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RE License Guide

Arizona real estate licensing

Arizona Real Estate Salesperson License requirements

A practical, source-checked guide to qualifying, passing the exam, applying, and keeping this license active.

Gabriel Giner

By Gabriel Giner, Editor  ·  Verified  ·  RE License Guide Editorial Desk

Source checked 12 official references Next review 2026-12-01
Required education
90-hour salesperson pre-licensing + 6-hour Contract Writing
Exam fee
$75
Published fees
See fee table
Typical timeline
90 hours plus the 6-hour Contract Writing course plus DPS card processing (electronic often 24–48 hours after printing
01

What to know first

Arizona's regulator is the Arizona Department of Real Estate — ADRE, not DRE. DRE is California. Searching azre.gov for a DRE form, a Live Scan RE 237, or a PSI bulletin is wasted time. Pearson's February 2026 Arizona Real Estate Candidate Handbook (#090300, fetched 2026-09-02) and Pearson's Arizona page (last updated 2026-07-30) are explicit: Arizona Real Estate examinations are not available through OnVUE; all sittings are at a Pearson authorized test center in Arizona (Chandler, Flagstaff, Phoenix, Tucson, Yuma on the handbook back cover). Colorado and Ohio sit PSI. Arizona sits Pearson. That vendor split is the first way this paper cannot be renamed.

Live A.R.S. § 32-2124(B) fetched 2026-09-02 is the hour bible, and it is not the classroom-only slogan older blogs still freeze. The salesperson course is at least ninety classroom hours, or the equivalent, at a commissioner-certified school, with a school examination the applicant must pass. An applicant may complete that course through a live classroom course or a distance learning course if the school is certified. The applicant must complete a proctored examination on the live classroom course or the distance learning course in person. Instructional segments may be any combination of in-person or synchronous remote delivery. Course completion may not be more than ten years before the date of application unless the commissioner finds equivalent work-plus-education. Live ADRE Salesperson License page (azre.gov/about/services/salesperson-license, fetched 2026-09-02) restates the documents: 90-hour Salesperson Pre-licensing Course Certificate completed within 10 years of application submission; 6-hour Contract Writing Course Certificate completed within 2 years of application submission. A.R.S. § 32-2124(L) is what that 6-hour course actually is: instruction in real estate contract law and contract writing that includes participation by the applicant in drafting contracts to purchase real property, listing agreements and lease agreements. It is not CE and it is not a topic you postpone until first renewal.

Pearson split the original salesperson exam effective with the January 1, 2026 state outline. Original candidates now sit two independently scheduled, independently scored papers. Live handbook Examination Information table: Arizona Real Estate Sales - General, 80 scored questions, 5 pretest, 85 total, 150 minutes; Arizona Real Estate Sales - State, 60 scored questions, 5 pretest, 65 total, 90 minutes. Back-cover fee table: General $70, State $60, combo discount of $75 available when scheduling these exams back to back. Live Pearson scheduling page: for the two-for-one combo you register for both exams and on the next screen select "Add another exam to take on the same day." Score explanation: the examination score is reported as a percent score; you need to answer 75% of questions correctly in order to pass. 75% of 80 is 60 and 75% of 60 is 45 — the handbook prints 75%, not those raw cuts, and this hub does not invent 60 or 45 as official bulletin numbers. Fail a paper, wait twenty-four (24) hours before reserving a retake of that paper; retake cost equals the initial paper. After a second fail, a one-time 30-minute exam-playback appointment is available within 14 days, before any additional sitting, by calling (888) 405-5776 (reviews cannot be scheduled online). Apply to ADRE within one year of passing (live salesperson page; A.R.S. § 32-2125.01). Passing Pearson is not a license. ADRE still wants the Disciplinary Action Disclosure, a Level 1 Non-IVP Fingerprint Clearance Card from the Arizona Department of Public Safety, and proof of authorized legal presence under A.R.S. § 41-1080.

Live ADRE Fees page (azre.gov/all-adre-resources/fees, fetched 2026-09-02): original salesperson License Fee $50 plus Real Estate Recovery Fund $10, Total $60. Timely renewal $60; late renewal $125; reinstatement per A.R.S. § 32-2131 $5. That same Fees page prints Examination Application and Examination Fees, combined $75 for salesperson — Pearson's cart is $70 + $60 with a $75 combo. This hub will not merge those two carts; pay the vendor in front of you. Live AZDPS Fingerprint Clearance Card page: DPS fee is currently $67.00, non-refundable under A.R.S. § 41-1750(J), card valid six (6) years; Fieldprint/vendor fingerprinting is extra and DPS does not fingerprint the public. Live Recovery Fund page: $30,000.00 per transaction regardless of the number of people with claims; $90,000.00 total per licensee (A.R.S. §§ 32-2186 through 32-2193.02).

Arizona does not offer reciprocity. The inbound noun on the live How to Obtain a License page is Out-of-State License Recognition under A.R.S. § 32-4302: currently licensed at least one year in another state, completed approved education there, passed a license examination there, no revocation/voluntary surrender, no pending discipline. Live Out-of-State License Recognition Salesperson page: State-Specific examination only; license history of at least one year AND either proof of Arizona Residency or a 27-hour pre-licensure certificate if without Arizona residency; still the 6-hour Contract Writing course within 2 years. Live Licensing FAQ still says "You must be an Arizona resident" on the out-of-state path — the dedicated salesperson recognition page is the more specific document list, and this hub will not silently drop the 27-hour non-resident door. A California DRE score report is not an Arizona state paper. Colorado abolished the salesperson title. New Mexico never used it. Nevada is 120 hours. Utah uses sales agent. Arizona is ADRE, Pearson, 90 + 6, DPS Level 1 Non-IVP, 75%, and recognition — this paper cannot be renamed.

