
The success of your pre-licensing course is determined by passing the real estate exam. Consequently, you need to apply and undertake a real estate licensing test after finishing your course.
Overview of the Real Estate Test
The exam comprises two sections with a total of 130 questions. You should answer these questions and attain the pass mark as required by the Oregon State.
The first section of this test is the general part. It includes questions relating to the national or federal property laws and regulations.
Part two is more specific, focusing largely on Oregon’s property laws that guide real estate brokers in the state.
Usually, you book to sit for this exam after finishing your course. The exam can be taken either at a PSI exam center or online via a proctoring system.4
The whole test is scheduled to take a maximum of four hours. The first 2.5 hours are dedicated to the national section, while 1.5 hours are meant for the state section.
You must achieve a score of at least 75% in each section to be considered for the licensing. Results are released almost right away after you sit for the exam.
In the event that you fail to hit the required score, you do not have to panic. You have a chance of retaking the exam.
However, you must pay another $75 for the second or subsequent registration.
If you pass during your first attempt, you are ready to proceed to the next level of your application. However, you should note that being a real estate agent is not all about learning how to sell real estate.
It involves acquiring more in-depth knowledge about various topics like:
- Valuation and market analysis,
- Property ownership,
- Real estate calculations,
- Contracts,
- Financing,
- Land use controls and regulations,
- Practice of real estate
Ensure that you have covered all the areas within the course to guarantee passing. No one loves retaking the same exam over and over again.
How To Apply for an Oregon Real Estate Agency License in 5 Steps
Once you have all the prerequisites for a real estate broker license, the application process is easy. You just need to complete about 5 necessary steps, and you are good to go.
What are these paramount steps to become a real estate agent in Oregon?
Discover how to become a real estate agent in Oregon in these simple steps:
Step 1: Registering an Account
When applying for a real estate broker license in Oregon, the first step is to have an account. Visit eLicense and create a new account if you do not have one.
If you have, simply login to continue.
On this page, you are required to answer several questions to complete opening the account. For example:
- Are you registering as an individual or an organization?
- Is it a new application, or have you ever been licensed?
You are also supposed to complete a security question by filling in your SSN (social security number) with your date of birth. These answers help in finding and accessing your account.
Step 2: Apply for Your Broker License
With your active account, you can now apply for the real estate agent/broker license. The charges for this are $300, which is nonrefundable.
Once your application goes through, the state sends you an email with your Applicant’s ID number. From here, it is safe now to register for the pre-licensing real estate broker course.
Step 3: Complete the Real Estate Pre-Licensing Education
Your real estate agent career in Oregon depends on the completion of the pre-licensing real estate practice course. This entails completing 150 hours of classwork from any approved real estate school.
There are several agency-approved schools to choose from. This means that you have a chance to pick the one that best suits your location requirements and other preferences.
Through these schools, you can study for your exam as you pave your way to becoming a licensed broker or property manager.
Some of the schools offering these courses are licensed by the Oregon Department of Education. Others are accredited colleges, community colleges, and universities.
The process of applying for the pre-licensing course is as follows:
- Identify your preferred school from the approved list1
- Provide your full name and the Applicant’s ID to the school
- Complete the course from the real estate school to qualify for the license exam
Note: Courses completed before January 1, 2013, are not eligible for licensing.
Step 4: Apply for the Licensing Exam
After completing your course, which takes 130 hours, you can now sit for an exam.
The first step here is to apply for the exam by paying the required fee. From here, you can schedule a date to sit for your exam.
The application procedure is as follows:
- Visit the PSI website and log in to your account
- Select the exam (Real Estate Broker)
- Register by entering your details, including your SSN and your name.
- Pay the application fee of $75
- Choose how you want to take the exam (online or at a PSI center)
- If it is an in-person exam, choose the date, time, testing center, and location.
- For an online exam, ensure your PC is functioning well, including the audio and webcam, then set the date and time.
Note: You should pass both the national and state sections of the exam.
Once you do, you are ready to be certified as a real estate broker in Oregon. That is after you complete the next last step.
Step 5: Conduct a Background Criminal Check
Oregon requires you to get fingerprinted before getting your license. Therefore, if you had not done this earlier, now is the right time.
Usually, a background check for real estate agents in Oregon is conducted by the OPS.
Pick a fingerprinting location, undergo the process, and submit the report via the PSI. The fingerprinting process takes place at any of the PSI test centers.
The Oregon Real Estate Agency reviews the submitted report and gives you feedback. If you qualify, the license is sent to you through your email.
Membership Costs and Fees for the Oregon Real Estate Agency
The main costs and fees charged by the Oregon Real Estate Agency include:
- Real estate broker license application fee: $300
- Pre-licensing exam fees: $75
- Fingerprinting fees: $61.25
You should note that these costs are nonrefundable. This means that if you fail your exam, you have to pay another $75 to reapply for the exam.
However, the $300 application fee is a one-time payment.
The fingerprinting fees are divided into two parts. The first part, $46.25, goes to the OSP (Oregon State Police), while the other part caters to the PSI fees.
You can pay these charges via Mastercard, Visa, money order, company check, or cashier’s check.2
Opting for National Association of Realtors® (NAR) Membership
Becoming a member of the National Association of REALTORS® (NAR) helps a real estate agent stand out from the rest.
To join this association, you first need to become a member of a local real estate association.
Finding the ideal one to join is straightforward. There are over 1400 local associations, also known as boards, and around 54 REALTOR® territorial and state associations.3
If you are looking for a local or state association near you, there are three options. You can visit the NAR’s website and browse the list of real estate agents and state or local associations.
You may also check through an online directory like YP or DEX.
Alternatively, send your personal details like name, address, phone number, fax, and company name via the Contact Us page on the NAR website. The association sends you the details of local associations within your area that you can contact and discuss your need for membership.
Joining a REALTOR® local association automatically extends your membership to a state and national association.
How Much Time Does the Real Estate Application Process Demand?
The real estate agent license application process in Oregon consists of two main parts.
First, you have to apply and complete the pre-licensing course. The second one is the exam or test part, which requires you to pass with at least 75%.
This whole process does not take too long if you have the time. For example, you can push the process to around three months.
Some people can even acquire the license within two months with significant work and dedication.
The average time is usually between three and six months. This period gives you ample time to study and pass the exam.
Can You Do Real Estate While in College?
Yes. In many states, you only need to be 18 years of age and you do not require a college degree or diploma to apply for a real estate agent license.
This means you can start your career before completing college.
Are There Free Online Real Estate Courses With Certificates in Oregon?
If you want a free online real estate course, you can undoubtedly find some. However, these courses do not offer certifications and as such are not accepted as a pre-licensing course for real estate agents.
References
1Oregon Real Estate Agency. (2023). Approved Pre-License Real Estate Schools. Oregon.gov. Retrieved October 31, 2023, from <https://www.oregon.gov/rea/licensing/get-license/Pages/approved-pre-license-schools.aspx>
2Real Estate License Training. (2022, December 4). How to Get A Real Estate License Online in Oregon (A Complete 2023 Guide). Real Estate License Training. Retrieved October 31, 2023, from <https://www.realestatelicensetraining.com/real-estate-license-online-in-oregon/>
3National Association of REALTORS®. (2023). How to Join NAR. National Association of REALTORS®. Retrieved October 31, 2023, from <https://www.nar.realtor/membership/how-to-join-nar>
4PSI Services LLC. (2023). Oregon Real Estate. PSI Online. Retrieved October 31, 2023, from <https://home.psiexams.com/#/home?bc=orre>