Idaho real estate licensing
Idaho Real Estate Broker License requirements
A practical, source-checked guide to qualifying, passing the exam, applying, and keeping this license active.
By Gabriel Giner, Editor · Verified · RE License Guide Editorial Desk
- Required education
- 90 hours: Brokerage Management 28 + Real Estate Law 30 + two electives; designated adds BCOO unless Management already counts
- Exam fee
- $83
- Published fees
- $83
- Typical timeline
- Named 90 hours (live/Zoom) plus fingerprints up to 12 weeks plus Pearson
What to know first
An Idaho associate broker license requires a different 90 hours from the salesperson Module 1 + Module 2. DOPL's education-applicants page requires Brokerage Management (28 hours) and Real Estate Law (30 hours) plus two electives from a set list: Real Estate Finance 20, Valuation & Analysis 20, Idaho GRI 101/102 as one elective (12+12), GRI 201/202 as one elective, or CCIM CI 101–104 (29/29/32/29; online only if ARELLO-certified; CI 103 and 104 live only, with no challenge option). All courses must be completed within three years of your application. Courses are live or by Zoom; the self-paced option available for salesperson courses does not apply. You need 100% attendance and 70% on each final.
A designated broker or branch office manager must also complete Business Conduct & Office Operations (BCOO) within three years and file office paperwork (trust-account notification, company application). Completing Brokerage Management within that three-year period satisfies BCOO. Licensed Idaho attorneys currently practicing law may request a waiver of the broker Real Estate Law course, and active appraisers currently practicing may request a waiver of Valuation & Analysis, by sending a written request to [email protected] with proof of active licensure. The Pearson exam is still $83. The broker passing score is a scaled 75, not 70. The state portion has 50 scored items, not 40, including a broker-only brokerage management section worth 20%. Fingerprints are required even if you already hold an Idaho salesperson license. Broker coursework from Washington or Nevada will not count as Brokerage Management 28 + Law 30.
Your path to the license
Follow these steps in order. Deadlines and affiliation requirements can make a passed exam unusable if they are missed.
-
Brokerage Management 28 + Law 30 + two electives (live or Zoom)
Salesperson Module 1+2 does not count. Complete within three years, with 70% finals and 100% attendance. CCIM 103/104 are live only.
-
New Pearson fingerprints + Pearson $83 at scaled 75 (80 items / 150 min + 50 items / 90 min)
Required even if you are already an Idaho salesperson. Select the broker license type on the fingerprint reservation.
-
Designated broker or branch manager: BCOO (or Management in its place) and office paperwork
Trust-account notification, company application, and firm E&O if not a sole proprietorship. Complete within three years of application.
How long the 90-hour course takes
Coursework is usually the longest step you control. Weeks below are classroom or online hours only; add application processing, fingerprint clearance, and exam scheduling from the roadmap above.
- Part-time
- 9 weeksabout 10 hrs/week
- Steady
- 5 weeksabout 20 hrs/week
- Full-time
- 3 weeksabout 40 hrs/week
Overall estimate from our source review: Named 90 hours (live/Zoom) plus fingerprints up to 12 weeks plus Pearson. Courses must fall within three years of your application. A designated broker also needs BCOO and office paperwork.
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
- Active out-of-state licensees may request the same waiver of the national portion and education; they still take the Idaho portion. Attorney and appraiser course waivers require a written request to [email protected] with proof of active practice. The education-applicants page does not state separate experience requirements for associate versus designated brokers; check the application forms (REE041) for that requirement.
- Qualifying education
- IREC's education-applicants page lists Brokerage Management (28), on how to set up and run a brokerage office under Idaho law, and Real Estate Law (30), on interests in real estate and contract law with an Idaho emphasis, plus two electives from Real Estate Finance (20), Valuation & Analysis (20), GRI 101+102 as one elective, GRI 201+202 as one elective, or CCIM CI 101–104 (online only if ARELLO-certified; CI 103 and 104 live only, not by challenge). Courses are live classroom or Zoom, not self-paced, with 100% attendance, 70% finals, and a three-year limit. Salesperson Module 1+2 does not count toward these 90 hours. BCOO (agency, trust accounting, transaction files) is required within three years for a designated broker or branch manager unless Brokerage Management was already completed within that period.
