How to Get a Real Estate License in Idaho

by Randy Bacon

You're ready to get licensed in Idaho. Great choice. The process is clear and very doable when you take it one step at a time. Here's every step for 2026, plus how to set up your business so you hit the ground running.

Direct Answer: To get a real estate license in Idaho, complete 90 hours of prelicense education, get fingerprinted, pass the Idaho real estate exam through Pearson VUE, secure E&O insurance, apply through the Idaho Division of Occupational and Professional Licenses, and have an Idaho brokerage activate your license. Randy Bacon and The Randy Bacon Group help newly licensed agents join EXP Realty with lead generation and follow-up systems from day one.

We help EXP agents anywhere in the United States and Canada in their market. Our agent count is strongest in Washington, Oregon, and Idaho. Randy Bacon sponsors EXP agents in Boise and across Idaho, Washington, and Oregon.

Talk With Randy About Your First Year

Or text 360.241.0568 or email randy.bacon@exprealty.com

Idaho Real Estate License Requirements in 2026

The Idaho Real Estate Commission oversees licensing. To earn your salesperson license, you'll need to:

Be at least 18 years old
Hold a high school diploma or GED
Show proof of legal presence in the United States
Complete 90 hours of approved prelicense education
Pass both portions of the Idaho real estate exam
Clear a fingerprint background check
Carry E&O insurance

Already licensed in another state? You can ask for an exam waiver. It covers the national portion and the prelicense courses, and you'll still take the Idaho portion.

How to Get Your Idaho Real Estate License in Six Steps

1. Complete 90 hours of prelicense education

Take Salesperson Prelicense Module 1 and Module 2, 45 hours each, from an approved school. You can study in a classroom, live on Zoom, or online at your own pace. Attend every hour and score 70 percent or higher on each course exam.

2. Get fingerprinted

Book your fingerprint appointment through Pearson VUE for the background check. Do it early, because processing can take a few weeks.

3. Pass the Idaho real estate exam

Schedule the exam with Pearson VUE. It has a national portion and an Idaho portion, and each attempt costs eighty dollars. If you pass one portion, you have one year to pass the other.

4. Line up your E&O insurance

Idaho requires errors and omissions coverage before your license goes active. Most agents use the Idaho Real Estate Commission group policy.

5. Apply for your license

Submit your application through the Idaho Division of Occupational and Professional Licenses. The initial salesperson fee is one hundred thirty-five dollars.

6. Choose your brokerage and sponsor

Your license goes active once an Idaho brokerage activates it. This is where your career really takes shape, so pick the brokerage and the people who'll help you build.

Ready for step six? Our EXP Realty Sponsor Idaho page shows what that support looks like here.

What It Costs to Get Licensed in Idaho

Plan for roughly one thousand to fifteen hundred dollars to get licensed and active. That usually covers:

Prelicense courses, which vary by school
The exam, at eighty dollars per attempt
Fingerprinting and the background check
The initial salesperson application, at one hundred thirty-five dollars
Your first year of E&O insurance

Good news for 2026: Idaho started a renewal fee holiday on January 1, so renewal fees are waived for now. The initial application fee still applies.

Idaho's Two-Year License Cycle and Post-License Course

Starting October 30, 2026, Idaho moves real estate licenses to a two-year cycle. Your continuing education runs on that same two-year rhythm.

Before your first active renewal, you'll complete two Idaho Commission Core courses plus 12 hours of post-license education. That's the 8-hour Post License Fundamentals course and one 4-hour elective. Put it on your calendar early, and it's an easy box to check.

How to Choose Your Idaho Brokerage

Your broker handles compliance. Your brokerage and sponsor shape how you build. Ask each one:

Who helps me set up lead generation, and when does it start?
Which CRM will I use, and who sets it up?
How does follow-up stay consistent while I'm with clients?
Who do I call for help on a busy Tuesday?
Do I keep my own brand and database from day one?

For a deeper list, read How to Choose the Right EXP Realty Sponsor.

Your First 90 Days After You Pass

The agents who grow fastest set up their systems right away. Here's what that looks like with The Randy Bacon Group at EXP Realty:

Lead generation systems. Buyer and seller funnels, ad copy written for you, and retargeting in your market.
CRM setup. BoldTrail or Lofty, with pipelines, tags, and follow-up sequences ready to go.
Coaching and daily support. Weekly training, accountability, and office hours Monday through Friday.
Agent Accelerator. New partners start our live six-week Agent Accelerator. Graduates of the six-week Agent Accelerator get one free year of Realty.com leads, with no referral fee.

Agents pay no fees and no commission splits to be part of The Randy Bacon Group. You keep your brand, your database, and your commissions. See every step on our How to Join EXP Realty page, and learn what an EXP Realty sponsor does.

Working in the Treasure Valley? Read Join EXP Realty in Boise, or start with our Join EXP Realty in Idaho guide.

Book a Strategy Call With Randy

Or text 360.241.0568 or email randy.bacon@exprealty.com

See How the EXP Model Works

This short overview walks you through the EXP model and stays current as EXP evolves. See how the EXP model works. Want more? Watch strategy and systems videos on The Randy Bacon Group YouTube channel.

Frequently Asked Questions About an Idaho Real Estate License

What are the requirements to get a real estate license in Idaho?

You need to be at least 18, hold a high school diploma or GED, complete 90 hours of prelicense education, pass a fingerprint background check, pass the Idaho real estate exam, carry E&O insurance, and have an Idaho brokerage activate your license.

How long does it take to get a real estate license in Idaho?

Most people finish in two to four months. The 90 hours of coursework take the most time, and fingerprint processing can add a few weeks, so start that step early.

How much does an Idaho real estate license cost?

Plan for roughly one thousand to fifteen hundred dollars all in. That covers your courses, the eighty dollar exam, fingerprinting, the one hundred thirty-five dollar application fee, and E&O insurance.

What is the Idaho real estate exam like?

It's given by Pearson VUE and has two portions, national and Idaho. You can retake just the portion you need, as long as you pass it within one year of passing the other.

What should a newly licensed Idaho agent do first?

Pick a brokerage and sponsor who'll help you set up your CRM, lead generation, and follow-up right away. A steady system in your first ninety days builds the habits that carry your whole career.

Is there a fee to join EXP Realty through Randy Bacon?

Agents pay no fees and no commission splits to be part of The Randy Bacon Group. You pay standard EXP Realty fees plus any ad budget you choose.

You are in the right place. I help EXP agents all over the United States and Canada, so if you are looking at Washington, Oregon, Idaho, or anywhere else, this is the right site. We set up your marketing and lead generation for your specific area, and we provide personal concierge onboarding in every state. Book a strategy call and we will start with your market.

About the author

Randy Bacon is a Managing Broker and EXP Realty sponsor in Vancouver, Washington, and the founder of The Randy Bacon Group, where he gives agents the lead generation and follow-up systems that make their business predictable.

Book a strategy call with Randy

Let's Plan Your First Year

Getting licensed is a big step, and we'd love to help with the next one. Book a relaxed call, and we'll map out the systems that fit your market and your goals.

Book a Strategy Call With Randy

Or text 360.241.0568 or email randy.bacon@exprealty.com

Welcome to The Randy Bacon Group. You are in business for yourself, but never by yourself.

Licensing details reflect the Idaho Division of Occupational and Professional Licenses as of October 2026. Check the Idaho Real Estate Commission for current requirements and fees.