How To Become a Real Estate Agent in Arkansas

To kickstart a career in real estate in Arkansas, you first need to be licensed as a real estate agent by meeting all the stipulated licensure requirements by the Arkansas Realty Commission.

The Arkansas Real Estate Commission (AREC) is responsible for overseeing the licensing process to ensure that all agents meet all the laid-out qualifications and follow proper business practices once licensed.¹

Below are details on how to get in touch with the commission.

Steps For Getting Your Real Estate License in Arkansas

The Arkansas Real Estate Commission (AREC)²

• Mailing Address: Arkansas Real Estate Commission
  612 South Summit Street
  Little Rock, AR 72201-4740
• Fax: (501) 683-8020
• Phone: (501) 683-8010
• Email: Contact us³

This comprehensive guide will provide you with all the information you need to obtain a real estate salesperson license in Arkansas.

This guide will delve into these requirements in detail.

Key Prerequisites For Becoming a Licensed Real Estate Agent

The baseline eligibility criteria established by the Arkansas Realty Commission ensure that every applicant meets the basic qualifications to practice real estate lawfully and ethically.⁴

To start the licensing process below are the essential prerequisites that need to be met:

1. Being of legal age which means being at least 18 years old
2. Completing high school education and showing proof of a high school diploma, GED, or an equivalent qualification
3. Undergoing a fingerprint-based criminal background check
4. Providing evidence of U.S. Residency or citizenship

In cases where an applicant has previous convictions for offenses, additional scrutiny or proof of rehabilitation may be required. Note that AREC reserves the right to reject an application for a real estate license if an applicant’s criminal history suggests behavior that could pose risks during real estate transactions.

Age and Primary Educational Conditions

All real estate license applicants are required to be at least 18 years old when submitting their license application to the Arkansas Realty Commission.⁴ Being at least 18 years old shows that an applicant has amassed an adequate level of maturity and life experience to advise customers on real estate transactions.

Applicants are required to show proof of age when applying with a:

• Copy of a birth certificate
• Driver’s license
• Passport

Applicants also need a high school diploma or an equivalent qualification to demonstrate basic literacy, math, and reading comprehension abilities.⁴ As proof, applicants need to submit one of the following with their license application:

• Copy of high school diploma
• Official high school transcripts
• GED certificate

Many real estate schools may also ask for education verification before enrolling students in pre-licensing courses. Check with your chosen school for their admissions policies.

Essential Pre-Licensing Learning Time

Before qualifying for the Arkansas real estate exam, applicants must complete 60 hours of AREC-approved pre-licensing education. These 60 hours go beyond just lecturing on concepts—they build critical skills like negotiating, marketing, contracts, and ethics.

For a Salesperson License, the curriculum covers:

• Real property characteristics, legal descriptions, and property use
• Forms of ownership, transfer, and recording of title
• Property value and appraisal
• Property disclosures and environmental issues
• Real estate math calculations
• Real estate practice
• Licensing requirements
• Financing and settlement
• Duties and powers of the Real Estate Commission
• Statutory requirements governing the activities of licensees
• Agency relationships and disclosures
• Real estate contracts and agency
• Other statutory requirements

You can satisfy this 60-hour education requirement through:

• In-person classroom courses from an AREC-approved school in Arkansas⁵
• Interactive online or virtual instructor-led live classes from an approved provider
• Self-paced online courses that allow you to learn at your own pace

The in-person or live online formats give you interaction with instructors and peers. Online on-demand courses allow you to learn at your own pace.

Review AREC’s approved list of real estate schools in Arkansas to select the best program for your needs.⁵

Charges for Real Estate School Pre-Licensing

Arkansas requires real estate license candidates to complete 60 hours of AREC-approved pre-licensing education before taking the state exam. You can satisfy this mandate through:

• In-person classroom courses at an AREC-approved school
• Live virtual classes from an approved provider
• Self-paced on-demand online courses

Many applicants opt for online pre-licensing since classes can be accessed anytime and they can learn at their own pace. Others may prefer an in-person or live virtual format for engaging with instructors and peers.

Shop approved providers to pick the learning method best for you.

While tuition varies, expect to invest $200 to $450+ to enroll in required pre-licensing courses at an approved real estate school in Arkansas.⁵

Factors impacting costs include:

• Delivery format: Online or in-person
• Choice of provider
• Extras like exam prep and practice material

Compare costs across 3 to 5 approved schools for the best deal. Bundle discounts may be offered for pairing pre-licensing with exam prep.

Investing more upfront can save retake headaches. Be sure to also consider the provider’s pass rate in addition to their prices.

Required Real Estate Background Verification (Fingerprint Sites)

All Arkansas real estate license applicants are required to pass a fingerprint-based background check run through the Arkansas State Police (ASP) and FBI databases.

However, unlike in other states, applicants must first submit their license application to the Arkansas Real Estate Commission (AREC) before taking the exam or undergoing the background check.

To apply, follow these steps:

• Complete the Application for Real Estate License Examination form along with the Criminal Background Check (CBC) Identity Verification form.^6,7
• Send these documents to AREC along with a cashier’s check or money order covering the $50 application fee, $22 state background check fee, and $14.25 FBI background check fee for a total of $86.25. No personal checks are accepted.
  AREC typically processes completed applications within 5-10 business days. If approved, they will email you a Background Payment Confirmation Form with a unique Transaction Control Number.
• Take the Confirmation Form to an approved fingerprint harvester or Live Scan operator to have your fingerprints collected.⁸ The harvester/operator will submit your prints to the proper databases.
• After fingerprinting, the harvester/operator then completes their section of the Confirmation Form and returns it to you. You must then send the full form back to AREC via email, fax, or mail.

Note that the entire background check must be completed within 6 months from the date when AREC first receives your license application. Therefore, it is recommended to get fingerprinted as soon as possible, as it takes 1 to 3 weeks for AREC to receive your full background check results after fingerprinting.

It is important to remember that having a criminal record does not automatically disqualify you from licensure. However, certain types of convictions within the past 5 to 10 years may impact your eligibility.

That said, the Arkansas Realty Commission reviews all background check circumstances on a case-by-case basis to give everyone a fair chance. Therefore, be proactive in communicating with them regarding your specific legal history.