02

Your path to the license

Follow these steps in order. Deadlines and affiliation requirements can make a passed exam unusable if they are missed.

  1. Complete the 90-hour salesperson pre-licensing at a commissioner-certified school

    Live A.R.S. § 32-2124(B): live classroom or certified distance; in-person proctored school exam. Certificate ≤10 years at ADRE application. This is not California's three college courses and not Nevada's 120.

  2. Complete the 6-hour Contract Writing course

    A.R.S. § 32-2124(L): drafting purchase contracts, listings, and leases. Live salesperson page: certificate ≤2 years at application. Not CE.

  3. Apply for the DPS Level 1 Non-IVP Fingerprint Clearance Card

    psp.azdps.gov; reason AZ Department of Real Estate – Licensure A.R.S. § 32-2108.01. Live DPS fee $67.00 plus vendor printing. Card valid 6 years. Start this in parallel; ADRE will not issue without it.

  4. Sit Pearson General and State at an Arizona test center

    80/150 min/$70 and 60/90 min/$60, or $75 combo back to back. 75% each. Not OnVUE. Not PSI. Bring the prelicensure certificate. Two signature IDs.

  5. File the ADRE application within one year of passing

    Two score reports (original), Disciplinary Action Disclosure, legal-presence proof, DPS card, 90-hour and 6-hour certificates. Live Fees: $50 license + $10 Recovery Fund = $60, collected once the file is complete. Eligible status still needs a broker hire-on to practice.

  6. Calendar the two-year CE cycle

    A.R.S. § 32-2130: 24 credit hours per 24-month period for salespersons. Live Education FAQ: beginning January 1, 2025, 1 hour each of Firewise, Deed Fraud, and Arizona Water as part of those required hours. Submit CE yourself through Licensee Login — schools do not push it to ADRE.

03

Education and eligibility

Minimum age
18 years old
Identification
A Social Security number is required. An ITIN is not confirmed as a substitute.
Residency and identification
Live A.R.S. § 32-2124(D): at least eighteen. Live Pearson handbook: proof of legal presence in the United States (A.R.S. § 41-1080) before holding a state-issued professional license; if the presence document has no photograph, also a government-issued photo ID. Arizona residency is not independently required for an original in-state file. Out-of-state recognition: live salesperson recognition page wants license history of at least one year AND either proof of Arizona Residency or a 27-hour pre-licensure certificate if without Arizona residency. Live Licensing FAQ still prints "You must be an Arizona resident" on the out-of-state path — follow the dedicated recognition document list, and do not invent a compact. Pearson reservations ask for SSN.
Qualifying education
Live A.R.S. § 32-2124(B) fetched 2026-09-02: at least ninety classroom hours, or the equivalent, at a commissioner-certified school, plus a passed school examination. Live classroom OR certified distance learning; the school exam must be a proctored examination completed in person; segments may mix in-person and synchronous remote. Completion not more than ten years before application (commissioner may find equivalent work-plus-education). Live ADRE salesperson page: 90-hour Salesperson Pre-licensing Course Certificate within 10 years of application submission. A.R.S. § 32-2124(L) / live salesperson page: after that 90, six hours of instruction in real estate contract law and contract writing, including participation in drafting contracts to purchase real property, listing agreements and lease agreements — certificate within 2 years of application submission. The 27-hour Arizona-specific course is the piece A.R.S. § 32-2124(B) says the commissioner may not waive for a current out-of-state licensee (except as provided in § 32-4302). A California three-course DRE file, a Nevada 120, and a Colorado 168 are not this 90 + 6. CE does not substitute. NAR Code of Ethics is not an ADRE licensing requirement (live Education FAQ).
Education or filing deadline
90-hour certificate within 10 years of ADRE application (A.R.S. § 32-2124(B); live salesperson page). 6-hour Contract Writing within 2 years of application (live salesperson page). Pearson scores: apply within one year of passing (live salesperson page; handbook; A.R.S. § 32-2125.01). School recertification of a still-fresh 90 is Form LI-245 if the school will not recertify itself (prelicensure education recertification).
Character review
Live Pearson handbook / A.R.S. § 32-2124: honesty, truthfulness, good character and competency (the live statute text fetched 2026-09-02 leads with competency and the age/education/experience bars; the handbook still prints the honesty/truthfulness/good-character clause). Not had a license denied within one year or revoked within two years immediately preceding application. A.R.S. § 32-2124(M) / live Licensing FAQ: the commissioner shall not issue to a person currently incarcerated, paroled, under community supervision, or on probation for a felony; a person with a prior felony or misdemeanor may apply once probation/parole/community service/restitution are completed, and the file still goes through review. Disclose criminal convictions, adverse judgments, and professional-license discipline in writing within 10 business days (live Licensing FAQ) and on the original Disciplinary Action Disclosure; yes answers pull the Disclosure Document Checklist. Non-disclosure is independently fatal. Passing Pearson does not guarantee issuance.
Background process
Level 1 Non-IVP Fingerprint Clearance Card from AZDPS. Live Licensing FAQ: a Fingerprint Clearance Card is required to obtain an original real estate salesperson or broker license. Precluding offenses for a Level One card are in A.R.S. § 41-1758.07(B)–(C). A Regular card under § 41-1758.03 is a different product. Good-cause exceptions run through the Arizona Board of Fingerprinting, a separate agency. Do not invent an IdentoGO dollar on top of the live DPS $67.00.
Experience
No licensed experience for the salesperson license. An employing broker is required to practice (eligible → active hire-on), not to sit Pearson. Broker later: three years of actual experience as a real estate licensee during the five years immediately preceding application (live broker page / A.R.S. § 32-2124(A)(1)).
Broker affiliation
A salesperson practices under a licensed employing / designated broker. Live Licensing FAQ (fetched 2026-09-02): after you pass, ADRE emails a licensee-login number from notifications@azre.gov the same day; the license issues on eligible status and can remain eligible indefinitely if you keep CE current and pay the biennial renewal — eligible is the status that previously was called inactive, and it means ready to be hired. Inactive is now a distinct 15-year shelf that does not require CE until you want to return to eligible or active (A.R.S. § 32-2130(K); after 15 years inactive the commissioner shall require a state-law exam before activating). You may not perform licensed acts until the broker accepts the hire-on in Licensee Login. A PC or PLLC may be added to an individual license for commission purposes; a plain LLC may not.

