Applying for Application to Test 

Fee change to the application  

Each applicant will pay with a cashier's check or money order $22, made payable to Arkansas Real Estate Commission.  The $22 State criminal background check fee may be combined with the $50 Application fee for a total fee paid to AREC of $72.  Applications will not be processed without the $22 State criminal background fee.

Finger print cards and  FBI criminal background check are required.  Finger print cards have been disbursed to schools with instructions.  There is an additional fee of $24 for the Federal check payable to the Arkansas State Police.. 

Check with your education provider or call AREC if you have questions regarding these changes.

Click here for link to Candidate Handbook and application.

Instructions for submitting Applications

Effective January 1, 2006, the Arkansas Real Estate Commission requires all applicants for original licensure as a real estate salesperson or broker to complete a state and federal criminal background check. The federal criminal background check requires applicants to provide fingerprints on fingerprint cards provided by AREC. This applies to both resident and nonresident applicants.

The Arkansas State Police conducts the criminal background check on each applicant, including an FBI check, which requires the taking of fingerprints, and submits the report to the Commission.  

The cost of the State criminal background check is $22. The cost of the Federal criminal background check is $19.25. Each applicant will pay with a cashier's check or money order $22 made payable to Arkansas Real Estate Commission. The $22 State criminal background check fee may be combined with the Application fee for a total fee paid to Arkansas Real Estate Commission of $72 ($22 State criminal background fee + $50 Application fee). The $19.25 Federal criminal background check fee must be made payable to the Arkansas State Police.  

In order to process the application the following must be received by AREC:  

  1. Completed Application to take the real estate examination.

  2. Completed fingerprint card

  3. Application fee of $50 payable to Arkansas Real Estate Commission

  4. State criminal background check fee of $22 payable to Arkansas Real Estate Commission.   Application fee and State criminal background check fee can be combined for a total of $72 payable to Arkansas Real Estate Commission.

  5. Federal criminal background check fee of $19.25 made payable to Arkansas State Police.  

NOTE:  AREC will now accept Applications for Real Estate License Examination prior to completion of the sixty-hour (60) pre-licensing course.

Timing is important. You can submit the application prior to completing the real estate education requirement. However, you must submit proof of completing the education requirement prior to receiving eligibility to sit for the real estate exam.  AREC will issue the Certificate of Eligibility for Examination only after receiving both the application information and the education certificate.  The criminal background reports must be received by the Arkansas Real Estate Commission before the Real Estate Commission will issue the license.