Ohio Real Estate Exam: Everything You Need to Know

As a prospective realtor, the real estate exam is one of the most critical pieces of the puzzle to kick off your career. Your performance on this exam determines whether or not you get your real estate license and become a practicing agent. 

Seeing how important this is, we have written this article to provide you with everything you need to know to prepare for and pass the Ohio real estate exam. Here’s a list of what you’ll be learning in this article: 

• How to schedule the Ohio real estate licensing exam online 
• The documents you’ll need to register for the exam 
• The cost of the exam 
• Where you can take the exam 
• What to bring with you on the day of
• The content of the exam 
• The difficulty level of the exam 
• Practical tips on how to pass your first try 

How to Take the Ohio Real Estate Licensing Exam

To apply for the Ohio real estate licensing exam, you first need to ensure that you tick the following requirement boxes: 

• You must be a United States citizen
• You must be 18 years old or older 
• You must have a high school diploma or an equivalent degree

If you have all the requirements above, here are the next steps to take when scheduling your real estate exam: 

Step 1: Get Your Real Estate Pre-licensing Education 

Before taking the exam, you are required to complete 120 hours of real estate pre-licensing coursework consisting of the following 4 classes:

• 40 hours of Real Estate Principles and Practices
• 40 hours of Ohio Real Estate Law, including instruction in civil rights, housing discrimination, and desegregation problems
• 20 hours of Real Estate Appraisal
• 20 hours of Real Estate Finance

You can take the pre-licensing coursework online at a pace that you are comfortable with. All you have to do is ensure that you select an education provider and package that best suits your learning needs. 

Step 2:  Submit a Salesperson License Examination Application 

Another requirement to qualify for the Ohio real estate examination is to complete the Salesperson License Examination Application. This application costs $81.

After completing the application, you are required to mail it, alongside a proof of completion of the education requirements and a non-refundable check or money order of $81 made payable to the Ohio Division of Real Estate, to the following address:  

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Ohio Department of Commerce
Division of Real Estate and Professional Licensing
77 South High Street, 20th floor
Columbus, OH 43215

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Upon processing your application, the Division of Real Estate and Professional Licensing will send your information to the testing vendor, who will process it and send you a Candidate Information Bulletin containing details on scheduling your exam. 

Step 3: Fingerprinting and Background Check 

Before you can become a licensed agent in Ohio, you are required by the Ohio Real Estate Commission to have a background check and fingerprinting. To do this, you can contact a Webcheck user and have your fingerprint scanned and submitted to the Bureau of Criminal Identification and Investigation (BCI&I). You should take a government-issued I.D. to the Webcheck center and ensure that both your state and FBI fingerprints are submitted to the BCI&I. 

This process must be started and completed within 10 days after filing your application with the Division of Real Estate. Do not start this process before submitting your application. After submitting your fingerprints, the division will begin the background check to ensure you are eligible for a license. During this process, you may be asked to provide some additional information to shed light on any findings. Note: you may not be eligible to take the real estate exam in Ohio if you have a criminal record.

Step 4: Schedule Your Ohio Real Estate Exam 

If you are granted eligibility after performing all the steps above, congratulations are in order, as you can take the Ohio real estate exam. 

How Much Does the Exam Cost?

Each attempt to take this exam will cost you $61. Note that this fee is separate from the salesperson license examination application and fingerprinting cost. 

Where Do You Take the Ohio Real Estate License Exam?

You can take the Ohio real estate exam at an approved testing center. These centers are located in the following cities: 

• Cambridge
• Cincinnati
• Middleburg Heights
• Dublin
• Groveport
• Maumee
• Troy, and 
• Akron.

Can You Take the Exam Online?

The Division of Real Estate and Professional Licensing (REPL) partnered with PSI to create a Remote Online Proctored Exam, which offers a secure means through which candidates could take their exams remotely. The traditional on-site testing centers are still available for candidates who prefer to take their exams in person rather than online.  

What Is PSI? 

PSI Exams Online is an education provider that provides a secure, easy-to-use, and paperless means of writing state licensing and certification exams. PSI services several professional industries, including real estate, construction, and insurance. 

If you’d like to complete your exam remotely, here are some things to note: 

• The exam must be taken in a private location free of distractions 
• You are only allowed minimal movement while taking the exam and must be the only person in the room 
• Test your network and equipment through the tool provided on the PSI website to ensure that they meet the remote testing requirements. 

To schedule your exam, visit the PSI website and create an account. If you experience difficulties scheduling your exams online, call this PSI hotline for Ohio candidates: (855) 834-8749. 

What to Bring on the Day of Your Exam?

