Frequently Asked Questions

Real Estate sales are a tremendous growth area with potential to earn very good financial rewards. Career Education Systems, offers multiple courses covering Kansas and Missouri real estate law and broker licenses. Multiple courses covering Missouri broker pre-license and Kansas real estate license testing. To follow are some of the most asked questions about Kansas and Missouri real estate testing and how Career Education Systems centers in Kansas and Missouri prepare you for them.

Find the answers to common questions

How hard is the test ?

Just like any other test, the difficulty level depends on how well you are prepared. On average, Kansas and Missouri residents average about 50% passing and 50% failing. Some schools have higher pass rates than others. For example, at Career Education Systems between 80% and 90% of the students pass the first time. Don’t let the test scare you. Just make sure you are well prepared.

What schooling is required?

Kansas requires 30 classroom hours before you can sit for the salesperson’s test; you also must be at least 18 years old and have a high school diploma or GED to be licensed. After completing the initial 30 hours and taking the exam, Kansas requires 30 additional hours before applying for the license.

Missouri requires 48 classroom hours before you can sit for the salesperson’s test and you must be at least 18 years old. After passing the Exam, Missouri requires 24 additional hours before applying for the license.

Who gives the test?

Kansas uses Promissor, which is based in Philadelphia, PA, to do their testing. The tests are given in Kansas City Mon-Sat.

Missouri uses Applied Measurement Professionals (AMP) for testing. AMP is located in Lenexa, KS. The tests are given in Kansas City every day of the week and the third Saturday of each month, and several other locations in Missouri.

What is covered on the test?

The test is broken up into two parts: Part 1 covers general laws and principles that would be applicable across the entire United States and, Part 2 which covers questions that would only apply to your home state. The general section has about 100 questions and the state about 40.

What if I pass one section but not the other?

You only have to go back and pass the portion you failed Test scores in Kansas are good for four months so both sections must be passed within that time and the license applied for.
Missouri gives you six months from the date you complete the course to pass both sections, take the additional 24 hours, and apply for license.

Do I have to pass both state tests if I want to be licensed in Kansas AND Missouri?

First, you have to pass the test and become licensed in your HOME state. Your home state is defined as where you are living at the time you apply for license. Kansas residents can get a Missouri license after receiving a Kansas license, by passing the Missouri state law portion of the Missouri exam, taking the 24 hour Missouri Practice Course and applying with the Missouri license fee. Missouri residents can receive a Kansas license by passing the Kansas state law portion of the Kansas exam, taking the 30 hour Kansas Practice Course and applying with the Kansas license fee.

What is the difference between a salesperson’s and a broker’s license?

A broker acts like an employer; i.e. a broker hires salespersons to represent the broker in making sales. A salesperson can only work for one broker at a time.

Do I have to have a real estate brokerage company hold my license?

Yes, after you have passed the test, you can apply for license. A licensed broker must sign the application and agree to supervise you.

Can I skip the salesperson stage and become a broker immediately?

No. All candidates for a broker’s license in either Kansas or Missouri must have worked as a real estate licensee for two years prior to applying for a broker’s license. Some persons who have a lot of real estate experience can apply for a waiver(Kansas only) of the two years but it does not apply to most people.

How do I find a broker?

Most of the brokers in town take on new people on a regular basis. It is up to you to shop around to find a broker that meets your needs. You can get a start by contacting some offices close to where you live or work.

How much will it cost me to get a real estate license?

There are a number of costs in getting licensed. Fortunately, you don’t usually have to pay them all at one time. Below is a list of typical costs:
$250 (KS), $395 (MO) -- pre-exam course. The reason for the difference is that Missouri requires 48 hours and Kansas only 30 hours.
$200 (KS), $200 (MO) -- Kansas Practice License Course & Missouri Practice Course
$75 (KS), $52 (MO) -- test fee (to testing service)
$75-$100 -- license fee (to states of Kansas and/or Missouri)

Additionally, there are other up-front costs that you may incur (depending on the type of real estate career you pursue). The following amounts are approximate:

$200-$300 -- Board of Realtors annual dues (if your company is a Realtor member)
$200-$300 -- Multiple listing service initial membership costs
$100-$200 -- Entry level sales training
Just like any other business, there are other on-going costs that you will incur. (Check with your broker about other costs that may not be listed here).

How much money can I expect to make?

Unlike most businesses, real estate agents are usually self-employed and work on commission. Each brokerage company charges different amounts and shares the commission with their salespersons differently. As a general rule, the more you sell, the more you make. That is not only true due to the fact that you have more commission but that many brokers will give you a greater percentage of the total commission the more you sell. Talking with several brokerage companies is usually the best way to find out how they handle commission.

