Real estate license requirements in Iowa
Iowa requires 96 hours of pre-licensing education, a $95 PSI exam, and a fast application clock — you must file your license application by the last business day of the sixth month after you pass, or your exam results expire.
Education
The Iowa Real Estate Commission requires 96 total hours before you can apply for a license — a 60-hour general Salesperson course plus 36 hours of live-instruction electives. All of it counts as pre-licensing education; Iowa doesn’t publish a separate post-licensing tier.
| Course | Hours | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| General Salesperson Course | 60 | Foundational course |
| Professionalism & Ethics | 12 | Live instruction only |
| Buying | 12 | Live instruction only |
| Listing | 12 | Live instruction only |
All 96 hours must be completed within the 12 months before you apply for your license, and the three 12-hour elective courses must be taken live — they aren’t offered as self-paced online courses.
What Iowa calls your first license
Iowa’s entry-level license is a “Real Estate Salesperson.” It’s a standard broker-sponsored license — you’ll need a supervising broker on file before you can practice, and Iowa doesn’t have a separate first-year or provisional license tier.
The licensing exam
Iowa contracts with PSI, not Pearson VUE, to administer its exam. You can sit for the national and state portions separately or together in one combined session.
| Portion | Items | To pass |
|---|---|---|
| National | 80 items, 120 minutes | 56 correct |
| Iowa state law | 40 items, 60 minutes | 28 correct |
| Combined sitting | 120 items, 180 minutes | 84 correct |
The exam fee is a flat $95 regardless of whether you sit for one or both portions in a session.
Iowa requires your license application to be filed by the last business day of the sixth month after you pass your qualifying exam. Miss it, and you'll need to retest. Don't let your paperwork sit.
Fees
| Fee | Amount | Paid to |
|---|---|---|
| Application & license fee | $125 | Iowa Real Estate Commission (separate from the exam fee) |
| Exam fee | $95 | PSI |
| Background check | $51 | Iowa DPS/FBI, via the “RE – Background Request” app in the My Iowa PLB portal (vendor referenced as DataPro); valid 210 days |
Budget roughly $270 in state and vendor fees on top of your course costs. Always confirm current figures directly with the Iowa Real Estate Commission before you pay.
How to apply, step by step
Iowa’s process is fairly linear, but the application deadline after your exam is the one place people get tripped up.
From an approved provider, within the 12 months before you apply.
Professionalism & Ethics, Buying, and Listing — 12 hours each, live instruction only.
Through the "RE – Background Request" app in the My Iowa PLB portal (DataPro), $51.
National and Iowa state-law portions, combined or separate.
With the $125 fee, by the last business day of the sixth month after you pass.
You'll need one on file to activate your Salesperson license.
After you’re licensed: staying current
We couldn’t confirm a distinct post-licensing course for Iowa salespersons — the 36 elective hours above are part of pre-licensing, not a later requirement. If you’re newly licensed, confirm your specific continuing-education timeline directly with the Iowa Real Estate Commission rather than assuming there’s nothing further due.
Reciprocity
Iowa doesn’t publish a fixed list of reciprocal states. Nonresidents generally need to pass only the Iowa state portion of the exam (the national portion is waived), and if your home state has a specific agreement with Iowa, even the state portion may be waived. We couldn’t confirm which states currently have that deeper agreement — check directly with the Iowa Real Estate Commission for your specific state.
Common questions
Can I take Iowa's pre-licensing courses online?
The 60-hour General Salesperson course can typically be taken online through an approved provider, but the three 12-hour elective courses (Professionalism & Ethics, Buying, Listing) require live instruction.
What happens if I miss Iowa's application deadline after passing the exam?
You must file your license application by the last business day of the sixth month after your qualifying exam. If you miss that window, your passing score no longer qualifies you and you’ll need to retest.
Does Iowa require a distinct post-licensing course?
We couldn’t confirm one. The 36 elective hours are part of the 96-hour pre-licensing requirement, not a separate post-licensing tier. Confirm with the Commission if you want certainty.
Does an out-of-state license help me in Iowa?
It can waive the national portion of the exam, and possibly the state portion too if your home state has a specific agreement with Iowa — but Iowa doesn’t publish the full list, so ask the Commission directly.
How long is my Iowa background check valid?
210 days from when it’s completed through the My Iowa PLB portal.
Next step
Iowa Real Estate Commission — https://plb.iowa.gov/board/real-estate-sales-brokers
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