How To Become A Realtor: What It Is and Career Path

Q: How long does it take to become a Realtor?

It takes 8 years of professional experience to become a realtor. That is the time it takes to learn specific realtor skills, but does not account for time spent in formal education.

Q: How hard is it to become a realtor in Florida?

It is not difficult to become a realtor in Florida if you are willing to put in the time and effort required. To become a realtor in Florida, you must first pass the Florida real estate licensing exam. On average, it takes about two to five months to do all the work involved in attaining this license, as there are a few things necessary to complete before taking the exam.

Q: How hard is it to become a realtor in Texas?

It isn't hard at all to become a realtor in Texas. You start by completing all of the classroom hours for the necessary real estate courses at a nearby college or real estate school. Then apply for an inactive sales agent license and take the corresponding test.

Q: How hard is it to become a realtor?

It is not too hard to become a realtor. In most states, you can just sign up for a course, pass the state licensing exam, and start selling houses (and paying dues) under a local brokerage. It usually takes only a few months to take all of your classes and get your license. However, some states have more rigorous requirements requiring more time to complete.

Q: What are the best gifts for a realtor?

The best gifts for a realtor are unique calendars, gourmet food baskets, and luxury fountain pens. Calendars are essential to a realtor's work. They often keep crazy schedules, and any calendar-like item that can help them stay organized and focused is a plus.

Q: What should I study to become a realtor?

To become a realtor, you should be study topics like: Urban planning and economics Real estate analysis Finance Investment

Q: Realtor vs Realtor Associate

A realtor is someone who acts as a real estate agent by selling and purchasing buildings and land, while a realtor associate is licensed to represent buyers and sellers in a real estate transaction.

What is a realtor and how to become one

Updated January 8, 2025

3 min read

Quoted Experts

Dave Bunton,

Daniel Wright

At some point in your life, you would likely enlist the services of a realtor to help you acquire your dream home. However, the job of a realtor is a little more complicated than it seems. To illustrate, they are not only in charge of helping you find potential houses, but they are also responsible for communicating with sellers, taking care of the paperwork, coordinating with service providers (home inspectors, contractors, insurance agents, etc.), and maintaining accurate records.

Furthermore, a realtor will be the one to conduct tours of potential homes, helping clients find the best one that fits their needs, particularly when it comes to their budget.

If this sounds like a career that you want to pursue, you would have to pass a licensing exam, activate your real estate agent license, and become a member of the National Association of Realtors (NAR). Although the titles of a real estate agent and a realtor are generally the same, you can add to your credibility by joining the NAR.

In terms of salary, the average realtor makes around $36,000 a year. Beyond that, they earn more in commissions from every sale, which averages at 6% of the total sale price.

What general advice would you give to a Realtor?

Dave Bunton

President, The Appraisal Foundation

During the pandemic, we've seen an increase in the number of people hoping to join the appraisal profession. This makes sense because appraisal work allows you to work out of your home independently, has flexible hours, and takes advantage of the latest technology. While many industries have had to make these shifts after the pandemic started, appraisers have been working this way for years, and we're pleased that folks looking to start or shift their careers are discovering these benefits in the appraisal profession.

ScoreRealtorUS Average

Salary

3.0

Avg. Salary $38,290

Avg. Salary $59,228

Stability Level

6.4

Growth Rate 5%

Growth Rate 0.3%

Diversity

3.4

Race

American Indian and Alaska Native 0.32%

Asian 6.91%

Black or African American 5.34%

Hispanic or Latino 13.34%

Unknown 4.31%

White 69.78%

Gender

female 59.77%

male 40.23%

Age - 50

Race

American Indian and Alaska Native 3.00%

Asian 7.00%

Black or African American 14.00%

Hispanic or Latino 19.00%

White 57.00%

Gender

female 47.00%

male 53.00%

Age - 50

Stress Level

6.4

Stress level is manageable

7.1 - high

Complexity Level

7.0

Complexity Level is challenging

7 - challenging

Work Life Balance

2.5

Work Life balance is poor

6.4 - fair

Key steps to become a realtor

Explore realtor education requirements

Most common realtor degrees

Bachelor's

59.7 %

Associate

20.1 %

Master's

7.5 %

Start to develop specific realtor skills

Skills	Percentages
Residential Real Estate	22.04%
Open Houses	9.48%
Purchase Agreements	5.67%
Comparative Market Analysis	4.94%
Real Estate Sales	4.36%

Complete relevant realtor training and internships

Accountants spend an average of 6-12 months on post-employment, on-the-job training. New realtors learn the skills and techniques required for their job and employer during this time. The chart below shows how long it takes to gain competency as a realtor based on U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics data and data from real realtor resumes.

