The process of applying for and renewing real estate brokerage licenses through the Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation (IDFPR) is moving almost entirely online. As of Oct. 1, the agency will not accept paper applications for real estate licenses that can be completed online, according to a news release from the IDFPR’s Springfield office. Instead, applications and renewals must be conducted through the IDFPR’s Online Services Portal.
According to the news release, the Oct. 1 deadline for paper applications applies to the following licenses:
- Broker
- Managing broker
- Leasing agents
- Student leasing agents
- Brokerage branch offices
- Brokerage corporations
- Brokerage limited liability firms
- Pre-license instructors
- CE instructors
The deadline also impacts applications to terminate sponsorship or transfer sponsorship between active brokers, as well as online license history certification for licensees without any disciplinary history.
Paper applications or payments sent to the IDFPR will be accepted if they are postmarked before Oct. 1, otherwise they will be returned to the sender, according to the news release.
“The Department continues to transform paper applications online to enhance the user experience and improve operating efficiencies,” said Bryan A. Schneider, IDFPR secretary. “Making online license submission mandatory is another step towards modernizing the Department and reducing license processing times.”