Note that it often takes several months after getting a license to make a sale, close the sale and receive payment. People going into real estate need to be able to be supported for several months before being paid. Make sure your family understands this.

What is the most common reason people get into and/or quit the real estate business?

Strangely enough, the answer is the same: dealing with people. Many individuals love to get into real estate because they can meet many new people every week and help them get into homes. However, since buying a house is the biggest financial decision most people make, they can sometimes seem very irrational. It can be quite frustrating to work with a buyer for weeks and then see them decide not to buy at all or buy through someone else. Can you handle that type of thing without feeling personally rejected? Can you handle your finances in a way that you can afford to lose a “commission” when a buyer walks away? If you can, real estate could very well be the career for you. On the other hand, if your feelings get hurt easily and you have trouble handling money, you may want to look for a career with a bit more consistency to it.

When does the license renew?

After a new Kansas license is issued, the requirement is 12 hours of continuing education that must be taken prior to the first renewal of that new license, and then every two years after that. Kansas bases your renewal on the first letter of your last name. This means that your first renewal with 12 hours due can be as soon as 6 months after being issued a new license, depending on the first letter of your last name.

After a new Missouri license is issued, the requirement is 12 hours of continuing education that must be taken prior to the first renewal of that new license, and then every two years after that. This is true for both newly licensed salespersons and newly licensed brokers. All salespersons renew in September on even numbered years, and all brokers renew in June on even numbered years (i.e. ‘08, ‘10, ‘12 etc.).

What are continuing education classes and when should they be taken?

Continuing education courses are required for each 2 year renewal for both states. Each course is 3 hours long costs $35. All courses at CES are approved in both states, so you should be able (most of the time!) to take a total of 12 hours and be done for both states, depending on the renewal dates for both states and the timing of the classes.

Kansas requires salespersons to take a minimum of 3 hrs. of Kansas Core and 9 hrs. of electives. Brokers must take a minimum of 6 hrs. of Kansas Core and 6 hrs. of electives. The month for renewal is based on the first letter of your last name. You may take the continuing education classes anytime during the 2 yr. period between renewals. CES offers a variety of different classes at different times during each month.

Missouri requires both salespersons and brokers to take 3 hrs. of Missouri Core and 9 hrs. of electives. As previously stated, salespersons renew in September and brokers renew in June every 2 years on the even years. You may take the continuing education courses anytime between October 1, on an even year, through June 30 or September 30 two years later.

Both states send out renewal notices prior to the end of each renewal period.

What happens if a license is not renewed on time?

For a license to be renewed on time means that the continuing education classes have been taken no later than the last day of the renewal period and that the renewal notice with fee was postmarked no later than that date.

If the above did not occur, Kansas will add a $50 late fee and allow one month to have the renewal on their desk before the license actually expires. If that month goes by and the license expires, the $50 late fee still applies and a 6 month grace period is in effect, but the license is no longer valid until everything is turned in to the state. If the 6 months goes by without the renewal being complete, then the license has lapsed and the pre-license course and test will have to be taken again.

Missouri does not have any sort of grace periods. If classes are not completed and the license renewal is not postmarked by the last day of the renewal period, the license lapses and, generally, the pre-license course and test have to be taken again. ALWAYS CHECK WITH THE MISSOURI REAL ESTATE COMMISSION to see what they will require for license reinstatement.

What happens if a license is put on inactive status?

First of all, a license on inactive status with the real estate commission is different than having a license and not being active in the business.

A license on inactive status is sent back to and held by the real estate commission. Missouri will require the pre-license course again to reactivate the license, but does not usually require retaking the exam. You MUST check with the Missouri Real Estate Commission as to what they will require of you to reactivate.

A license on inactive status in Kansas will need continuing education hours to reactivate. The requirement is six hours for each year the license is inactive plus penalty hours the state will assess after the license has been inactive for 2 years. You MUST check with the Kansas Real Estate Commission on the total number of hours you will need to reactivate. A license may be inactive for up to 5 years, then the pre-license course and test will be required to get a license.

CES does not usually recommend that a license be put on inactive status. Active status can be maintained without being active in the business by:

1.    Finding a broker who will agree to hold the license without requiring you to produce income. (This is a rare occurrence).

2.    Placing the license in a REFERRAL NETWORK. Check with some of the brokers in town to see if they have a referral network. Also check with the real estate commission. With a license in referral, you cannot do any real estate deals, but would refer those deals to company holding your license. You will usually pay a fee to the company but will not be subject to any other fees a licensee usually pays. To resume real estate activity, you would have to take the license out of referral.

3.    Becoming a broker and holding your own license -- after fulfilling state requirements for becoming a broker.

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Copyright (C) 2001-2007 CES, Inc.
Last update: 01/24/2007