. Stat. 81-885.01 to 81-885.56 (Nebraska Real Estate License Act), incl. 81-885.13 (education)
• Neb. Rev. Stat. 81-885.17 (license recognition course)
• Title 299 NAC (Nebraska Real Estate Commission rules), ch. 1 and ch. 8
• NREC Fee Schedule (Updated January 2026)
• Neb. Rev. Stat. 4-108 to 4-114 (lawful presence) - cited in Commission checklist

Rule changes since January 2024

• January 1, 2026: Salesperson pre-license education must include a 30-hour Real Estate License Law course and a 30-hour Principles and Practices course.¹³
• January 1, 2025: Errors and omissions insurance policies must have a two-year term.⁷

Common questions

Real estate agent licenses in other states

• Alabama
• Alaska
• Arkansas
• California
• Colorado
• Connecticut
• Delaware
• District of Columbia
• Florida
• Hawaii
• Idaho
• Illinois
• Indiana
• Iowa
• Kansas
• Kentucky
• Louisiana
• Maine
• Maryland
• Massachusetts
• Michigan
• Missouri
• Nevada
• New Hampshire
• New Jersey
• New Mexico
• North Carolina
• North Dakota
• Oklahoma
• Pennsylvania
• Rhode Island
• South Carolina
• South Dakota
• Texas
• Vermont
• Virginia
• Washington
• West Virginia
• Wisconsin
• Wyoming