Real Estate License from Indiana to Kentucky: Does It Transfer? (2026)
Does Kentucky accept an Indiana real estate license?
A real estate license transfers from Indiana to Kentucky by endorsement — there is no automatic reciprocity, but you do not start over. Apply to the Kentucky Real Estate Commission (KREC), verify your Indiana license, and meet Kentucky's endorsement requirements. Reciprocal applicants take ONLY the Kentucky law portion of the licensing exam (the PSI 'reciprocity sales associate exam'); the national portion and the full 96-hour pre-license course are waived. Instead they complete a 40-hour reciprocal license law course through a KREC-approved provider.
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Same data, interactive — with share link and board links.
Verdict
Licensure by endorsement
Kentucky publishes no agreement covering Indiana, but it does evaluate out-of-state licensees individually — so this move runs on Kentucky's endorsement judgment rather than a guarantee. The requirements below are what the Kentucky Real Estate Commission (KREC) commits to in writing; for anything discretionary (exam waivers, education credit), get the commission's answer in writing before you rely on it.
What's different between Indiana and Kentucky
Computed from both states' verified data rows, in both directions, and from the route every other origin gets into Kentucky. Exam notes are our summary of each board's published rules, with sources below.
- Route, each way
Indiana to Kentucky (this page): Licensure by endorsement.
Kentucky to Indiana (the reverse move): Licensure by endorsement.
The route is the same in both directions.
- Does coming from Indiana matter?
Indiana gets Kentucky's most common result: 45 of 50 origins (the other 49 states and DC) get the same one, so for most movers the origin does not change the answer.
The others get: reciprocity agreement (5).
- Reciprocity agreements
Kentucky's reciprocity agreement list names 5 states (Florida, Illinois, Mississippi, Ohio, and Tennessee), not including Indiana.
Indiana's row names no reciprocity agreement states.
- Application fee
Kentucky lists $130 for an out-of-state applicant and Indiana lists $60 for the reverse move; neither may be the full cost.
- Pre-license education
Kentucky's first-time-applicant standard is 96 hours of pre-license education; Indiana's is 90.
Kentucky's is 6 education hours higher than Indiana's.
- Exam rules on record
Kentucky and Indiana carry different exam notes (our summaries, below); any state law or jurisprudence exam is listed with each state's requirements.
- Kentucky (this move): Reciprocal applicants take ONLY the Kentucky law portion of the licensing exam (the PSI 'reciprocity sales associate exam'); the national portion and the full 96-hour pre-license course are waived. Instead they complete a 40-hour reciprocal license law course through a KREC-approved provider.
- Indiana (the reverse move): Indiana has NO reciprocity agreements with any state. An actively-licensed out-of-state broker applies via Endorsement; the Commission reviews whether the other state's requirements are equivalent to Indiana's. Qualifying 'Real Estate Broker by Endorsement' candidates take ONLY the Indiana state portion of the broker exam (60 questions, 90 minutes) and the 90-hour pre-licensing course is not required. If the Commission does not approve the equivalency, the applicant must qualify by the Examination route (90-hour course + full national and state exam).
What changes, Indiana → Kentucky
| Indiana (current) | Kentucky (destination) | |
|---|---|---|
| Pre-license education | 90 | 96 |
| Application fee | $60 ($60 due with the Indiana broker license application, payable to the Indiana Professional Licensing Agency: the $50 application fee under 876 IAC 5-3-1(a)(1) plus the $10 investigative-fund fee that 876 IAC 5-3-1(b) adds to every broker license issuance. State Form 44176 is the same application used by reciprocity/endorsement applicants, and it states the fee as $60.00. All fees are nonrefundable and nontransferable. NOT included: the Pearson VUE 'Broker by Endorsement' state-portion exam fee ($55), pre-licensing course tuition, and renewal ($50 renewal + $10 investigative fund).) | $130 ($130 fee for an active license ($120 if issued inactive). Separate costs: national criminal-history fingerprint check, the PSI reciprocity sales associate exam fee, and 40-hour reciprocal law course tuition.) |
| Processing time | The Commission states endorsement 'is not a fast process' — a Commission member must review the licensing state's requirements and recommend to the full Commission before approval | KREC does not publish a stated processing time; the application must be filed within 60 days of passing the exam |
| Licensing authority | Indiana Real Estate Commission (Indiana Professional Licensing Agency) | Kentucky Real Estate Commission (KREC) |
The destination column is what you must satisfy — Kentucky sets the rules for this move.
