If you are a real estate professional or an aspiring one, you may be wondering if it is possible to transfer your real estate license to other states. The answer is yes, in some cases. Depending on the state, you may be able to transfer your license through a reciprocity agreement or by taking the state-specific exam. Reciprocity agreements, also known as “mutual recognition”, are agreements between states that allow you to obtain a license in another state by taking the reciprocal state examination.
For example, Illinois has reciprocity with Colorado, Connecticut, Florida, Georgia, Indiana, Iowa, Nebraska and Wisconsin. If you have a valid real estate license in any of these states, you can get the other one simply by passing the state portion of the state exam (currently a 40-question test specific to each state).If your state of residence is included in a partial reciprocity agreement, that means you can transfer your real estate license from your home state to the target state once you have completed the limited education requirements and state-specific exams. If your state of residence is included in a mutual real estate reciprocity agreement, you can transfer your real estate license from your state to the target state once you have successfully completed the state-specific educational requirements and exam.Tennessee doesn't reciprocate with any state, so you'll have to be creative if you want to practice real estate there. If a state does not offer real estate reciprocity with any other state, that means that non-residents cannot transfer their real estate license to practice in the target state.
Oklahoma allows a broker from this state to participate in a cooperative brokerage agreement with a broker from another jurisdiction, provided that each broker conducts real estate activities only in the state or jurisdiction in which it is licensed.For more information on how to obtain an Alaska real estate license, visit the Alaska Real Estate Commission website. For more information on how to obtain an Iowa real estate license, visit the Iowa Office of Professional Licensing website. Indiana doesn't offer reciprocity, but you can still qualify if your original licensing status has requirements similar to those in Indiana.It is worth noting that you don't have to be a resident of the state to practice real estate there. Each of the states requires a bit of education and an exam which you must pass before you are issued a real estate license.
It's also worth noting that this is not a long-term solution and only allows the agent to undertake the real estate business across the border.
