Start with the official requirements.
Your regulator is Illinois Dept. of Financial and Professional Regulation (IDFPR). Verify eligibility, approved schools, application timing, background checks, fees and any sponsoring-broker requirements directly before committing to a course.
Official regulator ↗- Regulator
- Illinois Dept. of Financial and Professional Regulation (IDFPR)
- Prelicense education
- 75 hours
- Exam provider
- PSI
- Questions
- 140 questions (100 national + 40 state)
- Time
- 240 minutes
- Passing rule
- National 70% (scaled 75) + state 75%
The steps, in order.
01
Confirm eligibility
Check age, education, background review and other requirements with the regulator.
02
Complete approved education
Confirm the current 75 hours education requirement and approved providers. LicenseIQ does not replace required prelicensing education.
03
Apply and schedule
Follow the regulator’s application and testing authorization sequence; submit required documents and fees. Exact sequencing varies.
04
Prepare and take the exam
Use the PSI candidate handbook for check-in, accommodations, allowed materials and current scoring.
05
Complete license issuance
After passing, complete remaining regulator requirements. Do not practice until the license is issued and active.
06
Maintain your license
Verify post-license education, renewal deadlines and continuing education with the regulator.
Post-license education
45 hrs before first renewal
Continuing education
12 hrs every 2 yrs (4 mandatory)
What’s on the state portion?
Topics from your LicenseIQ state course; the official exam outline controls.
- Illinois Licensing, Sponsorship and Education4 lessons
- Illinois Agency and Brokerage Agreements4 lessons
- Escrow, Advertising, Discipline and the Recovery Fund4 lessons
- Illinois Property Disclosures3 lessons
- Illinois Property Law, Taxes, Condominiums and CICs4 lessons
- Illinois Landlord-Tenant Law and the Illinois Human Rights Act3 lessons
Try three practice questions.
Question 1
Who holds legal and equitable title to real estate held in an Illinois land trust?
- A. The trustee
- B. The beneficiary
- C. The county recorder
- D. The beneficiary's lender
Question 2
Which is a Chicago RLTO requirement for security deposits?
- A. Holding it in a federally insured Illinois account and paying interest each year
- B. Limiting the deposit to no more than one month's rent
- C. Returning the deposit within 10 days after move-out, with no deductions permitted for any reason
- D. Holding the deposit in the landlord's operating account
Question 3
When must a licensee acting as a designated agent give the client written disclosure of the designated agency relationship?
- A. At the closing table, when the settlement statement is signed
- B. No later than beginning to work as a designated agent for that consumer
- C. Within 10 days after the purchase contract is accepted
- D. Only if the client asks for it in writing during the transaction
Catalog facts may change. Verify with primary sources. Explore Illinois exam prep.