How to Get Your Real Estate License in Indiana: Costs, Timeline, and What Year One Is Really Like

Thinking about getting your real estate license in Indiana?

Our team at Dauby Real Estate has helped more than 3,500 families buy and sell homes across Southwest Indiana, and some of our best agents started with no experience in real estate at all.

I've also seen people get licensed only to realize the business wasn't what they expected.

So if getting your real estate license has been rattling around in your head, here's the entire path: what it takes to get licensed, what it costs, how long it takes, and what your first year in real estate is really like. No hype. Just how it works.

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How to Get Your Real Estate License in Indiana

Here's the short version:

• Pre-licensing course: Complete 90 hours through an approved provider
• State exam: 145 questions with four hours of seat time
• Passing score: 75 scaled score
• Exam fee: $55
• License application: $60
• Realistic timeline: Around two to four months for many people

Here's what each step looks like.

1. Take the 90-Hour Pre-Licensing Course

The first step is completing Indiana's required 90 hours of pre-licensing education through an approved real estate school. Depending on the provider, you may be able to take the course online or in a traditional classroom setting.

Prices and course formats vary, so don't choose solely based on price. Consider how you learn best, how much support is offered, and whether the program includes good exam preparation.

2. Pass the Indiana Real Estate Exam

After completing your required education, you'll take the Indiana real estate broker examination through Pearson VUE. The current exam has 145 questions, allows four hours of seat time, and has a scaled passing score of 75. The exam fee is currently $55.

Don't assume finishing the course automatically means you're ready for the test. Give yourself additional time to review the material and take practice exams.

3. Apply for Your Indiana Real Estate License

Once you've met the examination requirements, you'll apply for your broker license through the Indiana Professional Licensing Agency. The current application fee is $60.

One thing that confuses people is the terminology. In Indiana, the entry-level real estate license is called a broker license. We don't have a separate salesperson license like some states do. That doesn't mean you'll be running your own brokerage. The person responsible for managing a brokerage or office is the managing broker.

4. Choose a Real Estate Brokerage

This is the step I think prospective agents tend to underestimate. If you want your license issued in active status, you'll need to affiliate with a broker company or sole proprietor managing broker.

Getting your license makes you legally qualified to practice real estate. It doesn't teach you how to build a successful real estate business.

Especially as a new agent, look closely at the training, mentorship, systems and support offered by the brokerages you're considering. Ask what your first 90 days will look like. Who helps you with your first contract? Who teaches you how to conduct a buyer consultation or listing appointment? More importantly, who teaches you how to actually find clients?

Commission splits matter, but a high percentage of zero is still zero. For a brand-new agent, the environment where you learn the business can be much more important than simply finding the brokerage offering the highest split.

Learn more about joining Dauby Real Estate and everything we have to offer by clicking here.

How Much Does It Cost to Get a Real Estate License in Indiana?

The primary required costs are:

• Indiana broker exam: $55
• Indiana broker license application: $60
• 90-hour pre-licensing course: $400 - $1,200 - Varies by provider

But there's an important distinction between getting licensed and starting a real estate business.

Once you're licensed, you may have additional expenses such as association and MLS dues, lockbox access, insurance, technology, marketing or brokerage fees.

Any brokerage you're considering should be willing to give you a clear breakdown of the expenses you'll be responsible for before you join.

How Long Does It Take to Get an Indiana Real Estate License?

For many people, I'd plan on roughly two to four months, although your individual timeline can be shorter or longer.  The 90-hour course is usually the biggest variable.

Treat the course like a part-time job at 10 to 15 hours per week and you could complete the required hours in roughly six to nine weeks. Someone able to dedicate significantly more time to it could finish faster.

Once you've completed the course and become eligible to test, you can schedule your exam through Pearson VUE. Appointment availability varies by testing location.

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Can You Get Your Indiana Real Estate License Online?

You can complete your pre-licensing education online through an approved provider. That can be a great option if you're currently working another job and need to complete your education during evenings or weekends.

What Your First Year in Real Estate Is Really Like

Here's the part most licensing guides skip. Getting licensed is a project with a finish line. Building a business is not. Your license makes you legal. It does not bring you clients.

We've watched agents come into this business with no real estate experience and build successful careers. We've also watched people get licensed and discover that real estate wasn't what they expected. The difference usually isn't whether someone can pass the exam. It's whether they're willing to consistently have conversations, follow up, learn the business, accept coaching and keep doing those things long enough to build momentum.

As a new agent, you really have two jobs.

Your first job is learning the craft. You need to learn contracts, pricing, showings, negotiations, inspections, financing, appraisals and how to guide clients through a transaction.

Indiana also requires new brokers to complete 30 hours of approved post-licensing education within the first two years of licensure. But the real education also comes from working through actual transactions alongside experienced agents and leaders.

Your second job is finding people to help. This is where many new agents struggle. There is generally no guaranteed paycheck simply because you have a real estate license. You earn money when you help people buy or sell real estate and transactions close. That means having conversations, following up, holding open houses, building relationships, staying in touch with your database and creating opportunities.

If you're considering real estate primarily because you love looking at houses, I'd spend more time learning about the career before enrolling in a course. Looking at houses is a small part of the job. Real estate is a relationship and sales business. You're finding clients, negotiating contracts, solving problems and guiding people through some of the biggest financial decisions they'll make.

For the right person, I think it can be an incredible career. But it's worth understanding what you're signing up for before you spend the time and money to get licensed.

Still Wondering if Real Estate Is Right for You?

Getting licensed is the easy part to understand. Deciding whether real estate is actually the right career for you is harder. That's why once a month I host a free 45-minute Zoom session called What It Really Takes To Make It In Real Estate

I walk through what the career actually looks like, what new agents should expect, how agents find clients, and what separates people who build successful real estate businesses from those who struggle. You'll also have the opportunity to ask me anything about getting started.

We meet one Wednesday every month at 6:30 PM Central.

Save Your Seat for Career Night

Register and we'll send you the Zoom link and a reminder before the session.

Indiana Real Estate License FAQs

How many hours does it take to get a real estate license in Indiana?

Indiana requires 90 hours of approved pre-licensing education before taking the licensing examination.

How long does it take to get an Indiana real estate license?

It depends largely on how quickly you complete your required education. For many people, planning on approximately two to four months for the overall process is reasonable.

Can I take my Indiana real estate classes online?

Approved providers offer different course formats, including online options. Make sure the provider and course you choose satisfy Indiana's current licensing requirements.

Is the Indiana real estate exam hard?

You should plan to study beyond simply completing the required course. The exam covers general real estate concepts as well as Indiana-specific material, so practice exams and additional review can help you prepare.

Do I need a brokerage to get my Indiana real estate license?

If you want your Indiana broker license issued in active status, you'll need to affiliate with a broker company or sole proprietor managing broker. For a new agent, choosing the right brokerage can be one of the most important decisions you make.

About Trae Dauby

Trae Dauby is the owner and team leader of Dauby Real Estate, serving buyers and sellers throughout Southwest Indiana, Evansville and surrounding region. Dauby Real Estate has helped more than 3,500 families buy and sell real estate. Trae and the Dauby Real Estate leadership team also train and coach agents at different stages of their careers, including people entering real estate for the first time. Trae Dauby is the author of the Six Figure Real Estate Agent Playbook.  Click here to get your free copy.

If you're considering a career in real estate and aren't sure where to begin, you're welcome to join our next What It Really Takes To Make It In Real Estate session.

Licensing requirements and fees can change. Information in this article was reviewed September 29, 2026. Always confirm current requirements with the Indiana Professional Licensing Agency and Pearson VUE before enrolling or applying.