Illinois real estate exam retake rules

Short answer: Standard broker candidates get up to four attempts during the two-year eligibility period. If you fail only national or only Illinois, you retake just that failed portion. After a fourth failed attempt, you must repeat the 75-hour broker pre-license education and take the full exam again.

PSI scores national and Illinois separately. The national passing standard is 70% raw, and the Illinois passing standard is 75%. Passing one does not compensate for failing the other.

Your failed score report includes diagnostic scoring information and reapplication instructions. Treat that report as a study map, not just a result. Keep a digital copy and use the instructions attached to your specific eligibility record.

PSI states that standard broker candidates may make up to four attempts to pass the examination during the two-year eligibility period. An attempt is precious because a fourth failure changes the education requirement, not merely the next booking.

The 75-hour broker pre-license education used for the standard route is valid for two years after satisfactory completion. PSI also describes the standard broker limit as four attempts during the two-year eligibility period. The clock is therefore as important as the attempt count.

Find the satisfactory-completion date on your Uniform Real Estate Transcript or course record. Do not calculate from the day you create a PSI account, pay the fee, or sit for the first exam unless PSI has explicitly confirmed that date as your deadline.

For a standard Illinois broker candidate, the consequence is specific: repeat the 75-hour broker pre-license education and retake the entire examination. That means both national and Illinois, even if you had passed one portion during the earlier attempt cycle.

PSI says education-exempt candidates do not have to complete the listed repeat-education requirements. If you qualified through an exemption or another special route, confirm the next step shown on your score report instead of applying the standard 75-hour reset to yourself.

Yes. PSI lists unlimited testing for broker endorsement candidates during their two-year eligibility period. The standard broker route has the four-attempt cap. The two routes should not be treated as interchangeable.

Endorsement candidates still need to pass within their applicable eligibility window and continue to meet endorsement requirements, including the 30-hour approved endorsement course and active equivalent licensure in good standing. Review the Illinois broker eligibility guide if you are unsure which PSI route applies.

PSI lists the Illinois broker examination fee as $58 and says exam fees are nonrefundable and nontransferable. The booklet does not publish a discounted fee for repeating only one portion, so plan for another $58 registration unless your PSI account shows a different amount.

These totals are multiplication examples, not a package price. They assume each registration is charged at the published $58 broker fee. Check the amount in PSI before paying. The complete Illinois exam cost guide covers education, exam, license, and avoidable forfeiture costs.

The PSI booklet does not publish a fixed waiting period for an Illinois broker retake. Follow the score report’s reapplication instructions and the dates available in your PSI account. The first open appointment is not automatically the right one.

Rebook when all four statements are true:

1. You can explain why each recent missed answer was wrong.
2. Your timed score for the failed portion is consistently above the official passing standard, with a safety margin.
3. You have reviewed every low category named in the diagnostic report.
4. Your ID, delivery setup, payment, and eligibility deadline are ready for the new appointment.

A quick retake can make sense after a narrow miss caused by one identifiable weakness. A broader miss usually calls for a structured rebuild before you spend another attempt.

Seven days is a framework, not a promise. Extend it when your evidence says you need more time. Do not compress it simply because an earlier appointment is available.

• Retaking both portions when PSI requires only the failed one.
• Rebooking before reading the diagnostic categories.
• Repeating questions without learning why distractors are wrong.
• Tracking overall accuracy instead of the failed portion.
• Ignoring the two-year education and eligibility deadline.
• Assuming a missed appointment has no effect on attempt status.
• Using an expired ID or a name that differs from the booking.
• Waiting until attempt four to change the study method.

If you also need to change the appointment, use the PSI scheduling guide and remember that cancellation or rescheduling notice must be received at least two days before the exam to avoid fee forfeiture.

• PSI Illinois Candidate Information Booklet dated June 24, 2026
• PSI Illinois Real Estate Examination Program

Your PSI score report, eligibility record, and account control the next registration. If your record differs from this general guide, follow PSI’s candidate-specific instructions.