Official Nebraska Government Website
 
Licensing & Forms License Application Process License Issuance Process License Transfer Procedures License Renewal Pre-License, Continuing Education Information & Broker-Approved Training Forms Business Entity Options for Self-Employed Brokers Professional Corporations & Professional Limited Liability Company Information Certifications of License History/Licensure Recognition Errors & Omissions (E&O) Insurance Information Fees Specialized Registrations

Persons Moving to Nebraska Who Presently Hold a Real Estate License in Their Resident Jurisdiction.

If you presently hold a real estate license in your state of residence and are moving to Nebraska, or if you have already moved to Nebraska and still hold a license in your previous state of residence, you may acquire the equivalent license in Nebraska by completing the following items.  You must live in Nebraska before the license can be issued.

All applicants must:

  • Complete the three clock-hour course approved by the Commission specific to the Nebraska Real Estate License Act and Nebraska Revised Statutes sections 76-2401 to 76-2430.  Submit course completion certificate prior to license issuance.  In order to avail yourself of this education please refer to the course list provided in this packet or on our website at http://www.nrec.ne.gov/coursereq.html .
  • Submit a completed Application for Licensure on the application form furnished by the Nebraska Real Estate Commission salesperson or broker, of the real estate license you hold in your previous state of residence.  

    If you choose to utilize the electronic application you must follow the instructions specific to that option located at https://www.nebraska.gov/NREC/real/.  Prior to proceeding with the electronic filing of an application, it is strongly recommended that you carefully review the Checklist Help Guide and the Screen Guide Menu.  Print a copy of these documents to assist you throughout the process.  APPLICATION DEADLINES REMAIN THE SAME FOR ANY METHOD UTILIZED.
  • Educational Background:  Nebraska statutes require all applicants to be high school graduates or hold a certificate of equivalency.  If an applicant has received a GED (General Equivalency Diploma) a copy of the diploma must be enclosed with the application.



    Foreign High School Graduates
    Please Note:

    • Applicants with foreign high school education must meet the same academic requirements as applicants who have received their high school education in the United States. To be used as a basis for issuance of a real estate salesperson or broker license, documentation indicating that the foreign high school degree is at least the equivalent of a high school degree granted in the United States must be submitted as part of the application.

      The high school degree must be determined equivalent by one of the following documents:

      1) A transcript from a United States college that indicates that the individual’s high school education was sufficient to allow the individual to be admitted into a post-secondary education program.
      OR
      2) Document-by-Document Evaluation Report verifying the equivalence of the foreign high school graduate’s education to that of an American high school education.

      The Document Evaluation should be conducted through an education credential evaluation service that holds membership in the National Association of Credential Evaluation Services (NACES). Information about NACES and a contact list of its member credentialing services can be found on the Internet at: www.naces.org or may be obtained by contacting NACES at: 

      NACES
      C/O International Education Research Foundation, Inc.
      Post Office Box 3665
      Culver City, CA 90231-3665
      Phone: 310.258.9451 ext 140
      Fax: 310.342.7086

      We suggest that this documentation be obtained early in the application process or prior to application being submitted.
    • Under the "Statutory Education Requirement" section of the Application for License indicate the name of the three clock-hour class required as referenced in number two, above.
    • Remit, with the application, the correct license fee.  Discover, Visa or MasterCard will be accepted.  Debit cards will NOT be accepted.  $30.00 Processing Fee Charged For All Returned Payments
    • Submit proof or cause to have proof submitted of Errors and Omissions Insurance Coverage. Persons seeking real estate licenses on an inactive status need not supply this. (See Errors and Omissions Insurance Fact Sheet, and Enrollment Information concerning the State-offered Plan.  Errors and Omission forms and premiums must be submitted directly to the insurer.)  Persons seeking real estate licenses on inactive status need not supply this.
    • Submit or cause to have submitted a "Certification of Licensure History", issued by the resident jurisdiction's real estate regulatory body indicating the applicant's license is current and in good standing. Please note: Colorado licensees will need to submit the long form Certified License History with seal.  A Colorado Broker Associate is equivalent to a Nebraska Salesperson.  These documents must not be more than 30 days old at the time the Nebraska license will be issued.
    • File, with the application, the "Affidavit", regarding being bound by the Nebraska Real Estate License Act and Rules and Regulations.
    • Include a photograph which meets the following criteria: a passport-type; head-and-shoulders photo of the applicant only, at least 2" x 2" in size, which was taken within the last year.  Snapshots and digital photographs are acceptable if they meet these criteria.

    Fees

    Effective for applications received on and after August 27, 2011, for the initial broker and salesperson license granted through recognition of an existing license from another jurisdiction, an application fee and a license fee must be submitted with a completed application form.  Fees are non-refundable. Any check returned by an applicant's financial institution will be subject to a $30.00 processing fee. Discover, Visa or MasterCard will be accepted, debit cards will NOT be accepted.

    The information supplied on the application is only considered valid for one year from the date the application is received in the Real Estate Commission Office. Therefore, after having an application on file for more than one year, an applicant must complete another application in full, including a criminal background check, a new photography taken within the last year and pay another application fee. If the application has been on file for longer than one year, or if the applicant is unsure of the amount of time that it has been on file, please contact the Real Estate Commission Office to find out the exact items needed.

