Ohio Real Estate Exam Prep

In Ohio, the Division of Real Estate and Professional Licensing at the Ohio Department of Commerce sets the standards for real estate licensure. The exam is administered by PSI and has a State portion and a National portion; both must be passed, and the Division's requirements page lists a passing score of 70.

Ohio reduced salesperson prelicensing from 120 to 100 hours effective April 9, 2025, so older guides citing 120 hours are outdated. You also need a sponsoring Ohio broker before applying for the exam. The sections below summarize license types, exam format, and typical requirements for Ohio.

Ohio recognizes the following real estate credential types:

• Real Estate Salesperson - Sells or leases real estate under a sponsoring Ohio broker. Requires 100 hours of prelicensing education.
• Real Estate Broker - Independent practice and supervision of salespersons. Requires additional experience, education, and an exam.

The Ohio real estate exam is administered by PSI, the Division's testing vendor. It includes a State portion and a National portion, and both must be passed. Review the PSI Candidate Information Bulletin for the current question counts, time limits, and scheduling steps before your test date.

Ohio's Division requirements page lists a passing score of 70 on the salesperson exam. Passing standards can be revised by the Division of Real Estate and Professional Licensing, so confirm the current requirement before scheduling.

Typical requirements to sit for the Ohio real estate salesperson exam include:

• Being at least 18 years old and a US citizen or legal alien, with a high school diploma or equivalent (if born after 1950).
• A sponsoring Ohio broker (required before applying for the exam).
• No disqualifying convictions, plus a BCI and FBI background check.
• Four prelicensing courses from a degree-awarding postsecondary institution totaling 100 hours: Real Estate Principles and Practices (40 hours), Ohio Real Estate Law (40 hours), Real Estate Appraisal (10 hours), and Real Estate Finance (10 hours).
• Payment of applicable examination and licensing fees.

Requirements can change. Always confirm current licensing rules with the official state licensing authority before applying.

Ohio charges an $81 salesperson examination application fee, which includes licensure. The exam fee itself is paid to PSI; the amount is in the PSI Candidate Information Bulletin and varies. Salesperson renewal is $182, reactivation from inactive is $34, and the late-renewal penalty is $91. Always confirm current fee amounts with the Division of Real Estate and Professional Licensing or PSI before submitting payment.

A focused 4 to 6 week study plan works well for most candidates:

• Week 1-2: Review the fundamentals of Real Estate Principles and Contracts and Agency alongside your 100-hour coursework.
• Week 3-4: Work through Real Estate Finance and Ohio-specific license law, then take a full-length practice test.
• Week 5-6: Review every missed question, drill weak areas, and simulate the State and National portions under timed conditions.

Practice topics on ExamsLib cover Real Estate Principles, Contracts and Agency, Real Estate Finance.