5 Best Accredited Real Estate Schools for Online Learners
Gina is a licensed real estate salesperson, experienced trainer, and former high school educator of 1,000+ learners. She writes for Fit Small Business with a focus on real estate content.
This article is part of a larger series on How to Become a Real Estate Agent.
All states require licensing coursework to earn or maintain your real estate license, but not all schools are accredited by industry experts. This can reduce the value of their course completion certificates beyond simply meeting minimum education requirements. To help you get the best return on the investment of your time, we compared education providers based on pricing, course features, help and support, and customer reviews to determine the best accredited real estate schools for online learners for various career stages.
- Real Estate Express: Best overall for real estate professionals seeking the most value for their money
- Kaplan: Best for high-quality prelicensing classes and support for aspiring new agents
- The CE Shop: Recommended for real estate agents who need post-licensing education to enhance their careers
- McKissock Learning: Ideal for bundled and customizable continuing education (CE) courses for agents pursuing license renewal
- 360training: Most affordable accredited real estate school for agents on a budget
School | Median Price Range* | Learning Formats | Pass Guarantee | Customer Support |
|---|---|---|---|---|
 | Prelicensing: $287-$647 Post-licensing: $129-$249 CE: $19.95-$139.95 |
| ✔ | Phone, email, and live chat |
 | Prelicensing: $320-$619 Post-licensing: $101.50-$364 CE: $19.95-$133 |
| ✕ | Phone and email |
 | Prelicensing: $69-$379 Post-licensing: $105-$429 CE: $19-$129 |
| ✔ | Phone, email, and live chat |
 | Prelicensing: $262-$647 Post-licensing: $129-$249 CE: $19.95-$139.95 |
| ✔ | Phone and email |
 | Prelicensing: $97-$365 Post-licensing: $50-$241.50 CE: $19-$60 |
| ✕ | Email and live chat |
Real Estate Express: Best Overall Accredited Real Estate School
Real Estate Express
Overall Score: 3.44 OUT OF 5 iOur score is based on a weighted evaluation of dozens of similar products and services conducted by our experts.
What We Like
- Most nationwide presence
- Customer support availability
- Direct instructor support/access
What's Missing
- Only 6 months to finish the course after purchase
- Midlevel pricing
Key Features
- Variety of course formats, including self-paced online and livestream classes
- Highly qualified instructors
- Prelicensing in 39 states, post-licensing in 11 states, and continued education nationwide (through partner McKissock Learning)
- Available on all devices
- Customer support via live chat, phone, email
- 4.3 out of 5-star rating by customers
- Career Hub with articles, blog, and advice
- Accredited by ARELLO and IDECC
Real Estate Express ranks as our best overall accredited real estate school for online learning. One of the reasons it tops our list is its unique “Smart Bites” feature, which is a learning methodology that breaks down knowledge into smaller, digestible pieces, making it easier for students to learn and retain information.
It also provides “Live Q&A,” which are live question and answer sessions with real estate experts and classmates to enable new and experienced agents to learn in-depth concepts to enhance their real estate expertise. The school’s expansive course features coupled with a “Pass or Don’t Pay” guarantee gave Real Estate Express our number one ranking for online real estate courses.
Discount: For Fit Small Business readers, use promo code FSB25 for 25% off your purchase of any Real Estate Express class. Click here to get started.
Customer Feedback
Most users preferred the self-paced online courses from Real Estate Express, stating they were easy and prepared them well to pass their real estate exam. Others hoped for more interaction with other students and classmates. While Real Estate Express does have livestream classes, it’s not available for every state, similar to other real estate schools. However, Kaplan does provide live interactive study groups with almost all of its packages.