    LICENSE ISSUANCE

    Applicants who wish to have the initial license issued on inactive status must provide the license issuance form or a signed statement requesting said status.

    Applicants who will be performing activities as active salespersons or associate brokers must supply the following:

    1. The License Issuance Form or a letter from their Nebraska employing broker indicating the broker's willingness to employ and supervise the salesperson or associate broker.
    2. The  License Issuance Form or a signed statement from the applicant agreeing to be employed by the Nebraska employing broker.

    Broker applicants (other than associate brokers as described above) must also:

    1. Open and maintain a Real Estate Trust Account in an authorized financial institution located in Nebraska in the same name as the applicant will be doing business. (Submit the completed Consent to Examine Trust Account Form OR New Form Effective August 27, 2011 with the application for each trust account)
        

      If the applicant will be operating under a trade name in Nebraska, the applicant must:

            1. Make a proper filing with the Nebraska Secretary of State.
            2. Submit a copy of the certified trade name registration and a copy of proof of publication in any Nebraska newspaper prior to licensure with the Nebraska Real Estate Commission.
            3. The trust account(s) would be in the trade name.


              If the applicant will be operating as a partnership in Nebraska, the applicant must:

                1. Make a proper filing with the Nebraska Secretary of State.
                2. Submit a copy of the certified trade name registration and a copy of proof of publication in any Nebraska newspaper prior to licensure with the Nebraska Real Estate Commission.
                3. Submit the name(s) of the partner(s) and their residence addresses.
                4. If the partner(s) other than the designated broker, either individually or together, own controlling interest, then the partner(s) must subordinate to the designated broker full authority to operate the real estate business without interference.  The Partnership Subordination Resolution must be completed and submitted with the application or you can submit the Partnership Subordination Resolution form online.  
                5. The trust account(s) would be in the trade name.


              If the applicant will be operating as a corporation in Nebraska, the applicant must:

                  1. Make a proper filing with the Nebraska Secretary of State.

                    1.    If a Nebraska corporation, file the Articles of incorporation with the Nebraska Secretary of State.  Submit a copy of the Articles of Incorporation, as filed with the Secretary of State, along with a list of all stockholders of the corporation, including the percentage of interest in the corporation held by each shareholder and each shareholder's address; and a list of the officers of the corporation, including each officer's address.  

                    2.    If a foreign corporation, register the Application for Certificate of Authority to Transact Business in the State of Nebraska form with the Nebraska Secretary of State.  Submit a copy of the certified Certificate of Authority to the Commission, along with a copy of the Articles of Incorporation, as filed with the Secretary of State; a list of all stockholders of the corporation, including the percentage of interest in the corporation held by each shareholder and each shareholder's address; and a list of the officers of the corporation, including each officer's address.  

                  2. If the designated broker is not the majority stockholder in the corporation, a subordination resolution giving the broker full authority over the real estate activities must be included or you can submit the subordination resolution form online.
                  3. If the corporation will be operating under a trade name, then a trade name filing must also be made in accordance with #2 above.
                  4. The trust account(s) must be in the name of the corporation, unless the corporation also has a trade name and will be operating under the trade name.  In this case, the trust account(s) would be in the trade name.

                    If the applicant will be operating as a Limited Liability Company (LLC), the applicant must:

                    1.  Make a proper filing with the Nebraska Secretary of State.

                      1.   Complete the Application for Registration as a LLC at online at https://www.nebraska.gov/NREC/llcapp.shtml or download the Application for Registration as a LLC form and submit it to the Commission, along with the $25 fee. The Commission will then provide you with a Certificate of Registration.  This Certificate and the LLC application and attendant documents must then be filed with the Secretary of State. Submit a copy of the Articles of Organization, as filed with the Secretary of State, and a copy of proof of publication in any Nebraska newspaper to the Commission with the application.

                      2.     If the LLC will be operating as a non-resident LLC, the Application for Certificate of Authority Foreign Limited Liability Company form must be filed with the Nebraska Secretary of State.  Submit a copy of the certified Certificate of Authority along with a copy of the Articles of Organization, as filed with the Secretary of State, to the Commission with the application.
                    2. The Limited Liability Company Subordination Resolution  must be completed and enclosed with your application or you can submit the Limited Liability Company Subordination Resolution form online.
                    3. If the LLC will be operating under a trade name, then a trade name filing must also be made in accordance with #2 above.
                    4. The trust account(s) must be in the name of the LLC, except if the LLC also has a trade name and will be operating under the trade name.  In this case, the trust account(s) would be in the trade name.

                    If your principle business will be in something other than real estate and you wish to supervise affiliated licensees you will be required to overcome the presumption cited below:


                    "It shall be presumed that a duly licensed broker whose principal
                    business is other than that of a real estate broker is unable to
                    supervise licensed employees and said broker shall not be allowed to
                    employ a real estate salesperson or an associate broker until such
                    presumption is overcome by satisfactory evidence to the contrary."


                    You will be required to submit the Survey to Address the Presumption cited above. 

              Should you have any questions, please contact the Nebraska Real Estate Commission Office at (402) 471-2004 or email: realestate.commission@nebraska.gov