Documents to prepare

  • 90-hour Salesperson Pre-licensing Course Certificate (≤10 years) from a commissioner-certified school, with the in-person proctored school exam passed
  • 6-hour Contract Writing certificate (≤2 years) covering drafting of purchase contracts, listings, and leases
  • Pearson General score report AND Pearson State-Specific score report (original); State-Specific only for Out-of-State License Recognition
  • Level 1 Non-IVP DPS Fingerprint Clearance Card (copy both sides)
  • Proof of authorized legal presence (A.R.S. § 41-1080)
  • Disciplinary Action Disclosure (and Disclosure Document Checklist attachments if any yes)
  • Salesperson Application Form via Message Center or Licensee Login
04

The licensing exam

Pearson Arizona Real Estate Candidate Handbook February 2026 (#090300) and Content Outlines #090301 (01/2026), fetched 2026-09-02. pearsonvue.com/us/en/az/realestate.html; (888) 405-5776. Test-center only in Arizona; live Pearson page (updated 2026-07-30): Arizona Real Estate examinations are not available through OnVUE. No walk-ins; reserve at least 24 hours ahead; change/cancel 48 hours ahead or forfeit. Arrive 30 minutes early. Two current signature IDs; primary government-issued photo-bearing. Bring the prelicensure education certificate (electronic or physical). Salesperson General: 80 scored + 5 pretest (85 total) / 150 minutes / $70. Salesperson State: 60 scored + 5 pretest (65 total) / 90 minutes / $60. Combo $75 when both are scheduled back to back (live back-cover table and live scheduling page). Passing is a percent score: 75% of questions correctly on each paper. The handbook does not print a raw item cut. Pretest items are not identified and do not affect the score but consume time. National/general outline effective April 1, 2025 (80 scored): I Real Property Characteristics, Legal Descriptions, and Property Use 11; II Forms of Ownership, Transfer, and Recording of Title 9; III Property Value and Appraisal 11; IV Real Estate Contracts and Agency 16; V Real Estate Practice 10; VI Property Disclosures and Environmental Issues 9; VII Financing and Settlement 7; VIII Real Estate Math Calculations 7. Cognitive levels (knowledge / application / analysis) print per major topic. Arizona salesperson state outline effective January 1, 2026 (60 scored + 5 pretest): I Arizona Real Estate Regulatory Framework 5 (sources of law, ADRE scope/duties/powers, Recovery Fund, licensing, licensee activities); II Arizona Consumer Protection Laws 5 (1967 Arizona Consumer Fraud Protection Act, Statute of Frauds, Arizona Fair Housing, Arizona Homestead); III Advertising 5; IV Arizona Agency 6; V Licensee Duties and Obligations 6 (disclosure, seller disclosures, conflicts, compensation, experience/knowledge, timing, cross-sale controversy); VI Licensee Competencies and Duties 6 (new-home sales, property management, timeshare, vacant land, commercial); VII Reasonable Skill and Care 6 (property taxes and special assessments, Arizona utility and environmental regulation); VIII Contracts 8 (employment agreements, purchase contracts, closing, costs); IX Critical Business Services 5 (escrow, title insurance, lending); X Ownership and Encumbrances 5 (HOA and restrictions, easements); XI Foreclosure/Short Sale/Deed in Lieu 3 (Arizona Anti-Deficiency Statute, foreclosure process). Out-of-state recognition salespersons sit the State-Specific paper only (same 60 + 5 / 90 minutes / $60). Memorize 43,560 sq ft/acre and 5,280 feet/mile; proration basis (360 vs 365; who owns the day of closing) prints in the question. Practice tests on the live Pearson page are $19.95 general-only; state-specific practice tests are not available.

