Kansas Real Estate Salesperson License requirements

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

1. 1

   Citizen Access pre-licensure application — get the PL number ($15 application + $70 background)

   According to KREC's FAQ, salesperson applicants pay $210 total to KREC ($15 + $70 now, plus the $125 license fee later). Schools and Pearson cannot proceed without the PL number.

2. 2

   30-hour Principles of Real Estate and fingerprints

   Completing Principles triggers Pearson authorization. You can get fingerprinted at the same time ($16 for Pearson digital prints at three sites).

3. 3

   Pearson general + Kansas exam portions ($70 combo), scaled 70

   2.5 + 1.5 hours. You have six months from the earlier pass to get your application to KREC.

4. 4

   30-hour Kansas Practice Course within six months of application

   This deadline is separate from the Principles deadline. Then submit the $125 license application under a supervising broker. The license cannot issue inactive.

Minimum age

18 years old

Identification

A Social Security number is required. An ITIN is not confirmed as a substitute.

Residency and identification

Kansas residency is not required, but nonresidents must hold a current real estate license in their state of residence and file a non-resident form. Out-of-state licensees skip the 30-hour Principles course, take only the Kansas exam portion, and still complete the 30-hour Kansas Practice Course. Military spouse and established-resident waiver paths (K.S.A. 48-3406; 2025 HB 2280 fee waiver for eligible military spouses) are described on KREC's salesperson-requirements page.

Qualifying education

Per KREC's Pre-License Education page and Pearson handbook #091700, Kansas requires two specific named courses, not 60 generic hours. Principles of Real Estate (30 hours): salesperson applicants not licensed in another state must complete it to take the exam. The course expires 12 months from the course date and must fall within one year immediately prior to passing both exam portions; its completion triggers Pearson's Authorization to Test. Kansas Practice Course (30 hours): ALL salesperson applicants must complete it, and the Commission must receive the license application and course certificate within six months of the course date. Give your PL number to the school so it can upload your completion. KREC's FAQ states that applicants not licensed in another state complete a total of 60 hours, with 30 hours required before the examination; salesperson applicants licensed elsewhere complete 30 hours (Practice). Check KREC's FAQ for any HB 2066 exemptions before assuming a waiver applies.

Education or filing deadline

Principles: within one year before passing both exam portions. Practice: within six months before KREC receives the license application. Exam pass: six months from the earlier passed portion. Background reports: six months from issue. License-history certifications: six months from issue.

Character review

Disclose all arrests and all pending or convicted misdemeanors and felonies — even if expunged, out of state, or you believe it will not show. Complete the Criminal Offense Form, attach court documents, and have your supervising broker sign the Offense Reporting form. Litigation and occupational-license discipline have their own attachment lists. K.S.A. 58-3043 authorizes restriction or denial.

Background process

According to KREC's FAQ, the background fee is $70, paid to the Commission; reports are valid 6 months from the report date and take up to 10 business days. Pearson digital fingerprints cost $16 at Overland Park, Topeka, and Wichita (KSREFP) and are valid 365 days per the handbook; LiveScan is also available at some Kansas law-enforcement agencies and the KBI Topeka office. Background checks are non-transferable — even a Kansas salesperson upgrading to broker submits new prints. The $15 application fee is a separate Commission charge.

Experience

No licensed experience is required for the salesperson license. A supervising broker is required for the license to issue; original licenses cannot be inactive.

Broker affiliation

Affiliate with a licensed Kansas supervising or branch broker. The broker certifies your honesty, trustworthiness, and good reputation and acknowledges any pending charges or convictions. An original license cannot be issued on inactive status. Having the broker's company registration number ready speeds up the Citizen Access filing.

Pearson VUE after Principles posts (800-274-4971 / pearsonvue.com/us/en/ks/realestate.html). Handbook #091700. · Fee: $70

You must wait 24 hours. Retake only the portion you failed, for $70. Both passing scores and the complete application must reach KREC within six months of the earlier pass date, or you must take the exam again. Walk-ins are not available. Give 48 hours' notice to change or cancel without penalty.

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

According to KREC's FAQ, a salesperson pays $210 total to the Commission: $15 application, $70 background, and $125 license. The application and initialLicense amounts here are those Commission charges; the $70 background fee is a separate Commission charge, not added on top of them. Pearson's handbook fee table: salesperson combo $70 (general + Kansas on the same day as the handbook describes); each portion alone $70; Pearson digital fingerprints $16. Renewal is $125 every 2 years; the late fee is $100. Broker: $50 application + $70 background + $175 license = $295 to the Commission (plus $100 Open Company if applicable). Confirm the amounts in Citizen Access before you pay.

• !

  Starting class without a PL number

  The school cannot report your hours, and Pearson will not authorize you. KREC's FAQ says to register for pre-license education with the PL number KREC assigned.

• !

  Taking Practice before you understand its six-month application deadline

  Per KREC's Pre-License Education page, the Commission must receive the license application and course certificate within six months of the Practice course date — not six months of the exam.

• !

  Letting the earlier Pearson pass age past six months

  Per KREC's FAQ and the handbook, exam scores are valid 6 months from the pass date; if you passed the portions on different dates, the six months starts from the earlier date. Once that passes, both scores expire and you must take the exam again.

• !

