50-State Real Estate Broker Licensing Compliance Guide
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Illinois Real Estate License

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Licensing requirements for Illinois brokerage firms.

A business entity offering real estate brokerage services to the public typically must register with the real estate commission before conducting business activity. For assistance with licensing, please contact us to learn about our software and managed license services.

Company Licenses

Illinois Real Estate Company Licenses

Illinois Branch Office Registration

Agency:Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation - Division of Professional Regulation - Division of Real Estate
Law:

Illinois Real Estate License Act 2000 {225 ILCS 454}

Eligible Entity Types:
  • Corporations
  • Partnerships 
  • Limited Partnerships 
  • Limited Liability Companies
Foreign Qualification is Prerequisite:Yes
Exam Required?Not Set
Registered Agent (Special Agency) Required?No
Requirement Notes:

The name of the Office Location/Branch shall be the same as that of the principal of prinicpal office.


The Consent to Examine and Audit Special Accounts form must be properly completed in the principal office.

Initial Registration

Form:

Branch Office Registration Application 

Filing Method:

Mail 

Agency Fee:

$0

Notes:
  • The Consent to Examine and Audit Special Accounts form must be properly completed in the principal
    office
  • The name of the Office Location/Branch shall be the same as that of the principal of

Illinois Real Estate Firm License

Agency:Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation - Division of Professional Regulation - Division of Real Estate
Eligible Entity Types:
  • Corporations
  • Partnerships
  • Limited Partnerships 
  • Limited Liability Companies
Foreign Qualification is Prerequisite:Yes
Ownership Requirements:

Partnerships:

  • Every general partner must hold a license as a managing broker or broker 

Corporations

  • Every officer of such corporation who actively participates in the brokerage business must hold a license as a managing broker or broker, and unless every employee who acts as a leasing agent for such a partnership or corporation holds a license as a broker or leasing agent.
  • No partnership or corporation shall be licensed to conduct a brokerage business where an individual leasing agent or group of leasing agents owns or directly or indirectly controls more than 49% of the shares of stock or other ownership in the partnership or corporation."
Exam Required?Not Set
Registered Agent (Special Agency) Required?Not Set
Qualifying Individual Requirements:

There must be a managing broker licensed by the state of Illinois. Requirements for each can be found in ownership requirements. 

Initial Registration

Form:

Corporation/Partnerships Real Estate Firm Application 

Limited Liability Company Real Estate Firm Application

Real Estate Virtual Office Registration

Filing Method:

Mail

Agency Fee:

$125

Notes:
  • Virtual Offices: A physical address in Illinois for the sponsoring broker must be provided for service of process. If licensees or applicants do not maintain a physical address in Illinois, an entity may utilize the same address provided to the Secretary of State for its registered agent in Illinois
  • Illinois also licenses appraisal management companies.
Required Attachments:
  • Corporations, partnerships, and limited liability companies :If an assumed name will be used, attach a certified copy of the assumed name certificate, obtainable from the county clerk (partnership) or the Illinois Secretary of State (corporation). Attach a list of all officers within the corporation or all general partners within the partnership.A Federal Employer Identification Number (FEIN) is required.
  • Corporations: Attach an affidavit of nonparticipation for each unlicensed officer and director of the corporation and one of the appropriate documents issued by the Illinois Secretary of State.
  • Illinois Corporations: Submit a complete copy of the Articles of Incorporation.
  • Foreign Corporations: Submit a complete copy of the Articles of Authority to conduct business in Illinois.
  • Partnerships: Attach an affidavit stating that the partnership has been legally formed.
  • Limited Partnerships: The managing broker of the firm must associate/transfer himself/herself and all licensees employed by the firm only AFTER receipt of the firm license. A properly completed sponsor card and the applicable fee must be submitted for each transaction.
  • Limited Liability Companies: Attach a copy of Articles of Organization, any Operating Agreement, a copy of a Consent to Examine and Audit Special Accounts form for each depository or financial institution at which the LLC maintains a special account, a list of all Members of the LLC, and a FEIN number. If the LLC was organized outside of Illinois, attach the field application for administration to transact business in Illinois was issued by the Illinois Secretary of State. 

Registration Renewal

Form:

Corporation/Partnership Real Estate Firm Application, Limited Liability Company Real Estate Firm Application 

Agency Fee:

$75

Due:

By October 31 of even-numbered years.

Required Attachments:

Individual Licenses

Illinois Individual Real Estate Licenses

Illinois Real Estate Broker License

Agency:Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation - Division of Professional Regulation - Division of Real Estate
Foreign Qualification is Prerequisite:Not Set
Exam Required?Not Set
Registered Agent (Special Agency) Required?Not Set

Initial Registration

Agency Fee:

$125

Notes:

License applications are provided after passing the exam.

Registration Renewal

Filing Method:

Online

Agency Fee:

$150

Due:

By April 30 of even-numbered years.

Illinois Real Estate Managing Broker License

Agency:Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation - Division of Professional Regulation - Division of Real Estate
Foreign Qualification is Prerequisite:Not Set
Exam Required?Not Set
Registered Agent (Special Agency) Required?Not Set

Initial Registration

Agency Fee:

$150

Notes:

License applications are provided after passing the exam.

Registration Renewal

Filing Method:

Online

Agency Fee:

$200

Due:

By April 30 of odd-numbered years.

Learn about real estate licensing in other states:

Alabama Alaska Arizona Arkansas California Colorado Connecticut Delaware District of Columbia Florida Georgia Hawaii Idaho
Illinois Indiana Iowa Kansas Kentucky Louisiana Maine Maryland Massachusetts Michigan Minnesota Mississippi Missouri
Montana Nebraska Nevada New Hampshire New Jersey New Mexico New York North Carolina North Dakota Ohio Oklahoma Oregon Pennsylvania
Rhode Island South Carolina South Dakota Tennessee Texas Utah Vermont Virginia Washington West Virginia Wisconsin Wyoming

Associate Broker - Associate brokers are qualified to work independently as a broker, but choose to work under the authority of a designated broker.

On-Site Manager - A broker or salesperson who oversees the operations of a branch office under the authority of the designated broker.

Qualifying Broker/Designated Broker - An experienced and licensed real estate broker responsible for management and operation of a real estate firm.

Real Estate - Land, buildings, and their permanent improvements and fixtures. Also called "real property" in contrast to personal property.

Real Estate Agent - This term refers generally to any licensed real estate professional.

Reciprocity - Reciprocity makes it easier for out-of-state real estate firms to gain approval to operate in a foreign state by streamlining some licensing requirements.

Association of Real Estate License Law Officials (ARELLO)
Offers a license verification database accross 43 jurisdictions.

NAIOP Commercial Real Estate Development Association Agencies
Aid education, research, and advocacy efforts in the real estate industry.

National Association of Realtors
Real estate trade organization that provides information and resources for development of the real estate industry.

Urban Land Institute
Research and education association concerned with responsible land use and creating sustainable communities.

Revised April 27, 2022. Complete data last reviewed April 06, 2022.
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