How to Get a Nebraska Real Estate License
Jay Gallagher
Real Estate Broker (Advice from an agent like you, not some tech nerd who never sold a home!)
This is a Step by Step Guide on how to get your Nebraska Real Estate License. No matter where you live, from Omaha to North Platte or Lincoln to my favorite town, Scottsbluff or anywhere in between, becoming a real estate agent may be the best decision you ever make.
All the information, documents and links you’ll need to get your Nebraska real estate salesperson license are below.
I also answer all your burning questions at the bottom of the page.
Click on a question to see the answers:
Meet the State Requirements
Learn exactly what the State of Nebraska requires before you can get a Real Estate Salesperson License.
Complete Licensing Education
Nebraska requires only 66 hours of Real Estate Education to get licensed. Find the best Real Estate School for you.
Submit the Application
Make sure you get it right the first time. Check the list, make sure you jumped through all the right hoops and hit send.
Submit Fingerprint Cards
The NREC requires traditional fingerprinting hard cards to be sent to the Nebraska State Patrol for the background checks.
Pass Background Check
It takes a few weeks to process your background check once you submit your fingerprints for review.
Pass the State Exam
Learn the fastest and easiest way to pass the Nebraska Real Estate Salesperson License Exam the very first time.
Go To Step 6 >
Pick an Employing Broker
Meet the new boss! The good news is you get to pick the broker you want to work with. Learn how to pick the best.
Get E and O Insurance
Get E&O Insurance coverage through your Real Estate Broker, the state program or shop around on your own.
Apply for License Issuance
One last step and the NREC will do a final review and issue you your real estate salesperson license.
Launch Your New Career
Now the fun begins. Learn how to get your new Real Estate Career off on the right foot by doing the right things to get business.
So, How Do You Get a Nebraska Real Estate License?
1. Meet The State Requirements
To get your Nebraska Real Estate Salesperson License you must meet the following requirements:
- Must be 19 years of age.
- Have proof of legal presence in the United States.
- Must pass a background check.
- Take and Pass a Nebraska approved Real Estate Salesperson I Course.
- Pass the National Portion of the Real Estate Salesperson Exam
- Pass the Nebraska State Portion of the Real Estate Salesperson Exam.
Print out the NREC Checklist Help Guide: Application For Real Estate License here.
Print out the NREC Salesperson Application Information and Checklist for Nebraska Residents here.
2. Complete Pre-Licensing Education
Nebraska has three courses that have a minimum of 66 hours of coursework that must be completed before you can apply for your Nebraska Real Estate License:
- Salesperson I Course – 30 Hours
- Salesperson II Course – 30 Hours
- Professional Practice and Standards – 6 Hours
They have 2 levels of instruction.
The best thing about this course are the included Real Estate License Practice Tests.
These practice tests actually guarantee you will pass the Real Estate Exam. Just take the practice tests until you consistently score 90 or higher and you are guaranteed to pass the Nebraska Real Estate Exam on your first try. I think these practice tests are the easiest way to ensure you pass.
Post-Licensing Education
Once you’re issued a real estate salesperson license, you have 180 days to show proof of completion of 12 hours of real estate practice, including, but not limited to, completing contracts and listing agreements and handling of client funds. If you fail to submit the course completion certificate, the commission will place your license on inactive status until the commission receives the certificate. You can buy the premium package of the Pre-Licensing Education which includes this Post-Licensing Education so you won’t have to worry about it later.
3. Submit Your Application
You have two options for submitting your application, you can apply online or you can submit a paper application by mail. If you want to submit a paper application you can request a paper application with this License Application Packet Request Form.
To submit your Nebraska real estate license online, go to the NREC online portal here and create an account.
The following items need to be submitted to the Nebraska Real Estate Commission:
- Completed Nebraska Salesperson Application Form.
- Social Security number.
- Photograph: Passport-type, includes only head and shoulders, be at least 2×2 inches in size, and taken within the last year.
- Citizenship attestation: Must attest to being a U.S. citizen or lawfully admitted resident (with documentation)
- Have a high school diploma, or copy of a GED certificate, or home school program equivalent.
- Certificate of completion of your Pre-Licensing Education or college transcripts.
- Proof of Errors and Omissions Insurance. (You can submit this during the last step.)