Pearson (Pearson VUE / Pearson Professional Assessments), under contract to ADRE. pearsonvue.com/us/en/az/realestate.html; (888) 405-5776. Test-center only in Arizona. Not PSI. Not OnVUE. · Fee: $75

Part Questions Minutes Pass
Salesperson General / national (Arizona Real Estate Sales - General) 80 150 Live Pearson handbook February 2026 Examination Information table: 80 scored questions + 5 pretest = 85 total / 150 minutes. Back-cover fee $70. Combo discount $75 when this paper is scheduled back to back with State (live scheduling page: Add another exam to take on the same day). Score explanation: percent score; you need to answer 75% of questions correctly. 75% of 80 is 60 — the handbook does not print 60 as a raw cut, and this hub does not invent 60 as an official bulletin number. Pretest items mixed in, not identified, not scored, count against time. National outline effective April 1, 2025: Characteristics/descriptions/use 11, ownership/title 9, value/appraisal 11, contracts/agency 16, practice 10, disclosures/environment 9, financing/settlement 7, math 7. Cognitive levels print per topic. Retake = $70 after a 24-hour wait. All sittings at a Pearson authorized test center in Arizona.
Salesperson State (Arizona Real Estate Sales - State) 60 90 Live handbook: 60 scored + 5 pretest = 65 total / 90 minutes / $60, or $75 combo with General. 75% percent score; 75% of 60 is 45 — not printed as a raw cut. State outline effective January 1, 2026 (this is why a pre-2026 combined-sitting blog is already wrong): Regulatory Framework including Recovery Fund 5, Consumer Protection (1967 Consumer Fraud Act, Statute of Frauds, Arizona Fair Housing, Homestead) 5, Advertising 5, Arizona Agency 6, Licensee Duties 6, Competencies (new-home, PM, timeshare, vacant land, commercial) 6, Reasonable Skill and Care (taxes, Arizona utility and environmental regulation) 6, Contracts 8, Escrow/Title/Lending 5, Ownership/Encumbrances/HOA 5, Foreclosure/Short Sale/Deed in Lieu and Arizona Anti-Deficiency Statute 3. Out-of-state recognition uses this State-Specific product only ($60 / 90 minutes / 60+5). Article XXVI, ADRE audits, and the 1980 Groundwater Management Act are heavier on the broker paper — they still leak into how Arizona actually closes.

Live handbook: wait twenty-four (24) hours after taking an exam before reserving a retake of that exam. Reservations cannot be made at the test center. Retake cost equals the initial paper ($70 General / $60 State). No attempt cap printed. After a second fail, one-time 30-minute exam playback of missed items within 14 days of that fail, before any additional sitting; call (888) 405-5776 (live Pearson page: exam reviews cannot be scheduled online). Apply for the license within one year of passing. After a year, the score does not carry. Combo $75 is a same-day scheduling discount, not a merged 240-minute blob — each paper keeps its own clock.

What to study

  • Pearson Arizona Real Estate Candidate Handbook (February 2026, #090300) and Content Outlines (#090301)

    Pearson / ADRE

    Item counts, 75% percent cut, $70/$60/$75, 24-hour retake, Arizona-only test centers, January 1, 2026 state outline including Anti-Deficiency and Recovery Fund.

  • A.R.S. Title 32, Chapter 20 and Commissioner's Rules (A.A.C. Title 4, Chapter 28)

    Arizona Legislature / ADRE

    The statute and rules the state paper tests. Article XXVI of the Arizona Constitution is a broker-outline heading that still explains how Arizona licensees draft incidental documents.

  • ADRE salesperson-license and Fees pages

    ADRE

    10-year 90, 2-year Contract Writing, $50+$10=$60, eligible vs inactive.

  • ADRE Law Book

    ADRE

    Live Fees page: $25 + $7 shipping. Pearson bibliography still names the Arizona Real Estate Law Book as a cemetery/membership reference; the live salesperson outline is the 2026 state paper, not a 2016 edition freeze.

05

Application costs

These are commission or testing-vendor amounts we can cite. School tuition and optional preparation products are private-market prices.

Fee Amount
Application$60
Examination$75
Initial license$60
Renewal (every 2 years)$60
Fingerprints / background check$67

Live ADRE Fees page fetched 2026-09-02: Examination Application and Examination Fees, combined $75 salesperson / $125 broker. Original salesperson License Fee $50 + Real Estate Recovery Fund $10 = Total $60. Original broker $125 + $20 = $145. Timely renewal salesperson $60 / broker $120. Late renewal $125 / $245. Reinstatement per A.R.S. § 32-2131 $5. Entity original/renewal No Fee; branch $60. Law Book $25 + $7 shipping. Pearson Feb 2026 back cover: Sales General $70, Sales State $60, combo $75 back to back, broker $125, OOS salesperson state $60, OOS broker state $125; retake = initial. Application and initialLicense in this object are that same $60 original cart, not stacked. Live DPS page: Fingerprint Clearance Card DPS fee currently $67.00 (vendor printing extra; this hub does not invent the Fieldprint dollar). School tuition is a private-market price. First-time applicants may file the Fee Waiver Request Form (live salesperson page).

