License guide

How to get an Iowa real estate license

Iowa licenses real estate professionals through the Iowa Real Estate Commission (Department of Inspections, Appeals, and Licensing). Here is the path in plain steps, checked against the official sources in October 2026.

Step by step

Be 18 and start your background check
You must be 18 when you apply; there is no residency or citizenship requirement. Start the FBI criminal history check early, since it can take 4 weeks or more. It is valid for 210 days.
Complete 96 hours of education
Take the 60-hour principles and practices course (live or online), plus three 12-hour live courses: Buying Practices, Listing Practices, and Developing Professionalism and Ethical Practices. All must be less than 1 year old when the Commission gets your application.
Pass the exam
After the 60-hour course, pass the state and national portions with PSI ($95). Scores are valid until the last working day of the sixth month after you pass.
Get E&O insurance and apply
Obtain errors and omissions insurance and apply electronically in your My Iowa PLB account.

Keeping your license

36 hours before December 31 of your renewal year: 8 hours of Law Update, 4 hours of Ethics and 24 hours of approved electives.
At least 12 hours must be live instruction; up to 24 can be distance learning. Up to 18 unused elective hours carry over from the prior cycle.
Instead of CE, you can pass both exam portions between July 1 and December 31 of your renewal year.

Renewal and CE rules

Questions

Do I need a website on day one?

No, but a simple page with your photo, brokerage and contact info helps clients find you. Property Landing Pages has a free plan with one listing page and an agent site.