4. Submit Fingerprints
The NREC requires you to undergo both a criminal background check utilizing
fingerprints and a real estate license history data search to determine whether any disciplinary action has been taken against you in any other real estate jurisdictions.
After your license application is completed and on file at the Commission office, they’ll mail you the fingerprint cards you need to complete the background report.
When you receive the fingerprint cards you should get fingerprinted as soon as possible. Your application won’t be considered complete until the criminal background report is received back. It’s currently taking four to six weeks, on average, after submitting your fingerprints for the background checks to be received by the Commission.
It’s very important that you follow the recommended procedures attached to the fingerprint cards to get fingerprinted and to submit both completed cards to the Nebraska State Patrol with the required fee. Failure to follow the procedures attached to the fingerprint cards could cause a delay in processing.
5. Pass Background Checks
Once your fingerprint cards are received by the Nebraska State Patrol, they’ll conduct a background check by running your information through both the state and FBI national databases and forward the background check report to the NREC.
If you have some adverse history in your past and you don’t want to go through the entire application process just to be denied a license, you can ask for a Predetermination of your criminal history and find out first if you are eligible to be licensed.
If you have a criminal conviction you may, prior to filing a real estate license application, submit this Preliminary Application for Individuals with Criminal Convictions Form to be presented to the Commission for a determination as to whether your criminal conviction would disqualify you from obtaining a real estate license.
Upon receipt of the completed Preliminary Application form, other requested information, and the $100.00 fee, the Commission will schedule a time for the individual to appear before the Commission for a Preliminary Application Informal Special Appearance. During the Preliminary Application Informal Special Appearance, the Commission shall make a determination of whether your criminal conviction will disqualify you from obtaining a real estate license or sitting for the examination. Once the determination has been made by the Commission, a letter will be sent to you regarding their determination.
This Preliminary Application Informal Special Appearance is being conducted based on criminal conviction information provided by the individual. If the Commission finds that the individual has been convicted of subsequent criminal convictions or prior crimes not reported, the Commission may rescind the determination.
6. Pass State Exams
When the criminal background report has been received in the Commission office and your application is approved, an email will be sent to you saying your application is complete and an appointment may be made to take the examination.
Nebraska Real Estate tests are proctored by PSI Testing. You can download the NREC License Examination Candidate Information Bulletin here to get all the testing procedures and protocols. Make sure you follow all the security procedures because PSI takes them very seriously.
Nebraska has two exams you must be pass before you can receive your Nebraska Real Estate License:
- Real Estate Salesperson National Exam
- Real Estate Salesperson Nebraska State Exam
You can schedule a time and place to take the test by going to the PSI Website here.
You can also schedule a test by calling PSI at (855) 834-8748. PSI has testing centers nationwide so you should have no problem finding a testing center near you no matter where you are.
You’ll be issued an official score report right after the examination. When you pass the examination you’re required to submit your score report to the Commission online, with the picture intact, in order to obtain a license. Submission should be made within 30 days of being notified that a passing grade has been received.
The most common question I get is from people wondering how hard the Nebraska Salesperson Exams are. This is why I recommend you only buy a Pre-Licensing Education course that includes the online practice tests. These tests guarantee that you’ll pass the exams the very first time as long as you keep taking the practice tests over and over until you consistently score a 90 or above.
Don’t worry about the tests. You’re gonna do great!
7. Pick an Employing Broker
All Realtors must work under the supervision of a Broker who’s responsible for monitoring their activities. The good news is that you get to pick a broker to place your real estate salesperson license under.
Your Employing Broker must sign this Salesperson/Associate Broker License Issuance Form and you have to submit it to the NREC after you pass the real estate exams. Also make sure to talk with your broker about Errors and Omissions insurance. Ask if they have a company policy that will cover you. If they do make sure you get a copy of their policy so you can submit it with the License Issuance Form.
If you’re a new agent, I recommend you go with one of the big box real estate brokerages. ReMax, Keller Williams and Century 21 are a good place to start. The reason I recommend these brokerages for new agents is because the big box brokerages have training programs in place to help you make the transition from Rookie Agent to seasoned pro.
8. Errors and Omissions Insurance
Your real estate license won’t be issued until you’ve submitted proof, or had proof submitted by an insurance company, of Errors & Omissions (E&O) Insurance coverage to the Nebraska Real Estate Commission office.