Commission

Arizona Department of Real Estate

Message Center at azre.gov; Pearson (888) 405-5776; DPS Fingerprint Clearance Card Section (602) 223-2279

A.R.S. Title 32, Chapter 20 (including §§ 32-2108 / 32-2108.01 fingerprint clearance, 32-2124 qualifications — 90 hours or equivalent, 6-hour contract writing, three years in five for brokers, 27-hour Arizona-specific that cannot be waived, 32-2125.01 exam-to-application year, 32-2130 24/30-hour CE and 15-year inactive exam, 32-2131 reinstatement, 32-2132 fees, 32-2186 through 32-2193.02 Recovery Fund, 32-4302 out-of-state recognition / military-spouse exam waiver). A.A.C. R4-28-402 (CE categories). A.R.S. § 41-1080 legal presence; § 41-1758.03 / § 41-1758.07 fingerprint cards. Live ADRE Salesperson License, Broker License, Out-of-State License Recognition Salesperson, Out-of-State License Recognition Broker, How to Obtain a License, Fees, Education, Recovery Fund, and Licensing FAQ pages fetched 2026-09-02. Live A.R.S. §§ 32-2124 and 32-2130 fetched 2026-09-02. Pearson Arizona Real Estate Candidate Handbook February 2026 (#090300) and Content Outlines (#090301, 01/2026) at pearsonvue.com/us/en/az/realestate.html, fetched 2026-09-02 (Pearson page last updated 2026-07-30: Arizona Real Estate examinations are not available through OnVUE). Live AZDPS Fingerprint Clearance Card page fetched 2026-09-02 (DPS fee currently $67.00). ADRE is ADRE — California is DRE. Pearson is Pearson — Colorado and Ohio sit PSI.
Pre-licensing

90-hour salesperson pre-licensing + 6-hour Contract Writing

Live A.R.S. § 32-2124(B) fetched 2026-09-02: at least ninety classroom hours, or the equivalent, at a commissioner-certified school, plus a passed school examination. Live classroom OR certified distance learning; the school exam must be a proctored examination completed in person; segments may mix in-person and synchronous remote. Completion not more than ten years before application (commissioner may find equivalent work-plus-education). Live ADRE salesperson page: 90-hour Salesperson Pre-licensing Course Certificate within 10 years of application submission. A.R.S. § 32-2124(L) / live salesperson page: after that 90, six hours of instruction in real estate contract law and contract writing, including participation in drafting contracts to purchase real property, listing agreements and lease agreements — certificate within 2 years of application submission. The 27-hour Arizona-specific course is the piece A.R.S. § 32-2124(B) says the commissioner may not waive for a current out-of-state licensee (except as provided in § 32-4302). A California three-course DRE file, a Nevada 120, and a Colorado 168 are not this 90 + 6. CE does not substitute. NAR Code of Ethics is not an ADRE licensing requirement (live Education FAQ).

90-hour certificate within 10 years of ADRE application (A.R.S. § 32-2124(B); live salesperson page). 6-hour Contract Writing within 2 years of application (live salesperson page). Pearson scores: apply within one year of passing (live salesperson page; handbook; A.R.S. § 32-2125.01). School recertification of a still-fresh 90 is Form LI-245 if the school will not recertify itself (prelicensure education recertification).
Sponsoring broker

A salesperson practices under a licensed employing / designated broker. Live Licensing FAQ (fetched 2026-09-02): after you pass, ADRE emails a licensee-login number from notifications@azre.gov the same day; the license issues on eligible status and can remain eligible indefinitely if you keep CE current and pay the biennial renewal — eligible is the status that previously was called inactive, and it means ready to be hired. Inactive is now a distinct 15-year shelf that does not require CE until you want to return to eligible or active (A.R.S. § 32-2130(K); after 15 years inactive the commissioner shall require a state-law exam before activating). You may not perform licensed acts until the broker accepts the hire-on in Licensee Login. A PC or PLLC may be added to an individual license for commission purposes; a plain LLC may not.
Fingerprints

Live ADRE salesperson page: Fingerprint Clearance Card issued by the Arizona Department of Public Safety; instructions on the AZDPS Fingerprint Information page. Pearson handbook and the February 2026 Salesperson Application Form: Valid Level 1 Non-IVP Fingerprint Clearance Card (A.R.S. §§ 32-2108, 32-2108.01, 41-1758.03). Live AZDPS page fetched 2026-09-02: apply at psp.azdps.gov; DPS fee currently $67.00 (volunteer $65.00), non-refundable under A.R.S. § 41-1750(J); additional Fieldprint/vendor fingerprinting fee DPS does not control; DPS does not fingerprint the public; card valid six (6) years; electronic status often 24–48 hours after printing. Reason for applying on the portal: AZ Department of Real Estate – Licensure, A.R.S. § 32-2108.01. A California Live Scan RE 237, a TREC IdentoGO packet, and a Colorado CABS print are not this card. Copy both sides of the card into the ADRE file. ADRE will not issue without it. Pearson passing does not skip DPS.
CE / renewal

Live How to Obtain a License page: original licenses issued for two (2) years; renew on or before the last day of the month in which the license was issued. A.R.S. § 32-2130(A): 24 credit hours per 24-month period for salespersons and associate brokers; 30 for designated brokers or associate brokers employed under § 32-2151.01(G). Commissioner sets content by rule (A.A.C. R4-28-402). Live Education FAQ: 1 hour each Firewise, Deed Fraud, and Arizona Water beginning January 1, 2025, as part of the required hours — not a printed add-on that makes 27. SPS 2005.14: 3 hours in each of six mandatory categories totaling 24; Fair Housing Issues is named; commercial-only specialists may petition a substitute. Submit certificates yourself through Licensee Login (course number, start, end). Surplus hours in a category flow to Elective. Live Education FAQ: NAR Code of Ethics is not an ADRE licensing requirement. A.R.S. § 32-2130(B): hours completed after expiration may count if you renew within one year. A.R.S. § 32-2130(F): rights expire between expiration and renewal; the department shall terminate a license expired more than one year. Inactive licensees do not need CE until they want eligible/active back; after 15 years inactive, a state-law exam is required (A.R.S. § 32-2130(K)).