Example Pricing
States | Median Prelicensing Prices | Median Post-licensing Prices | Median CE Prices |
|---|---|---|---|
New York | $369 | $174.30 | $129.95 |
Texas | $647 | $249 | $139.95 |
Florida | $262 | $129 | $19.95 |
California | $287 | $223.30 | $68.95 |
Kaplan: Best for High-quality Real Estate Prelicensing Support
Kaplan
Overall Score: 3.08 OUT OF 5 iOur score is based on a weighted evaluation of dozens of similar products and services conducted by our experts.
What We Like
- Variety of learning formats
- Great user reviews
- Career support
What's Missing
- Most expensive
- Only available in 23 states
- Limited customer support
Key Features
- Course format variety: Livestream, on-demand videos, self-paced, and interactive
- Direct instructor access
- Full tuition refund within 30 days
- Exam prep
- 6 months to complete the course after purchase
- Instructors are real estate professionals
- Course demos available
- Customer review rating of 4.2 out of 5
- Accredited by ADRELLO and IDECC
Kaplan claims the top spot for real estate prelicensing classes with its emphasis on high-quality prelicensing education. As a household name for test preparation, Kaplan maintains this reputation in its real estate school due to its array of course formats.
Even though the prelicensing course is only available in 23 states, the course accommodates a variety of learning styles―visual, auditory, and kinesthetic―so you can choose how you learn best, which is extremely important when you are in the prelicensing stage. In some states, it also offers the post-licensing education required to upgrade to a broker license when you’re ready to start your own brokerage.
Customer Feedback
The expert faculty at Kaplan got many outstanding reviews. Students cited its presentation, guidance, and knowledge as factors that lead to their success as a real estate agent in starting and continuing their real estate career. Other reviewers had difficulty with the technology and thought the platform was tough to navigate. For those that need extra navigation tools, consider The CE Shop or Real Estate Express.
Example Pricing
States | Median Prelicensing Prices | Median Post-licensing Prices | Median CE Prices |
|---|---|---|---|
New York | $609 | $349 | $133 |
Texas | $619 | $364 | $119 |
Florida | $320 | $250 | $19.95 |
California | $549 | $101.50 | $59 |
The CE Shop: Best for Real Estate Agents Needing Post-licensing Education
The CE Shop
Overall Score: 3.31 OUT OF 5 iOur score is based on a weighted evaluation of dozens of similar products and services conducted by our experts.
What We Like
- Customizable post-licensing packages
- Interactive courses that provide feedback
- 1 year from purchase to finish courses
What's Missing
- No direct instructor access
- Midlevel pricing
Key Features
- Bundled packages or customized courses
- Customer service support: live chat, email, and phone
- CE available in all 50 states
- 1 year from purchase to complete your courses
- 91% pass rate
- Customer review rating of 4.7 out of 5
- Accredited by ARELLO
When you are ready to start your own brokerage or want to broaden your knowledge in the industry, The CE Shop is your number one option for post-licensing education. Also, The CE Shop is a great option for prelicensing and customizable CE courses that can be purchased as packages or individually.
The CE Shop’s broker licensing education packages will get you well on your way to becoming a broker complete with practice exams and tailored feedback. These courses are perfect for self-motivated agents looking to increase their earning potential as a broker and take their career to the next level.
Customer Feedback
Students said the courses from The CE Shop were not only affordable but also thorough and interactive, considering courses are self-paced. A couple of students didn’t feel they were ready to take their exam, so if you need additional study assistance, think about investing in The CE Shop’s exam prep course or exam prep from Real Estate Exam Scholar.
Example Pricing
States | Median Prelicensing Prices | Median Post-licensing Prices | Median CE Prices |
|---|---|---|---|
New York | $379 | $225 | $129 |
Texas | $69 | $429 | $129 |
Florida | $199 | $145 | $19 |
California | $209 | $105 | $35 |
McKissock Learning: Best for Bundled CE Course Customization
McKissock Learning
Overall Score: 3.41 OUT OF 5 iOur score is based on a weighted evaluation of dozens of similar products and services conducted by our experts.