On the day of your exam, you should bring: 

• Two means of identification with matching names, a valid signature, non-expired issuance, and at least one bearing your photo. Examples of this include your driver’s license, U.S. social security card, green card, or a debit/credit card with a signature 
• A silent non-scientific calculator
• Pencil with eraser 

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What Is on the Ohio Real Estate Exam?

The Ohio real estate salesperson licensing exam has two parts to it. One will consist of 80 national based questions and the other will consist of 40 state specific questions. In total, there are 120 multiple-choice questions with a total allocated time of 180 minutes (3 hours) to complete.

This exam covers national and state specific content. You should expect to see more national questions than state specific questions on the Ohio exam.

National Content Section 

The national portion of the exam consists of 80 questions, which you will be given 120 minutes (2 hours) to complete. You can expect to be tested on the following topics in this section:

• Property Ownership
• Land Use Controls and Regulations
• Valuation and Market Analysis
• Financing
• General Principles of Agency
• Property Condition and Disclosures
• Contracts
• Transfer of Title
• Practice of Real Estate
• Real Estate Calculations
• Subdivisions
• Commercial, Industrial, and Income Properties

State-specific Content Section 

The state-specific portion of the exam consists of 40 questions, which you will be given 60 minutes (1 hour) to complete. You can expect to be tested on the following topics in this section:

• State Governance of the Real Estate Profession
• Licensing Requirements
• License Law and Rules of the Ohio Real Estate Commission
• Brokerage Relationships

Will There Be Math on the Exam?

You can expect to see some math questions on your real estate exam. However, it is hard to say how many math questions you will be given because the questions change frequently. 

If you find a math question on your exam, the best thing to do is skip it and go ahead to complete the other questions, after which you can return to the math questions if you still have the time. This is because most math questions require heavy calculations that will likely take up your time.

Is the Ohio Real Estate Exam Hard?

The Ohio real estate exam is considered challenging but possible to pass. You need a score of 70% to pass. To make it easier to pass the exam on the first attempt, you should purchase our Ohio real estate exam prep package to get unlimited practice exams, vocab flashcards, an ebook study guide, and video explanations.

How Many Times Can You Take the Real Estate Exam?

Once you finish the exam, your score will be presented on the computer screen, telling you whether you failed or passed. If you fail, you can retake the Ohio real estate exam as many times as possible within a 12-month period that begins on the date written on your testing bulletin. The good news is that you only need to retake the portion of the examination you failed until you pass both sections. 

If you do not pass both sections within 12 months, you must resubmit an exam application to the Division.

How to Pass the Ohio Real Estate Exam

If you plan on taking the Ohio real estate exam anytime soon, here are some tips and tricks to help you pass:

Create a Study Schedule

The intensity of your study can significantly impact your results on the real estate exam, and one way to study efficiently is to create a study schedule. The best study schedule helps you stay organized, manage your time effectively, and maximize your chances of success. To create a healthy study schedule, do the following:

• Determine your time before the exam so you know how to pace your preparation. 
• Set realistic and achievable goals by breaking your pre-licensing course work into manageable portions so you don’t get overwhelmed. 
• Create a study schedule that outlines your study hours and topics. A good rule of thumb is to study for a little bit every night or every other night, with enough breaks to maintain consistency and avoid burnout.
• Make time in your schedule for periodic reviews of the material you've already covered, as this helps you retain information. 
• Reward yourself when you hit milestones in your study schedule to keep yourself motivated.

Use Acronyms and Mnemonic Devices

When studying for your real estate licensing exam, acronyms and mnemonic tools can be very beneficial. Acronyms are abbreviations that shorten and make words easier to remember by using the first letter of each word in a phrase. On the other hand, mnemonic devices help you remember information by associating it with a visual or memorable representation or image. These tools can help you remember complex information, such as real estate terms. 

Join a Study Group

Study groups are a great way to hold yourself accountable for studying and to learn from others. Here are some pointers for maximizing your study group experience:

• Reach out to coworkers or friends to find a group of like-minded people who are also preparing for the same exam
• Set clear goals for what you want to achieve and share these goals with your group
• Create a regular meeting schedule for your study group and hold yourself accountable to your team
• Utilize the study group as a place to discuss, ask questions, share insights, and challenge each other's thinking to improve your understanding. 

Get Guided Help

Getting supervised assistance from a real estate school is one of the easiest ways to prepare for your real estate licensing exam. Our exam prep is designed to provide a fun and simple learning method. It offers the following: 

• 1,500+ Ohio real estate exam practice questions
• Customizable practice state exams
• Vocabulary flashcards
• Video explanations
• E-book study guide
• And more!

Final Thoughts on the Real Estate Exam in Ohio

While the Ohio real estate exam challenges many people, passing is possible. Getting guided help and studying comprehensively gives you a great chance of passing on your first try.

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