Real estate license requirements in Delaware
Delaware requires 99 hours of pre-licensing education and, unusually among nearby states, a well-documented 12-hour post-licensing requirement due within 90 days of getting your Salesperson license.
Education
The Delaware Real Estate Commission requires 99 classroom hours of pre-licensing education from a Commission-approved provider before you can sit for the exam.
| Requirement | Hours | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Salesperson Pre-Licensing Course | 99 | Delaware Real Estate Commission-approved provider; covers national and Delaware-specific content |
What Delaware calls your first license
Delaware’s entry-level license is called a “Salesperson.” It’s a standard term, but don’t confuse the pre-licensing course with the separate 12-hour post-licensing course you’ll need after you’re already working — see “After you’re licensed” below.
The licensing exam
Delaware contracts with Pearson VUE to administer the exam. The current handbook (effective January 2026) sets the fee at $88 for a single combined sitting covering a national portion and a Delaware law portion.
| Portion | Items | To pass |
|---|---|---|
| National | 80 scored items | Scaled score of 70 |
| Delaware law | Item count not specified in our source data | Scaled score of 70 |
| Total sitting | About 4 hours | Both portions |
The national content outline took effect April 1, 2025, so make sure any study materials you use are current. We could not confirm the Delaware-law portion’s exact item count from a primary source this session — check the current Pearson VUE Delaware candidate handbook before test day.
We could not find a published vendor or fee for Delaware's background check requirement on official pages. Don't assume it works the same way as a neighboring state — call the Delaware Real Estate Commission before you budget or schedule anything.
Fees
| Fee | Amount | Paid to |
|---|---|---|
| Application & license fee | ~$174 total | Delaware Real Estate Commission ($149 initial + $25 Guaranty Fund) |
| Exam fee | $88 | Pearson VUE |
| Background check | Not published | Vendor and fee not confirmed from official pages — contact the Commission |
Budget at least $262 in confirmed state and vendor fees, plus whatever the background check turns out to cost. Delaware’s exam fee reflects the January 2026 handbook and supersedes older $85/$95 figures you may see elsewhere.
How to apply, step by step
The steps can overlap in places, but this is the order that avoids the most common delays.
From a Delaware Real Estate Commission-approved provider.
Both the national and Delaware law portions, in one sitting, for $88.
Along with the ~$174 application and Guaranty Fund fee.
Confirm the current process directly — it isn't published on the pages we could access.
Your Salesperson license activates once a Delaware broker takes you on.
Once your license issues, you have 90 days to complete the 12-hour New Salesperson education requirement.
After you’re licensed: staying current
Delaware requires a distinct 12-hour “New Salesperson” education requirement, due within 90 days of your license being issued (effective since May 1, 2022). It’s split into four 3-hour modules, shown below. This requirement does not apply if you’re licensed through Delaware’s reciprocity pathway.
| Module | Hours | Topic |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | 3 | Professional Standards |
| 2 | 3 | Agreement of Sale / Buyer Representation |
| 3 | 3 | Real Estate Documents / Seller Representation |
| 4 | 3 | Real Estate Professionalism |
| Total | 12 | Due within 90 days of license issuance |
Reciprocity
Delaware’s reciprocity is conditional, not automatic. You’ll still need to pass the Delaware law portion of the exam. Beyond that, you can qualify with either a Delaware-law-course certificate, a certificate for a course of 99+ hours completed elsewhere, or — if you’ve been continuously licensed elsewhere for 3 or more years — a Certificate of Licensure History in place of the coursework.
Common questions
Do I have to finish the 12-hour post-licensing course before I can start working?
No — your Salesperson license is active once issued and sponsored by a broker. But you have only 90 days from issuance to complete the four 3-hour post-licensing modules, so don’t put it off.
Is the post-licensing requirement the same as continuing education?
No. It’s a separate, one-time 12-hour requirement specific to new salespeople, distinct from Delaware’s ongoing CE cycle.
Does Delaware have reciprocity with my state?
It’s conditional: you’ll still sit for the Delaware law exam portion, then qualify via a Delaware-law-course certificate, a 99+ hour course certificate from elsewhere, or 3+ years of continuous licensure history.
How much does the exam cost and who do I pay?
$88, paid to Pearson VUE, covering a single combined sitting of the national and Delaware law portions.
Is a background check required?
Delaware likely requires one as part of licensure, but we could not confirm a vendor or fee from official pages this session — confirm directly with the Delaware Real Estate Commission.
Next step
Delaware Real Estate Commission (Division of Professional Regulation) — https://dpr.delaware.gov/boards/realestate/
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