Licensing

Kentucky REALTOR® Institute (KRI) offers an elite ninety-six (96) hour online program which is approved by the Kentucky Real Estate Commission (KREC). The program consists of two parts. Part A covers general real estate principles and Part B covers Kentucky license law. Within Part B students must complete a scenario-based project and then finish up the program by taking an online proctored course final exam required per Kentucky license law. The course final exam is not the licensing exam. Once the proctored final exam is passed, the Kentucky REALTOR® Institute will provide a certificate of completion allowing the student to schedule the PSI licensing exam.

This program can be taken on a computer or within the online systems mobile app. Students are provided access to the program for one (1) year from the date of enrollment. The program (Part A, Part B, the project, and the course final exam) must be completed in its entirety in that timeframe. Short extensions are available for an additional fee if needed. Many schools only offer six (6) months access, where we understand that life happens and want to be able to provide ample time for our students to successfully finish our program. Instructor support, technical support and program support is available when becoming a student with Kentucky REALTOR® Institute. 

Review requirements to get a license here.

Kentucky REALTOR® Institute offers package pricing. Click the packages and pricing button below to review the options. Once the package is added to your shopping cart and you check out you will be allowed into the course to start the program immediately.

By registering for any of the packages in the Package & Pricing link below, you acknowledge and agree to the terms and conditions outlined in KRI’s Policies and Procedures, as well as confirming you reviewed the FAQ’s.

Packages & Pricing

Please Note: A criminal conviction may prevent an applicant from qualifying for licensure under KRS 324.045. Per Kentucky law, students are not allowed to complete more than 9 hours of coursework per day. It’s the student’s responsibility to track their hours. Please contact KRI with any questions.

Part A: Modern Real Estate Practices (60 hours online)

This portion of the program is 60 credit hours and covers general real estate principles and foundational concepts. This course covers Home Ownership Concepts, Agency, Brokerage, Listing Agreements, Buyer Representation, Real Estate Liens, Financing Practices, Lease Arrangements, Appraisals, Land Use Issues, Environmental Issues, Investments, ANSI, Law of Contracts and more topics associated with the practice of real estate.

Part B: Kentucky License Law (36 hours online)

This portion of the program covers Kentucky specific license laws, regulations and statutes. This course covers Kentucky Real Estate Commission Rules, Ethics, Disciplinary Actions/Complaints, Disclosures, RESPA, Agency and Duties to Clients, Fair Housing, Contracts & Offers, Advertising & Marketing, Loans & Taxes and other topics associated with practicing real estate in Kentucky.

PROJECT: The course project is located in Part B. It consists of two case studies for the buyer and the seller. You will need to understand which forms are to be completed on the selling side and which forms are to be completed on the buying side. Once you complete the forms, you will also need to complete an online quiz and submit the forms for grading.

FINAL EXAM: The course final exam is also located in Part B. The course final exam is set up with our online proctoring service once all steps above have been completed. The course exam and proctoring service are included in the program. There are a total of three (3) attempts to pass the course final exam and 4 day waiting periods per exam required by Kentucky license law. This exam is not the licensing exam. 

After successfully completing the course final exam, the student will receive a completion certificate. In the course students will learn how to complete the background check (fingerprints) and schedule the licensing exam with PSI. The student is responsible for all fees outside of this program, which includes the background check, licensing exam, etc…

“This course had me well prepared for my licensing exam. I passed on my first attempt. I am very satisfied with my experience and appreciate everything provided with the course. Now to put the selling pedal to the floor…”

– Dave Rowton, Paducah, KY

“Easy experience taking the Real Estate classes and exam. Thanks for your hard work.”

– Nathan Peel, Lexington, KY

“I took my real estate courses at KRI. I had a really hard time passing my course test but absolutely nailed my state test on the 1st try!! Thank you for being so supportive and encouraging!! I have been practicing real estate for the last week and it is awesome like a dream come true!!!!”  

– Leslie Reed Moses, Berea, KY

“The experience I had with Kentucky Realtor Institute exceeded all my expectations! I’ve never taking an online course before so I was a little nervous about how well I would perform and retain the self-taught material. However, after starting the course, it was presented in such a way that it was easy to understand and complete! Nicole and the staff at KAR were so helpful in any questions I had and helping me through the course. I wouldn’t hesitate again to take an online course through them an would refer anyone that is interested in taking a real estate course to go with Kentucky Real Estate Institute!”

