How To Become a Real Estate Agent in Missouri

Real estate agents in Missouri are tasked with helping clients buy and sell commercial, residential, industrial, and many other properties. If you are a passionate salesperson and love everything to do with real estate, then you must be thinking about starting a career in the field.

There is only one thing that stands in your way: getting a Missouri real estate license. Do you have an idea of how to go about it?

If not, don’t worry because this write-up breaks it all down for you, detailing the processes and also the truth about being a real estate agent.

How To Get a Real Estate License in Missouri

Missouri is an impressive place to live and work; the Missouri solar incentives and the ever-lucrative real estate market prove this. If you are looking forward to starting a career in real estate in the region, either full or part-time, you are going to first have to know what it takes to get a license.

This is literally the only way to legally practice the job that you love. Easing into the steps, here are the qualifications to be a real estate agent according to the Missouri Division of Professional Registration.¹

Fundamental Requirements For Obtaining a Real Estate Professional License

Being a real estate agent in Missouri is as simple as first getting your license. If this is your very first time applying for it, you are very keen on the requirements because you need to know whether you are eligible or not and what you have to do to make sure that there is nothing getting in your way.

The rules on the requirements to be a real estate agent in Missouri are very clear.²

1. You have to be a citizen of the US, or if not, be a lawfully admitted or legal alien.
2. You must be 18 years old at the least.
3. You should be of great moral standing, a person of integrity that is also fair.
4. You must have completed the 72-hour recommended pre-licensing courses from a recognized institution.
5. You must have passed the two sections of the Missouri and state real estate exam or, if not, be a licensed attorney.
6. You must have completed the background check through the state’s approved vendor, IDEMIA (identGO).³

Prerequisite Age and Foundational Education Needs

There is one pressing concern that many first-timers ask: do you have to go to college to be a real estate agent? What if you only have a high school diploma?

Will that hinder you from getting your license? Again, how old should you be before you start applying for your real estate license?

First things first, you are eligible to be a real estate agent if you are a legal US citizen, which means that you have to be at least 18 years old.

You will be asked for your ID and other documents to prove this during your licensure application. As for the education, you don’t really have to be a college graduate to become a real estate agent in Missouri.

With only a high school diploma and proof that you have completed the pre-licensing courses, you can do your exam, pass, and actually get licensure.

Pre-Licensing Course Hours Required (Can I Take Free Real Estate Classes Online?)

Do you have to go to school to be a real estate agent? Of course.

It is exactly what you are supposed to do when pursuing virtually any professional career. You will definitely need some formal training from a recognized institution, and in this case, you are expected to take real estate classes from one of the various approved providers in Missouri.⁴

These schools for real estate licenses are mandated to provide the necessary prerequisite courses that will help you kickstart your career.

The Missouri Real Estate Commission approves a 72-hour pre-licensing course, 48 hours are dedicated to salesperson pre-licensing courses, while the other 24 hours are for real estate practice. You can take these courses either in person or online, depending on what works best for you.

What about free online real estate courses? Are they available?

Yes, they are, and so many websites offer these free courses, but there is a catch. It is very rare for them to be certified.

They are usually just to help boost your knowledge and help with your exam prep, but chances are high that they will not be recognized by the commission since they will not award you any academic credit.

Out-of-Pocket Costs for Real Estate School Pre-Licensing Training/Missouri Division of Professional Registration Costs and Financial Commitments

While there are free real estate courses that you can make use of online, they do not award you credit, and what’s worse, the commission does not recognize them when you are applying for your licensure. So, that means that free online real estate courses with certificates are hardly ever available unless you are considering continuing education after getting your license, which will go a long way in your Missouri real estate license renewal.

What if you are on a tight budget? Does that mean that you can’t get the best real estate education?

Not really. There are so many accredited sites online that offer affordable online courses.

They are more flexible and way cheaper than in-person learning, and you will highly benefit from them. However, in general, you will likely spend anything between $350-$800 in order to get your license.⁵

The total cost tends to vary based on the program you enroll in and the price of the tuition. But here is a cost breakdown of the fees for pre-licensing education and licensing:

• Exam fee: $62
• License application fee: $90
• Fees for background checks: $41.75
• Real estate courses: $135-$500

Prerequisite Background Examination for Real Estate Licensure (Fingerprint Venue)

Like in other states, MO, through the Missouri Real Estate Commission,⁶ also carries out a background check on all its license applicants. This real estate agent background check demands that you send over your fingerprints to the recognized vendor called IDEMIA (IdentGO) and also carry out a criminal history check with the state.

The reason for this is to confirm whether you have a clear record and an impeccable reputation; this is for the safety of all the people that you will be working for and with after your licensure.

This leads to the question, what if you have a criminal record? While you are free to apply for licensure even with a felony, only the commission reserves the right to approve or deny your application, which is usually based on the nature of the crimes committed.

The DRE has created a list of the most common disqualifying convictions that are solid ground to deny or revoke a real estate agent’s license. The board will not look the other way when it comes to convictions like forgery, extortion, fraud, embezzlement, and many other grave offenses.⁷

Can You Be a Real Estate Agent in Missouri With a Criminal Record?

While it is allowed to apply to get a real estate license, even if you have a criminal record, there is no guarantee that your application will be approved. As a matter of fact, there are some convictions that will ruin any chances of getting the license, so you better check the rules first before starting the applications.

What Are the Minimum Education and Age Requirements To Be a Real Estate Agent?

There are very simple rules when it comes to qualifying to receive a real estate license, starting with the minimum requirements of being at least 18 years of age and possessing a high school diploma. While it is not mandatory for you to have a degree in real estate, you can make up for it by taking the 72-hour courses and passing the final exam.

How Long Does It Take To Get a Real Estate License in Missouri?

The process from applying for a real estate license to receiving it is relatively short, often taking around two months, allowing you to begin your practice legally without significant delay. If your background check clears in no time and you don’t have to retake the exam a couple of times, you will be just a few months from receiving your license.

What Skills Do You Need To Be a Real Estate Agent in Missouri?

There is so much more when it comes to being a real estate agent than just helping clients buy and sell houses. Of course, you want to be the very best in your field, so you can’t help but wonder, what does it take to be a real estate agent?

Did you know that you can master your craft and actually learn how to become a real estate agent with no experience whatsoever and still excel? Here is how a beginner real estate agent in Missouri can thrive in the business.

Excellent Communication

Any salesperson will tell you that the secret is to be exceptionally good at communicating. Your clients, brokers, and even bosses will need you to relay very important information to them in a timely manner, otherwise, deals could easily fail.

So, you have to be very good at verbal communication alongside written communication.

Attentiveness

It is the details that matter when you are in the business of selling properties. You cannot afford to miss certain information about the transaction because the last thing you want is a client going home dissatisfied.

There are going to be legal documents to go over, so you have to be very keen on the smallest of things.

Negotiation

Another very important skill to have is negotiation. You will receive offers from both the seller and the buyer, and there are also going to be counteroffers from both sides.

So, it is entirely up to you to help them both reach common ground and be satisfied at the end of the day.