Becoming a real estate agent can be an attractive career path, especially if you like working with people and would like the chance to become your own boss someday. And while finding success in the field is tricky, getting your career started is relatively straightforward. Here’s how you can start your real estate career.

Step #1 - Check the local licensing requirements

Platforms that focus on teaching people how to become a real estate agent will often have different guides for different states, as you can see on the RE Agents website. That happens because licensing requirements are regulated at the state level, meaning that the steps you’ll need to take in order to become a real estate agent will depend largely on where you live. And the first step you should take if you want to become a real estate agent is to find out what your local requirements are, which might take some research.

Step #2 - Complete a training program

All 50 US states require that real estate agents have a license to operate in the field, and all of those states also require that future real estate agents go through some amount of formal training. You’ll need to complete a certain number of training hours before you qualify for the exam, although how many hours you’ll need depends on where you live. You complete those hours by enrolling in a local real estate school or joining an accredited online training program.

Step #3 - Take the licensing exam

If you pay attention to your real estate classes, passing the licensing exam shouldn’t be too difficult. Once you pass the exam and get your license, you’ll be free to start working in the field. Which you can do by either starting a solo practise or finding an entry-level job in the field.