– Jonathan Ervin, Auburn, KY

The Kentucky Real Estate Commission ended the policy of license recognition on December 16, 2019, with the new regulations allowing for license reciprocity. The Kentucky Real Estate Commission is currently negotiating reciprocal agreements with individual states. Kentucky REALTOR® Institute, your source for education, will update this page as announcements are made on new agreements.

Florida Reciprocity Requirements

Sales Associate: For a Sales Associate license, applicants must have an active Florida sales associate’s license for at least one (1) year immediately preceding the time of application. Applicants must affiliate his/her Kentucky license with a principal broker who holds a Kentucky broker license. Applicants must complete the 40-hour reciprocal license law course and submit fingerprints for a national criminal records check prior to scheduling the reciprocal license exam. LHC is a license history certification. It is a requirement of licensure by reciprocity. A Florida licensee will obtain this from the Florida Real Estate Commission. 

Once licensed in Kentucky, the licensee must adhere to all Kentucky licensing requirements, including completing forty-eight (48) hours of post-license education courses within the first two (2) years of obtaining a license.

Broker: A Florida licensed sales associate who later wants to obtain their Kentucky Broker’s license, the applicant must have a Broker Education Review. This is a process available to KY sales associates who later want to become a broker in Kentucky to determine if they have fulfilled the education requirements to obtain a Kentucky license.

For those who already have an active Florida broker license, in order to obtain a Kentucky broker license the applicant must meet the following criteria: Applicants must have an active Florida brokers license for at least two (2) years immediately preceding the time of application. Applicants who wish to be a principal broker in Kentucky must have an escrow account at a bank located in Kentucky as well as a definite place of business located in Kentucky (“virtual” offices and P.O. Boxes are not acceptable). Applicants who wish to be affiliated with a principal broker must affiliate with a principal broker who is licensed in Kentucky. Applicants must complete the 40-hour reciprocal license law course and submit fingerprints for a national criminal records check prior to scheduling the reciprocal license exam. Once licensed in Kentucky, the licensee must adhere to all Kentucky licensing requirements including completing annual continuing education.

To view the Kentucky-Florida reciprocity agreement, click here.

Enroll Today!

Kentucky to Florida Course Information

Active Kentucky licensees that want to obtain their license in Florida, are required to take a specific 40-hour license law course. That law program would need to be created and then approved by the Florida Real Estate Commission. You will need to contact the Florida Real Estate Commission for more information.

Make sure you read the Kentucky-Florida reciprocity agreement, above this section, for any additional requirements.

Illinois Reciprocity Requirements

Sales Associate: For a Sales Associate license, also referred to in Illinois as a Broker, applicants must have an active Illinois Broker’s license for at least one (1) year immediately preceding the time of application. Applicants must affiliate his/her Kentucky license with a principal broker who holds a Kentucky broker license. Applicants must complete the 40-hour reciprocal license law course and submit fingerprints for a national criminal records check prior to scheduling the reciprocal license exam. LHC is a license history certification. It is a requirement of licensure by reciprocity. A Illinois licensee will obtain this from the Illinois Real Estate Commission. 

Once licensed in Kentucky, the licensee must adhere to all Kentucky licensing requirements, including completing forty-eight (48) hours of post-license education courses within the first two (2) years of obtaining a license.

Broker: For an Illinois licensed Broker who later wants to obtain their Kentucky Broker’s license, the applicant must have a Broker Education Review. This is a process available to Kentucky sales associates who later want to become a broker in Kentucky to determine if they have fulfilled the education requirements to obtain a Kentucky license.

For those who already have an active Illinois managing broker license, in order to obtain a Kentucky broker’s license, the applicant must meet the following criteria: Applicants must have an active Illinois managing broker’s license for at least two (2) years immediately preceding the time of application. Applicants who wish to be a principal broker in Kentucky must have an escrow account at a bank located in Kentucky as well as a definite place of business located in Kentucky (“virtual” offices and P.O. Boxes are not acceptable). Applicants who wish to be affiliated with a principal broker must affiliate with a principal broker who is licensed in Kentucky. Applicants must complete the 40-hour reciprocal license law course and submit fingerprints for national criminal records check prior to scheduling the reciprocal license exam. Once licensed in Kentucky, the licensee must adhere to all Kentucky licensing requirements including completing annual continuing education.

