How to Become a Real Estate Agent in Arkansas? – (Arkansas Real Estate Career Series Part 1 of 4)

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To become a real estate agent in Arkansas, an applicant must be at least 18 years old, complete 60 hours of pre-licensing education, pass the salesperson exam, submit an application, fingerprint card and fees to the Arkansas Real Estate Commission (AREC).

Before you decide to pursue further in this profession, it’s important to know what the role of a real estate salesperson is. To put it simply, an agent acts as an intermediary between buyer and seller in order to facilitate the sale or purchase of property. They help clients find homes that meet their needs and negotiate contracts with sellers for those homes. Some agents also help clients in searching for a rental property or lease out their units.

In this guide, you’ll learn about the step-by-step process to become a real estate salesperson in Arkansas and FAQ on getting the license.

But before we start, I want to give a brief disclaimer. This post is not intended as legal advice or state/federal real estate training. It is for general information only. Please always follow your State laws and best practices.

A Table Summary of Becoming a Real Estate Salesperson in Arkansas

6 Steps to Become a Real Estate Agent in Arkansas

Step 1: Meet the eligibility requirement

• At least 18 years old
• Have a social security number

Step 2: Complete the pre-licensing education

You are required to take 60 hours of pre-licensing course from an approved education provider. The curriculum must include 30 hours in basic principle of real estate.

I just checked with an education provider and the course fee is around $230 to $380.

When choosing a real estate school, I prefer one where you could take the courses online. This way, you could study at your own pace whenever and wherever. The CE Shop is a trustworthy real estate education provider. You may click here to see whether they offer pre-licensing course in your state. (**)

Step 3: Submit an application to Arkansas Real Estate Commission

To register with the Arkansas Real Estate Commission, you must submit a notarized Salesperson Application within 36 months of completing the pre-license courses and at least 30 days before the exam.

In there, it will ask for your personal details, and some background questions. You also need to provide a pre-licensing course completion certificate, and a document that can prove your age. (i.e. Copy of driver license or birth certificate.)

Since Arkansas Real Estate Commission has the responsibility to protect the public interest, all real estate licensees must go through a criminal history background check. As part of the application process, you will submit a fingerprint card.

There is a $86.25 fee. ($50 application fee, $22 Arkansas criminal background check fee, $14.25 FBI criminal background check fee). You may pay it with a check or money order made payable to AREC.

Once all the required documents are in good order, you may mail them to:

Arkansas Real Estate Commission (AREC)
612 South Summit Street
Little Rock, AR 72201-4740

Once your application is approved, you’ll be provided with a “Certificate of Examination Eligibility”.

Step 4: Pass the Arkansas Real Estate Salesperson Exam

The Arkansas Real Estate Salesperson Exam has 110 questions with 4 hours of writing time. It consists of the General Portion and the State Portion. The required passing score is 70 or higher. It is administered by Pearson Vue and the exam fee is $75.

Here’s an Arkansas Real Estate Salesperson Exam Guide covering a lot more in-depth about this test. Be sure to check it out.

Step 5: Join a real estate brokerage

To activate your salesperson license In Arkansas, you must be affiliate with a real estate broker. This is the firm who would sponsor your real estate license.

Finding a good trainer is crucial at the initial stage of your real estate career. It’s important to learn a repeatable and systematic process in running your business profitably. When choosing a real estate brokerage, many people only focus on the commission split, but there are many other factors you also need to consider.

For example, what type of training will they provide? Will they equip you with the skills in finding qualify prospects and closing a sale? Is there a shared office space you could use? Can the brokerage provide you with adequate administrative and marketing support? Will they provide you with leads to work on? Do they utilize up-to-date technology (i.e.: CRM, software subscription) to streamline the daily workflow.

Here’s a page with a job search engine. You may check whether there is any opening position in your area.

Step 6: Maintain the real estate license

All Arkansas real estate licensee must renew their license every year.

For initial licensee, within 6 months of receiving the Arkansas real estate licensee, you must complete 18 hours of post-licensing courses. The post-license education has a specific set of modules and learning objectives. It is different from the CE requirement.

For subsequent renewals, you need to complete 7 hours of real estate continuing education during each license term.

You may renew the license through the AREC online portal. The renewal fee is $60 which can be paid by a credit card. (i.e., Visa, Mastercard, Discover, American Express)

The Commission may conduct random audits to verify the CE credit. Therefore, it’s better to maintain the CE records and proof of completion documents.

