Frequently Asked Questions

Most police stations and sheriff's offices offer this service. Fingerprinting may be done outside your county or state of residence.

KS920120Z.

Real Estate Brokers/Salespersons K.S.A. 58-3039(b).

No. They must be redone specifically for Kansas real estate licensure.

The Commission will receive KBI and FBI background reports in approximately two weeks, and you will be notified via email when the background check is complete. The Commission will hold them for receipt of your license application if you did not submit one with your fingerprints; background reports are valid for six months from the report date.  

If you have a current real estate license in another state, request a Client Exam Waiver at www.pearsonvue.com/ks/realestate before scheduling an exam date.

A license history certification is a letter of good standing that provides details of your license such as issue & expire date, license type and disciplinary records. If you are applying for a Kansas license and you currently hold or have previously held a license in a state other than Kansas, you must contact the state licensing agency directly to request a certification- copies of your license or screenshots of web lookups are not permissible.  If you are applying for a license in another state, you may request a certification of your Kansas license history through the Online Licensing System on the homepage at www.krec.ks.gov.

An applicant who has pled guilty to an offense comparable to any crime which would require the applicant to register as provided in the Kansas offender registration act may not be granted a license until fifteen years after the date of the applicant's discharge from post-release supervision, completion of any non-prison sanction or suspension of the imposition of the sentence resulting for any plea of guilty or no contest.

An applicant who has pled guilty to any other felony offense may not be granted a license until five years after the date of the applicant's discharge from post-release supervision, completion of a non-prison sanction or suspension of the imposition of the sentence resulting from any plea of guilty or no contest to or conviction.

License approval is not guaranteed after the required number of years have elapsed.  An application may be denied, approved, or approved with restrictions.

Yes.  If a license is approved you must report the final disposition of the case and compliance with the court sentence or order.  Broker applicants will be restricted to no supervision of licensees until discharged.

Yes.

No.

Reporting of criminal offenses committed as a minor, under the age of 18, are only required if the applicant was charged as an adult.

The Commission considers:
  1.  The nature of the offense;
  2.  Any aggravating or extenuating circumstances;
  3.  The time elapsed since the offense;
  4.  The rehabilitation or restitution performed by the applicant; and
  5.  Any other factors that the Commission deems relevant.

A license may be restricted or denied pursuant to K.S.A. 58-3043 which allows the Commission to consider the applicant's criminal history or any other matters the Commission deems pertinent.

1. A letter explaining the factual circumstances leading to the offense(s), any restitution and why the Commission should issue a license despite the criminal offense(s).
2. A letter from your proposed supervising or branch broker listing the criminal offense(s) and stating they are willing to supervise your real estate activities.
3. Court documents, if requested by the Commission.

Yes. Letters of recommendation regarding your rehabilitation, level of competence in the profession or past employment, or character for honesty, integrity, trustworthiness, or competence are encouraged.

If the Commission requests you provide court documents and you no longer have copies, you may contact your attorney, if you were represented, or the clerk of the court in the jurisdiction where the offense occurred. In most cases, if you were cited by the police, your records would be available at the municipal court in the city where the offense occurred. If you appealed the municipal court's finding, the records will also need to be obtained from the district court. If you were cited by the sheriff, highway patrol or if you were charged with a felony, your records would be available at the district court in the county where the offense occurred.

You will need to contact the court clerk and ask how you can arrange to have copies made of your case file. It is your responsibility to contact the appropriate court and obtain the requested documentation. If the court tells you that the documents are no longer available, you must obtain a written statement of confirmation from the court to that effect.

The Commission will specify which documents to obtain. They may include the charges, disposition, and proof of completion of probation, diversion or suspended imposition of sentence.

Original Charges:  This may be in the form of a citation, complaint, information or summons and indicates the specific violation(s), sometimes referred to as counts, for which you have been charged. Sometimes these documents are combined, for example, a document may be called a summons and complaint. In addition, if an amended complaint was filed, you should provide a copy of the original and amended complaint.

Disposition:  This document indicates your plea or stipulation to the charges or the court's ruling and includes the terms of your conviction and sentence. Sometimes this is called a judgment, journal entry of judgment, sentence or diversion agreement.

Proof of Completion of Probation, Diversion or Suspended Imposition of Sentence:  This document is usually entitled order terminating probation or order terminating diversion. Often municipal courts do not file an official court document upon completion of diversion. In those instances, you may obtain other documentation (ex. docket summary, letter, etc.) from the Clerk that indicates you completed all the terms of your sentence and the case is closed

Licenses are issued for a two-year period.  Renewal is available six weeks prior to the license expiration date using the Online Licensing System on the homepage at www.krec.ks.gov.

Twelve hours are required every two years and must include the Kansas Required Core course.  See the Directory of Approved Continuing Education Providers for more information.

No. Individuals are licensed to do business under a company name, which is approved by the Commission.

