How to Get a Nevada Real Estate License
Jay Gallagher
Real Estate Broker (Advice from an agent like you, not some tech nerd who never sold a home!)
You’re in the right place to learn how to get your Nevada Real Estate License. No matter where you live, from Las Vegas to Reno or Elko to my favorite town, Incline Village, 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 Nevada 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 Nevada requires before you can get a Real Estate Salesperson License.
Complete Licensing Education
Nevada requires 120 hours of Real Estate Education to get licensed. Find the best Real Estate School for you.
Pass the State Exam
Learn the fastest and easiest way to pass the Nevada Real Estate Salesperson License Exam the very first time.
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 Fingerprinted
The NRED requires you to be fingerprinted for a background check. You can use a private company or local police agency.
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.
Pass Background Check
It takes a few days to process your background check once you submit your application for review.
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 Nevada Real Estate License?
1. Meet The State Requirements
To get your Nevada Real Estate Salesperson License you must meet the following requirements:
- Must be 18 years of age.
- Must have a Social Security or Taxpayer ID number.
- Must be fingerprinted and pass a background check.
- Take and Pass a Nevada approved Real Estate Salesperson Pre-Licensing Course.
- Pass the National Portion of the Real Estate Salesperson Exam
- Pass the Nevada State Portion of the Real Estate Salesperson Exam.
Print out the Nevada Real Estate License Requirements here.
2. Complete Pre-Licensing Education
Nevada has four courses that have a minimum of 120 hours of coursework that must be completed before you can apply for your Nevada Real Estate License:
- Real Estate Principles – 45 Hours
- Real Estate Law – 45 Hours
- Real Estate Contracts – 15 Hours
- Broker-Agents and Risk Reduction – 15 Hours
They have 4 levels of instruction.
I don’t recommend the basic level at all because it doesn’t included the most valuable part, the 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 Nevada Real Estate Exam on your first try. I think these practice tests are the easiest way to ensure you pass.
3. Pass the Real Estate Salesperson Exams
Nevada has two exams you must be pass before you can apply for your Nevada Real Estate License:
- Real Estate Salesperson National Exam
- Real Estate Salesperson Nevada State Exam
Nevada uses Pearson Vue, a private third party testing vendor to administer their real estate exams. Pearson VUE has locations nationwide so you can take the exams even if you are out of state. They even offer online remote proctored exams that you can take from your own computer.
You can download the Nevada Real Estate Candidate Information Bulletin for all the details on the exam procedures and protocols. Make sure you follow their security protocols as they will stop any tests if any protocols have been violated.
When people ask me questions about the Nevada real estate licensing process, the number one concern is about the test. People ask how hard the tests are and how can they pass the tests the first time. If you took my advice and chose the Pre-Licensing Education with the online practice tests then you don’t have to worry about passing the exams. Just take the practice tests until you consistently score a 90 or higher and you are guaranteed to pass the exam the first time.
Don’t worry. You’re gonna do great!
4. Pick an Employing Broker
All Realtors must work under the supervision of a Broker who’s responsible for supervising their activities. The good news is that you get to pick a broker to place your real estate salesperson license under.
A Responsible Broker must complete the Notice of Intent to Employ section of your Nevada Real Estate License Checklist and Application.
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.
5. Submit Fingerprints
Nevada requires Fingerprints to be submitted and processed for a background check before they’ll issue you a real estate salesperson license.
Here is a list of Nevada Authorized Fingerprinting Vendors. Most of these vendors are in the cities. If you live in a rural part of Nevada you can call your local Law Enforcement Agency and set up an appointment to be fingerprinted. If you can find a vendor or LEA that uses Live Scan fingerprinting it is much easier. Most LEAs only use the traditional blue fingerprint cards or hard cards and can’t do the live scan so you will have to follow the detailed instructions on handling and mailing in the hard cards.
If you got fingerprinted using Live Scan, make sure you get a copy of the original fingerprint verification form 619 issued by vendor when they fingerprint you. You’ll need to submit this form with your application so the NREC can link your fingerprints in the system to your application.
If you got fingerprinted using hard cards, contact the NREC for instructions on how to submit them.
6. Submit An Application
The Nevada Real Estate Division requires all licenses to be submitted by mail using a paper application.
To get your Nevada real estate license, the following items need to be submitted to the NRED:
- Completed Nevada Real Estate License Checklist and Application Form.
- Submit the original fingerprint verification form 619 issued by vendor when they fingerprinted you.
- A certified license history issued by any states you are licensed in.
- Proof of completion of the Nevada Real Estate Pre-Licensing Course
- Passing grade report for National Portion of the Exam.
- Passing grade report for Nevada State Portion of the Exam.
- Non residents of Nevada must complete the Consent to Service of Process Form.
- Check or money order payable to Nevada Real Estate Division for fees.
7. Pass Background Checks
Once your application is submitted, the NRED will submit your fingerprints for a background check by running your information through both the state and FBI national databases.
If you have a criminal history and don’t want to go through the entire licensing process just to be denied in the end, you can petition the Nevada Real Estate Division to review your criminal history to determine if your criminal history will disqualify you from obtaining a license from the Division. This will save you the time and expense of taking classes and passing exams for nothing.
8. Launch Your New 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.
9. 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 Nevada realtor makes is to show how much you are likely to make per transaction.
The average price of a home in Nevada is $400,000. 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 $9300 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.
Nevada requires 120 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 120 hours. A motivated person can complete it in as little as a month but most people will take two months or more if they do a little bit every day.
The Nevada 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 – $179.00 – $445.00
- Exam Prep Courses – $0.00 – $99.00 – (Some Pre-Licensing Includes Exam Prep)
- Exam costs – $100.00
- Nevada Application Fee – $140.00
The cost of getting your Nevada real estate license can vary depending on your situation and your needs. The cost for most agents will be as low as $458.00 to as high as $724.00.
Most agents who follow my recommendations will pay about $506.
