Real estate license requirements in Indiana
Like Illinois, Indiana has no salesperson tier — the entry-level license is a “Real Estate Broker” outright — and Indiana states plainly that it has no reciprocity agreements with any state.
Education
Indiana requires a single 90-hour pre-licensing course. You need to complete it within 6 months of enrolling, and then sit for the exam within 1 year of finishing the course.
| Requirement | Hours | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Real Estate Broker Pre-License Course | 90 | Must be completed within 6 months of enrollment; exam must follow within 1 year of course completion |
What Indiana calls your first license
Indiana has no “salesperson” license either — the entry-level license is called a “Real Estate Broker” outright. “Managing Broker” is a separate supervisory designation, obtained through its own $10 Managing Broker Eligibility Application — it’s not a higher license you get instead of a salesperson license, since there’s no salesperson license to begin with.
The licensing exam
Indiana contracts with Pearson VUE. The standard combined “Real Estate Broker” exam covers both national and state content in one sitting.
| Exam type | Items | To pass | Fee |
|---|---|---|---|
| Real Estate Broker (combined) | 145 items / 240 minutes | Scaled score 75 | $55 |
| Broker by Endorsement (state-only) | 60 items / 90 minutes | Scaled score 75 | $55 |
The “Broker by Endorsement” state-only exam is only relevant if you qualify for Indiana’s case-by-case endorsement pathway — see Reciprocity below.
You have to finish your 90-hour course within 6 months of enrolling, and then sit for the exam within 1 year of finishing that course. Miss either window and you may have to start over — plan your enrollment date accordingly.
Fees
| Fee | Amount | Paid to |
|---|---|---|
| Exam fee | $55 | Pearson VUE (combined Broker exam) |
| Application & license fee | $60 initial | Indiana Real Estate Commission (IPLA) |
| Managing Broker Eligibility Application | $10 | Only if pursuing that separate designation |
| Background check | None | Not required — real estate broker isn’t listed under IC 25-1-1.1-4 |
Indiana’s fees are comparatively low: $55 for the exam and $60 for your initial Broker License Application. The 3-year renewal fee is also $60.
How to apply, step by step
The steps can overlap in places, but this is the order that avoids the most common delays.
You must complete it within 6 months of enrolling.
Must be taken within 1 year of finishing your course. Fee is $55.
To IPLA. No background check is required.
Required to activate your Broker license.
Indiana's entry-level license — there is no lower "salesperson" tier.
Due within your first 2 years of licensure.
After you’re licensed: staying current
Indiana requires 30 hours of post-licensing education within your first 2 years, covering specific topics in lieu of standard continuing education for that period. After the first 2 years, you move to the standard CE cycle of 12 hours per year, running July through June.
| Topic | Hours |
|---|---|
| Transactions | 6 |
| Financing | 6 |
| Business Planning | 10 |
| Negotiating | 5 |
| Fair Housing | 1 |
| Construction | 2 |
| Total | 30 — required within your first 2 years |
Reciprocity
Indiana states plainly: “The Real Estate Commission does not have reciprocity agreements with any state.” A Licensure by Endorsement option does exist on a case-by-case basis, which can allow a state-portion-only exam if you’re approved — but there’s no guaranteed reciprocal pathway the way there is in many other states.
Common questions
Does Indiana have a salesperson license?
No. Like Illinois, Indiana has no salesperson tier — the entry-level license is itself called “Real Estate Broker.”
Does Indiana have reciprocity with other states?
No — Indiana’s own language is direct: “does not have reciprocity agreements with any state.” A case-by-case Licensure by Endorsement pathway exists, but it’s not guaranteed.
Do I need a background check to get licensed?
No. Real estate broker isn’t listed among the professions covered by IC 25-1-1.1-4, so Indiana relies on self-disclosure only.
Is there post-licensing education after I get my Broker license?
Yes — 30 hours within your first 2 years, covering transactions, financing, business planning, negotiating, fair housing, and construction, in place of standard CE for that period.
What's the difference between Broker and Managing Broker in Indiana?
Broker is the entry-level license everyone starts with. Managing Broker is a separate supervisory designation obtained through its own $10 eligibility application — it’s not a higher license tier you’re automatically working toward.
Next step
Indiana Real Estate Commission (IPLA) — https://www.in.gov/pla/professions/real-estate-home/
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