You may be required to register according to the Secretary of State's rules and regulations. Click here to be redirected to the Secretary of State's website.

No.

Nonresident brokers may have a company in their state of residence or in Kansas.

Kansas resident brokers may have a company in Kansas or in an adjoining state.

Click here to login to the online system and request verification of licensure. No fee is required.

You may update your name, home address, telephone number, email address, or other contact information through the online system here. K.A.R. 86-3-15(a) requires changes to be reported within 10 days.

A broker may establish with the Commission a primary or branch office in their home where the broker and affiliated licensees may conduct real estate activities. There must be sufficient space to store records and for the Commission staff to conduct an audit. A salesperson or associate broker may not hold out their home or other location to be a real estate office.

Yes, but the Commission also requires you have a physical address on file.

Login to Mylicense E-gov and select "AFFILIATION CHANGE" to remove your affiliation and deactivate your license. 

 Login to Mylicense E-gov and select "REACTIVATION" to change a license from inactive to active status.  Continuing education requirements must be met. There is a $15.00 fee to reactivate.

No. Licensees on inactive status cannot practice real estate activities requiring a Kansas license.

Your license remains inactive until you reactivate your license or it expires due to failure to renew. If you leave the license on inactive status for two or more years, additional education requirements must be completed. If left on inactive status for five or more years, the licensure exam must be retaken.

Login to Mylicense E-gov and select "AFFILIATION CHANGE", to move your affiliation from one company to another or from a main office to a branch and vice versa.

No. There is no provision in the license law for the responsible broker to delay the request for any reason. The broker's signature is not required to remove a company affiliation.

Login to Mylicense E-gov and select "AFFILIATION CHANGE" to add a new affiliation while maintaining your existing affiliations.

Login to Mylicense E-gov and select "AFFILIATION CHANGE" to remove a company affiliation. Removing all of your affiliations will deactivate your license. 

Complete the Company Name or Contact Information Change Form (REC-400). The request may be denied if a real estate company with a similar or same name already exists in your marketing area. Click here to search for existing companies.

Submit form REC-400, Company Name or Contact Information Change, to the Commission or login to Mylicense E-gov as your company and select "NAME/CONTACT INFO CHANGE". A registration code is required to create login credentials for your business; email us at [email protected] if you do not have this code.

Submit form REC-430, Open a Company or Branch Office Form to the Commission with the $100.00 fee and trust account information. Additional forms and fees may be required depending on company affiliation changes. The request may be denied if a real estate company with a similar or same name already exists in your marketing area. Click here to search for existing companies.

Submit form REC-440, Close a Company or Branch Office Form to the Commission. Attach the report on closing the trust account, if applicable. Additional forms and fees may be required depending on company affiliation changes.

Submit form REC-450, Change Supervising Broker Form, to the Commission or login to Mylicense E-gov as your company and select "AFFILIATION CHANGE" on the menu. Additional information and/or fees may be required depending on company affiliation changes. A registration code is required to create login credentials for your business; email us at [email protected] if you do not have this code.

Submit form REC-400, Company Name or Contact Information Change, to the Commission or login to Mylicense E-gov as your company and select "NAME/CONTACT INFO CHANGE" for main offices or "BRANCH ADDRESS CHANGE" for branches. A registration code is required to create login credentials for your business; email us at [email protected] if you do not have this code.

No.  A referral fee can only be paid if the referral is provided by a Kansas real estate licensee or a person holding a real estate license in another state.

Yes, provided the unlicensed assistant is being paid for activity that does not require a real estate license.

A salesperson or associate broker may accept a commission or compensation from a licensee who employs them if:

1)  both the employing licensee and the licensed assistant are licensed under the supervision of the same broker, and

2)  the supervising broker agrees in writing that the licensee may pay the personal assistant.

Yes, but only when dealing with commercial property and under a written broker cooperation agreement with a Kansas broker. See K.S.A. 58-3077 for all requirements.

Every licensee involved in a transaction is responsible for accurately disclosing brokerage relationships in the purchase contract or lot reservation agreement. If the brokerage relationship is incorrect,  the error may be corrected in a counter-offer or amendment to the contract.

No.  This matter is outside the jurisdiction and authority of the Commission.

If the broker is the only licensee, designated agency is not an option.  The broker may act as a seller's agent or a buyer's agent (not in the same transaction); as a landlord's agent or a tenant's agent (not in the same transaction); or as a transaction broker.

No. The salesperson or associate broker should not have any communication concerning this information with the client. The broker of the firm should contact the listing clients and customers concerning any cancellation of the agreement or a re-assignment of a different listing agent. A licensee may communicate with the parties that were previously clients or customers when a brokerage relationship has ended.

When a licensee enters a brokerage relationship with a client or customer, the licensee is doing so on behalf of the supervising or branch broker. The broker owns those agreements. If the broker chooses to release his or her clients or customers from their written brokerage relationship agreement (i.e. agency agreement or transaction broker agreement), the broker should be communicating with the client or customer directly. If the salesperson or associate broker communicates with a client or customer and after that communication the client or customer asks the broker to be released from their written agreement, disciplinary action may be taken against the salesperson or associate broker.

