Are you planning to move out of the state? What does this mean for your real estate license? Will you be able to transfer your real estate license to the new state? How do I get my real estate license? Do you have to take the real estate exam again? Can you get a real estate license in a state you don’t live in?
Real estate is generally a state-specific business. Each state has its own laws regarding real estate. Each state has its own licensing requirements. You must first understand the laws in the state before you can move to that state. Then, you will need your license as a real estate agent.
However, this doesn’t mean that you need to take the real estate exam again. It is easy to become a real estate agent within another state.
“License reciprocity” is a feature that many states offer. License reciprocity is when you have an active license to sell real estate in one state and can apply for a license in another state.
Colorado’s reciprocity program for real estate licenses offers reciprocity to all 50 states. You don’t have to retake any of your real estate courses if you move from one US state to another.
The state section of the Colorado realty exam can be taken by anyone. You will be eligible to obtain your Colorado real estate license once you have passed the state section of the exam.
The process is not as simple in other states as in Colorado. It can be confusing to find out which states offer reciprocity for real-estate licenses because the process is different from one state to another. Some states, such as Texas, don’t offer reciprocity for licenses.
You will need to take all required courses before you can get your Texas real estate license. Even if your license is in another state.
This article will explain which states allow reciprocity for real estate licenses. This will help you to understand how hard it will take for your state to grant your real estate license. No matter what state it may be!
State Full License Reciprocity
Full license reciprocity states permit anyone who has a valid real estate license in any US state to bypass the standard real estate courses. You can choose to skip any courses that you have already completed and instead focus on the state-specific laws.
After passing the state-specific section of the real estate exam you will be eligible to receive your new license.
A few caveats are necessary. First, you must have a current real estate license. You will need to renew your license if your license has expired.
You must also be in good standing in your current state. Before applying for real-estate reciprocity, you must resolve any disciplinary actions against you or any questions regarding your business practices and ethical standards.
These two conditions must be met before you can apply for reciprocity in full reciprocity countries.
No matter where you are moving from, you can consider yourself lucky if your move is to one of these five full-license reciprocity states.
- Alabama
- Colorado
- Maine
- Mississippi
- Virginia
You can bypass the general courses in real estate and focus on the specific laws and requirements of each state that has full reciprocity. After passing the exam, you will be issued a new license in real estate.
States with no license reciprocity
Some states do not offer license reciprocity, as we have already mentioned. If you move to a state without reciprocity in real estate licenses, it doesn’t matter where you are from. You will need to take your real estate courses again. This means that you will have to learn and license real estate from scratch.
It’s not all bad news. You’ll be able quickly and easily navigate through most of the course material. It will also give you a refresher course on topics that you might not encounter on the job.
If you are moving to one of the 17 states without reciprocity in real estate licensing, take a deep breath. This is a temporary inconvenience that will allow you to build a successful realty business in your new state.
These are the seventeen states that have no reciprocity in licenses:
- Alaska
- Arizona
- California
- Delaware
- Hawaii
- Kansas
- Kentucky
- Michigan
- Missouri
- Montana
- New Jersey
- New Mexico
- South Dakota
- Texas
- Vermont
- Washington
- Wyoming
States with Partial License Reciprocity
You may have noticed that we have only mentioned half of the US states. The rest of the states offer partial reciprocity for licenses. Your new state might offer partial license reciprocity to real estate agents who move from one state to another.
Each state with partial license reciprocity is unique, so it’s important to examine each one individually.
If you are looking for a pattern in terms of which states receive license reciprocity, there isn’t one. Some states only offer reciprocity for licenses to states that are near them. Certain states only offer reciprocity to neighboring states with very similar real-estate laws. Some states seem to have a problem with other states (we’re looking specifically at Georgia!) ).
Real estate license reciprocity may be offered to your state from the new state. However, you will still need to fulfill a few conditions in order to apply for your reciprocal license in your new state. You must ensure that your current license is still valid when you apply for reciprocity.
If you are unable to be an agent in good standing due to any reason, you should resolve it before you apply.
Here are the 28 states offering partial reciprocity for licenses:
Arkansas: Arkansas offers license reciprocity to agents who are moving from Alabama, Colorado Florida, Georgia, Iowa, Kansas, Louisiana, Mississippi, Nebraska, New York, Ohio, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, South Dakota, Washington, and West Virginia.
Connecticut: Reciprocity in licenses for agents who are moving from Alabama to Colorado, Florida, Georgia, Illinois, Indiana, Massachusetts, Mississippi, Nebraska, New York, Ohio, and Oklahoma.