- Education or filing deadline
- Courses must be completed within the three years immediately before your application. Designated brokers and branch managers must complete BCOO within three years.
- Character review
- New fingerprints plus Commission review.
- Background process
- Pearson fingerprints are required again when you upgrade. Results are valid six months.
- Experience
- IREC FAQ (Getting a License): at least two (2) years of full-time, active experience as a licensed real estate salesperson within the five (5) years immediately before the application. The Commission currently requires 15 completed sales and/or listings resulting in at least $2 million in total volume. If you fall short, you can file a written special-consideration request. A designated broker or branch manager also files office paperwork and completes BCOO (or Management in its place).
- Broker affiliation
- An associate broker still works under a designated broker. A designated broker or branch manager files office paperwork (REE088 trust-account notification; company application REE150 / REE058 / REE147 / REE116 / REE148 / REE149) and completes BCOO (or Management in its place). Entities other than sole proprietorships carry separate firm E&O. Assumed business names and out-of-state authority are filed with the Idaho Secretary of State, and IREC requires file-stamped copies.
Documents to prepare
- Brokerage Management 28 + Law 30 + two electives (≤3 years old), 70% finals, 100% attendance, live or Zoom
- Two years of full-time active salesperson experience in the last five, with 15 completed sales and/or listings totaling at least $2 million (IREC FAQ), or a written special-consideration request
- BCOO, or Management in its place, for a designated broker or branch manager
- Pearson broker passing results (80 and 50 items, scaled 75), or an IREC general-portion waiver plus the Idaho portion
- New fingerprint approval (valid 6 months)
- $135 initial + $20 recovery fund (2026 fees) + E&O; trust-account and company forms if designated
The licensing exam
Pearson broker examination, $83, 4 hours (General 150 minutes, State 90 minutes). National: 80 scored + 5 pretest items, scaled 75. State: 50 scored + 5–10 pretest items (outline effective July 15, 2017), scaled 75. The broker-only section VII, brokerage management, is 20% (supervision, maintaining a brokerage license, brokerage operations). You are eligible only after completing the required 90 hours. The same one-year deadlines apply to retaking a failed section and to applying. New fingerprints are required. If you hold an active out-of-state license, you can waive the general portion with the same IREC form salespersons use.
Pearson VUE, $83, 4 hours (150 + 90). Handbook #091300. Scaled 75 to pass. · Fee: $83
| Part | Questions | Minutes | Pass |
|---|---|---|---|
| Broker General / National | 80 | 150 | 75% |
| Broker Idaho State Law | 50 | 90 | 75% |
Scoring details from the candidate handbook
- Broker General / National: 80 scored + 5 pretest items; 150 minutes; scaled 75 (not the salesperson 70). $83 combined. January 2025 broker outline: 10+8+10+15+12+9+8+8
- Broker Idaho State Law: 50 scored + 5–10 pretest items; 90 minutes; scaled 75. Outline: Commission 4%, licensing 4%, license law 30%, agency 20%, closing costs 10%, Idaho principles 12%, brokerage management 20% (broker only)
The same $83 applies even for one section. You have one year from your first passed section to pass the other section and to apply. As a broker candidate, do not take the 40-item salesperson state exam (scaled 70).
What to study
-
Brokerage Management (28 hours)
IREC-approved provider
Also satisfies BCOO when completed within the designated broker three-year period. Live or Zoom.
-
Idaho Real Estate Law (30 hours)
IREC-approved provider
Attorneys can request a waiver in writing with proof of active practice.
-
BCOO course / IREC License Law and Rules booklet
IREC-approved provider / IREC
Trust accounting, transaction files, agency. Brokerage management is a broker-only 20% of the state exam.
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 | $135 |
| Examination | $83 |
| Initial license | $135 |
The same 2026 fee-holiday notes apply as for salespersons. $20 recovery fund. $83 Pearson. Entity/branch initial $50 / renewal $0. Firm E&O for entities other than sole proprietorships. Check current fees on the IREC Fees page.