Licensees must include the supervising broker's business or trade name in all advertising. The supervising broker's business or trade name must be prominently and conspicuously displayed in comparison to the licensee's or team's name. See K.S.A. 58-3086.

Licensees must include any other information considered necessary by the supervising or branch broker. See K.S.A. 58-3086(b)(C).

Yes, only if conducted under the supervision of the supervising or branch broker. See K.S.A. 58-3086(b)(A)

Yes, but only if authorized to do so by the supervising or branch broker. See K.S.A. 58-3086(d)(1).

Yes.
  1.  if authorized by the supervising or branch broker; and
  2.  not confusing to the public and cannot be construed as a supervising or branch broker's business or trade name.
See K.S.A. 58-3086(d)(2)-(4).

However, no affiliated licensee may include a name or team name in advertising which:
• Uses the terms “realty,” “brokerage,” “company,” or other terms that can be construed as a separate real estate company from their supervising broker’s company.
• Is more than 2x greater in font size than the supervising broker’s business name or trade name.
• Is not adjacent to the supervising broker’s trade name or business name in any internet, website, social media or social networking advertisement.
See K.A.R. 86-3-7

Yes. See K.S.A. 58-3086(f).

No.

Yes, but the advertising must be done in a manner as to clearly inform the public that a real estate licensee owns or has an interest in the advertised property. See K.S.A. 58-3086(e).

An escrow or trust account is a separate bank account set up by the broker to hold all down payments, earnest money deposits, advance listing fees or other trust funds received in a real estate transaction.

No. A supervising broker, with Commission approval, may choose to use a third party to hold trust funds.

A trust account form is included in the Open Company form and the Change Supervising Broker form. The Trust Account form is also available independently in the Commission’s form library.

A report on closing trust account form is included in the Close Company form and the Change Supervising Broker form. The Trust Account form is also available independently in the Commission’s form library.

At an insured bank or saving and loan association, a credit union which is insured with an insurer or guarantee corporation in Kansas, or, with the approval of the Commission, in an adjoining state.

Yes, the broker may keep the interest accrued on money held in the trust account with written consent of all parties to the transaction.

Kansas law requires trust funds to be deposited within five business days of the execution of the sales contract or a specific date otherwise agreed to by the parties in the contract.

The broker may keep up to $100.00 in additional funds in the trust account to pay expenses for the use and maintenance of the trust account.

A complete record of all monies received or escrowed on real estate transactions must be maintained, including:

 - deposit slips showing transaction number, date of deposit, amount and where deposited.

 - monthly trust account bank statement, canceled checks and deposit slips

 - a check register which shows the chronological sequence in which funds are received and disbursed

• for funds received: date of deposit, transaction number, amount
• for funds disbursed: date, transaction number, payee, amount
• the current balance

 - a ledger for each transaction including:

•  names of principals
•  property address
•  transaction number
•  amount
•  date of each deposit
•  check number
•  date of check
•  payee
•  amount of each disbursement
•  the current balance

 - a ledger for broker's funds, if applicable

The forms to open a company or change a supervising broker include a place to indicate if a trust account will not be maintained. A request may be made in writing if a new company is not being opened or if the broker is not changing.

Brokers must maintain all records relating to the broker’s real estate business. Each transaction file, whether pending, closed or cancelled, should contain the following record (if applicable):

• agency agreement with seller
• agency agreement with buyer
• transaction broker addendum
• transaction brokerage agreement
• offers, counteroffers
• contract
• lot reservation agreement
• commercial lease
• option
• receipt for purchase agreement and earnest money
• closing statements
• authorization to disburse earnest money on transaction which did not close
• any other record generated in connection with the transaction.
  

Kansas law requires the supervising broker to keep records for three years. A broker may want to check with their accountant and attorney to see if retaining the records for a longer period is recommended.

The purpose of a compliance review is to determine whether funds received by licensees in real estate transactions are handled properly and whether transactions comply with Kansas law. Staff track funds to be sure they are properly deposited, no unauthorized or early disbursements are made, and funds are not commingled or converted for personal use.

Brokers with a valid email address on file with the Commission will initially be contacted by email. Brokers without a valid email address will be contact by U.S. Mail. Within the first correspondence, the broker will be asked the preferred method of future contact for the remainder of the compliance review.

Yes. This is the Commission's preferred method.

No. Staff do not assess fines and are not able to provide that information. Once the compliance review is complete, the file is sent to the Commission’s office. The broker will receive the official results from the Commission.

If there are no violations, staff will notify the broker by written letter upon completion of the compliance review. If there are violations, staff will discuss the violations with the broker and submit the file to the Commission’s office for review.

The broker will have an opportunity to request a hearing on the official results of the compliance review if any disciplinary action is imposed.