Need of a License: A real estate salesperson must be licensed by the state of Kansas to represent clients in the sale or purchase of real estate that is located in Kansas.
Who Grants a License: Licenses are granted by the Kansas Real Estate Commission (“KREC”).
Qualifications to receive a License: A candidate must complete 60 clock hours of study (30 hours of principles and 30 hours of state-specific concepts) at a KREC-approved real estate school (search schools here), pass a school-administered final exam, and pass a state exam. All candidates must submit a full set of fingerprints, prove legal presence and pass a background check. All candidates must be at least 18 years of age, and have graduated from high school or obtained a GED.
Applying for the Exams: Candidates should apply to take the state exam through the Pearson VUE website scheduling page. Candidates must know the completion date of their pre-licensure curriculum. For more information, see the Kansas Real Estate Candidate Handbook.
Test Content: The Kansas state real estate licensing exam is comprised of two separate tests, the national test and the state-specific test. Five questions on the national test and ten questions on the state-specific test are considered "experimental" questions and are not scored. Both portions are comprised of multiple choice questions with four answer choices provided for each question. Test takers are allotted 2.5 hours to complete the national test, and 1.5 hours to complete the state-specific test. A scaled score of at least 70 is required to pass the national portion, and a scaled score of 70 is required to pass the state portion. The exam is presented in a computer-based format, but accommodations for paper-based tests and/or oral testing can be provided with special arrangements.
The national test consists of 85 questions (80 are scored, 5 are not scored) and tests the candidate's knowledge of general real estate concepts, including the following subject areas:
Real property characteristics, definitions, ownership, restrictions, and transfer
Property valuation and appraisal
Contracts and relationships with buyers and sellers
Property conditions and disclosures
Federal laws governing real estate activities
Financing the transaction and settlement
Leases, rents, and property management
Brokerage operations
The state-specific test consists of 40 questions (30 are scored, 10 are not scored) and tests the candidate's knowledge of the state-specific concepts, including the following subject areas:
Duties and powers of the Kansas Real Estate Commission
Licensing requirements
Requirements governing activities of licensees
Prohibited acts
Brokerage Relationships in Real Estate Transactions Act (BRRETA)
Kansas Real Estate Recovery Revolving Fund
How to Apply for the License: The license application is issued by the testing company upon passing both portions of the licensing exam. The list of required documents is subject to change, but is on the licensing application. In the interest of candidate preparation, however, the following documents will likely be on the list of required documents: (1) completed application and application fee; (2) original Kansas state real estate licensing exam score report(s); (3) certificate issued by a KREC-approved school for completion of both portions of the salesperson pre-licensure curriculum; (4) if applicable, any required supporting documentation; and a (5) KREC-approved fingerprint clearance card.
Candidates must, within six months of passing either portion of the state exam, send all required documents to the KREC offices in Topeka:
Kansas Real Estate Commission
Three Townsite Plaza, Ste. 200
120 SE 6th Ave.
Topeka, KS 66603-3511
For further information, contact the licensing division of KREC at: (785) 296-3411
Fees: KREC charges a license application fee.
Who administers the test: KREC and Pearson VUE.
License Renewal Requirements: A Kansas real estate licensee must take 12 credit hours of continuing education (either online or in the classroom) from a KREC-approved provider every two years. Further information is provided on the KREC website, here.
Applicable Regulations: Real estate licensees in Kansas are regulated under Kansas Real
Agency Rules.