So know your deadlines and don’t wait until the last minute to complete CE and renew your license. Failure to renew on time not only result in late renewal fee, but it can cause interruption to your business.

A Video on How to Get a Real Estate License in Arkansas

If you are reading up to this point, I bet you must be interested in getting a real estate license. Your first step is to complete the pre-licensing courses. You should select one that has an excellent reputation and long-term track record of satisfying students. The Colibri is exactly that! You may click here to check it out yourself. (**)

FAQ about Real Estate License in Arkansas

How much does it cost to get a real estate license in Arkansas?

It costs approximately $541.25 to get a real estate license in Arkansas. Here’s the breakdown:

• Pre-licensing courses – $230 to $380 (approximately)
• AREC fee (including application fee, criminal background check fees) – $86.25
• Exam fee- $75

The above are just the costs of getting the salesperson license. In addition, to start a real estate business, there will be other expenses involved such as E&O, MLS subscription, phone, internet, and office supplies, post-licensing courses, CE, and renewal fees.

Also, you may want to invest into exam prep. This can increase your chance in passing the exam on the first try, so that you don’t need to waste time and money in retaking it.

How long does it take to become a real estate agent in Arkansas?

It takes approximately four months to become a real estate agent in Arkansas. But it also depends on the time it takes you to complete the pre-licensing course, exam, application, and get sponsorship by a licensed real estate brokerage.

What states have reciprocity with Arkansas real estate license?

Arkansas has reciprocity agreements with

• Arizona
• Colorado 
• Florida
• Georgia
• Iowa
• Kansas
• Louisiana
• Mississippi
• Nebraska
• New York
• Ohio
• Oklahoma
• Pennsylvania
• South Dakota
• Washington
• West Virginia

By applying through reciprocity, you may only be required to take the state portion of the Arkansas Real Estate exam. To do so, you must complete a Client Waiver Request form, then send it to: PearsonVUEWaiversRequests@pearson.com

Pearson VUE will review your application. If you meet the requirements, they will send you an email confirmation.

Can a felon be a real estate salesperson in Arkansas?

The Arkansas Real Estate Commission will consider the applicant’s honesty, trustworthiness, character and integrity. But whether a felon can obtain a real estate license is subjected to case-by-case evaluation.

(c) A person or entity shall not be issued a license under this subchapter if:

…

(3) The person or entity has pleaded guilty or nolo contendere to or been found guilty of a felony listed
under § 17-3-102 or a misdemeanor involving violence, fraud, misrepresentation, or dishonest or
dishonorable dealing in a court of competent jurisdiction;

Quote from Real Estate Laws 17-42-509. Issuance or denial of license

But don’t get discouraged as everyone has a past. The most important is that you can demonstrate that you will serve the public in a fair, honest, and open manner.

Here’s another post that covers how to apply for a real estate license with a felony record. In there, you’ll find practical ideas which could help your application.

How to become a commercial real estate agent in Arkansas?

To become a commercial real estate agent in Arkansas, an applicant must be at least 18 years old, complete 60 hours of pre-licensing education, pass the salesperson exam, submit an application, fingerprint card and fees to the Arkansas Real Estate Commission (AREC).

Basically, it is the same requirement as we just went through because most states do not issue separate licenses for residential and commercial agents.

Furthermore, if you are going to pursue a career as a CRE agent, you should look for a brokerage that could give you the right support and resources.

Here’s the “Complete Guide to a Commercial Real Estate Agent Career“, where I cover the career outlook, earning potential, and valuable feedback from CRE agents. Be sure to check it out.

I have more questions about the Arkansas real estate license, whom should I contact?

You may contact the Arkansas Real Estate Commission for more details about the real estate license.

This article is part of the “Arkansas Real Estate Career Series.” If you want to know more about being a real estate agent in Arkansas, I invite you to check out the following articles: 

• How to Pass the Arkansas Real Estate Exam?
• How Much do Real Estate Agents Make in Arkansas?
• Effective Strategies for Real Estate Agents in Arkansas

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Disclaimer: The information in this post is for general information only, and not intend to provide any advice. They are subjected to change without any notice, and not guaranteed to be error-free. Some of the posts on this site may contain views and opinions from individual not related to JCHQ Publishing. They do not necessarily reflect our view or position.

Reference:

• Arkansas Real Estate Commission (source)
  • Real Estate License Requirements (source)
  • Reciprocal States (source)
• Real Estate License Law (source)
• Arkansas Real Estate Candidate Handbook (source)
• Bureau of Labor Statistics – Real Estate Agents (source)