Published state fees
$353
Application, exam, initial-license, and fingerprint amounts cited above. Excludes school tuition.
| Commission | Idaho Real Estate Commission (Division of Occupational and Professional Licenses) (208) 334-3233 Idaho Code Title 54, Chapter 20 (including § 54-2023 CE, §§ 54-2069–54-2070 recovery fund). Pearson VUE Idaho Real Estate Candidate Handbook #091300 (July 2024). State outline effective July 15, 2017. National salesperson/broker outlines effective January 2025. |
|---|---|
| Pre-licensing | 90 hours: Brokerage Management 28 + Real Estate Law 30 + two electives; designated adds BCOO unless Management already counts IREC's education-applicants page lists Brokerage Management (28), on how to set up and run a brokerage office under Idaho law, and Real Estate Law (30), on interests in real estate and contract law with an Idaho emphasis, plus two electives from Real Estate Finance (20), Valuation & Analysis (20), GRI 101+102 as one elective, GRI 201+202 as one elective, or CCIM CI 101–104 (online only if ARELLO-certified; CI 103 and 104 live only, not by challenge). Courses are live classroom or Zoom, not self-paced, with 100% attendance, 70% finals, and a three-year limit. Salesperson Module 1+2 does not count toward these 90 hours. BCOO (agency, trust accounting, transaction files) is required within three years for a designated broker or branch manager unless Brokerage Management was already completed within that period. Courses must be completed within the three years immediately before your application. Designated brokers and branch managers must complete BCOO within three years. |
| Sponsoring broker | An associate broker still works under a designated broker. A designated broker or branch manager files office paperwork (REE088 trust-account notification; company application REE150 / REE058 / REE147 / REE116 / REE148 / REE149) and completes BCOO (or Management in its place). Entities other than sole proprietorships carry separate firm E&O. Assumed business names and out-of-state authority are filed with the Idaho Secretary of State, and IREC requires file-stamped copies. |
| Fingerprints | New Pearson fingerprints are required even if you already hold an Idaho salesperson license. Results are valid 6 months and take 1–12 weeks. Check your approval yourself. The handbook warns you to select the correct license type when making the fingerprint reservation. |
| CE / renewal | Active broker renewal (IREC education-licensees page): 2 different Core courses that you have not previously taken plus 12 electives. Inactive: no CE at renewal; complete it before activation. The 2026 holiday may set the IREC renewal fee to $0; check the Fees page. The holiday does not waive reinstatement fees after a missed deadline. Check the current amount. |
| Recovery fund | The same $20 under § 54-2070 applies on original and renewal. As with salespersons, check how the 2026 holiday affects it. |
Mistakes that delay applicants
-
Taking broker electives self-paced, as allowed only for salesperson modules
Broker prelicense is live or Zoom. CCIM by challenge and non-ARELLO online CCIM do not count. CI 103 and 104 are live only.
-
Skipping new fingerprints when upgrading
They are required even if you already hold an Idaho salesperson license. Choosing the wrong license type on the fingerprint reservation delays results.
-
Taking the salesperson 40-item state exam (scaled 70)
The broker exam is scaled 75, with 50 state items including a 20% management section.
-
Filing as designated broker without BCOO (or Management in its place) and office paperwork
You need a trust-account notification and a company application, plus firm E&O if not a sole proprietorship.
-
Overlooking the experience requirement (2 of the last 5 years, 15 transactions, $2 million) because the education page lists only hours
IREC FAQ (Getting a License): two years of full-time active salesperson experience in the last five, with 15 completed sales and/or listings totaling at least $2 million. Special consideration requires a written request.
Reciprocity and recognition
| Partner / path | Accepted exam | Conditions |
|---|---|---|
| No formal bilateral reciprocity is published for this credential. | ||
Active out-of-state licensees use the same waiver form as salespersons (national portion + education waived; Idaho portion still required). Attorney and appraiser course waivers are separate written requests to [email protected] with proof of active practice.