Live Fees page: late renewal salesperson $125 (timely $60). Reinstatement per A.R.S. § 32-2131 $5. Unlawful License Activity Statement (LI-555) if renewing late (live Where do I renew page). After more than one year expired, the license is terminated (A.R.S. § 32-2130(F)) — that is not a back-fee reinstatement.
Recovery fund

Live Recovery Fund page (azre.gov/consumers/recovery-fund, fetched 2026-09-02): A.R.S. §§ 32-2186 through 32-2193.02. Fund of last resort after an uncollectible judgment against a licensed salesperson or broker (the judgment must include the employing broker, not a corporation/partnership/fictitious entity). Caps printed on that live page: $30,000.00 per transaction regardless of the number of people with claims; $90,000.00 total per licensee. Action for judgment that results in an Order for Payment must be begun no later than 5 years after the cause of action. Live Fees page: original salesperson includes a $10 Recovery Fund surcharge ($20 for original broker). Recovery Fund is a scored state-outline topic (salesperson I.C, 5-item Regulatory Framework band; broker statutes band 28). It is not E&O and not a surety bond you shop. A paid claim can affect the license.
06

Mistakes that delay applicants

  • Calling the regulator DRE

    Arizona is ADRE. DRE is California. Live pages, the handbook, and Title 32 all say Arizona Department of Real Estate.

  • Booking PSI or OnVUE

    Live Pearson page updated 2026-07-30: Arizona Real Estate examinations are not available through OnVUE. ADRE contracted Pearson. Colorado/Ohio PSI scores do not post.

  • Trusting a classroom-only 90-hour blog

    Live A.R.S. § 32-2124(B) fetched 2026-09-02 allows certified distance learning with an in-person proctored school exam. The live ADRE salesperson page still wants the 90-hour certificate within 10 years. Do not invent a 10-hour-per-day cap the live pages this hub fetched do not print.

  • Letting Contract Writing age past two years

    Live salesperson page: 6-hour Contract Writing Course Certificate within 2 years of application, separate from the 10-year 90-hour clock. A.R.S. § 32-2124(L) wants drafting of purchase contracts, listings, and leases.

  • Studying a pre-2026 combined 180-question salesperson outline

    Effective January 1, 2026 the salesperson exam is two papers: 80/150 min and 60/90 min, 75% each, $70+$60 or $75 combo. The 180-question single paper is the broker exam.

  • Inventing a 60/45 raw cut

    The handbook prints 75% of questions correctly. It does not print 60 of 80 or 45 of 60. This hub does not invent those as official cuts.

  • Calling it reciprocity

    The inbound path is Out-of-State License Recognition. It still includes the Arizona state exam. Non-residents on the salesperson recognition page add 27 hours.

  • Skipping the DPS card

    Level 1 Non-IVP from AZDPS is a listed original-license document. Live DPS fee $67.00. Pearson passing does not skip DPS.

  • Thinking you have one year to activate

    Live FAQ: one year to apply after passing. Eligible can sit indefinitely with CE and renewal. Inactive is the 15-year no-CE shelf. You still need a broker hire-on to practice.

  • Waiting for the school to push CE to ADRE

    Live Education FAQ: you receive a certificate and you submit it through Licensee Login. Outside-state CE and NAR ethics do not post unless the course is ADRE-approved.

  • Renaming this paper to California, Colorado, or Nevada

    California is DRE 150. Colorado is 168 named hours and no salesperson title. Nevada is 120. Arizona is ADRE, 90 + 6, Pearson 80/60 at 75%, DPS Level 1 Non-IVP.

07

Reciprocity and recognition

Partner / path Accepted exam Conditions
No formal bilateral reciprocity is published for this credential.

Arizona does not offer reciprocity. Live How to Obtain a License page (fetched 2026-09-02): Out-of-State License Recognition under A.R.S. § 32-4302 — currently licensed at least one year, completed approved education in the other state, passed a license examination there, no revocation or voluntary surrender, no pending complaint. Live salesperson recognition page: State-Specific Pearson only; license history ≥1 year; WITH Arizona residency, proof of residency; WITHOUT Arizona residency, 27-hour pre-licensure certificate; still the 6-hour Contract Writing course within 2 years; still DPS card and legal presence. A.R.S. § 32-2124(J): a current equivalent out-of-state licensee is exempt from the national portion. A.R.S. § 32-2124(N): the commissioner shall require the out-of-state § 32-4302 applicant to pass an examination specific to Arizona law. Live Licensing FAQ still says you must be an Arizona resident — this hub reports both sentences and follows the dedicated document list for the 27-hour non-resident door. Military-spouse exam waiver: A.R.S. § 32-4302(A) via Licensing Division Message Center (live How to Obtain page). A California DRE score, a Colorado PSI score, and a Nevada NRED seat are not this state paper.

