Transfer Your Real Estate License to Illinois: Reciprocity & Endorsement (2026)
Does my real estate license transfer to Illinois?
Illinois has no blanket reciprocity agreement, but the Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation (IDFPR) — Division of Real Estate evaluates out-of-state licensees for endorsement individually. Effective January 1, 2026 an Endorsement Process replaced Illinois's former reciprocal agreements with specific states. An out-of-state broker/managing broker holding an active equivalent license completes a 30-hour Illinois Broker Pre-License Endorsement Course and must pass the Illinois Real Estate Endorsement Examination on Illinois brokerage law; the national/uniform exam portion is not retaken. Application fee: $150 ($150 non-refundable endorsement application fee for the Broker profession ($175 for Managing Broker); separate from PSI endorsement-exam fees and 30-hour course tuition.).
Moving to Illinois from a specific state?
Pick your current state — the checker returns your exact pathway.
Verdict
Licensure by endorsement
Illinois issues NO salesperson license; the entry-level license is Broker (Managing Broker is the supervisory tier). Effective January 1, 2026 the Endorsement Process replaced the prior state-specific reciprocal agreements, so there are no named reciprocal states (reciprocity_partners empty). Out-of-state applicants use endorsement (30-hour course + Illinois endorsement exam + $150), not the full 75-hour new-applicant pre-license course. Real estate has no interstate compact.
Illinois requirements at a glance
| Pre-license education | 75 hours of pre-license education |
|---|---|
| Fees | $150 ($150 non-refundable endorsement application fee for the Broker profession ($175 for Managing Broker); separate from PSI endorsement-exam fees and 30-hour course tuition.) |
| Processing time | IDFPR does not publish a stated processing time for endorsement applications |
Step by step
- Confirm Illinois's current requirements on the Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation (IDFPR) — Division of Real Estate website — rules change.
- Submit the endorsement application to the Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation (IDFPR) — Division of Real Estate (application linked on this page).
- Arrange license verification from your current state.
- Hold an active license in good standing as a broker, managing broker, or its equivalent in another state or jurisdiction (managing-broker endorsement additionally requires 2 years of active managing-broker practice in the immediately preceding period).
- Complete the 30-hour Broker Pre-License Endorsement Course and provide a Uniform Real Estate Transcript from an IDFPR-approved provider.
- Pass the Real Estate Endorsement Examination on Illinois real estate brokerage laws.
- Submit a Certification by Licensing Agency/Board (or Certification of License History) from each state in which licensed.
- Provide a Sponsor Card from an Illinois actively licensed brokerage for an active license (otherwise the license issues inactive).
- Pay the fees listed above, and allow for the processing time shown there.
Official links
Coming from a specific state?
Direction matters — these guides cover the exact move into Illinois:
Nearby states
Real Estate license transfer into the states bordering Illinois:
Illinois for other professions
- Nursing in Illinois
- Cosmetology / Barber in Illinois
- Contractor in Illinois
- Teaching in Illinois
- CPA / Accounting in Illinois
- Electrician in Illinois
- Plumber in Illinois
- Engineering in Illinois
- Pharmacy in Illinois
- Physical Therapy in Illinois
- Psychology in Illinois
- Counseling in Illinois
- Social Work in Illinois
- Occupational Therapy in Illinois
Sources
Primary sources only — official boards and compact commissions. Data last verified 2026-07-21.
- IDFPR — Real Estate Brokerage page ('Endorsement Process becomes effective January 1, 2026 ... replaces a Reciprocal Process previously in place with specific states') ↗ (accessed 2026-07-21)
- IDFPR — Real Estate Application for Licensure by Endorsement (Broker $150 / Managing Broker $175; 30-hour endorsement course; endorsement exam on Illinois law) ↗ (accessed 2026-07-21)
- IDFPR — 30-Hour Real Estate Broker Pre-License Endorsement Course Curriculum (12-10-2024) ↗ (accessed 2026-07-21)
- IDFPR — Broker 75-Hour Pre-License Curriculum (60 hours topics + 15 hours applied) ↗ (accessed 2026-07-21)
Reviewed by the License Reciprocity Editorial Team · verified against primary sources 2026-07-21
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