How To Become a Real Estate Agent in Michigan

Whoever said that if opportunity does not knock for you then just build yourself a door may have been talking about the drive, discipline, and commitment to ongoing learning that the Michigan Realty Commission recognizes as essential for anyone aspiring to be an independent real estate agent in Michigan.

If you want to know how to become a real estate agent in the state then you will learn everything that you need to know in this comprehensive guide.

In this guide, you will learn how to obtain real estate license credentials from the Michigan Realty Commission via data, rules, and tips sourced from the official Michigan website for Real Estate Salespersons and Brokers.¹ Always refer to the official website to learn the exact qualifications to be a real estate agent in the state.

While it cannot be argued that the real estate market is historically volatile, people still buy homes and rent apartments in economic boom times and recessions alike. It also can’t be argued that the state will have a need for more experienced, educated, credentialed, and professional real estate agents in the near future.

MI Real Estate License

If you are wondering how hard is it to get a real estate license from the Michigan Realty Commission then you should know that it all depends on your life vocational goals, work ethic, and discipline. You will find everything that you need to know to start the process at the state’s official website for real estate brokers and salesperson credentialing.¹

Here’s a bullet-point summary of the application requirements set by the Michigan Realty Commission for acquiring a real estate agent’s license:

• Online application process
• Application fees ranging between $200 to $300
• Background checks
• 40 hours of pre-licensing coursework
• Real estate exam
• Researching and finding a brokerage sponsor
• Real estate license renewal processes
• Learning and adhering to continuing education requirements and standards

However, these are only a few of the key points relative to the importance of the Michigan real estate agent license exam. To start, here are the main qualifications you must be aware of to attain your real estate license.

Primary Qualifications For Earning a Real Estate License

The primary qualification for earning a real estate license is to be at least 18 years old and complete the mandatory 40-hour pre-licensing coursework.

You don’t need a high school diploma, G.E.D., college degree, or previous experience as a real estate agent to apply.

Mandatory Age and Primary Schooling Prerequisites

If you have ever asked yourself “Am I too old to become a real estate agent?” then you don’t have to worry.

In order to obtain a real estate license in the state, the Michigan Realty Commission mandates that you must be at least 18 years old and complete 40 hours of pre-licensing education successfully.

Unlike many other states, you do not need a high school diploma, G.E.D., college degree, or previous experience as a real estate agent to apply to become one.

Needed Pre-License Course Duration

You will find a list of approved sponsors and LARA-approved education programs to take your 40-hour pre-license courses at the MiPLUS application website. You can take these courses online but you can only take the real estate exam in person at a testing facility.

Once you have successfully completed the 40-hour pre-licensure course you will receive a certificate of completion. Your certificate of completion will be valid for 12 months during which you will have to take the exam or start the process over.

Tuition Fees for Pre-licensing Real Estate Education

It is up to you to choose an online 40-hour pre-licensing course curriculum that suits your needs and lifestyle. The tuition fees for each curriculum vary according to the school offering it.

You could pay anywhere between $150 to $450 for the 40-hour course. Research as many schools as you can and compare prices.

Compulsory Background Investigation for Real Estate Licensure (Fingerprint Office Sites)

During the initial application process for a real estate license, the applicant is not required to provide a formal criminal background check for credentialing purposes as per the policies of the Michigan Realty Commission. However, this does not mean that a background check will not be performed on you by state authorities.

A formal criminal background check for real estate agents or a request for formal fingerprinting could be done in the future if you try to hide or lie about a felony or violent criminal conviction record you may be trying to hide in another state.

Applicants who have a felony conviction or criminal convictions can apply for a real estate license in the state. However, applicants have to specifically check a “Good Moral Character Question,” box on the application.

Checking this box next to this question denotes that even if the applicant has a criminal conviction record, the nature of the conviction is not of severity or heinousness that automatically negates the applicant’s eligibility to become a real estate agent.

It is important to understand that being a real estate agent requires the engendering of trust endowed by state licensing authorities to agents and between real estate agents and the general public. Real estate agents routinely have access to sensitive financial data, personal records, and entry to properties in the furtherance of their vocations.

Along with supplying your Social Security number, you should supply copies of any prior convictions in your initial application.

If you are a non-state resident, then you must fill out a Consent to Service of Process application form on the application. Filling out this form makes it an easier process to serve you or your brokerage with a legal summons to appear in court if necessary.

In other words, you will provide enough personal information for state real estate licensing authorities to do an in-depth background check on possible criminal records if needed. So, it behooves you to be as honest as possible about your criminal history when applying.

The type and severity of your prior crime or criminal record cannot be of a type that would conflict with your duties as a real estate agent.

So, what disqualifies you from being a real estate agent in the state?

Prior felony criminal convictions for fraud or embezzlement will automatically negate your eligibility to qualify for a real estate agent license.

However, while these two criminal offenses automatically disqualify you from attaining a real estate license in the state, other criminal offenses that could negate your eligibility will be determined by the state authorities depending on the offense and its criminal severity.