08

Renewal and staying active

Live How to Obtain a License page: original licenses issued for two (2) years; renew on or before the last day of the month in which the license was issued. A.R.S. § 32-2130(A): 24 credit hours per 24-month period for salespersons and associate brokers; 30 for designated brokers or associate brokers employed under § 32-2151.01(G). Commissioner sets content by rule (A.A.C. R4-28-402). Live Education FAQ: 1 hour each Firewise, Deed Fraud, and Arizona Water beginning January 1, 2025, as part of the required hours — not a printed add-on that makes 27. SPS 2005.14: 3 hours in each of six mandatory categories totaling 24; Fair Housing Issues is named; commercial-only specialists may petition a substitute. Submit certificates yourself through Licensee Login (course number, start, end). Surplus hours in a category flow to Elective. Live Education FAQ: NAR Code of Ethics is not an ADRE licensing requirement. A.R.S. § 32-2130(B): hours completed after expiration may count if you renew within one year. A.R.S. § 32-2130(F): rights expire between expiration and renewal; the department shall terminate a license expired more than one year. Inactive licensees do not need CE until they want eligible/active back; after 15 years inactive, a state-law exam is required (A.R.S. § 32-2130(K)).

Late renewal: Live Fees page: late renewal salesperson $125 (timely $60). Reinstatement per A.R.S. § 32-2131 $5. Unlawful License Activity Statement (LI-555) if renewing late (live Where do I renew page). After more than one year expired, the license is terminated (A.R.S. § 32-2130(F)) — that is not a back-fee reinstatement.

Renew through Licensee Login after CE is entered and verified. Live Where do I renew: https://az.gov/webapp/dre/. After approval the license shows inactive until the broker hire-on is accepted.

Applicant checklist

  • 90-hour Salesperson Pre-licensing Course Certificate (≤10 years) from a commissioner-certified school, in-person proctored school exam passed
  • 6-hour Contract Writing certificate (≤2 years) covering purchase contracts, listings, and leases
  • Level 1 Non-IVP DPS Fingerprint Clearance Card (copy both sides); live DPS fee $67
  • Pearson General 80/150 min at 75% AND State 60/90 min at 75% (or $75 combo); test center in Arizona; apply within one year
  • Disciplinary Action Disclosure and, if yes, Disclosure Document Checklist attachments
  • Proof of authorized legal presence (A.R.S. § 41-1080)
  • ADRE original $60 ($50 + $10 Recovery Fund) once the file is complete
  • Broker hire-on from eligible to active before practicing
  • 24-hour CE / two years including Firewise, Deed Fraud, and Arizona Water (1 hour each as of January 1, 2025)
09

How Arizona is different

California is DRE, three college-level statutory courses, a DRE-written 150-question salesperson exam, Live Scan RE 237, and no reciprocity. Nevada is 120 hours after October 1, 2021 and NRED's own exam-registration portal before Pearson. Colorado abolished the salesperson title: entry is associate broker after 168 named hours on PSI, and out-of-state salesperson years do not count toward independent or employing. New Mexico issues associate broker / qualifying broker. Utah uses sales agent at 120. Arizona is ADRE (not DRE), 90 hours plus a 6-hour Contract Writing course that must be fresh within two years, Pearson (not PSI) at a test center in Arizona, two salesperson papers at 75%, a DPS Level 1 Non-IVP card, and Out-of-State License Recognition instead of reciprocity.

