agency
associate broker
A person who holds a broker's license but works under the supervision of another broker, called the sponsoring or principal broker, rather than running their own brokerage. An associate broker can perform the same activities as a salesperson and may have additional supervisory roles depending on state law. Terminology and permitted roles vary by state.
- Exam tip
- An associate broker is licensed as a broker but functions like an affiliated licensee under a sponsoring broker; commissions still flow through the sponsoring broker.
- Example
- After passing the broker exam, an agent stays at her firm as an associate broker, managing training while her commissions are still paid through the firm's broker.
Related terms & state variants
Sources
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Last verified: 2026-10-23