Step by step
- Confirm Kentucky's current requirements on the Kentucky Real Estate Commission (KREC) website (linked below) — rules change.
- Submit the endorsement application to the Kentucky Real Estate Commission (KREC) (application linked below).
- Arrange license verification from your current state.
- Meet the partner-state experience threshold — at least one (1) year actively licensed as a sales associate (Tennessee: as an associate broker) in the reciprocal state immediately preceding application.
- Complete the 40-hour reciprocal license law course through a KREC-approved education provider.
- Submit fingerprints for a national criminal history check (valid 90 days; you must pass the exam and apply before it expires).
- Pass the Kentucky law portion via the PSI reciprocity sales associate exam, then file the application within 60 days of passing.
- Provide a license history certification / letter of good standing from every state where you are licensed and proof of errors and omissions insurance.
- Pay the fees listed above, and allow for the processing time shown there.
Official links
Related guides
Frequently asked questions
Can I keep selling in Indiana after I'm licensed in Kentucky?
Yes — real estate licenses stack. Keep the Indiana license active (renewals and CE continue separately) and you hold both; many border-market agents do exactly this.
Sources
Primary sources only — official boards and compact commissions. Data last verified Indiana 2026-09-01, Kentucky 2026-07-21.
- Kentucky Real Estate Commission — Reciprocal Licensing (agreements with Florida, Mississippi, Tennessee; MOUs with Illinois and Ohio; 40-hour reciprocal license law course; national criminal check; $130 active / $120 inactive license fee; 60-day filing window) ↗ (accessed 2026-07-21)
- 201 KAR 11:210 — Licensing, education, and testing requirements (reciprocal applicants: 6 academic credit hours or equivalent, pass Kentucky law portion, certification of licensure within 90 days, national criminal history check) ↗ (accessed 2026-07-21)
- Kentucky Real Estate Commission — Education (Sales Associate new-applicant pre-license: 96 hours or 6 academic credit hours) ↗ (accessed 2026-07-21)
- Indiana Real Estate Commission — Real Estate home / Reciprocity ('the Real Estate Commission does not have reciprocity agreements with any state ... submit your application via Endorsement') — official page via Internet Archive snapshot 2025-12-07 (live in.gov blocked from research environment) ↗ (accessed 2026-07-21)
- Pearson VUE — Indiana Real Estate Candidate Handbook (rev 08/2025): broker exam requires a 90-hour pre-licensing course; 'Broker by Endorsement' takes the state portion only, 90-hour course not required; endorsement state exam $55 ↗ (accessed 2026-07-21)
- Indiana Real Estate Commission / Professional Licensing Agency — Application for Licensure as a Real Estate Broker, State Form 44176 (R16 / 4-23): 'The fee for this application is $60.00, payable to the Indiana Professional Licensing Agency, in accordance with 876 IAC 5-3-1'; form includes the 'applying by reciprocity' election — official state form via Internet Archive snapshot 2026-01-17 (live forms.in.gov / in.gov still blocked from the research environment on 2026-09-01) ↗ (accessed 2026-09-01)
- Indiana Administrative Code, Title 876 Article 5 (876 IAC 5-3-1 Fee schedule): application for real estate broker license $50; commission also charges $10 for the investigative fund under IC 25-34.1-8-7.5 on issuance and renewal — official IAC text (iac.iga.in.gov) via Internet Archive snapshot 2024-12-17 ↗ (accessed 2026-09-01)
Reviewed by the License Reciprocity Editorial Team · verified against primary sources Indiana 2026-09-01, Kentucky 2026-07-21
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