What We Like
- Nationwide presence for customizable
- CE course format variety
- 1 year of course access after purchase
What's Missing
- Only offers CE courses
- Courses are text-based
Key Features:
- Free learning aids
- Instructors with real-world experience
- Membership allows access to all materials for 1 year
- Self-paced, text-based online, and/or webinar formats
- Offers additional courses for those who wish to become home inspectors or real estate appraisers
- 4.5 out of 5-star customer rating
- Full refund available within 10 days
- Available in all 50 states
- Accredited by ARELLO and IDECC
While there are many options for real estate license renewal courses, we recommend McKissock Learning as the best school for CE course customization. As a partner with our best overall pick Real Estate Express, McKissock has a robust library of CE courses to choose from for purchase as a package or individually. Since the option for customization is available, those with licenses in multiple states can mix and match easily to complete their CE hours.
Customer Feedback
Consumers felt that the courses were streamlined and convenient so they could finish their CE quickly. Others felt that because classes were self-paced, they had a difficult time staying motivated. Although McKissock Learning specializes in CE, it doesn’t offer other licensing education through its platform. Visit its partner Real Estate Express or 360training for other licensing class options.
Example Pricing
States | Median Prelicensing Prices | Median Post-licensing Prices | Median CE Prices |
|---|---|---|---|
New York | $369 | $174.30 | $129.95 |
Texas | $647 | $249 | $139.95 |
Florida | $262 | $129 | $19.95 |
California | $287 | $223.30 | $68.95 |
360training: Most Affordable Accredited Real Estate School
360Training
Overall Score: 3.06 OUT OF 5 iOur score is based on a weighted evaluation of dozens of similar products and services conducted by our experts.
What We Like
- Least expensive option
- Accessible on any device
- Go at your own pace
What's Missing
- Limited customer support
- No course format variety
- Little national presence for prelicensing and post-licensing courses
Key Features:
- Continuing education in 32 states
- 1 year from purchase to complete courses
- Text-based online learning
- Email and live chat customer support
- Mostly offers CE courses, but prelicensing and post-licensing available for select states
- Customer review rating of 4.1 out of 5
- Accredited by ARELLO and IDECC
360training ranked as one of our top schools as the cheapest accredited real estate school with prices that are way below the rest. Although the prices are lower, it didn’t claim our best overall spot because of its limited national presence and lack of course format variety. 360training courses can be accessed on any device that has an internet connection and is perfect for budget-conscious agents who want to learn at their own pace.
Customer Feedback
Individuals called the courses from 360training informative, in-depth, and easy to follow, while other people experienced technical issues. For customer support to fix technical issues via phone, email, and live chat, try Real Estate Express or The CE Shop.
Example Pricing
States | Median Prelicensing Prices | Median Post-licensing Prices | Median CE Prices |
|---|---|---|---|
New York | $129 | Not offered | $60 |
Texas | $365 | $241.50 | $60 |
Florida | $99 | $69 | $19 |
California | $97 | $50 | $50 |
Honorable Mention: Personalized Study & Exam Preparation Schools
It isn’t necessary for study and real estate exam preparation schools to be accredited because exam prep isn’t required to fulfill your required licensing hours. Since our research was focused on accreditation, we did want to include these criteria, so we included a top choice for supplemental study and exam preparation that meets all our other criteria for the best online real estate schools.
CompuCram: Best Accredited Study & Exam Preparation
Compucram
What We Like
- Cost-efficient
- Money-back guarantee
- High student pass rate
What's Missing
- Only for exam preparation
- No course format variety
Pricing
- Pricing around $90 per exam course
- Money-back guarantee if you don’t pass
- 4.9 out of 5 stars customer rating
CompuCram is a real estate agent’s go-to resource for exam preparation and readiness― it says so on its readiness meter. Upon registration, individuals are prompted with a pre-assessment to gauge exam preparedness and dictate what specific categories to focus on to strengthen their knowledge.
