How to Get a Real Estate License in Nebraska

Interested in becoming a real estate agent in Nebraska? Don't look any further! This article explores the requirements for obtaining your Nebraska real estate license and includes a step-by-step guide. This should help you plan your career path and know what to anticipate during your application. Read on for more clarity.

How to Get Your Nebraska Real Estate License

To begin a career as a real estate agent in Nebraska, you must meet the following standards:

• Be 19 years of age or older.
• Hold a high school diploma or GED.
• Be of strong moral character.
• You must have no criminal charges, and if so, submit a written statement clarifying your current or previous convictions.

Although a criminal record doesn't automatically invalidate you from getting your license, the state usually requires applicants to submit a written statement explaining their conviction's circumstances, if they have any.

Here are the steps to acquiring your Nebraska real estate license:

Step 1: Nebraska Real Estate Prelicensing Course

Nebraska requires all first-time applicants to take an approved 66 hours of prelicensing coursework. This course comprises three classes that will sharpen your skills in real estate ethics, laws, and policy.

Here are the three mandatory classes:

• 30 hours of Nebraska license law.
• 30 hours of the principles and practices of real estate.
• 6 hours of establishing professional conduct and ethical practices.

You must pay special attention to each class since you must pass the course's final exam to qualify for the subsequent licensing steps. Your education provider administers the final exam, and you should surpass 75% to get your course completion certificate.

Note: Applicants with a fixed schedule are advised to attend the course online, while those with a full-time schedule attend the in-person classes.

Step 2: Apply for Your Real Estate License

After completing your prelicensing education, you're eligible to submit your license application. You can apply online with the Nebraska Real Estate Commission, which checks over real estate certificates and other operations. Or, you may request an application form by forwarding the License Application Packet Request Form.

Your license application must incorporate the following credentials:

• Your current passport-sized photos, including head and shoulders.
• Proof of your high school diploma or GED.
• Proof of your prelicensing coursework.
• Citizenship attestation.
• A $285 application fee.

You must submit your application, fees, and the relevant documentation to the Nebraska Real Estate Commission. From there, the commission will process your application and inform you when to take the licensing exam.

 Step 3: Complete a Background Check

Nebraska requires all applicants to submit their fingerprints for a background check. But first, you'll be sent two fingerprint cards with directions that must be followed closely before forwarding the cards to Nebraska State Patrol. Failure to adhere to the procedures highlighted in the fingerprint cards could result in delayed processing.

Background checks are critical to ensure you don't have any criminal record. The fee for fingerprinting services is $38.

Note: It's advisable to fill out the fingerprint cards in the presence of a fingerprint technician. It would also help to confirm that you and the fingerprinter sign your cards.

After submitting your fingerprints, wait for 4-6 weeks for your background check to be completed. Thereafter, you can take the real state licensing exam.

Step 4: Pass the Licensing Exam

After a successful background check and prelicensing training, you can sit for the state licensing exam. The test covers the following topics: ethics, real estate laws, policies, and professional conduct.

Exam Requirements

• A $150 exam fee.
• Two valid forms of Identification documents ( One of the forms should be a government-issued photo like a driver's license)

This exam has sections A and B, with 80 and 50 questions respectively. You will have 4 hours to complete the test. You should score a minimum of 75% to receive your license. After the exam, you'll see your score document on the computer. If your score report is marked "fail," you should reapply to do the exam through the Nebraska real estate commission portal.

Step 5: Obtain Errors and Omission Coverage

Nebraska requires all applicants to have errors and omissions insurance. You can obtain your E&Q from any state-approved company in Nebraska. In this case, you must provide a certificate of coverage to the Nebraska Real Estate Commission.

The commission provides a group plan financed by Williams Underwriting group. The fee largely depends on the limits of liability you select and the month you appeal for coverage. However, the maximum annual fee is $235.

Note: If you choose this option, your insurer will forward verification to the Nebraska Real Estate Commission after processing your application and payment.

Step 6: Real Estate License Sponsorship

You must be associated with an active Nebraska-licensed employing broker to activate your license. Otherwise, you won't be able to perform your duties as a real estate agent. Knowing this, you should find a sponsoring broker and submit an issuance form to NREC, showing proof of the broker's willingness to supervise you.

Nebraska Post-Licensing Education

After being issued your Nebraska real estate license, you have 180 days to take the 12-hour post-licensing education. This course will explore real estate practices such as handling client funds. After the course, you must submit your proof of completion to NREC. If not, your license will be inactive.

How Much Does it Cost to Get a Nebraska Real Estate License?

Nebraska real estate license is valued at $687-$912. This includes $388 Nebraska fees and $299-$524 prelicensing education fee.

How Long Does it Take to Get a Nebraska Real Estate License?

You can wait 3-6 months to get your Nebraska real estate license. But the good thing is that you can reduce this duration to 2 months if you're fully committed to the process.

How Much Do Real Estate Agents Make in Nebraska?

Real estate agents in Nebraska earn an annual salary of approximately $100,490. This is slightly less than the national average of around $106,227 per year. Agents specializing in commercial and industrial real estate earn more because these properties are more expensive than residential ones.

If you want to see some examples of questions that will be on the actual real estate exam, check out our free real estate practice exam. We have been named as the best real estate exam practice for 7 years in a row!

If you need to get your required educational hours done, check out our partners for online real estate education that can be done at your own pace from home or where ever you have internet access.