Real estate license requirements in Kentucky
Kentucky calls its entry-level license a “Sales Associate,” not a “salesperson,” and requires 96 clock hours of pre-licensing education plus 48 hours of post-licensing education within your first two years — a heavier follow-up load than most states.
Education
The Kentucky Real Estate Commission (KREC) requires 96 clock hours from a Commission-approved school, or 6 semester credit hours from an accredited college. You’ll also need a high school diploma or GED, or 28 academic semester hours in lieu of one.
| Path | Requirement | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Commission-approved school | 96 clock hours | Standard path |
| Accredited college | 6 semester credit hours | Alternate path |
| Education prerequisite | HS diploma/GED, or 28 academic semester hours | In lieu of a diploma |
What Kentucky calls your first license
Kentucky’s entry-level real estate license is called a “Sales Associate” — not “salesperson,” which is the more common term in most other states. If you’re comparing Kentucky to other states’ requirements, don’t be thrown by the different name: functionally, it’s the same broker-sponsored entry-level license.
The licensing exam
Kentucky contracts with PSI. The exam has a General (national) portion and a State portion, and you can pass one while retaking the other.
| Portion | Items | To pass |
|---|---|---|
| General (national) | 80 items, 150 minutes | 75% |
| State | 40 items, 90 minutes | 75% |
| Combined sitting | 120 items, 240 minutes | 75% each portion |
The exam fee is a flat $100 whether you sit for one portion or both. If you pass one portion and fail the other, you have 4 months to retake the portion you failed before you have to start over.
Kentucky doesn't use a single third-party vendor. You get fingerprinted at local law enforcement first ($10 KSP fee), then submit those prints directly to the FBI yourself via edo.cjis.gov ($18) — before you can schedule your exam. Budget extra lead time for this.
Fees
| Fee | Amount | Paid to |
|---|---|---|
| Application & license fee | $130 (Active) or $120 (Inactive) | KREC, separate from the exam fee |
| Exam fee | $100 flat | PSI |
| Background check | ~$28 ($10 + $18) | $10 to local law enforcement (KSP) + $18 to the FBI via edo.cjis.gov |
Budget roughly $258 in state and vendor fees on top of your course costs, plus the cost of your 48-hour post-licensing education later. Confirm current figures directly with KREC before you pay.
How to apply, step by step
Kentucky’s fingerprinting step happens before the exam, which trips some applicants up if they don’t plan ahead.
From a Commission-approved school, or 6 semester credit hours at an accredited college.
$10 Kentucky State Police fee.
Via edo.cjis.gov, $18 — required before you can schedule your exam.
General and State portions; you can retake a failed portion within 4 months.
$130 for an Active license, or $120 for Inactive.
Needed to activate your Sales Associate license.
Within your first 2 years as a licensed Sales Associate.
After you’re licensed: staying current
Kentucky requires 48 hours of post-licensing education within your first 2 years of licensure, for associates licensed on or after January 1, 2016 — a real requirement distinct from Kentucky’s ongoing CE/CORE continuing education.
| Requirement | Hours | Deadline |
|---|---|---|
| Post-licensing education | 48 hours | Within first 2 years of licensure |
Reciprocity
Kentucky has direct reciprocal agreements with Florida, Mississippi, and Tennessee, plus MOUs with Illinois and Ohio. Reciprocal applicants must complete a 40-hour Kentucky reciprocal law course and pass a Kentucky-specific reciprocity exam — it’s not a full waiver of Kentucky requirements.
Common questions
Is Kentucky's "Sales Associate" the same as a salesperson license elsewhere?
Functionally, yes — it’s Kentucky’s entry-level, broker-sponsored license. The state just uses “Sales Associate” instead of “salesperson.”
Can I substitute college credit for the 96-hour course?
Yes — 6 semester credit hours from an accredited college satisfies the pre-licensing education requirement instead of the 96 clock hours.
Does Kentucky require post-licensing education?
Yes — 48 hours within your first 2 years of licensure, separate from Kentucky’s regular continuing education (CE/CORE) requirements.
What happens if I only pass one exam portion?
You have 4 months to retake the portion you failed. If you miss that window, you’ll likely need to retest both portions.
Does Kentucky have reciprocity with my state?
Only if your state is Florida, Mississippi, or Tennessee (direct agreements) or Illinois/Ohio (MOU) — and even then you’ll need a 40-hour Kentucky law course and a Kentucky-specific reciprocity exam.
Next step
Kentucky Real Estate Commission (KREC) — https://krec.ky.gov
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