Although this is our top pick for study and exam preparation, CompuCram’s abilities are limited to exam prep. It doesn’t offer other courses for real estate education nor a variety of learning formats.
Customer Feedback
With a 4.9 out of 5-star customer rating, CompuCram users have been impressed with their exam preparation materials. Most users state that they passed the exam on the first try with help from its readiness meter.
Additional Features
- Provides vocabulary, flashcards, practice tests, and simulated exams
- Dynamic feedback
- Readiness meter indicates when you are prepared to take the exam
- Available in 33 states
- Approved by PSI, AMP, and Pearson Vue
Real Estate Exam Scholar: Most Realistic Study & Exam Preparation
Real Estate Exam Scholar
What We Like
- Best pricing
- Money-back guarantee
- Nationwide presence
What's Missing
- Only for exam preparation
Pricing
- Exam preparation is $39 per state; except for the California broker licensing exam, which is $49
With more than 25 practice exams, Real Estate Exam Scholar is an excellent resource for exam preparation and readiness. Even though it isn’t accredited, the draw of Real Estate Exam Scholar is its “Immersion Technology” that prepares you for the real estate exam using simulations to create a realistic experience approach.
Also, the program provides detailed explanations for each state-specific and national question to give you a full understanding of the “why” behind the answer and the ability to apply it. Although it has excellent study material, Real Estate Exam Scholar only offers exam prep, so you’ll want to complete your prelicensing classes prior to purchasing to take full advantage of its resources.
Customer Feedback
Real Estate Exam Scholar has a slew of 5-star reviews that complement the challenging exam preparation that prepared agents to pass their exam on the first attempt. Others mentioned that the addition of the flashcards and practice questions helped aid their studying and the pass guarantee gave them extra assurance.
Additional Features
- Provides vocabulary, flashcards, and practice tests
- Approximately 95% pass rate on the first exam try
- Money-back guarantee if you don’t pass your exam
- Available on all devices
- Unlimited access for 6 months
- Secrets and hints for exam
Visit Real Estate Exam Scholar
How We Evaluated the Top Accredited Real Estate Schools
To be considered for inclusion in this list, a school had to be accredited by either the Association of Real Estate License Law Officials (ARELLO), International Distance Education Certification Center (IDECC), and/or are approved by testing institutions like PSI, AMP, and Pearson VUE). Then, because each state requires its own course curriculum and specific amounts of prelicensing, post-licensing, and continuing education (CE) we looked for those that offered courses for agents in a broad range of locations.
After researching dozens of options, we determined that Real Estate Express is the overall best accredited real estate school for online learning. The innovative online course formats, learning style methodology, reasonable prices, and nationwide presence were contributing factors, pushing this school to the top spot for those seeking to get their real estate license for the first time or maintain it in comparison to its competitors.
Along with accreditation, we used the following criteria to evaluate each school.
30%
Pricing
25%
Nationwide Presence
25%
Course Features
5%
Help & Support
15%
Customer Reviews
30% of Overall Score
Pricing is based on a median cost analysis of earning and maintaining a license in New York, California, Florida, and Texas. These states were chosen specifically as representative of major real estate markets across the United States.
Education Available
The level of courses provided by each site according to licensing stage: prelicensing education for new real estate agents, post-licensing for experienced agents, and CE for licensed agents looking for license renewal options.
25% of Overall Score
All states have specific exam requirements, so the school needs to provide approved education in all or a majority of US states.For example, on the low end, Massachusetts and Michigan require only 40 hours of prelicensing education, while Colorado requires 162 and Texas requires 180 hours.
25% of Overall Score
Consists of various formatting and learning styles for each course to meet the specific needs of the agent as well as ease of course accessibility.
5% of Overall Score
Convenience and attainability of customer service support for technical support and instructor assistance.
15% of Overall Score
Based upon customer feedback for each program, with particular attention to course value for the money spent, to certify the course meets user satisfaction.
*Percentages of overall score