10

Frequently asked questions

Is the regulator ADRE or DRE?
ADRE — Arizona Department of Real Estate (azre.gov). DRE is California. Live salesperson and broker pages, the Pearson handbook cover, and A.R.S. Title 32, Chapter 20 all say ADRE / Arizona Department of Real Estate. Do not mail a California DRE file to Phoenix.
Who seats the exam — Pearson or PSI?
Pearson. Live ADRE salesperson and broker pages: third party testing vendor, Pearson. Live handbook February 2026 and live Pearson page updated 2026-07-30: Arizona Real Estate examinations are not available through OnVUE; all sittings at a Pearson authorized test center in Arizona. (888) 405-5776. Colorado and Ohio sit PSI. A PSI score is not an Arizona score.
How many pre-licensing hours? Verified from the live page, not a blog.
Live ADRE Salesperson License page fetched 2026-09-02: 90-hour Salesperson Pre-licensing Course Certificate (within 10 years of application) PLUS 6-hour Contract Writing Course Certificate (within 2 years). Live A.R.S. § 32-2124(B): at least ninety classroom hours, or the equivalent, at a certified school, with a passed school exam. Live classroom OR certified distance learning; the school exam must be proctored in person. A 2023 blog that still says classroom-only is already behind the live statute. The 6 hours are A.R.S. § 32-2124(L): drafting purchase contracts, listings, and leases — not CE.
Exam items, time, cut, fee?
Live Pearson handbook February 2026 table: General 80 scored + 5 pretest / 150 minutes / $70; State 60 scored + 5 pretest / 90 minutes / $60; combo $75 back to back. Percent score; 75% of questions correctly on each paper. 75% of 80 is 60 and 75% of 60 is 45 — the handbook prints 75%, not those raw cuts. Live ADRE Fees page prints combined examination $75. Two carts; pay the one in front of you. 24-hour retake wait. Apply within one year of passing.
Can I sit OnVUE from home?
No. Live Pearson page (updated 2026-07-30): Arizona Real Estate examinations are not available through OnVUE. Handbook: all examinations must take place at a Pearson authorized test center in Arizona. (Temporary OnVUE language on that page is for Arizona Notary exams beginning August 1, 2026 — not real estate.)
Does Arizona have reciprocity?
No. The live How to Obtain a License page names Out-of-State License Recognition under A.R.S. § 32-4302. Live salesperson recognition page: State-Specific exam only, license history ≥1 year, and either Arizona residency proof or 27 hours if you do not have Arizona residency, plus still the 6-hour Contract Writing course. Live Licensing FAQ still says you must be an Arizona resident — this hub reports both and follows the dedicated document list for the 27-hour door.
What does original issuance cost at ADRE?
Live Fees page: License Fee $50 + Real Estate Recovery Fund $10 = Total $60. Timely renewal $60; late $125; reinstatement $5. Pearson is separate ($75 combo / $70 / $60). DPS Fingerprint Clearance Card is currently $67.00 on the live AZDPS page plus vendor printing.
Fingerprints?
Level 1 Non-IVP Fingerprint Clearance Card from AZDPS (A.R.S. §§ 32-2108.01, 41-1758.03). Live DPS: $67.00 DPS fee, 6-year card, psp.azdps.gov, reason AZ Department of Real Estate – Licensure. Copy both sides into the ADRE file. Not Live Scan RE 237. Not IdentoGO. Not CABS.
Do I have only one year to activate after I am licensed?
No. Live Licensing FAQ: that is a common misconception. You have one year to apply after passing. Once issued, eligible status can remain eligible indefinitely if you keep CE current and pay the biennial renewal. Eligible is the old inactive; current inactive is a 15-year no-CE shelf (A.R.S. § 32-2130(K)). You still need a broker hire-on to practice.
What CE is named?
A.R.S. § 32-2130(A): 24 credit hours per 24-month period for salespersons and associate brokers (30 for designated brokers and for associate brokers employed under § 32-2151.01(G)). Live Education FAQ fetched 2026-09-02: beginning January 1, 2025, as part of those required hours, 1 hour each of Firewise, Deed Fraud, and Arizona Water. SPS 2005.14: minimum of three credit hours in each of the six mandatory categories, totaling 24 Department-approved hours; Fair Housing Issues is one named mandatory category; commercial-only specialists may petition to substitute. Live Education FAQ does not print the other five category names — A.A.C. R4-28-402(A)(5) is the authority, and Licensee Login shows remaining category deficits. You submit CE yourself; schools do not push completions to ADRE. NAR Code of Ethics is not an ADRE CE requirement. Outside-state CE does not count unless the course is ADRE-approved.
Recovery Fund caps?
Live Recovery Fund page: $30,000.00 per transaction regardless of the number of people with claims; $90,000.00 total per licensee. Original salesperson $10 surcharge / original broker $20 on the live Fees page. Scored on the state outline.
What is scored Arizona, not NAR trivia?
Arizona Anti-Deficiency Statute, 1967 Consumer Fraud Act, Arizona Fair Housing, homestead, HOA restrictions, Recovery Fund, ADRE (not DRE), and — on the broker paper — Article XXVI, the 1980 Groundwater Management Act / AMAs, deed-of-trust foreclosure, and ADRE audits. This paper cannot be renamed to California's DRE 150, Colorado's 168-hour associate broker, or Nevada's 120.

Primary Sources

Regulatory requirements on this page are drawn from the official board, statute, and exam-provider materials listed below.

  1. ADRE — Salesperson License (90-hour / 10-year, 6-hour Contract Writing / 2-year, two Pearson reports)
  2. ADRE — How to Obtain a License (2-year term; Out-of-State License Recognition / A.R.S. § 32-4302)
  3. ADRE — Out-of-State License Recognition Salesperson (state exam; residency or 27 hours)
  4. ADRE — Fees (original $50+$10=$60; exam combined $75; renewal $60/$125)
  5. ADRE — Education (Firewise / Deed Fraud / Arizona Water 1 hour each as of Jan 1, 2025)
  6. ADRE — Recovery Fund ($30,000/transaction; $90,000/licensee)
  7. ADRE — Licensing Division FAQ (eligible vs inactive; one-year-to-apply not one-year-to-activate)
  8. A.R.S. § 32-2124 (90 hours or equivalent, distance + in-person proctored school exam, 6-hour contract writing, 27-hour Arizona-specific)
  9. A.R.S. § 32-2130 (24-hour salesperson CE / 30-hour designated-broker CE; 15-year inactive exam)
  10. Pearson — Arizona Real Estate Candidate Handbook February 2026 (#090300)
  11. Pearson — Arizona Real Estate (not OnVUE; combo scheduling; (888) 405-5776)
  12. AZDPS — Fingerprint Clearance Card (Level 1 Non-IVP; DPS fee $67; 6-year card)

Verified 2026-09-02  ·  Next scheduled review 2026-12-01