Can a Real Estate Agent Hold Licenses in Multiple States?

Real estate agents are allowed to hold licenses in multiple states. Often, real estate agents who have multiple licenses work in areas that closely boarder other states. This gives them freedom to sell properties in neighboring states. Many states have reciprocity agreements, meaning if you're licensed in a state with a reciprocity agreement with neighboring states, you can sell property outside of your state of residence, provided you meet your neighboring state's requirements.

Real estate agents can hold licenses in multiple states, and there's no restriction in place to prevent multiple licenses. This makes sense because real estate agents are required to know the fundamentals of selling real estate, and these fundamentals do not vary drastically by state. If you're a licensed real estate agent, your state might have reciprocity with other states. Reciprocal states usually border each other.

Reciprocity is often offered to real estate agents in states that border a large number of other states. Reciprocity simply means that a real estate agent can sell real estate in another state -- usually one that borders the real estate agent's state of residence -- because real estate agents are not expected to stay within their state borders.

Each state has its own real estate licensing requirements. In states that offer reciprocity to agents in other states, usually all the agent is required to do is to pass the state-specific portion of the reciprocal state's real estate agent's exam. This means an agent interested in holding a license in a reciprocal state is not required to take the entire real estate agent's exam, only that part which is state-specific.

If you're interested in holding a license to sell real estate in multiple states, there is no restriction on doing so. Depending on your state of residence, and reciprocity rules, you might only be required to pass a state-specific portion of an exam. Check with your state's division of real estate licensing to obtain reciprocity details.