1.2 Georgia License Requirements

Salesperson License Requirements

Georgia layers four requirements between an applicant and an active salesperson license.

1. Eligibility

• Be at least 18 years of age.
• Hold a high school diploma or GED.
• Be of good moral character (criminal history is reviewed, not automatically disqualifying).

2. Pre-License Education

Complete 75 hours of salesperson pre-license coursework at a GREC-approved school. The course blends national real estate principles with Georgia License Law and must end in a proctored course final exam that you pass before scheduling the state exam.

3. The PSI Examination

Georgia contracts with PSI to deliver the licensing exam. Candidates register online and schedule at a PSI center.

Because the sections are scored separately, a candidate who scores 80% national but 70% state fails and retakes only the state section — not the whole exam. PSI centers operate in metro Atlanta and regional cities such as Macon and Savannah.

4. Application, Fees, and Background Check

All applicants submit fingerprints through GREC's approved vendor for a Georgia and FBI criminal background check.

Exam trap: You must apply for the license within 12 months of passing the exam. Miss that window and your passing score expires — you must retake the entire exam.

Post-License Education (Do Not Skip)

Newly licensed salespersons must complete a 25-hour post-license course within the first year of licensure. This is separate from continuing education. If it is not completed on time, the license lapses automatically — GREC sends no waiver and no grace period.

What the Sections Test

The split matters for study planning. The 100 national questions cover principles tested nationwide — agency, contracts, financing, valuation, property ownership, federal fair housing, and math. The 52 state questions cover GREC structure, License Law, BRRETA agency rules, trust-fund handling, disclosure, and Georgia-specific procedures. Roughly a third of a Georgia candidate's preparation should target the state portion, because national prep materials do not cover it. Budget your 4 hours so you are not rushed on the math-heavy national items.

Broker License Requirements

Brokers face higher experience and education bars because they supervise others and hold trust funds.

Experience

At least three years of active licensure as a salesperson (or equivalent) within the prior five years, demonstrating genuine real estate activity — not merely holding a dormant license.

Education

Broker Examination

Step-by-Step Salesperson Path

1. Complete the 75-hour pre-license course and pass its final.
2. Register and pay the $121 fee at PSI; submit fingerprints.
3. Sit the 152-question, 4-hour exam; pass 75% on each section.
4. Apply to GREC for the license within 12 months of passing; pay $170.
5. Affiliate with a sponsoring broker to activate the license.
6. Complete the 25-hour post-license course within the first year.

Common Eligibility Scenarios

• Prior conviction: A non-violent felony from years ago does not automatically bar licensure. GREC reviews the nature, recency, and rehabilitation; full disclosure is mandatory — concealment is its own violation.
• Out-of-state applicant: A licensee in good standing elsewhere uses Georgia's reciprocity path (covered in 1.4) and skips the 75 hours and the national portion.
• Lapsed course final: If you complete the 75 hours but wait too long, schools may require a refresher — the course completion itself can expire under school policy.

Exam trap: Do not confuse the 75-hour pre-license requirement, the 25-hour post-license requirement, and the 36-hour / 4-year continuing-education requirement (Section 1.4). Each is a distinct obligation with its own deadline, and the exam deliberately shuffles these numbers among answer choices.

Quick-Reference: Education Hour Map

Keep this table in your head as a single memory anchor; nearly every Georgia licensing question is a variation on which number applies to which person at which moment in their career.