Illinois broker conviction-history review
Can you get an Illinois real estate license with a felony?
Possibly, yes. IDFPR says a misdemeanor or felony conviction is not an automatic bar to a real estate license and it cannot deny a license solely because of conviction history. You must still qualify, answer the applicable application questions accurately and complete any required review. No guide can predict the decision from an offense name alone.
Last reviewed:
What does IDFPR consider in a conviction review?
The starting point is IDFPR's real estate conviction-history FAQ, questions 1 and 2. It supports individual review, not automatic rejection or guaranteed approval. The relevant professional-licensing review provision is 20 ILCS 2105/2105-131, alongside the real estate provisions in 225 ILCS 454/5-25.
October 2026 check: the review law changed in July
Public Act 104-0558 took effect July 10, 2026, as listed in the official effective-date report. IDFPR's 2026 legislative summary explains that it revised conviction-review factors, including the relationship between an offense and the profession. Use the amended review provision alongside the real estate rules, rather than relying on a pre-July summary alone. The change does not mean every applicant will be approved.
Expect attention to the connection between the offense and the work, the time elapsed, circumstances, later conduct, sentence or supervision compliance, employment history and rehabilitation. A clear record helps the Department assess the facts. It does not turn a difficult case into an automatic yes.
Which records does the application ask about?
Use the live application and the FAQ's disclosure list in question 3. It includes specified fraud and theft matters, a felony involving moral turpitude, certain government sanctions involving dishonesty or fraud, and convictions requiring Sex Offender Registration Act compliance. The list covers specified convictions and pleas; it is not simply a question about any past arrest.
Do not decide whether a case involves moral turpitude from a web search or an everyday definition. Get advice on the actual offense and question if its application is uncertain.
| Record | Published treatment | Condition to retain |
|---|---|---|
| Juvenile matters | Qualifying juvenile records are excluded | The statute has specific juvenile and adult-trial qualifications |
| Offense at age 17 before January 1, 2014 | Specified records are excluded | The exception does not cover a person tried as an adult |
| Arrest without a charge or conviction | Excluded | Verify the actual case outcome |
| Dismissed charges | Generally excluded | The FAQ excepts charges related to practice of the profession |
| Conviction overturned or reversed by a higher court | Excluded | Confirm the final order |
| Sealed, vacated or expunged conviction | Excluded for the application | Confirm the actual legal status |
A record being old is not the same as a record being sealed. Completing a sentence is not the same as a conviction being vacated. If the status or exclusion is unclear, ask a qualified Illinois attorney before selecting an answer. This table does not decide the disclosure for an individual case.
Answer what is required accurately. Section 5-25(d) separately addresses a materially false application statement. That is a reason to resolve uncertainty, not to ignore the exclusions and disclose everything.
How can you organize a useful review file?
Start with the current application instructions and any IDFPR request. The items below are examples to organize if relevant, not a mandatory document package for every applicant. Obtain a certified copy only when the instructions or your adviser call for it.
| Item | Purpose | Useful detail |
|---|---|---|
| Final court disposition and relevant orders | Establish the case outcome and record status | Case number, dates and complete order |
| Sentence or supervision records | Show completion or current compliance | Discharge or a requested progress report |
| Factual statement, if requested | Explain circumstances and subsequent conduct | Consistent timeline and specific facts |
| Employment or rehabilitation evidence | Show the work and conduct since the event | Relevant dates, actions and credible supporting records |
Keep a copy of what you submit and any request with its deadline. Use the official submission method. A school or sponsoring broker can explain its own requirements, but neither decides the Department's licensing review.
Example: the offense name does not answer the whole question
Jordan has an old forgery conviction and has completed the sentence. Jordan should check the current question and record status, then provide the required disclosure and requested evidence. Completion and the passage of time can inform the review; they do not automatically erase the conviction or guarantee a license.
If a court instead entered an order sealing that conviction, its application treatment changes under the published exclusion. Verify the order and its effect rather than giving the same answer for both records. This fictional example concerns an initial application, not every later licensee-reporting duty.
What can happen after you submit the application?
IDFPR's FAQ question 6 describes requests for information, possible Enforcement review, contact from a Department attorney, an informal conference or a notice proposing denial with an opportunity to request a hearing. These are possible steps, not a fixed sequence or a promised processing time.
Section 2105-131(b) calls for a written conviction-based denial with the reasons and applicable appeal or reapplication information. Read the notice and its response date promptly. Get advice on the process rather than assuming a phone call preserves a deadline. Keep the notice and proof of any response.
Already licensed? Section 5-25(e) has a separate 30-day reporting duty for its listed convictions, pleas and sanctions. Do not assume the initial-application exclusions answer every later reporting question, or wait for renewal before checking that duty.
Conviction-history questions
Does an old conviction disappear from the licensing question after a set number of years?
Do not assume so. Time since a conviction or release is part of the review, but age alone does not establish that a record is excluded or guarantee approval. Check the current question, the legal status of the record and the applicable exclusions. Ask an Illinois attorney about an uncertain disclosure.
Should I disclose a dismissed charge just to be safe?
Read the exclusions carefully rather than volunteering every record. IDFPR's FAQ excludes dismissed charges with a profession-related exception. If you are unsure how that exception or a court order applies to your record, get advice before answering. A licensing guide cannot classify the case from its label alone.
Does passing the broker exam mean IDFPR has accepted my conviction history?
No. Exam performance and the license application review are different steps. A school enrollment, PSI result or sponsor's offer does not establish IDFPR's decision. Before making a large commitment, ask IDFPR what guidance or process is available for your circumstances; this guide cannot promise advance approval.
For the other steps, use the broker requirements and licensing budget. The application-screening guide covers the broader process.
If you choose to continue exam preparation
The free broker questions can help you study while organizing the application. If phone practice is useful, you can download Pass Illinois for additional practice. It is optional study support and does not determine licensing eligibility.