Meet licensing requirements for the state of Iowa. This means you have to be 18 years of age. If you have ever been rejected for a licensure in Iowa or any other state, you will have to wait 12 months to become licensed in the state of Iowa.
Complete course work. The state of Iowa requires completion of a 60-hour course before you can take the licensing exam. This course is available during the week, on weekends and even through a self-study online delivery. Cost for this course ranges from $425 to $485.
Pass a criminal background check. This can be very intimidating but is actually one of the easiest aspects of becoming a Realtor in Iowa. You much complete an approved Iowa Real Estate Commission's fingerprint packet and send the completed packet and fee back to the commission. The major crimes the commission is looking for include theft, forgery, embezzlement and other money-related crimes.
Take the Iowa licensing exam. A passing score on this test is necessary to become licensed in the state of Iowa. The licensing exam is computer based, and a time of 6 hours is allowed to complete a total of 240 multiple choice questions. You can retake the exam if necessary by submitting the registration and exam fee again.
Complete salesperson requirements. The Iowa association of Realtors requires each new associate to complete an additional 12 hours of training in each of three courses--ethics, buying practices and listing practices--for a total of 36 hours of additional training. These courses can be taken at any time during the application process and are in addition to the 60-hour training course.
Apply for the Iowa Realtor license. After completing the full Iowa real estate commission application packet and submitting the appropriate fee, there is an additional $125 fee to get your license. To obtain the Iowa Realtor license you must show completion of the 60-hour class; background check; 36 hours of additional coursework in ethics, buying and listing practices; and proof of errors and omissions insurance. E&O insurance is a requirement in most states and protects you in the event a client holds you responsible for a service you provided or failed to provide. Insurance cost varies depending on the size of a business, location and number of staff covered; most policies will cover court costs and pay settlements if a client takes a case to trial.