Kentucky Licensing Requirements and Education
Kentucky sets pre-license education, examination, post-license education, and continuing-education requirements for sales associates. This chapter summarizes the path to and maintenance of a Kentucky license.
Pre-License Education and Exam
An applicant must complete 96 classroom hours of approved real estate pre-license education (or the equivalent in qualifying college credit) and be at least 18 years old (KRS 324.046(2) and 201 KAR 11:210 set the requirement as six academic credit hours or the equivalent; 96 hours is the Kentucky Real Estate Commission's published equivalent; age at KRS 324.040(3), which also requires a high school diploma or its equivalent; checked 2026-09-09). The candidate must pass the licensing examination, which covers national and Kentucky-specific content, before licensure.
Affiliation and Post-License Education
A new sales associate must be associated with a principal broker for the license to be active. Kentucky also requires newly licensed sales associates to complete post-license education within the required period after licensure, ensuring new licensees build practical knowledge early in their careers.
Continuing Education and Renewal
Kentucky licensees must complete Commission-approved continuing education, including required law content, to maintain and renew the license. Continuing education keeps licensees current on legal changes and agency practice. Allowing a license to lapse can require reinstatement steps before the licensee may resume practice.
State-specific details
State exam facts
- State regulator
- Kentucky Real Estate Commission (KREC)
- Exam vendor
- PSI
- Prelicensing education
- 96 hours (or 6 college credit hours) of approved pre-license education
How many prelicensing hours does Kentucky require to become a real estate agent?
Kentucky requires 96 hours of Commission-approved pre-license instruction, or 6 academic credit hours in real estate courses at an accredited college or university.
Who licenses real estate agents in Kentucky?
The Kentucky Real Estate Commission (KREC) licenses sales associates and brokers. KREC contracts with PSI to administer the state licensing exam.
How is the Kentucky sales associate exam structured?
The Kentucky sales associate exam is delivered by PSI with a national portion and a Kentucky state portion, scored separately; you must pass both. Confirm the current scored-question counts in the PSI Candidate Information Bulletin.
Sources: https://krec.ky.gov/newstatic_info.aspx?static_id=190, https://www.psiexams.com/
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