From the picturesque Blue Ridge Mountains, to the hustle and bustle of Atlanta, to the historic architecture and leafy squares of Savannah, Georgia offers a wide variety of landscapes to call home.
The Georgia real estate market has made a significant recovery in recent years, with the median home price increasing to $189,000 from a low of $109,000 in 2012. Real estate is especially booming in Atlanta, where the median home price has climbed to over $260,000.
Every day, more Georgia real estate agents are choosing to take their careers to the next level by earning a broker license. Unlike salespeople, brokers in Georgia can open their own firms and hire agents to work for them, resulting in a much higher potential income.
how to become a georgia real estate agent
If you’re looking to become a Georgia real estate broker, we have good news: The Peach State has fairly flexible requirements for real estate broker licensing. In this guide, you’ll learn exactly what it takes to get your real estate broker license in Georgia.
How Much Money Can a Real Estate Broker Make in Georgia?
Most Georgia real estate brokers earn their salaries via commission—that is, they take home a percentage of each real estate sale that they and their agents close.
According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Georgia real estate brokers earn $60,130 a year on average, while ZipRecruiter estimates a mean salary at $75,469. While this is below the national broker average, it’s worth noting that Georgia ranks 11th in the country for cost of living, which means that this amount will go much further than in most states.
Qualifications
To qualify for a real estate broker license in Georgia, you must:
- Be at least 21 years old;
- Have a high school diploma or GED;
- Pass a criminal background check;
- Meet the minimum real estate agent experience requirements; and
- Successfully complete Georgia’s 60-hour broker prelicensing course.
5 Steps to Become a Licensed Real Estate Broker in Georgia
Georgia broker licensing is governed by the Georgia Real Estate Commission. The state’s process for qualifying and certifying brokers in Georgia boils down to five key steps:
- Experience
- Education
- Background Check
- Examination
- Application
How Long Does it Take to Become a Broker in Georgia?
Your timeline for earning your Georgia broker license depends on how much experience you have in real estate to start with. If, for instance, you’re already an experienced broker from a state that offers reciprocity with Georgia, you may be able to waive certain requirements and get your broker license in a matter of months.
However, if you’re new to the real estate industry, it may take as many as four years to meet the Georgia real estate broker requirements.
Step #1. Satisfy The Georgia Experience Requirements
Like most states, Georgia requires that broker applicants have a certain amount of experience as an active real estate sales agent. However, while most states only require two years of agent experience, Georgia broker applicants must hold an active real estate license for a minimum of three years, within the previous five years, to qualify for the broker exam.
If you plan to use agent or broker experience gained in another state to meet this requirement, you must include a certification of your license history from that state with your application.
Step #2. Complete the Georgia Real Estate Broker Education Requirements
Georgia real estate broker applicants must complete a 60-hour broker pre-licensing course covering both Georgia and national real estate laws and practices. A list of approved programs is available on the Georgia Real Estate Commission’s website.
Step #3. Complete a Background Check
Every Georgia broker license candidate must obtain certified criminal history report through the Georgia Crime information Center (GCIC). You may obtain a GCIC report from most local sheriff’s offices or police stations in Georgia. Broker candidates who do not reside in Georgia should obtain an equivalent criminal background report from their state of residence, or the FBI’s National Crime Information Center (NCIC).
If you’ve been convicted of a crime or sanctioned by any licensing or regulatory agency of any kind, you must include this information on your broker application. Failure to disclose a conviction or disciplinary action may result in denial of a license.
Bring a copy of your background report to your Georgia broker exam testing center (not the Commission) prior to receiving a license.
Step #4. Pass the Georgia Real Estate Broker License Exam
The Georgia state broker exam is written and administered by PSI/AMP, a private company.
Unlike most state broker exams, which test general broker knowledge through a series of multiple choice questions, the Georgia exam is based on “simulation problems.” These problems present the examinee with a real estate scenario or dilemma. The examinee must then use their knowledge of Georgia and national real estate laws and practices to gather relevant information and recommend a course of action or solution. The exam contains a total of 11 simulation problems, 9 of which are scored.
For Georgia broker exam preparation advice and sample simulation problems, consult the Georgia Real Estate Commission’s study guide.
Step #5. Apply for Your Broker License Within 12 Months
After passing the exam, Georgia broker applicants affiliating with their existing real estate firm as an associate broker will receive an active license directly from PSI/AMP will be issued an active broker license.
All other applicants will receive an “inactive” broker license, which can be activated after submitting additional application paperwork. For instance, a broker opening his or her own brokerage must submit the “Open A Firm” application to the Commission. Applicants who plan to become the lead broker of an existing firm must submit a “Change of Qualifying Broker” application.
