Atlanta’s fast-growing market has made Georgia one of the more popular states for new agents to get licensed — and the process here comes with a genuine perk: your license, once issued, lasts a full four years before you need to renew.

Here’s exactly what the Georgia Real Estate Commission (GREC) requires in 2026.

Before you enroll in a course, make sure you qualify. GREC requires that you:

• Be at least 18 years old when you activate the license
• Have a high school diploma or GED
• Be a U.S. citizen or legally living in the U.S.

Georgia requires a 75-hour GREC-approved salesperson course covering both national real estate principles and Georgia-specific law. It’s available through classroom, online, and hybrid formats.

Most candidates finish in 3–6 weeks full-time or 8–12 weeks part-time. Course pricing typically falls in the $200–$400 range. You’ll need to pass your school’s end-of-course exam to receive a certificate of completion — this certificate is required to register for the state exam.

The exam is administered by PSI Exams and is one of the longer state exams in the country — 152 questions across two sections, both scored separately:

• National section: the longer portion, covering finance, agency, contracts, and marketing regulations
• State section: Georgia-specific laws and practices — candidates consistently report this as the harder half
• Passing score: 75% on each section (national and state separately)
• $121 exam fee per attempt, administered by PSI
• Up to 3 retakes within 1 year — after that, additional coursework is required

National pass rates for real estate exams typically run 50–60% for first-time takers. Georgia doesn’t publish an official statewide rate, but the state-specific section is where most candidates lose points — a course with strong Georgia-law coverage matters here.

After passing the exam, you must apply within 12 months of your test date. Fees depend on timing:

• License fee: $170 if applying within 3 months of the exam, or $340 if applying between 3–12 months
• Background check: roughly $30–$38.25, through the Georgia Crime Information Center

Here’s the upside: whichever fee you pay covers your first four years of licensure — no separate renewal payment during that period.

Georgia requires newly licensed salespersons to complete a 25-hour post-license course within their first year — missing this deadline causes an automatic license lapse, so don’t put it off. You’ll also need to affiliate with a licensed Georgia broker before you can practice.

Total Cost Breakdown

Item	Estimated Cost
Pre-licensing course (75 hrs)	$200–$400
Exam fee	$121 (per attempt)
License fee (covers 4 years)	$170–$340
Background check	$30–$38.25
Total	~$500–$800

What Happens After You’re Licensed?

Georgia’s 4-year renewal cycle is one of the more forgiving in the country. Interestingly, if your license number is below 100,000, you’re not required to complete continuing education for that renewal at all. Otherwise, standard CE requirements apply, and brokers face an additional 18-hour broker-specific CE requirement as of mid-2025.

Frequently Asked Questions