agency
license revocation
License revocation is the cancellation of a real estate license by the state licensing authority as a disciplinary penalty for serious violations, such as fraud, commingling, conversion of trust funds, or criminal convictions. Revocation is more severe than suspension, which only temporarily stops the right to practice. After revocation, a person usually must wait a set period and may have to requalify before reapplying. Procedures and waiting periods vary by state.
- Exam tip
- Revocation ends the license; suspension pauses it for a set time. Licensees generally have due process rights, including notice and a hearing, before discipline.
- Example
- After an investigation finds a broker used escrow deposits to pay office rent, the commission revokes his license.
Related terms & state variants
Sources
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Last verified: 2026-10-23