How to Become a Real Estate Agent-2025

— and the path to becoming a successful real estate agent is faster and more accessible than ever. Grab your free Step-by-Step Guide to Getting Your Real Estate License & Being Successful and discover exactly what you need to do (and avoid) to launch your career with confidence.

Whether you’re starting from scratch or reactivating a license, this guide will walk you through every step.

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How to Become a Real Estate Agent

The Rules Have Changed…

How to Get Your Real Estate License, Join a Company, and Start with Coaching — Guided by 25-Year Industry Coach Robert Earl

If you’re thinking about getting into real estate, you’re not alone. More people than ever are exploring real estate as a career — whether for flexibility, financial freedom, or the ability to help others find their dream home. But the process can feel overwhelming, especially with outdated advice floating around. That’s why I’ve broken it all down for you in a simple, step-by-step roadmap — backed by 25 years of real-world experience in real estate, business building, and coaching.

I’m Robert Earl, a real estate coach, team leader, and former top-producing agent who has helped thousands of new agents get started. If you’re ready to get your license, choose the right brokerage, and avoid the biggest rookie mistakes, this article is your launchpad.

Step 1: Understand What It Takes to Get a Real Estate License

Before you sell homes or even start looking at brokerages, you need your real estate license. While each state has its own specific requirements, the general process follows the same pattern:

✅ Basic Requirements (May Vary by State):

  • Be at least 18 years old
  • Have a high school diploma or equivalent
  • Complete pre-licensing education
  • Pass a background check
  • Pass the state licensing exam
  • Affiliate with a real estate brokerage

Step 2: Choose the Right Real Estate School

One of the first and most important decisions you’ll make is choosing where to take your required pre-licensing course. Today, online real estate schools offer flexibility, affordability, and self-paced learning that fits your schedule.

🏫 Top Online Real Estate Schools I Recommend:

Make sure to choose a school that is approved by your state. If you’re unsure, I can point you in the right direction — click here for state-by-state recommendations.

Step 3: Study Smart and Pass the Exam

The licensing exam usually consists of two parts: national and state-specific. Most people fail because they underestimate the importance of practice exams and test prep tools.

📘 Pro Tips:

  • Don’t cram — schedule regular study sessions.
  • Take as many practice tests as you can.
  • Focus on understanding terms, laws, and contract basics.
  • Use flashcards, audio guides, or test simulators.
  • Connect with others going through the same journey for accountability.

Once you pass the exam (congratulations!), you’ll need to submit your application to the state and choose your sponsoring brokerage — which brings us to the next step.

Step 4: Choosing the Right Real Estate Company to Join

Here’s where many new agents make a crucial mistake: they join the first or flashiest company without considering if it actually supports new agents.

As a 25-year veteran of the industry and current Team Leader & Coach with Keller Williams , I’ve seen firsthand what a difference the right company makes. Your first brokerage should offer training, support, leads, coaching, and a community that wants you to win — not just collect a split of your commission.

💡 What to Look for in a Real Estate Brokerage:

  • Training Programs for New Agents (like Keller Williams’ Ignite)
  • Mentorship or Coaching
  • Tech Tools and Marketing Support
  • Culture and Collaboration
  • Growth Opportunities (Teams, Leadership, Ownership)

Avoid companies that throw you into the deep end and expect you to figure it out on your own.

At Keller Williams, our mission is simple: Your Success Is Our Mission. We show you the playbook — and walk with you every step of the way.

Step 5: Launch Your Business with a Coach By Your Side

This is where the real difference happens. Getting a license is just the start. Becoming a successful real estate agent means learning how to generate leads, build relationships, manage your time, and close deals — all skills that aren’t on the licensing exam.

That’s where coaching comes in.

I’ve personally coached over 7,000 aspiring and active agents, and I can tell you without a doubt: those who get coaching early win faster and avoid the most common mistakes.

🎯 What Coaching Will Help You Do:

  • Build your daily schedule for lead generation
  • Learn scripts and conversations that convert leads into appointments
  • Stay accountable to your goals
  • Work through mindset blocks and imposter syndrome
  • Learn how to use systems like CRMs, listing tools, and follow-up strategies
  • Create a marketing plan that works for your budget

Whether you want to sell 6 homes or 60 this year, coaching helps you stay focused and consistent — the two ingredients most new agents struggle with.

Step 6: Use the Six Figure Income Playbook

One of the most exciting parts of launching your career with us is getting access to the Six Figure Income Playbook — a simple roadmap I created for agents who want to build a real estate business that’s scalable and sustainable.

Inside the playbook, you’ll learn:

  • The lead generation model that works every time
  • A budget model to manage your money like a business owner
  • How to build a marketing plan using social media, websites, and mailers
  • Why your mindset matters more than your marketing
  • And how to track your activities to stay profitable

Real estate success isn’t about luck — it’s about following the right model. The playbook makes that model accessible.

Step 7: Surround Yourself With the Right People

One thing that separates top producers from the rest? They don’t go it alone. They plug into training, coaching, events, and a network of other professionals who push them to grow.

At Keller Williams, we host:

  • Daily lead generation power hours
  • Weekly coaching and mastermind calls
  • In-person career nights and business planning sessions
  • Social media and marketing workshops
  • Local networking events to grow your sphere

And because we’re part of the largest real estate company in the world, you can expand your business across cities and states while staying connected to the same support system.

Final Thoughts: Why Now is the Best Time to Start

The real estate industry is evolving. The rules have changed — from how consumers find agents to how deals get done. But that’s not a reason to be afraid. It’s a reason to get excited.

There’s never been a better time to start, and there’s never been more support available to help you succeed. Whether you’re considering a career change, a side hustle, or returning to real estate after time away — I’m here to guide you.

📝 Next Step: Get Your Free Step-by-Step Guide

I created a free Step-by-Step Guide to Getting Your Real Estate License that walks you through the process for your state — including my recommendations for real estate schools, license application tips, how to choose a brokerage, and when to get started with coaching.

👉 Download the guide now and take the first step toward your real estate career today.

If you have questions, need help picking a school, or want to learn more about working with me directly — complete the form.

I believe in you. Let’s do this.

— Robert Earl
Real Estate Coach | Team Leader | Author of The Online Real Estate License Blueprint

I look forward to working with you.