How to Get a Real Estate License in Kansas (2026): Cost & Steps

By StartBusinessByState · Fees and requirements checked October 10, 2026

KANSAS REAL ESTATE LICENSE

To get a Kansas real estate license you take 60 hours of approved courses, get fingerprinted, pass the Pearson VUE exam and apply with a supervising broker. The fees you pay the state and the exam company come to about $280: $85 for fingerprints and the pre-licensure application, $70 for the exam and $125 for the license. The courses and the fingerprinting site’s own charge cost extra. Here are the steps in order, with every fee.

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What a Kansas real estate license costs

Pre-licensure fingerprint and application fee: $85
Exam, both parts: $70
License application: $125
Required fees, total: $280.00

Fee	Amount	Who you pay and when
60 hours of prelicense courses	Set by the school	30 hours of Principles of Real Estate and 30 hours of Kansas Practice. You need the first 30 hours before the exam.
Pre-licensure application, fingerprints and processing	$85	Kansas Real Estate Commission. It is $15 for the application and $70 for the background check.
Fingerprinting service	Set by the site	Law enforcement offices and Pearson VUE sites take fingerprints. The place sets its own charge.
Exam, both parts	$70	Pearson VUE. If you schedule the two parts separately it is $70 each.
License application	$125	Kansas Real Estate Commission. It can be refunded if you withdraw or are denied.
Renewal, every two years	$125	Kansas Real Estate Commission. A $100 late fee applies if you finish continuing education late.
Brokerage, Realtor association and MLS	Set by each office and association	Get every joining and monthly fee in writing before you sign.

The Commission says it collects $210 in all: $15 for the application, $70 for the background check and $125 for the license. The exam is paid to Pearson VUE.

Build your Kansas startup budget

Sources: Kansas Real Estate Commission: salesperson requirements (60 hours, $85 pre-licensure fee, $125 license); Kansas Real Estate Commission: frequently asked questions ($210 to the Commission, $70 exam, $125 renewal); Pearson VUE Kansas real estate handbook (exam, fingerprinting). Fees and rules checked October 10, 2026. Exam and background-check prices can change, so confirm the total when you book.

Who can get a Kansas salesperson license

Most people call it a real estate agent license. In Kansas it is a salesperson license, and it lets you work under a supervising broker. Opening your own brokerage is a separate broker license.

The Kansas Real Estate Commission says you need to be at least 18, have a high school diploma or equivalent, and affiliate with a Kansas broker before your license is issued. You also must disclose any arrests, misdemeanor charges or felony convictions.

Already licensed in another state? If you have held an active license for at least two years, you take only the Kansas part of the exam and a 30-hour Kansas Practice course, and you send a license history. Read the Commission’s page to see if you qualify.

The steps, in order

Apply for pre-licensure and pay $85. The Commission gives you a PL number that your school and exam use.
Take the 60 hours of courses. You need the 30-hour Principles of Real Estate course before the exam.
Compare Kansas real estate courses and Colibri packages for the 60-hour education, current tuition and exam-support options.

Colibri Real Estate offers Kansas prelicensing packages covering the 30-hour Principles course and 30-hour Practice course. Compare online packages and exam-prep options before enrolling.
See Kansas real estate courses
We may earn a commission if you enroll through this link.
Get fingerprinted. You can do it while you take your courses.
Pass the national and Kansas exams with Pearson VUE. Both parts together cost $70. Your passing scores are good for six months.
Apply for your license and pay $125. Pick the supervising broker you will work under. The Commission says most licenses are issued in 7 to 10 business days.

Track your deadlines

Your exam scores are good for six months, and the Commission must get your license application within six months of your earliest pass date. Your background report is valid for six months too.

What Kansas agents earn

Median pay, Kansas agents on payroll: $39,770
Middle half earns: $36,990–$51,000
Top 10% earn over: $83,760
Kansas agents on payroll: 1,450

The bottom 10% of Kansas payroll agents earn under $30,190. The national median is $52,830. Put the pre-licensure and license fees on separate lines, then add your chosen office's charges. For commission planning, use the written split and realistic business expenses instead of assuming that all revenue from a closing is yours to spend.

Source: U.S. Labor Department pay survey, May 2025, Kansas real estate sales agents. Covers agents on a payroll only. Checked October 10, 2026.

Keep your exam, background report and broker choice on one timeline

After the pre-licensure application gives you a PL number, start identifying supervising brokers as well as schools. Ask how each office handles training for the first offer and who will review your work before it reaches a client.

Kansas gives the exam scores and background report six-month validity windows. Choose your broker in time to submit a complete application within those dates. Compare the commission agreement and recurring office costs before that final step, so the application deadline does not force a rushed business decision.

Set up your Kansas agent business

Register the business and organize payments

Prepare the business registration alongside your broker affiliation. Confirm an eligible entity and the name that may receive commissions, then use the Kansas LLC guide to work through the LLC option. ZenBusiness can prepare the filing after you have settled those details.

Arrange errors and omissions (E&O) insurance

Make the E&O decision before the office assigns your first transaction. Ask for E&O quotes from Simply Business and compare it with the supervising broker’s insurance arrangement. Look at your planned services, the claim limit and deductible, and keep the agreed coverage with your startup records.

Keep business records from day one

Save the PL number, score reports and background-check dates in one folder. Use a separate ledger for the pre-licensure fee, license fee, courses and office expenses so you can see both the cost to enter and the cost to operate.

See Kansas business registration and tax requirements for the wider registration and tax checklist.

Choose a market you can explain accurately

Pick a local service area and review a few active and recently closed listings with the supervising broker. Practice explaining why the properties differ in price and ongoing ownership costs. Turn that preparation into a useful buyer conversation or supervised open house rather than promoting a statewide service you are not yet equipped to deliver.

Resources for preparing client conversations

Renew every two years and keep your continuing education

Kansas licenses renew every two years for $125. You must finish your continuing education by your expiration date, including a required three-hour Kansas core course. A $100 late fee applies if the hours are late.

You have six months after expiration to renew before the license is forfeited.

Kansas agent questions

How much does it cost to get a Kansas real estate license?

The fees you pay the state and the exam company come to about $280: $85 for fingerprints and the pre-licensure application, $70 for the exam and $125 for the license. The 60 hours of courses and the fingerprinting site’s own charge are extra.

How long is the Kansas course?

60 hours: 30 hours of Principles of Real Estate and 30 hours of Kansas Practice.

Can I work with clients as soon as I pass?

Not yet. You need to submit your license application, affiliate with a broker and get an approval email from the Commission.

How long does a Kansas license last?

Two years. Renewal costs $125 and needs continuing education, including a required three-hour core course.

I’m licensed in another state. Do I retake the exam?

Only part of it, if you qualify. Agents with at least two years of active licensing in another state take only the Kansas exam.

Does this cover opening a brokerage?

No. This guide is for the entry-level salesperson license, working under a supervising broker. A broker license has its own requirements.

Your first move in Kansas

Start with the pre-licensure application to obtain your PL number. Coordinate the course, fingerprints and exam, and use the study period to choose a supervising broker. File the completed license application before the earliest relevant six-month deadline.

State resource: Kansas licensing and education information.