Florida: Reciprocity in licenses for agents who are moving from Alabama, Arkansas, Connecticut, Georgia, Illinois, Mississippi, Nebraska, and Rhode Island.
Georgia: Reciprocity licenses for agents who move from any state other than Florida.
Idaho: Reciprocity licenses for agents who move from Wyoming, Oregon, or Montana.
Illinois: Reciprocity licenses for agents who are moving from Colorado, Connecticut, Florida, Georgia, Indiana, Iowa, Kentucky, Nebraska, South Dakota, and Wisconsin.
Indiana: Reciprocity in licenses for agents who move from Arkansas, Colorado, Connecticut, Florida, Georgia, Illinois, Iowa, Kentucky, Massachusetts, Mississippi, Missouri, Nebraska, Oklahoma, and Wisconsin.
Iowa: Reciprocity in licenses for agents who are moving from Alabama, Arkansas, Georgia, Louisiana, Mississippi, North Carolina, North Dakota, Tennessee, and West Virginia.
Louisiana: Reciprocity in licenses for agents who move from Alabama, Arkansas Colorado, Georgia Mississippi, North Carolina, Oklahoma, New Mexico, Pennsylvania, and Iowa.
Maryland: Reciprocity in licenses for agents who move from Oklahoma and Pennsylvania.
Massachusetts: Reciprocity in licenses for agents who are moving from Alabama, Arizona, California, Connecticut, Louisiana, Maine, Missouri, New Hampshire, New York, Ohio, Oregon, Rhode Island, and Washington.
Minnesota: Reciprocity in licenses for agents who are moving from Colorado, Iowa Nebraska, North Dakota, Oklahoma, South Dakota, and Wisconsin.
Nebraska: Reciprocity in licenses for agents who are moving from Alabama, Arkansas or Connecticut, Florida, Georgia, Idaho, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Maine, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Mississippi, Montana, North Carolina, North Dakota, Ohio, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, South Dakota, Washington, West Virginia, and Wyoming.
Nevada: Reciprocity in licenses for agents who are moving from Arizona, Delaware, Idaho, Kentucky, Louisiana, Ohio, Texas, Utah, and West Virginia.
New Hampshire: Reciprocity in licenses for agents who move from Massachusetts, Maine, Vermont, Tennessee, and Georgia.
New York: Reciprocity in licenses for agents who are moving from Arkansas, Colorado, Connecticut, Massachusetts, Georgia, Mississippi, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, and West Virginia.
North Carolina: Reciprocity in licenses for agents who move from Arkansas, Connecticut, Georgia, Iowa, Louisiana, Mississippi, Nebraska, South Carolina, Tennessee, and West Virginia.
North Dakota: Reciprocity in licenses for agents who are moving from Georgia, Iowa, and Minnesota.
Ohio: Reciprocity in licenses for agents who are moving from Arkansas, Colorado, Connecticut, Mississippi, Nebraska, Oklahoma, and Wyoming.
Oklahoma: Provides license reciprocity to agents who are moving from Alabama, Arkansas, Iowa, Louisiana, Maryland, Nebraska, North Dakota, and South Dakota.
Oregon: Offers license reciprocity for agents moving from Alabama, Georgia, Nebraska, and South Dakota.
Pennsylvania: Reciprocity in licenses for agents who move from Arkansas, Georgia, Louisiana, Oklahoma, Maryland, Massachusetts, New York, and West Virginia.
Rhode Island: Agents moving from Connecticut or Massachusetts can receive reciprocity in their licenses.
South Carolina: Reciprocity in licenses for agents who move from North Carolina, Georgia, and West Virginia.
Tennessee: Reciprocity in licenses for agents who move from Arkansas, Connecticut, Georgia, Iowa, Louisiana, Massachusetts, Mississippi, New Mexico, North Carolina, North Dakota South Dakota Virginia, and West Virginia.
Utah: Reciprocity offered to agents who move from Georgia or Mississippi.
West Virginia: Reciprocity in licenses for agents who are moving from Alabama, Arkansas Georgia, Iowa, Massachusetts, Mississippi, Nebraska, New York, North Carolina, Ohio, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, Tennessee, and Virginia.
Wisconsin: Reciprocity in licenses for Illinois and Indiana agents.
Last Thoughts
Real estate license reciprocity agreements can change at any time. While this post can be a good starting point for general information you should always check with your state’s realty commission for the most current reciprocity rules.