All you have is a GED certificate in your hands and a real estate dream in your heart. You may want to know if this is enough to get you licensed in your state.
As a real estate course teacher, I am often asked, “Can you get a real estate license with a GED?” Yes, you can. Most states with a high school diploma requirement accept a GED qualification as an equivalent.
Licensing bodies like Oregon Real Estate Agency accept a GED certificate as part of their real estate licensing prerequisites.
In this article, I’ll clarify the licensing education requirements by state. I’ll outline exam prerequisites and tips to overcome education barriers. If you have a GED and a burning desire to join the real estate industry, read on to maximize your career prospects.
State Education Requirements
Every real estate regulatory body has a set of pre-licensing requirements that hopeful agents must meet before starting their journey in real estate. We recently created a comprehensive guide on each state’s licensing requirements. I can bet a cats’ whiskers that you will love it.
Most states that require a high school diploma as part of their licensing pre-requisite also accept GED certificates. For instance, the Nebraska Real Estate Commission accepts both a high school diploma and a GED qualification.
But other states, like California, don’t require any educational background. In these states, licensees only need to complete their pre-licensing education to qualify for the real estate exam.
Here is a breakdown of every state’s educational prerequisites:
| State | High School Diploma | General Development Education Certificate (GED) | No Educational Requirement |
| Alabama | ✔️ | ✔️ | |
| Alaska | ✔️ | ||
| Arizona | ✔️ | ||
| Arkansas | ✔️ | ||
| California | ✔️ | ||
| Colorado | ✔️ | ||
| Connecticut | ✔️ | ✔️ | |
| Florida | ✔️ | ✔️ | |
| Georgia | ✔️ | ✔️ | |
| Hawaii | ✔️ | ✔️ | |
| Idaho | ✔️ | ||
| Illinois | ✔️ | ||
| Indiana | ✔️ | ||
| Iowa | ✔️ | ||
| Kansas | ✔️ | ✔️ | |
| Kentucky | ✔️ | ✔️ | |
| Lousiana | ✔️ | ✔️ | |
| Maine | ✔️ | ✔️ | |
| Maryland | ✔️ | ✔️ | |
| Massachusetts | ✔️ | ||
| Michigan | ✔️ | ||
| Minnesota | ✔️ | ||
| Mississippi | ✔️ | ✔️ | |
| Missouri | ✔️ | ||
| Montana | ✔️ | ||
| Nebraska | ✔️ | ✔️ | |
| Nevada | ✔️ | ✔️ | |
| New Hampshire | ✔️ | ✔️ | |
| New Jersey | ✔️ | ✔️ | |
| New Mexico | ✔️ | ||
| New York | ✔️ | ||
| North Carolina | ✔️ | ✔️ | |
| North Dakota | ✔️ | ||
| Ohio | ✔️ | ✔️ | |
| Oklahoma | ✔️ | ||
| Oregon | ✔️ | ✔️ | |
| Pennsylvania | ✔️ | ✔️ | |
| Rhode Island | ✔️ | ||
| South Carolina | ✔️ | ✔️ | |
| South Dakota | ✔️ | ✔️ | |
| Tennessee | ✔️ | ||
| Texas | ✔️ | ||
| Utah | ✔️ | ✔️ | |
| Vermont | ✔️ | ||
| Virginia | ✔️ | ✔️ | |
| Washington | ✔️ | ✔️ | |
| West Virginia | ✔️ | ✔️ | |
| Wisconsin | ✔️ | ||
| Wyoming | ✔️ |
Alternative Route
There are a few U.S. states that accept alternative educational background options. These states offer applicants who have not completed high school another chance at a real estate license.
The High School Equivalency Test, or HiSET, is a widely accepted high school diploma alternative. Several states, like the state of Illinois, will take this qualification in place of the high school diploma.
Licensees should note that they must meet the HiSET eligibility requirements before they can sit down for the test.
Since states approach HiSET differently, you must visit your licensing body’s website to find your state’s rules around this alternative.
Exam Preparation
Regardless of your state’s educational background requirement, exam preparation remains crucial to launching your career.
If your state doesn’t have educational prerequisites, then take the time to build foundational knowledge around real estate concepts before enrolling in a pre-licensing course. Try our definition flashcards to help you understand principles like functional obsolescence, mortgage financing, owner financing, fair housing laws, and contractual procedures.
Quality study materials are a great way to bolster success. They sharpen topical comprehension and familiarity with the exam format.
Be sure to lean on trusted sources for content review and opt only for practice tests such as our real estate practice exam that mimics actual test conditions.
We also offer state-specific prep tailored to your region. If math presents obstacles, a targeted real estate math crash course helps conquer quantitative challenges.
Achieving Licensing with a GED
Can you get a real estate license with a GED? Yes, you can get a real estate license with a GED. Most states accept the GED as an equivalent to a high school diploma. However, some states do not require any educational background at all and only demand completion of pre-licensing education.
Next Steps:
- Visit your state’s real estate commission website or our comprehensive guide on each state’s prerequisites.
- Utilize resources like our definition flashcards and practice exams that mimic actual test conditions to prepare for the exam.
- Enroll in pre-licensing courses.
- If your state has no educational prerequisites, build foundational knowledge around real estate concepts before enrolling.
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