How to Become a Real Estate Agent in Wisconsin

To become a real estate agent in Wisconsin, you'll have to complete the required educational requirement at one of the real estate schools approved by the Wisconsin Department of Regulation and Licensing (DRL). Some real estate schools offer classes in a regular classroom while some also offer classes through distance learning.


If you're interested in receiving some training prior to becoming licensed as a salesperson or real estate agent in Wisconsin, there is a separate license application for a Real Estate Apprentice Salesperson. 

This license allow you to work a minimum of 20 hours per week, at least 3 days a week under the supervision of an employing licensed real estate broker.

There is a $10 application fee for that license and it expires one year from issuance and may not be renewed.


Here's what you need to know :
1) Licensing Requirements in Wisconsin
2) License Renewal and Continuing Education Requirements
3) Income Potential
4) Real Estate Schools


How to Become a Real Estate Agent in Wisconsin

1) Real Estate Agent Licensing Requirements in Wisconsin
In Wisconsin, real estate agents MUST be licensed by the Wisconsin Department of Regulation and Licensing.
 

To obtain your real estate license so that you can practice as a real estate agent in Wisconsin, you must:

A. Satisfy the education requirement by completing one of the following:

  1. complete a 72 hour salesperson course at a real estate school approved by the Department of Regulation and Licensing
  2. provide a transcript showing 10-hour credits in real estate or real estate related law completed at an institution of higher education (best to submit transcripts to Wisconsin DRL prior to taking the exam)
  3. provide a photocopy of current bar membership or a certificate of good standing in the Wisconsin State Bar
     

B. Schedule, sit for and Pass the salesperson exam. There are 140 questions on the exam, it is 4 hours long and is taken on the computer. There is a $69 fee to take the exam.

C. Obtain employment with a licensed Wisconsin real estate broker (A licensed real estate agent in Wisconsin must work under the supervision of a licensed real estate broker).

D. Apply for your real estate license. Once you've passed the exam, you'll receive the application for licensure from the Wisconsin DRL. The application must be submitted within one year of passing the exam.The initial fee to obtain your license is currently $53.

 

2) License Renewal and Continuing Education Requirements

The Wisconsin real estate license must be renewed every 2 years. The renewal must be made by December 31st of even-numbered years. There is currently a $118 fee to renew the salesperson license.

There is also a continuing education requirement that must be met. You must complete 12 hours (Four 3 hour) modules with specific course content at a real estate school that has been approved by DRL).

The continuing education requirement must be satisfied before the end of the even-numbered years if you would like to continue practicing as a real estate agent in Wisconsin.

3) Income Potential
Real estate agents are generally paid based on a percentage of the sales price. The seller may pay 4 to 7% of the sales price as the fee and that will usually be split 50/50 between the seller and buyer's broker.
In Wisconsin, the median home price is approximately $150,000. Assume that the fee is 6%, the buyer's and seller's broker is each paid 3% or $$4500.

This fee is then split further between the broker and agent. Generally, for starting agents, the split is 50/50. So in this case, the agent will end up receiving $2250 for the transaction.

There is no limit as to how much an agent can make in a year - the sky's the limit.

Based on Wisconsin's median home price and the above example, a real estate agent in Wisconsin can make about  $22,500/year by selling 10 houses a year. By selling one house per week, the  salary will be about $117,000!



4) Real Estate Schools
 

The first step to becoming a real estate agent in Wisconsin is to take the required classes at an approved real estate schools. These schools may offer classes in a traditional classroom or via distance learning which allows you to complete the classes in the comfort of your own home.

Below are real estate schools in Appleton, Milwaukee, Madison, WI and other cities that have been approved by the Wisconsin DRL to provide classes for the salesperson, broker and continuing education requirements:
 

ABC SCHOOL OF REAL ESTATE
650 Westhill Boulevard
Appleton WI 54915
(920) 993-7001		 BLACKHAWK TECHNICAL COLLEGE
PO Box 5009
Janesville WI 53547
(608) 757-7726
E.x.C.E.L. BY TRAINING
3701 E. Evergreen Drive, Ste. 200
Appleton, WI 54913
(920) 882-8327		 FOX VALLEY TECHNICAL COLLEGE
1825 N. Bluemound Drive
Appleton WI 54913
(920) 735-5753
GATEWAY TECHNICAL COLLEGE
1001 S. Main Street
Racine WI 53403
(262) 631-7420		 LAKESHORE TECHNICAL COLLEGE
1290 North Avenue
Cleveland WI 53015
(920) 458-4183
MID-STATE TECHNICAL COLLEGE
500 32nd Street North
Wisconsin Rapids WI 54494
(715) 422-5358		 MORAINE PARK TECHNICAL COLLEGE
235 N. National Avenue
Fond Du Lac WI 54935
(920) 929-2110
NORTH CENTRAL TECHNICAL COLLEGE
1000 Campus Drive
Wausau WI 54401
(715) 675-3331, Ext 4372		 NORTHEAST WI TECHNICAL COLLEGE
2740 W. Mason Street
Green Bay WI 54307
(920) 498-6306
PROSOURCE EDUCATIONAL SERVICES INC
1295 Bandana Boulevard # 245
St Paul MN 55108
(651) 641-1000		 ROBBINS & LLOYD CAREER TRAINING INSTITUTE
5309 N. 118th Court
Milwaukee WI 53225
(414) 464-0800
SHOREWEST REAL ESTATE INSTITUTE
11622 W. North Avenue
Wauwatosa WI 53226
(414) 476-1231		 SOUTHWEST WISCONSIN TECHNICAL COLLEGE
1800 Bronson Boulevard
Fennimore WI 53809
(608) 822-3262 Ext 2221
WAUKESHA COUNTY TECHNICAL COLLEGE
800 Main Street
Pewaukee WI 53072
(262) 691-5228		 WISCONSIN INDIANHEAD TECHNICAL COLLEGE
1900 College Drive
Rice Lake WI 54868
(715) 468-2815
WISCONSIN REALTORS ASSOCIATION
4801 Forest Run Road
Madison WI 53704
(608) 241-2047