Should I Get My Real Estate License in Ohio or Kentucky First?

Why is the Ohio River called the “Ohio River”? Kentucky legally owns the largest portion of it and has a longer border along the river than Ohio. Wikipedia tells me the the Ohio receives its name from the Iroquois word, “O-Y-O,” meaning “the great river.” Fun Fact: (at least to me) Kentucky has successfully sued for control of the river against Ohio, Indiana, and Illinois several times. So what does that have to do with real estate? Maybe nothing, maybe everything (real estate ownership, land use rights, water use rights, etc.)

In this article, we will explore the expenses involved in obtaining a real estate license in Ohio and Kentucky. Additionally, we will provide information on the most cost-effective method to become licensed in each state, as well as compare the qualifications, market, and time required to obtain a license. We'll also examine the option of obtaining a license through reciprocity and which state makes reciprocal licensing easier.

Qualifications: Tie

Kentucky and Ohio, like most states, have near identical qualifications for people wanting to get a real estate license. As long as you are 18 years old, have a high school education, can pass a background check, completed pre-license education, and passed the licensing exam, you can get a real estate license. The pre-license education and cost is where most states differ, which we will explore later.

Market: Ohio

Technically, Ohio is the better market. I’m sure this decision is going to come down to whether you live on the north or south side of the Ohio River but in any event, Ohio has the overall better real estate market. Ohio has more than double the population and the number of housing units. When it comes to potential sales, Ohio gets the edge over my old Kentucky home.

Time: Kentucky

Ohio requires 120 classroom hours of pre-license education. Kentucky requires 96 classroom hours. In addition to need more time, Ohio also requires “pre-licensure courses must be taken at an institute of higher education which awards degrees.” In Ohio, you have to enroll in a community college, university, or other college to receive credit. In Kentucky, signing up for an online pre-license course is as easy signing up for Netflix. In short, it is much easier and timesaving to sign up for a Kentucky pre-license course than Ohio.

Cost: Kentucky

This one is the easiest and most obvious answer. The average cost in Kentucky for pre-license education is $450 for the 96-hour course, although some schools (read Perry Real Estate College) like to offer deals to best help their students keep costs down. The average cost for an Ohio Pre-license course is over $1,400 or more if you don’t live in the same county as the school. Perry has also partnered with Lakewood University to provide our premier online real estate education at lower prices in Ohio.

Reciprocity: Kentucky

This is where the fun begins. Ohio and Kentucky Real Estate Commissions have reciprocity agreements with each that allows licensed agents from the other state to get licensed easier in their state. That means a Kentucky sales associate can get licensed in Ohio without having to take the full Ohio pre-license course and vice versa. Both states do require that a salesperson be licensed for at least 1 year, complete the state portion of the licensing exam, and complete a 40 hour course in state law.

To get licensed first in Ohio and then in Kentucky requires 160 total hours of education and close to $2,000 in real estate education ($400-500 for a KY reciprocity course). To get licensed in Kentucky first and then in Ohio requires just 136 total hours of education and slightly more than $1,000 of real estate education (under $400 for KY Pre-license and around $600 for Ohio Real Estate Law course).

The Battle for the Ohio River has been decided! While that may have been decided in 1792, when it comes to real estate licenses, it is easier to get licensed in Kentucky first. If you have any other questions about getting a license in Ohio or Kentucky, or any other state, feel free to call, text, email, or live chat with us now!