In Illinois, most real estate license projects cost between $500 and $3,000 per license, with a typical price near $1,200. Local labour, permits and materials move the final price, so treat the range below as a planning guide.
Typical real estate license cost
$500 – $3,000
per license · typical $1,200
A general planning range, not a quotation.
Real estate license cost breakdown
- Pre-licensing education$300 – $1,500typical $800
- Exam & licensing fees$100 – $500typical $250
- Total with materials & background$500 – $3,000typical $1,200
At a glance
- Typical range$500 – $3,000
- Unitper license
- Cities covered50
What Real Estate Licensing costs
Covers state-approved pre-licensing courses, exam fees, and initial licensing fees. Costs vary by state, with some including background checks and fingerprints.
By city in Illinois
- Addison
- Alton
- Arlington Heights
- Belleville
- Berwyn
- Bolingbrook
- Buffalo Grove
- Calumet City
- Carbondale
- Carol Stream
- Carpentersville
- Champaign
- Chicago
- Cicero
- Crystal Lake
- DeKalb
- Decatur
- Des Plaines
- Downers Grove
- Elgin
- Elmhurst
- Evanston
- Glenview
- Hanover Park
- Hoffman Estates
- Joliet
- Kankakee
- Lombard
- Moline
- Mount Prospect
- Naperville
- Normal
- Oak Lawn
- Oak Park
- Orland Park
- Palatine
- Park Ridge
- Peoria
- Rock Island
- Rockford
- Romeoville
- Round Lake Beach
- Schaumburg
- Skokie
- Springfield
- Streamwood
- Tinley Park
- Urbana
- Waukegan
- Wheaton
Frequently asked questions
What's the cheapest state to get licensed?
Costs vary, but some states like Indiana are around $500 total. Others like California are over $3,000 with courses and fees.
What's included in the cost?
Pre-licensing courses, textbooks, exam application fee, licensing fee, and often background check and fingerprinting.
How fast can I get a license?
Most people finish courses in 2-4 months, then pass the exam. Total time from start to license is typically 3-6 months.