Licensing & state law

How to become a real estate agent in Delaware

To get a Delaware real estate salesperson license you complete 99 hours of state-approved pre-license education, pass the Pearson VUE-administered exam, clear a background check and affiliate with a sponsoring broker. The Delaware Real Estate Commission sets the rules and issues the license.

What are the requirements for a Delaware real estate license?

Delaware requires 99 hours of approved pre-license education, a passing score on the Pearson VUE salesperson exam, a background check and sponsorship by a licensed broker. The table lists each requirement, the published fees WealthyBud could source and the regulator.

Delaware real estate license facts
RequirementDelaware
Pre-license education99 hours
Exam administratorPearson VUE
License / application feen/a
Exam feen/a
RegulatorDelaware Real Estate Commission
Payroll-employed agents (BLS)900
Agent median pay (BLS May 2025)$47,180

What are the steps to get licensed in Delaware?

Getting licensed in Delaware takes six steps: meet eligibility, finish 99 hours of pre-license education, pass the Pearson VUE exam, clear a background check, affiliate with a sponsoring broker, then apply and activate with the Delaware Real Estate Commission.

1/ 6

Meet the basic eligibility

Be at least 18 and hold a high-school diploma or equivalent; the Delaware Real Estate Commission lists any residency or other conditions.

2/ 6

Complete 99 hours of pre-license education

Delaware requires 99 hours from a state-approved real estate school, in a classroom or online.

3/ 6

Pass the Delaware salesperson exam

The exam is administered by Pearson VUE and covers national real estate principles plus Delaware law.

4/ 6

Clear the background check

Submit fingerprints or a criminal-history check as required by the Delaware Real Estate Commission.

5/ 6

Affiliate with a sponsoring broker

A new Delaware salesperson must work under a licensed broker before practicing.

6/ 6

Apply and activate the license

File the application and pay the license fee to the Delaware Real Estate Commission, then activate under your broker.

How much does a Delaware real estate license cost?

Delaware's published costs in WealthyBud's sources are: license fee: n/a (not published in our sources); exam fee: n/a. Pre-license course tuition is set by each school and is not regulated, so it is not listed. Confirm every fee with the Delaware Real Estate Commission before applying.

How much do licensed agents earn in Delaware?

Payroll-employed real estate sales agents in Delaware earned a median of $47,180 in May 2025 (BLS); the bottom 10% earned under $34,220. See the full Delaware agent salary breakdown.

What are Delaware’s housing markets like for new agents?

WealthyBud tracks 2 Delaware housing markets. Their median listing prices have a midpoint of $487,350 as of September 2026, from $424,700 in Dover to $550,000 in Seaford; 0 of 2 are below last year's asking price.

Largest tracked Delaware housing markets by active listings — September 2026
MarketMedian list priceYoYDays on marketActive listings
Seaford, DE$550,0000.0%741,983
Dover, DE$424,700+6.2%60551

All tracked markets: Delaware housing market hub.

Delaware real estate license FAQ

How many hours of education do you need for a real estate license in Delaware?
Delaware requires 99 hours of state-approved pre-license education before the salesperson exam, according to WealthyBud's compilation of Delaware Real Estate Commission requirements.
How much does a Delaware real estate license cost?
Published fees in WealthyBud's sources: license fee: n/a (not published in our sources); exam fee: n/a. Course tuition varies by school. The Delaware Real Estate Commission publishes the current fee schedule.
Who administers the Delaware real estate exam?
Pearson VUE administers the Delaware salesperson exam.
Do you need a college degree to get a real estate license in Delaware?
No. Delaware requires pre-license education and a passing exam score, not a college degree. You must generally be 18 with a high-school diploma or equivalent.
Who regulates real estate agents in Delaware?
The Delaware Real Estate Commission licenses and regulates Delaware real estate salespersons and brokers and is the authoritative source for current rules.
Licensing rules and fees change. Always confirm current requirements with the Delaware Real Estate Commission before enrolling.

Naomi Whitfield Real Estate Data Analyst

Naomi Whitfield is a real estate data analyst who builds metro-level price, inventory and days-on-market datasets from public MLS aggregates and county records. She reviews WealthyBud's market pages for data accuracy before they publish.

Editorial persona: WealthyBud bylines are editorial personas, not real individuals. Pages are produced by the WealthyBud research team from the public data cited on each page.