When you want to become a real estate agent in Utah, you need to get your license. Learning how to get your real estate license in Utah will help you start your new career. Without a license, you cannot help others buy or sell a home.
Before you decide to go through the steps to get a real estate license in Utah, make sure you know what this career includes. Let’s look at the job duties and salary of a real estate agent in Utah.
Job Duties of a Real Estate Agent in Utah
When you decide to become a real estate agent in Utah, you will help buyers and sellers. You will aid those looking to buy a house or sell their current house. In some cases, you might help a client with both buying and selling.
The common job duties for a real estate agent in Utah include:
- Finding potential clients looking for a home or looking to sell their home
- Understanding local neighborhoods and the real estate market
- Holding open houses and showing homes to potential buyers
- Completing all the paperwork for the real estate transaction
- Providing expertise on the local real estate market for buyers and sellers
- Creating a marketing plan for each listing you take on
- Negotiating for your clients during a real estate transaction
You will likely spend time marketing yourself and your services, as well. Many real estate agents use social media, a website, and many other marketing methods to gain business.
Salary of a Utah Real Estate Agent
According to Salary.com, a real estate agent in Utah will earn a median salary of $41,355 per year. They put the range for real estate agents at $39,530 to $62,843.
SalaryExpert.com has the average base salary for a real estate agent at $58K. They put the range at about $34K to $73K, depending on experience. It’s also common for agents to earn bonuses of around $8k per year, on average.
If you look at the average salary from Indeed.com, it’s even higher at about $84K per year. Some of the top real estate firms in Utah have agents earning well over $100K per year, as well. The highest salaries are found in Saint George, Pleasant Grove, Orem, and Salt Lake City.
How To Get Your Real Estate License in Utah in 6 Steps
Step #1 – Meet the Basic Requirements
Before you go any further, make sure you meet the basic requirements to get a real estate license in Utah. You need to be a citizen of the United States or a lawfully admitted alien. You will also need to have a high school education and you cannot have a felony on your record in the past five years.
If you have a misdemeanor that involved theft, dishonesty, fraud, or misrepresentation in the past three years, it will disqualify you, as well. You must also be 18 years of age to get your real estate license in Utah.
Step #2 – Complete an Approved Pre-Licensing Course
You will need to complete an approved 120-hour pre-licensing course in Utah. This course has to be completed within one year before you apply for your real estate license. The course will include the following:
- Utah Law – 24 hours
- Contracts – 16 hours
- Real Estate Finance – 16 hours
- Real Estate Brokerage and the Law of Agency – 12 hours
- Ownership of Real Estate – 12 hours
- Settlement – 8 hours
- Testing and Review – 8 hours
- Valuation and Appraisal – 6 hours
- Federal Laws – 6 hours
- Property Management – 4 hours
- Math Skills – 4 hours
- New Construction – 2 hours
- Federal Taxation – 2 hours
All of the pre-licensing education can be completed online. There are several different online providers with self-paced options, live online options, and video courses you can take. Some include practice exams and other exam prep options. You might even find a pre-licensing course with a pass or don’t pay guarantee.
Step #3 – Pass the Real Estate Licensing Exam
You will need to pass the real estate exam in Utah to get your license. The cost is $59 per attempt, so you want to prepare and pass the exam the first time.
The real estate exam in Utah consists of 130 total questions. The national section includes 80 questions and the state section includes 50 questions. You will need to get 56 of 80 correct on the national section and 28 of 40 correct on the state section to pass.
You will have four hours to complete the exam. Once you have finished, you will get a pass or fail notification. If you failed, you will get a breakdown of the areas where you did poorly.
You can register for the exam at the Pearson VUE Utah Real Estate website.
Step #4 – Pass the Background Check
Before you can get your real estate license in Utah, you will need to pass a background check. It’s also necessary to have your fingerprints recorded. The Utah Division of Real Estate requires this step. You will need to have your fingerprints taken by one of the available services, which include:
- Bountiful
- Ogden
- Orem
- Draper
These test centers can take your fingerprints digitally. You will need to schedule your fingerprint appointment through the Pearson VUE website. The cost is $12 and you will pay a fingerprint fee to the Utah Division of Real Estate, as well.
You will need to submit your completed fingerprint cards with your application. The background check process starts when you turn in your fingerprints. This process may take several days to complete. If you have any criminal offenses or judgments, you may need to submit additional documentation.
Step #5 – Complete Your License Application
The final step you will need to complete to get your real estate license in Utah is the application. You will need to fill it out and pay the $157 in fees. This breaks down to a $100 application fee, a $40 fingerprint process fee, a $12 recovery fund fee, and a $5 FBI RAPBACK enrollment fee.
The application can be filled out online at the Utah MyLicense eGovernment system website. Use the real estate checklist to ensure you complete your application properly.
Step #6 – Pass the Application Review Process
After passing the exam and submitting your application, you will need to go through the application review process. This can take three to five business days to complete. Once it’s completed, you will receive an email with instructions to print your license.
Frequently Asked Questions About Getting Your Real Estate License in Utah
How difficult is the Utah real estate exam?
About 30% of people will fail the exam on the first attempt. This exam is pretty difficult and should not be taken lightly. With a good exam prep course, you can pass on your first attempt. Make sure you’re well prepared for the exam.
What is the cost to get my Utah real estate license?
You will pay about $230 in fees to get your real estate license in Utah. Along with the required fees, you will pay between $600 and $800 for your pre-licensing education. The total you will pay to get your license will range from $830 to $1,030.
This cost doesn’t include what you might need to pay in association fees or to join the multiple listing services. These fees will be in addition to the fees you pay to get your license.
How quickly can I get my real estate license in Utah?
You will spend most of your time working on the pre-licensing education and preparing for the real estate exam. The rest of the process can be completed in a few days or weeks. Most candidates will take three to six months to complete the entire process.
With a full-time schedule, you can get through the pre-licensing course within a month. However, you want to make sure you’re well-prepared for the exam. It’s recommended that you take at least two months to complete the entire process to get your real estate license in Utah.
Most candidates will need at least three months to complete all the requirements. If you fail the exam, it can delay the entire process. This will lead to more time studying and you will need to retake the exam.
Does Utah offer any real estate license reciprocity?
Yes. If you have a real estate license from Georgia, Mississippi, or Alberta, Canada, you won’t need to go through the pre-licensing course. Instead, you can use the reciprocity application. You will still need to go through the background check and pay an application fee. However, you won’t need to complete the pre-licensing course or take the exam.
There are plenty of good reasons to get your real estate license in Utah. If you want to work as a real estate agent or work your way up to becoming a broker, this is the first step. With your real estate license, you can earn a nice living, as well.
