Ohio Real Estate Salesperson

Ohio Real Estate Salesperson Exam: Complete 2026 Study Guide

You've finished your pre-license coursework. Now comes the exam. The Ohio Real Estate Salesperson state portion has 40 scored questions and a 60-minute time limit — and you need to answer at least 28 of them correctly to pass. That's a 70% threshold. Knowing the format ahead of time is half the battle. This guide breaks down everything you need to know: what's on the Ohio real estate exam, sample questions, study materials, and how to register. Start with our free practice exam to see where you stand right now.

Ohio Real Estate Salesperson Exam Overview (2026)

The Ohio salesperson exam has two separate portions — National and State — and you must pass both within 12 months.

State Portion (what this guide focuses on):
- Questions: 40 scored questions (additional unscored experimental questions may be included and count against your time)
- Time limit: 60 minutes
- Passing score: 70% — 28 correct out of 40
- Fee: $43.00 for the State portion only

National Portion:
- Questions: 80 scored questions
- Time limit: 120 minutes
- Passing score: 70%

Both portions together: $63.00, 120 total scored questions, 180 minutes. Note that 5 to 10 additional unscored experimental questions may also appear and will count against your time.

The exam is administered by PSI and is entirely closed book. No reference materials, no handheld calculators. The test center provides scratch paper and a pencil — you bring nothing but your ID.

Consult the official exam bulletin for the most current details, and check the state licensing website for eligibility updates.

What Topics Are on the Ohio Real Estate State Exam?

The state portion tests four topic areas. Here's how they're weighted — this is where to focus your time.

License Law and Rules of the Ohio Real Estate Commission — 40%

The heaviest section by far. This covers advertising rules, team advertising, how commissions and fees flow through the broker, document handling and record keeping, and the proper handling of money and other items of value. Ohio has specific rules on all of these. Know them cold.

Brokerage Relationships (Agency Law) — 35%

The second-biggest section. This covers how agency is created and terminated, the different types of agency relationships, what duties you owe to clients versus customers, confidentiality, disclosure of agency relationships, and listing information. Expect scenario-based questions that put you in a real situation and ask what you should do.

Licensing Requirements — 15%

This section covers which activities require a license, how to renew and maintain your license, changes in license status (military, retired, inactive), and post-license and continuing education requirements.

State Governance of the Real Estate Profession — 10%

Covers the structure and powers of Ohio's governing bodies, audits, investigations, hearings, appeals, violations, penalties, and the Recovery Fund.

Sample Questions

Here's a look at the kinds of real estate license questions you'll face on the Ohio state exam. Do you know the answers?

Question 1 (Brokerage Relationships — Easy)

Your buyer client wants to purchase a property where you know the seller is your neighbor and close personal friend. You haven't told your client about this relationship. When should you disclose this relationship?

• A) After the offer is accepted
• B) At closing
• C) Before writing the offer
• D) Only if asked directly

Question 2 (Brokerage Relationships — Hard)

A client asks you to waive your duty to disclose a material defect in their property to potential buyers. You should:

• A) Agree if the client signs a written waiver
• B) Refuse, as the duty to disclose material defects to all parties cannot be waived
• C) Consult with your broker before deciding
• D) Agree only if the defect is minor

Question 3 (License Law — Easy)

Ohio real estate brokers are required to maintain transaction records for a minimum of three years from the date of closing or termination of the transaction.

• True
• False

Question 4 (License Law — Medium)

You are a licensed real estate salesperson in Ohio and notice an attractive listing from another brokerage that you want to advertise on your own website. What must you do before advertising that property?

• A) Simply include the other brokerage's phone number in your advertisement
• B) Obtain written permission from the owner or owner's authorized agent and fully disclose the listing brokerage's name in the same or larger size type
• C) Notify the Ohio Real Estate Commission before advertising another brokerage's listing
• D) Pay a referral fee to the listing brokerage before advertising

Question 5 (State Governance — Medium)

You are a licensed Ohio real estate salesperson and receive notice that the Ohio Division of Real Estate and Professional Licensing is conducting an audit of your brokerage. As a salesperson, what records are you required to maintain and make available for inspection?

• A) Only transaction files for sales you personally handled
• B) Transaction files, continuing education certificates, and license renewal documentation
• C) All brokerage records since you are part of the firm
• D) No records are required since the broker maintains all documentation

Don't just guess — take our free practice exam to check your answers and get a feel for the real test format.

What Types of Questions to Expect

Our Ohio real estate practice exam bank has 241 questions total, broken down by topic. Here's what each section actually tests:

State Governance of the Real Estate Profession — 24 practice questions
Questions test your knowledge of the Ohio Division of Real Estate and Professional Licensing, how audits work, what happens during investigations and hearings, the appeals process, and what penalties apply to specific violations. You'll also need to know how the Recovery Fund works and when it applies.

Licensing Requirements — 36 practice questions
Expect questions on which real estate activities require a license, how license renewal works, what continuing education is required, and how license status changes — including provisions for military personnel, retired licensees, and inactive licenses.

License Law and Rules of the Ohio Real Estate Commission — 94 practice questions
This is the largest section of our practice bank, reflecting the exam's 40% weighting. Questions cover advertising rules (including team advertising and prohibited misrepresentation), broker-salesperson employment agreements, how commissions and fees must flow through the broker, document retention requirements, and the proper handling of earnest money and other items of value.