Renewal and staying active
Active broker renewal (IREC education-licensees page): 2 different Core courses that you have not previously taken plus 12 electives. Inactive: no CE at renewal; complete it before activation. The 2026 holiday may set the IREC renewal fee to $0; check the Fees page.
Late renewal: The holiday does not waive reinstatement fees after a missed deadline. Check the current amount.
Applicant checklist
- Brokerage Management 28 + Law 30 + two electives ≤3 years
- Live or Zoom (not self-paced), 70% finals, 100% attendance
- New Pearson fingerprints (correct license type)
- Pearson $83 at scaled 75 (80 national items / 150 min + 50 state items / 90 min)
- BCOO or Management in its place if you will be a designated broker or branch manager, plus office paperwork and firm E&O if an entity
How Idaho is different
Washington and Oregon brokers complete different required courses and hours. Nevada's broker license is a separate NRED application. Wyoming requires named Broker I / II / Law courses plus 8-hour Management. An Idaho associate broker needs Brokerage Management 28 + Law 30 + two electives; a designated broker also needs BCOO (or Management in its place). Idaho's Pearson exam is $83 for both the 80-item and 50-item portions at scaled 75, whereas Wyoming charges $83 per portion, also at scaled 75.
Idaho vs neighboring states
| Jurisdiction | License title | Pre-license hours | Exam vendor | Exam questions | Exam fee | Published state fees | Renewal cycle | Min. age |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Idaho (this guide) | Broker | 90 | Pearson VUE | 130 | $83 | $353 | 2 yr | 18 |
| Montana | Broker | 60 | Pearson VUE | 120 | $95 | $275 | 1 yr | 18 |
| Nevada | Broker | See guide | Pearson VUE | 130 | $100 | $420 | 2 yr | 18 |
| Oregon | Principal Broker | 40 | PSI | 125 | $75 | $736.25 | 2 yr | 18 |
| Utah | Broker | 120 | Pearson VUE | 170 | $69 | $361 | 2 yr | 18 |
| Washington | Managing Broker | 90 | PSI | 134 | $210 | $921 | 2 yr | 18 |
| Wyoming | Broker | See guide | Pearson VUE | 130 | $80 | $719 | 3 yr | 18 |
Hours are the pre-license total printed in each guide; states that count credits or named courses show “See guide.” Published state fees add the application, exam, initial-license, and fingerprint amounts the guide can cite — tuition is not included.
Frequently asked questions
- Does salesperson Module 1+2 count toward the broker 90 hours?
- No. You need Brokerage Management 28 + Real Estate Law 30 + two listed electives, taken live or by Zoom, not self-paced.
- What is BCOO?
- Business Conduct & Office Operations, covering agency, trust accounting, and transaction files. It is required for a designated broker or branch manager unless Brokerage Management was already completed within the three-year period.
- Is the broker passing score 70?
- No. Per the handbook, it is scaled 75 for brokers and 70 for salespersons. The broker state portion has 50 scored items, including a 20% brokerage management section; it is not the 40-item salesperson exam.
- Can an attorney skip Real Estate Law?
- Send a written request to [email protected] with proof of an active law license and current practice. Appraisers may request a Valuation & Analysis waiver the same way. Incomplete requests are not considered.
- Do I fingerprint again?
- Yes, even if you already hold an Idaho salesperson license. Select the broker license type on the Pearson fingerprint reservation.
Primary Sources
Regulatory requirements on this page are drawn from the official board, statute, and exam-provider materials listed below.
- IREC — broker prelicense (Management 28, Law 30, electives, BCOO)
- Pearson handbook #091300 (broker 80/50, scaled 75, $83)
- IREC Fees / fee holiday
- IREC education for licensees (broker CE: 2 Core + 12 elective)
Verified 2026-09-02 · Next scheduled review 2026-12-01
Update history
- Rewrote the guide text for readability and added state comparison tables. No requirements, fees, or deadlines changed.
- Requirements, fees, and deadlines checked against the primary sources cited on this page.
Spotted something out of date? Send a correction.