How to get a Ohio real estate license
Ohio real estate salesperson exam requirements: hours, vendor, national vs state portions, and how to prepare for the licensing exam — from the official commission.
- Salesperson hours
- 100 — the Occupational License Reform Bill reduced Ohio salesperson pre-licensing from 120 to 100 hours effective April 9, 2025 (Finance and Appraisal courses cut from 20 to 10 hours each); the dataset's own note flagged this but recorded the old 120 figure
- Broker requirement
- Active salesperson license for 2 of the last 5 years, participation in at least 20 real estate transactions, plus broker pre-licensing coursework (100 hours post-reform: four 30-hour courses in Financial Management, Business Law, Human Resource Management, Business Economics) and 60 semester/90 quarter hours of post-secondary education (or equivalent)
- Exam vendor
- PSI
- Exam structure
- 120 total questions — 80 national + 40 state, scored separately (120 min national / 60 min state)
- Passing
- 70% on each portion (56/80 national, 28/40 state)
Some Ohio details were ambiguous on the official site when we researched this (July 2026) — double-check specifics with the commission before you rely on them.
Preparing for the Ohio exam
PrepTempo's Salesperson and Broker courses cover the national portion — property, contracts, financing, agency, and practice — which is the same in Ohio and the larger share of the exam. Study your Ohio state-law portion from the commission on top of the core.
Ohio real estate license FAQ
How many hours are required for a Ohio real estate license?
100 — the Occupational License Reform Bill reduced Ohio salesperson pre-licensing from 120 to 100 hours effective April 9, 2025 (Finance and Appraisal courses cut from 20 to 10 hours each); the dataset's own note flagged this but recorded the old 120 figure
What does the Ohio real estate salesperson exam cover?
120 total questions — 80 national + 40 state, scored separately (120 min national / 60 min state)
How do I become a realtor in Ohio?
Complete required pre-license education (100 — the Occupational License Reform Bill reduced Ohio salesperson pre-licensing from 120 to 100 hours effective April 9, 2025 (Finance and Appraisal courses cut from 20 to 10 hours each); the dataset's own note flagged this but recorded the old 120 figure), pass the licensing exam (PSI; 120 total questions — 80 national + 40 state, scored separately (120 min national / 60 min state)), meet any broker affiliation rules, and apply through the Ohio real estate commission. PrepTempo covers the national exam portion with free sample questions and free Chapter 1.
Official sources
- https://www.hondros.com/resources/blog/changes-real-estate-broker-license-requirements-2025/
- https://com.ohio.gov/divisions-and-programs/real-estate-and-professional-licensing/salespersons-and-brokers/guides-and-resources/salesperson-and-broker-candidate-information-bulletin
- https://www.ohiosos.gov/notary/become-a-notary-in-ohio/education-and-testing
Educational information only, researched July 2026 — not legal or licensing advice. Requirements change; confirm with the Ohio real-estate commission. PrepTempo is not affiliated with any state commission or exam vendor.