The Real Estate Commission makes E&O Insurance available to all licensees through a Group Plan. Enrollment forms and additional information on this plan are included when license application is made. You can also go to the Nebraska Group Plan Website here to get coverage.
You can also shop around and buy E&O Insurance from any qualified carrier as long as the coverage is equivalent to that made available through the Real Estate Commission. If you buy insurance through a different insurer, you must submit a certificate of equivalent coverage, signed by your insurance representative, to the Commission office before they will issue you a license.
9. Apply for License Issuance
Almost done! Just one last step.
Download the NREC Salesperson/Associate Broker License Issuance Form here.
Once you pass your exams you only have 30 days to submit this license issuance form to get your license.
If you want an active real estate salesperson license, submit this form that was signed by your Employing Broker and:
- Real Estate Exams Passing grade reports from PSI.
- Proof of Errors and Omissions Insurance.
- Payment of License Fee.
Congratulations! You are now Nebraska’s newest real estate agent.
10. Launch Your New Real Estate Career!
Now the real fun (and work) begins. The best thing about being a Real Estate Agent is the freedom it gives you. You’re your own boss and you get to decide how to move your real estate career forward.
Books
Continuous learning is the hallmark of all successful agents. Here are some resources to get you going in the right direction.
Below are my best suggestions:
- Best Books to Learn Principles of Success.
- Best Books for Real Estate Agents.
- Best Books for Real Estate Agent Social Media Marketing
Tools
You’ll need some tools to get the job done. At the very least, you’ll need a good Customer Relationship Management (CRM) software and a Real Estate Agent Website.
11. Jay Answers Your Questions...
The best (and worst) thing about being a realtor is the freedom you have. Many agents just work part-time and only do 1-3 transactions a year. Other agents work 60+ hours a week and sell hundreds of homes a year.
The best way to answer the question of how much a Nebraska realtor makes is to show how much you are likely to make per transaction.
The average price of a home in Nebraska is $210,000. Say the average commission per side of the transaction is 5.5% and the average broker/agent split is 15/85. That means you will earn, on average, about $4900 per transaction. Not bad.
Of course this number will vary based on the average cost of real estate in your area, your commission rate and your broker split but that’s a good number to start with. Now you can dial up your income based on how hard and how effectively you work.
Nebraska requires 66 hours of coursework. If you elect to take these courses in a classroom setting, you’ll have to go to a designated place and sit for the entire time.
For this reason, most people take the courses online so they can take the courses at their own pace and any time they wish.
Most people find they can complete the online coursework in a fraction of the 66 hours. A motivated person can complete it in as little as one week but most people will take a month or more if they do a little bit every day.
The Nebraska Real Estate Exam is not difficult IF you buy a test prep course.
The best test prep courses include practice tests that you can take over and over again until you know the material. If you can consistently take a practice test and score a 90 or higher, then you are practically guaranteed to pass the actual exam.
If you’re someone who gets nervous and their mind goes blank during testing, then maybe you should wait until your score on the practice tests is consistently 95 or better.
The best brokerage is the one that’s the best fit for you.
Call up a few local brokerages and schedule a time to sit down and talk to them. Discuss things like E&O insurance, commission splits, leads and don’t forget to find out about any desk fees, tech fees or insurance fees.
Remember, if you don’t like the brokerage, you can easily change brokers.
I don’t recommend that you use any brokers CRM or email address because those things are the heart of YOUR real estate business and if your clients information is locked into your broker’s CRM, then it will be harder to make the move. That’s why the tools are “free” or included in a tech fee, to make it difficult for you to leave.
Let’s break it all down.
- Fingerprint/Background check – $39.00
- Pre-licensing Educational courses – $392.00 – $545.00
- Exam Prep Courses – $0.00 – $99.00 – (Some Pre-Licensing Includes Exam Prep)
- Exam costs – $150.00
- Errors and Omission Insurance – $120.00
- Nebraska Application Fee – $135.00
- Nebraska License Fee – $70.00
The cost of getting your Nebraska real estate license can vary depending on your situation and your needs.
If your Responsible Broker will be covering you with their Errors and Omissions Insurance, that will save you about $120.00. The cost for most agents including E&O will be as low as $906.00 to as high as $.00.
Most agents who follow my recommendations will pay about $786.00, not including E&O and about $1059.00 with E&O.