To view the Kentucky-Illinois reciprocity agreement, click here.

Enroll Today!

Kentucky to Illinois Course Information

Active Kentucky licensees that want to obtain their license in Illinois, are required to take a specific 40-hour license law course. That law program would need to be created and then approved by the Illinois Divisions of Real Estate (DRE) and you will need to contact them for more information.

Make sure you read the Kentucky-Illinois reciprocity agreement, above this section, for any additional requirements.

Ohio Reciprocity Requirements

Sales Associate: Applicants must have an active Ohio salesperson license for at least one (1) year immediately preceding the time of application. Applicants must affiliate his/her Kentucky license with a principal broker who holds a Kentucky broker license. Applicants must complete the 40-hour reciprocal license law course and submit fingerprints for a national criminal records check prior to scheduling the reciprocal license exam. Once licensed in Kentucky, the licensee must adhere to all Kentucky licensing requirements, including completing forty-eight (48) hours of post-license education courses within the first two (2) years of obtaining a license.

Broker: Applicants must have an active Ohio broker license for at least two (2) years immediately preceding the time of application. Applicants who wish to be a principal broker in Kentucky must have an escrow account at a bank located in Kentucky as well as a definite place of business located in Kentucky (“virtual” offices and P.O. Boxes are not acceptable). Applicants who wish to be affiliated with a principal broker must affiliate with a principal broker who is licensed in Kentucky. Applicants must complete the 40-hour reciprocal license law course and submit fingerprints for a national criminal records check prior to scheduling the reciprocal license exam. Once licensed in Kentucky, the licensee must adhere to all Kentucky licensing requirements including completing annual continuing education.

Ohio is the first state that has created an agreement with Kentucky. To view the Kentucky-Ohio reciprocity agreement, click here.

Enroll Today!

Kentucky to Ohio Course Information

Tennessee Reciprocity Requirements

Sales Associate: Applicants must have an active Tennessee salesperson aka affiliate broker license for at least one (1) year immediately preceding the time of application. Applicants must affiliate his/her Kentucky license with a principal broker who holds a Kentucky broker license. Applicants must complete the 40-hour reciprocal license law course and submit fingerprints for a national criminal records check prior to scheduling the reciprocal license exam. Once licensed in Kentucky, the licensee must adhere to all Kentucky licensing requirements, including completing forty-eight (48) hours of post-license education courses within the first two (2) years of obtaining a license.

Broker: Applicants must have an active Tennessee broker license for at least three (3) years immediately preceding the time of application. Applicants who wish to be a principal broker in Kentucky must have an escrow or trust account in accordance with the Kentucky laws as well as a definite place of business, by which is not required to be in Kentucky. “Virtual” offices and P.O. Boxes are not acceptable. Applicants who wish to be affiliated with a principal broker must affiliate with a principal broker who is licensed in Kentucky. Applicants must complete the 40-hour reciprocal license law course and submit fingerprints for a national criminal records check prior to scheduling the reciprocal license exam. Once licensed in Kentucky, the licensee must adhere to all Kentucky licensing requirements including completing annual continuing education.

To view the Kentucky-Tennessee reciprocity agreement, click here.

Enroll Today!

Kentucky to Tennessee Course Information

Active Kentucky licensees that want to obtain their license in Tennessee, are required to take a 40-hour real estate law program in support of license reciprocity. That law program would need to be created and then approved by the Tennessee Real Estate Commission (TREC). Currently, there is not a provider that has an approved course as of yet. Tennessee REALTORS is currently working on developing a course that would satisfy TREC’s requirements. As soon as a course is approved, we will put that information here.

Make sure you read the Kentucky-Tennessee reciprocity agreement, at the top of this page, for any additional requirements.