Brokerage Relationships (Agency Law) — 87 practice questions
Scenario-heavy questions. You'll be tested on how agency relationships are created, the different types of agency, what duties you owe clients versus customers, what can and cannot be waived, termination of agency, confidentiality obligations, and when and how to disclose agency relationships and listing information.

Study Materials

Required Legal References

The Ohio state exam is based directly on Ohio law. You need to know these:

• Ohio Administrative Code 1301:05 — This is the administrative code governing real estate practice in Ohio. Read the rules on advertising, record keeping, trust accounts, and broker-salesperson agreements.

• Ohio Chapter 4735 | Real Estate Brokers — The Ohio Revised Code covering real estate brokerage law. Section 4735.18 lists the specific acts that can result in license suspension or revocation. Know this list.

Both resources are free online. Read them, don't just skim them.

Recommended Supplies

If you're working from printed materials or your pre-license textbooks, good highlighting discipline saves time during review. Sharpie Tank Highlighters are a solid choice — wide barrel, large ink supply, narrow chisel tip for clean underlining, and they resist smearing once the ink dries. The 12-pack in assorted colors lets you color-code by topic.

Practice Exams

Our free Ohio real estate practice exam gives you 10 questions per attempt from a pool of free questions. No account required. Retake it as many times as you want — good for getting comfortable with the question format.

When you're ready to prep seriously, the full practice exam matches the real test: same number of questions, same time limit, same topic breakdown. Questions are drawn from a large pool so each attempt is different. You also get a detailed score breakdown by topic so you know exactly where to spend more time.

Study Tips

Don't look for patterns in the answer key. If you've picked "A" four times in a row, the fifth answer can still be "A." Judge each question on its own. Chasing letter sequences is a trap.

Skim the answer choices first. Before you commit to an answer, scan all four options for the key term or concept. The more vocabulary you've drilled, the faster the right wording will stand out.

Use elimination on hard questions. Rule out the options you know are wrong. Getting down to two choices sharply improves your odds — even when you're uncertain.

Study by exam weight, not by what feels comfortable. License Law and Agency together make up 75% of the state exam. Spend most of your time there. Don't let the smaller sections eat your prep time.

Read the Ohio statutes directly. The exam tests Ohio law, not general principles. There are details in Chapter 4735 and the Administrative Code that your pre-license textbook may gloss over.

Frequently Asked Questions

How much does it cost to take the Ohio Real Estate Salesperson exam?
The State-only portion costs $43.00. If you take both the National and State portions together, the combined fee is $63.00. Exam fees are not refundable or transferable.

How many questions are on the Ohio Real Estate Salesperson exam and how long do I have?
The State portion has 40 scored questions with a 60-minute time limit. The National portion has 80 scored questions with a 120-minute time limit. If you take both together, that's 120 scored questions and 180 minutes total. Be aware that 5 to 10 additional unscored experimental questions may appear on either portion — they count against your time.

What is the passing score?
You must score at least 70% on each portion separately. For the State portion that means 28 correct out of 40. For the National portion, you need at least 56 correct out of 80.

How do I register and schedule the exam?
After the Ohio Division of Real Estate & Professional Licensing approves your eligibility, schedule through the exam registration page or by calling PSI at (855) 834-8749. Online scheduling requires a PSI account — you pick your exam, choose a test center or remote proctored option, select a date and time, and pay the fee.

What are the eligibility requirements?
You must be at least 18, be a U.S. citizen or legal alien, hold a high school diploma or equivalent (if born after 1950), be sponsored by an Ohio broker, and complete the required pre-exam education: 40 hours of Real Estate Principles and Practices, 40 hours of Ohio Real Estate Law, 10 hours of Real Estate Appraisal, and 10 hours of Real Estate Finance. You must also submit fingerprints for a criminal background check within 10 days of submitting your application.

How long do I have to pass both portions?
You must pass both portions within 12 months of the date on the label of your initial Candidate Information Bulletin from PSI. Miss that window and you start the entire application process over.

What happens if I fail?
You'll receive a score report with a diagnostic breakdown by topic. Submit a retake application service request and pay the appropriate fee to the Division online (paper applications are not accepted). You must retake the failed portion within your original 12-month eligibility period.

What ID do I need to bring?
One valid, unexpired government-issued photo ID that also contains your signature. The name must match exactly what you used when scheduling. Acceptable forms include a state driver's license, state ID card, U.S. passport, U.S. military ID, U.S. Alien Registration Card, or Canadian government-issued ID.

Is the exam open book? Can I bring a calculator?
No. All Ohio real estate exams are closed book. Handheld calculators and reference materials of any kind are prohibited. At a test center, the proctor provides scratch paper and a pencil.

Can I cancel or reschedule?
Yes — as long as PSI receives your cancellation at least 2 days before your scheduled appointment. Cancel or reschedule late, miss your appointment, arrive after the start time, or show up without proper ID, and you forfeit your exam fee.

Ready to Test Your Knowledge?

The Ohio state exam is a 60-minute sprint. You know the topics, you know the weight of each section, and you know the rules. Now put it to work. Start with our free practice exam — 10 questions, no account needed, instant feedback. When you're ready to go deeper, the full practice exam matches the real test exactly and gives you a score breakdown by topic so you can stop guessing and start fixing weak spots.

You've done the coursework. Now close the gaps and get licensed.