  Trying to issue inactive

  KREC's FAQ says applicants must affiliate with a licensed Kansas broker before submitting a license application. Original licenses cannot issue inactive.

• !

  Hiding an expunged charge

  KREC's FAQ requires disclosure. With a felony conviction, a license may not be granted until five years after completion of the sentence/court commitment (fifteen years for Kansas offender-registration offenses). Review K.S.A. 58-3043. Your broker signs the Offense Reporting form.

• !

  Paying $140 thinking each Pearson portion is charged separately on a combo day

  The handbook fee table lists the salesperson combo at $70. Register for both sections and add the second exam before checkout. Separate sittings are $70 each.

• !

  Treating NAR Code of Ethics as Kansas Required Core

  KREC's FAQ lists Code of Ethics as an elective. The core class is the named course “Kansas Required Core.” A course titled “core” in another state does not count.

• !

  Letting the background report age past 6 months

  KREC's FAQ says to complete all pre-license requirements before the report expires; otherwise you must submit new prints and pay the $70 background fee again. No extensions are granted.

• !

  Treating BRRETA as optional agency trivia

  BRRETA is 11 of 30 Kansas salesperson items and 15 of 40 on the broker exam. Missouri MREP or Nebraska Course #0003 material does not cover it.

• !

  Calling PSI for a Kansas score

  Kansas real estate exams are delivered by Pearson VUE under handbook #091700 at $70. PSI is a different vendor that serves other states.

Kansas does not have named reciprocity partners. If you are currently licensed in another state, you skip the 30-hour Principles course, take only the Kansas exam portion, and still complete the 30-hour Kansas Practice Course, fingerprints, and broker affiliation. Nonresidents must hold a current license in their state of residence. Under K.S.A. 48-3406, military and established-resident applicants who qualify can have education and exam requirements waived. 2025 HB 2280 waives original and renewal fees for eligible military spouses. Confirm current eligibility on krec.ks.gov.

Kansas vs neighboring states

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.

What is a PL number?

A temporary pre-license identifier KREC emails you after you submit the Salesperson Pre-Licensure application. Schools report your hours against it, and Pearson authorization waits on it. It is retired once your license issues. According to KREC's FAQ, salesperson applicants pay $210 total to the Commission ($15 application + $70 background + $125 license).

How many pre-license hours?

Per KREC's Pre-License Education page and FAQ, applicants not licensed in another state complete 60 hours total: the 30-hour Principles of Real Estate (before the exam; expires 12 months from the course date) plus the 30-hour Kansas Practice Course (application and certificate within six months of the course date). Out-of-state salesperson applicants complete 30 hours (Practice) and take only the Kansas exam portion.

What is the exam cut and fee?

Per Pearson handbook #091700 (April 2025, rev7/25) and outlines #091705, you need a scaled 70 on the general portion (80 scored + 5 pretest, 2.5 hours) and a scaled 70 on the Kansas portion (30 scored + 10 pretest, 1.5 hours). The fee table lists $70 combo or $70 per portion. KREC's FAQ also states $70 when both portions are scheduled together.

Can I get an original license inactive?

No. KREC's FAQ says applicants must affiliate with a licensed Kansas broker before submitting a license application, and the broker must approve the affiliation. You may deactivate later by removing affiliations, and you may renew inactive without CE, but your original license must be issued under a broker.

How long are passing scores good?

Per KREC's FAQ and the handbook, 6 months from the pass date; if you passed the portions on different dates, the six months starts from the earlier date. The Practice Course, background reports, and other-state license histories also expire after six months. No extensions are granted.

What is CE?

Per KREC's CE page, you need 12 hours to renew to active status, including at least 3 mandatory hours in the approved course titled “Kansas Required Core.” Code of Ethics is an elective, not KREC core. Renewal is $125; the late fee is $100. Inactive renewal needs no CE, but the hours must be made up before reactivation. After 2+ years inactive: 6 hours per full inactive year plus the regular 12; after 5+ years inactive: you must also retake the exam.

Is there a recovery fund?

Yes. Per KREC's Recovery Fund page and K.S.A. 58-3067, a claimant needs a final judgment plus inability to collect, and a district-court order of payment. Payments are capped at $15,000 aggregate per transaction, and $30,000 per licensee per calendar year / $50,000 aggregate per licensee. It is not E&O insurance.

Do I need a high school diploma?

Pearson's handbook lists a high school diploma or its equivalent, plus age 18, as prerequisites. KREC's exam FAQ does not repeat the diploma requirement, so follow the handbook's prerequisite list.

Where is the Commission and who seats the exam?

Jayhawk Tower, 700 SW Jackson Street, Suite 404, Topeka, KS 66603-3785. (785) 296-3411. [email protected]. The office is closed to the public; visits are by appointment only. Pearson VUE: (800) 274-4971, pearsonvue.com/us/en/ks/realestate.html. Centers: Hays, Overland Park, Topeka, Wichita, Kansas City MO, plus additional Kansas college sites. Walk-ins are not allowed.

What Kansas-specific content is scored?

BRRETA (11 of 30 salesperson items / 15 of 40 broker items), prohibited acts (8), KREC duties and powers, required residential contract language, and the Recovery Fund. Missouri MREP or Nebraska Course #0003 material does not prepare you for this portion.