Real Estate License from Massachusetts to Illinois: Does It Transfer? (2026)

Last verified: 2026-07-21 · source: Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation (IDFPR) — Division of Real Estate ↗

A real estate license transfers from Massachusetts to Illinois by endorsement — there is no automatic reciprocity, but you do not start over. Apply to the Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation (IDFPR) — Division of Real Estate, verify your Massachusetts license, and meet Illinois's endorsement requirements. 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..

Verify this exact pair in the checker

Same data, interactive — with share link and board links.

Run the Reciprocity Checker →

Verdict

Licensure by endorsement

Illinois publishes no agreement covering Massachusetts, but it does evaluate out-of-state licensees individually — so this move runs on Illinois's endorsement judgment rather than a guarantee. The requirements below are what the Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation (IDFPR) — Division of Real Estate commits to in writing; for anything discretionary (exam waivers, education credit), get the commission's answer in writing before you rely on it.

What changes, Massachusetts → Illinois

Side-by-side: Massachusetts vs Illinois (Real Estate (salesperson/broker)), verified 2026-07-21
	Massachusetts (current)	Illinois (destination)
Training hours	40	75
Application fee	$134–$181 (Reciprocal Salesperson Application Fee $31 plus a Reciprocal Salesperson Initial License fee prorated by the applicant's date of birth in the range $103-$150 (two-year cycle), for a combined $134-$181. A separate vendor convenience fee applies to online payments.)	$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	Board does not publish a processing time; applications and required documents are submitted and reviewed through the eLIPSE portal.	IDFPR does not publish a stated processing time for endorsement applications
Licensing authority	Massachusetts Board of Registration of Real Estate Brokers and Salespersons (Division of Occupational Licensure)	Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation (IDFPR) — Division of Real Estate

The destination column is what you must satisfy — Illinois sets the rules for this move.

Step by step

Confirm Illinois's current requirements on the Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation (IDFPR) — Division of Real Estate website (linked below) — rules change.
Submit the endorsement application to the Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation (IDFPR) — Division of Real Estate (application linked below).
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 ($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.)) and allow IDFPR does not publish a stated processing time for endorsement applications.

Official links

Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation (IDFPR) — Division of Real Estate ↗Illinois application ↗

Frequently asked questions

Does Illinois accept a Massachusetts real estate license?

Which exams will I take moving from Massachusetts to Illinois?

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..

What does the move cost?

$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.) ($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.).

Can I keep selling in Massachusetts after I'm licensed in Illinois?

Yes — real estate licenses stack. Keep the Massachusetts 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 2026-07-21.

Reviewed by Billy Reiner, Editor · verified against primary sources 2026-07-21

How we verify · All sources · spot an error? [email protected]