Portable NC Real Estate License: GA Edition

Are you a licensed broker in North Carolina and considering expanding your business potential by getting a license to practice in Georgia as well?

What does a Georgia reciprocity real estate license require?

What is Reciprocity?

First and foremost, let’s define reciprocity as it applies to real estate. License reciprocity simply means that if you currently hold an active real estate license in one state in the US, you may apply for a license in another state without having to complete all of the state-required licensure education requirements that an unlicensed prospective licensee would have to complete. Each state is unique in these requirements; some states have full reciprocity agreements with other states, most have some form of partial reciprocity, and a few states have no reciprocity agreements. For those without any reciprocity agreements, you will be required to complete all of the state’s education and application requirements to become licensed.

In order to apply as a licensed agent through reciprocity, your North Carolina real estate license must be active and in good standing. If your license has expired or is inactive, you should renew and reactivate it prior to applying for reciprocity in another state. If you have any open disciplinary actions filed against you that have not been resolved, you will want to have them settled prior to submitting an application in another state. Applying for a license in another state requires you to have the ability to prove a track record of exceptional moral and ethical character.

Georgia Reciprocity Requirements

The state of Georgia offers full reciprocity to applicants from any state except for Florida and does not require that an applicant resides in the state to be considered for a license. Per the Georgia Real Estate Commission & Appraiser’s Board website, in order to be considered for a broker’s license you will need to complete the following steps:

1. You must be able to provide proof of having obtained your license by passing a licensing exam within another state, and your license must be active and in good standing.

2. Complete and submit a Georgia real estate license application. To complete your application, you will need to provide the following documentation:

   1. A notarised Lawful Presence Verification form and Secure and Verifiable document, both available on the Georgia Real Estate Commission website

   2. Non-refundable payment of the $170 license fee via cashier’s check or money order made payable to the Georgia Real Estate Commission

   3. Verified license history obtained from the state licensing board for your current, active license.

   4. A state background check for your state of residence.

Though there are a number of requirements that must be met, the ability to conduct business in two states can be extremely profitable. Georgia is a popular option for many North Carolina real estate brokers, given the proximity of the states. Additionally, the potential for conducting business in both Raleigh and Atlanta is habitually on the rise, with both cities attracting major corporations like Google, Apple, and Meta. You can also benefit from this economic growth by providing brokerage services to those in need!

Bear in mind, that these requirements can change at any time, and are only represented to be current as of the date of publication of this article. It is the responsibility of the prospective licensee to reach out to the Real Estate Commission for any state you are applying to check for any updates or changes to their reciprocity requirements.