So You Want to be a Real Estate Agent in Alaska?

You’ve decided that you want to sell real estate in Alaska. Fantastic! But you can’t just start showing homes and taking offers—you have to get licensed first, and that takes time. Here’s how to get your Alaska real estate license from start to finish.

Step 1: Initial Licensing Requirements

In order to qualify for an Alaska real estate license, you must complete the following steps:

Successfully pass the licensing examination.
File your application for licensure with the Department of Commerce, Community, and Economic Development (DCCED) within 90 days of passing the exam.

Step 2: Preparing For The Exam

The following information will help prepare you for the exam.

To take the exam, you must have an active real estate license from another state or country. If you don’t have one, please contact your current licensing authority and ask about reciprocity.
When you register for the exam, make sure that your license is valid for at least six months after your planned test date.

Step 3: Taking The Exam

The next step is to take the exam. The exam consists of 100 multiple-choice questions, and you will have four hours to complete it. You will need at least 75% of the questions answered correctly in order for your application to be processed. Luckily, you can retake the exam if you didn’t get enough right the first time. Just send an email to realestate@alaska.gov with your name, license number and date of birth, requesting permission to retake the test. Keep in mind that there is a $50 fee for retaking the test before receiving permission from REALESTA – they want you to make sure you really want it! Once you pass both exams (the state exam and then another one administered by REALESTA), all that’s left is paperwork!

Step 4: Applying For A Job And What Comes Next

Once you have your license, you will need to find a job. The best way to do this is by contacting real estate agents and letting them know that you are interested in working for them. They may have openings or at the very least they will know of other agents who might. If you cannot get a job with one agent, ask him or her if there are any open positions on their team. If not, ask if they can put you in contact with other agents.