How many questions are on the Illinois real estate exam?▼
The Illinois real estate broker exam has 140 scored questions: 100 national questions (150 minutes) and 40 Illinois-specific questions (90 minutes), for 240 minutes total. PSI also administers 5-10 unscored experimental questions that do not affect your score but do count against your exam time.
What is the passing score for the Illinois real estate exam?▼
You need 70% on the national portion (70 of 100 correct, which PSI notes is equivalent to the previously reported scaled score of 75) and 75% on the state portion (30 of 40 correct). Each portion is passed independently - if you fail one, you only retake that portion.
How much does the Illinois real estate exam and license cost?▼
The broker exam fee is $58 per attempt, paid to PSI. The IDFPR broker license application fee is $150. Fingerprinting through an IDFPR-licensed Live Scan vendor such as Accurate Biometrics costs $67 including state and FBI processing. Add the 75-hour pre-license course, which varies by school.
How many hours of pre-license education are required in Illinois?▼
Illinois requires 75 hours for the entry-level broker license: 60 hours of Broker Pre-License Topics plus a 15-hour interactive Applied Real Estate Principles course. (Note: Illinois has no 'salesperson' license - the entry-level license is called 'broker.') Managing broker candidates need 45 additional hours.
What is IDFPR and what role does it play?▼
IDFPR (Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation) is the state agency that licenses and regulates real estate professionals in Illinois. It approves education providers, issues licenses, handles complaints, and enforces the Real Estate License Act of 2000.
How do I schedule the Illinois real estate exam?▼
PSI administers the Illinois exam for IDFPR. After completing your 75 hours of pre-license education, schedule at test-takers.psiexams.com/ilrep or call PSI at (855) 340-3893. Note that your exam fee is forfeited if you do not test within 1 year of PSI receiving it.
What Illinois-specific topics are covered on the exam?▼
Key Illinois topics include the Real Estate License Act of 2000, Illinois agency disclosure requirements, the Residential Real Property Disclosure Act, radon and lead-based paint disclosures, Illinois fair housing regulations, and IDFPR rules. The state portion has 40 scored questions.
Does Illinois have license reciprocity with other states?▼
No. As of January 1, 2026, Illinois replaced its former reciprocity agreements (which covered 8 states) with a unified endorsement process. Out-of-state licensees in good standing complete a 30-hour Broker Pre-License Endorsement Course and pass only the Illinois state portion of the exam.
What are the continuing education requirements for Illinois license renewal?▼
Brokers first licensed on or after November 1, 2023 must complete 45 hours of Post-License Education by their first renewal, including a 1-hour Sexual Harassment Prevention Training. After that, standard renewal requires 12 hours of CE every 2 years: a 6-hour Core course plus 6 elective hours.
Can I use a calculator on the Illinois real estate exam?▼
Physical calculators are allowed at PSI test centers, but not for remote online proctored exams. All other electronic devices are prohibited. Test-center candidates receive scratch paper and a pencil.
What is the retake policy for the Illinois real estate exam?▼
You get up to 4 attempts within your 2-year eligibility period, at $58 per attempt, and retakes must be on a different day. You only retake the portion you failed. If you fail the 4th attempt, you must retake the 75-hour pre-license education and the entire exam.
How long is my Illinois exam eligibility valid?▼
Your pre-license education is valid for 2 years after completion - you must pass the exam within that window. After passing, you must apply for your license to IDFPR within 1 year, or you lose your exam credit and must retest.