West Virginia Reciprocity Requirements

Sales Associate: Referred to in West Virginia as a salesperson, applicants must have an active West Virginia salesperson’s license for at least one (1) year immediately preceding the time of application. Applicants must affiliate his/her Kentucky license with a principal broker who holds a Kentucky broker license. Applicants must complete the 40-hour reciprocal license law course and submit fingerprints for a national criminal records check prior to scheduling the reciprocal license exam. LHC is a license history certification. It is a requirement of licensure by reciprocity. A West Virginia licensee will obtain this from the West Virginia Real Estate Commission.

Once licensed in Kentucky, the licensee must adhere to all Kentucky licensing requirements, including completing forty-eight (48) hours of post-license education courses within the first two (2) years of obtaining a license.

Broker: A West Virginia licensed salesperson who later wants to obtain their Kentucky Broker’s license, the applicant must have a Broker Education Review. This is a process available to KY sales associates who later want to become a broker in Kentucky to determine if they have fulfilled the education requirements to obtain a Kentucky license.

For those who already have an active West Virginia broker license, in order to obtain a Kentucky broker license the applicant must meet the following criteria: Applicants must have an active West Virginia brokers license for at least one (1) year immediately preceding the time of application. Applicants who wish to be a principal broker in Kentucky must have an escrow account in accordance with the Kentucky laws as well as a definite place of business, but located in original state (West Virginia). “Virtual” offices and P.O. Boxes are not acceptable. Applicants who wish to be affiliated with a principal broker must affiliate with a principal broker who is licensed in Kentucky. Applicants must complete the 40-hour reciprocal license law course and submit fingerprints for a national criminal records check prior to scheduling the reciprocal license exam. Once licensed in Kentucky, the licensee must adhere to all Kentucky licensing requirements including completing annual continuing education.

To view the Kentucky-West Virginia reciprocity agreement, click here.

Enroll Today!

Kentucky to West Virginia Course Information

Active Kentucky licensees that want to obtain their license in West Virginia, are required to take a 40-hour real estate law program in support of license reciprocity. That law program would need to be created and then approved by the West Virginia Real Estate Commission. You will need to contact the West Virginia Real Estate Commission for more information.

Make sure you read the Kentucky-West Virginia reciprocity agreement, at the top of this page, for any additional requirements.

Kentucky REALTOR® Institute is your one-stop shop to complete your Broker Education hours, making you eligible to sit for the Kentucky Brokers Exam.

Approved Broker Courses

Experience: Two (2) years of experience working at least twenty hours a week as a licensee. The experience verification affidavit is only provided, as a part of the application, by the testing service once the exam has been passed.

Education:  Twenty-one (21) credit hours with twelve (12) in real estate from an accredited college and three (3) of the twelve (12) credit hours in Brokerage Management the additional nine (9) credit hours completed in electives; or three hundred thirty-six (336) classroom hours in real estate from an approved proprietary school with forty-eight (48) of the hours in Brokerage Management.  

**Licensees should send in Form #207 Broker Education Review Form to the KREC or submit a request on the KREC services portal, along with completion certificates, reports or transcripts, and a $10 check or money order ($20 if cancelled) to obtain an education review. All education and experience must be completed before taking the broker exam.

As of March 1, 2022, Pre-licensing education (96) hours will no longer be counted as hours towards obtaining a broker’s license.

Nine (9) college electives credit hours – This is the equivalent of 144 hours in real estate education and is the highest number of electives accepted by the Commission. If the licensee has not completed nine college elective hours, they must complete 144 hours in real estate courses. If you have questions, please contact KREC.

Calculation Notes: Each college credit hour is worth 16 classroom hours (Example: Brokerage Management 3 credit hours = 48 classroom hours). Some colleges are on a quarter-hour basis.  KREC only accepts 2/3 of quarter hours (Example: Real Estate Law – 3 quarter hours x 2/3 = 2 credit hours or 32 classroom hours).

Brokerage Management (48 Hours) – This is the only mandatory course for broker applicants. This course must have been completed on or after September of 2000 to qualify.)

GRI 100 – 600 (48 Hours) – These courses are not required but recommended.  The GRI provides CE hours as well as hours toward the most recognized designations available to real estate professionals.

Principles of Home Inspection (96 Broker Curriculum Hours) or other hours are located by clicking here.