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Anyone who teaches state-approved real estate pre-licensing or continuing education courses in Illinois must be licensed as a real estate instructor.

The requirements depend on whether the instructor candidate wants to teach pre-licensing or continuing education courses.

For pre-license, post-license and core continuing education courses, individuals must complete a 12-hour instructor training program.

For individuals who will only teach elective continuing education courses, a 6-hour "development" program is required.

Yes. Real Estate Institute offers instructor development programs approved by the Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation (IDFPR).

Our instructor development courses are available via self-study. We provide you with access to online, on-demand recorded presentations that allow you to earn credit without attending classes in person.

Pre-license instructors are required to pass a state license examination that is very similar to the Managing Broker license exam.  It consists of two parts:

1. National - Includes 80 multiple-choice questions and 10 scenario-based questions.  The scenario-based questions offer more than four choices, often including more than one correct answer, but there is only ONE BEST ANSWER that must be selected.
2. State / Illinois - Includes 40 multiple-choice questions.

Candidates must pass both portions with a score of at least 75%.

Continuing education instructors are not required to pass a state exam.

Yes. A pre-licensing instructor must have at least one of the following qualifications:

• Be a currently licensed broker or managing broker
• Be an Illinois-admitted attorney
• Have prior teaching experience for a minimum period of 2 years 
• Have adequate professional background or experience in real estate.

An instructor candidate's qualifications must be submitted to the IDFPR along with fees, application, and proof of course completions.

Continuing education instructors must have adequate professional or educational experience. Some examples of candidates with adequate professional or educational experience are:

• An individual who has been licensed and active as a real estate broker for at least 3 years.
• An admitted attorney who has done work related to real estate for at least 3 years.
• A properly credentialed real estate instructor who has taught for at least 3 years.
• A licensed or certified professional who has worked in the business of appraisal, finance or another field related to real estate for at least 3 years.

Other candidates may be acceptable to the IDFPR depending on experience, education, a personal interview and the recommendations of the Education Advisory Council.

Upon review of the candidates credentials, the IDFPR may issue a license that qualifies the instuctor to teach all state-approved CE Courses OR a license that is "restricted" to only a specific course or topic.

No. Instructors can choose to be affiliated with one specific school or work independently, teaching courses for many schools that are approved to offer state-approved pre-license and/or continuing education courses.

No.  On August 9, 2019, Illinois license law was amended to permit individuals with a pre-license instructor license to teach all types of Illinois real estate courses.  A continuing education instructor license is only required for individuals whose instruction will be limited to elective continuing education courses.

No. Licenses issued by the IDFPR specifically authorize instructors to teach courses for schools with courses approved by the IDFPR. Each state has unique requirements, so check with the appropriate state regulatory agency to determine requirements on a state-by-state basis.