Obtain the necessary licensing

Becoming a licensed realtor usually doesn't require a college degree. However, you need to pass an exam to become a licensed realtor in most of states. 34 states require realtors to have license for their work. You can see the list of states below.

State	Education	Exam	License Url
Maryland	Degree required	State exam required	REAL ESTATE SALESPERSON
Arkansas	Specific course required	State exam required	Real Estate Salesperson
California	Degree required	State exam required	Real Estate Salesperson
Connecticut	Specific course required	State exam required	Real Estate Salesperson
Delaware	Degree required	State exam required	Real Estate Sales Agent

Gain additional realtor certifications

Realtor certifications can show employers you have a baseline of knowledge expected for the position. Certifications can also make you a more competitive candidate. Even if employers don't require a specific realtor certification, having one may help you stand out relative to other applicants.

The most common certifications for realtors include Graduate - Realtor Institute (GRI) and Certified Real Estate Inspector (CRI).

More About Certifications

Research realtor duties and responsibilities

Process funds and manage accounts through QuickBooks.
Manage scheduling and develop computer reports and MLS listings, create PowerPoint presentations, marketing materials and handle advertising.
Place and remove signs & lockboxes.
Make entries into QuickBooks; reconcile monthly bank statements.

Prepare your realtor resume

When your background is strong enough, you can start writing your realtor resume.

You can use Zippia's AI resume builder to make the resume writing process easier while also making sure that you include key information that hiring managers expect to see on a realtor resume. You'll find resume tips and examples of skills, responsibilities, and summaries, all provided by Zippi, your career sidekick.

Choose From 10+ Customizable Realtor Resume templates

Build a professional Realtor resume in minutes. Browse through our resume examples to identify the best way to word your resume. Then choose from 10+ resume templates to create your Realtor resume.

Apply for realtor jobs

Now it's time to start searching for a realtor job. Consider the tips below for a successful job search:

Browse job boards for relevant postings
Consult your professional network
Reach out to companies you're interested in working for directly
Watch out for job scams

How do realtors rate their job?

-/5

5 Stars

4 Stars

3 Stars

2 Stars

1 Star

Realtor reviews

A zippia user wrote a review on Jan 2023

Pros

My own schedule and meeting great people.

Cons

No guarantee on income or relevance

A zippia user wrote a review on Jan 2021

Pros

Flexible Schedule. Accompanying New Agents with business operation skills, critical communication skills, contract negotiation, problem solving, proactive approach to obtaining purchase agreement, assisting brokers with avenues to increase network for sales agent, conducting feasibility study for outmoded business models, providing ongoing business operation training, training programs for leadership/business development, building trust for agent sustainability.

Cons

Continuous solicitation of businesses to sustain. Louisiana has small window for Real Estate Consultants.

A zippia user wrote a review on Oct 2019

Pros

Flexibility and potential for making great money.

Cons

Not knowing where my next paycheck is coming from. Being unemployed in between clients.

What is a realtor and how to become one

What general advice would you give to a Realtor?

Realtor career paths

Key steps to become a realtor

Explore realtor education requirements

Most common realtor degrees

Start to develop specific realtor skills

Complete relevant realtor training and internships

Obtain the necessary licensing

Gain additional realtor certifications

Research realtor duties and responsibilities

Prepare your realtor resume

Choose From 10+ Customizable Realtor Resume templates

Apply for realtor jobs

How Did You Land Your First Realtor Job

Average realtor salary

How do realtors rate their job?

Realtor reviews

Realtor FAQs

How long does it take to become a Realtor?

How hard is it to become a realtor in Florida?

How hard is it to become a realtor in Texas?

How hard is it to become a realtor?

What are the best gifts for a realtor?

What should I study to become a realtor?

Realtor vs Realtor Associate

Search for realtor jobs

Realtor jobs by state