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Property Manager
Most states require a real estate license to manage property for others. Requirements vary widely — from 40 to 180 hours of pre-licensing education. A few states offer separate property management licenses. Compare requirements across all 50 states.
51
Total States
51
States Requiring License
5
Separate PM License
51
Exam Required
Property management licensing is regulated at the state level, typically through the state real estate commission. Here are the three key areas you need to understand.
Most states require a real estate license for property management because leasing is a real estate activity. A few states (Oregon, Montana) offer separate PM licenses. States like Massachusetts, Vermont, and Colorado do not require a PM license, though RE brokerage still requires one.
States requiring a license mandate pre-licensing education ranging from 40 hours (Michigan, New Hampshire) to 180 hours (Texas). A state licensing exam is required in all licensing states. Professional certifications like CPM, ARM, and CAM are voluntary but valued.
Licensed property managers must renew their license periodically (typically every 1-3 years) and complete continuing education. CE hours range from 7 hours (West Virginia) to 45 hours (California) per renewal period. Topics include fair housing, ethics, and regulatory updates.
Side-by-side fees, hours, exams, and timelines across all 50 states. Sort by cost, hours, or any column.
Compare All StatesFind out if your license transfers to another state and what extra steps are needed.
Check ReciprocityBrowse approved programs by state — compare costs, requirements, and timelines.
Click any column header to sort. Click a state to view full requirements.
| State | License Req. | License Type | Pre-Lic Hours | Exam | Total Fees | Renewal | CE Hours | Confidence | Verified |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Alabama(AL) | Yes | Real Estate License | 60 hours | Yes | $367 | Every 2 years | 15 hours per renewal | medium | March 2026 |
| Alaska(AK) | Yes | Real Estate License | 40 hours | Yes | $400 | Every 2 years | 20 hours per renewal | medium | March 2026 |
| Arizona(AZ) | Yes | Real Estate License | 90 hours | Yes | $285 | Every 2 years | 24 hours per renewal | medium | March 2026 |
| Arkansas(AR) | Yes | Real Estate License | 60 hours | Yes | $215 | Every 2 years | 6 hours per year | medium | March 2026 |
| California(CA) | Yes | Real Estate Broker License | 135 hours (broker) | Yes | $695 | Every 4 years | 45 hours per renewal | medium | March 2026 |
| Colorado(CO) | Yes | Real Estate License | 168 hours | Yes | $357 | Every 3 years | 24 hours per renewal cycle | medium | March 2026 |
| Connecticut(CT) | Yes | Real Estate License | 60 hours | Yes | $410 | Every 2 years | 12 hours per renewal | medium | March 2026 |
| Delaware(DE) | Yes | Real Estate License | 99 hours | Yes | $340 | Every 2 years | 21 hours per renewal | medium | March 2026 |
| District of Columbia(DC) | Yes | Property Manager License | 60 hours (PM license) | Yes | $310 | Every 2 years | 15 hours per renewal | medium | March 2026 |
| Florida(FL) | Yes | Real Estate License or CAM License | 63 hours | Yes | $157 | Every 2 years (March 31 of odd-numbered years for Sales Associates and Brokers) | 14 hours per renewal cycle | medium | March 2026 |
| Georgia(GA) | Yes | Real Estate Salesperson/Broker License; Community Association Manager (CAM) License for community association management | 75 hours | Yes | $462 | Every 4 years | 36 hours per 4-year renewal period | medium | March 2026 |
| Hawaii(HI) | Yes | Real Estate License | 60 hours | Yes | $173 | Every 2 years (biennial) | 20 hours per renewal | medium | March 2026 |
| Idaho(ID) | Yes | Real Estate License | 90 hours | Yes | $325 | Every 2 years | 18 hours per renewal | medium | March 2026 |
| Illinois(IL) | Yes | Real Estate License; CAM License for community associations | 75 hours | Yes | $305 | Every 2 years (expires April 30 of even-numbered years) | 12 hours per renewal | medium | March 2026 |
| Indiana(IN) | Yes | Real Estate License | 90 hours | Yes | $182 | Every 3 years | 36 hours per 3-year renewal cycle (12 hours per CE year, July 1–June 30) | medium | March 2026 |
| Iowa(IA) | Yes | Real Estate License | 60 hours | Yes | $350 | Every 3 years | 36 hours per renewal | medium | March 2026 |
| Kansas(KS) | Yes | Real Estate License | 60 hours | Yes | $302 | Every 2 years | 12 hours per renewal | medium | March 2026 |
| Kentucky(KY) | Yes | Real Estate License | 96 hours | Yes | $260 | Every 2 years | 12 hours per renewal | medium | March 2026 |
| Louisiana(LA) | Yes | Real Estate License | 90 hours | Yes | $307 | Every year (deadline: December 31) | 12 hours per year | medium | March 2026 |
| Maine(ME) | Yes | Real Estate License | 55 hours | Yes | $307 | Every 2 years | 21 hours per renewal | medium | March 2026 |
| Maryland(MD) | Yes | Real Estate License | 60 hours | Yes | $346 | Every 2 years | 15 hours per renewal period | medium | March 2026 |
| Massachusetts(MA) | Yes | Real Estate License | 40 hours | Yes | $354 | Every 2 years | 12 hours per renewal | medium | March 2026 |
| Michigan(MI) | Yes | Real Estate License | 40 hours | Yes | $255 | Every 3 years | 18 hours per 3-year renewal cycle | medium | March 2026 |
| Minnesota(MN) | Yes | Real Estate License | 90 hours | Yes | $257 | Every 2 years | 30 hours per renewal | medium | March 2026 |
| Mississippi(MS) | Yes | Real Estate License | 60 hours | Yes | $200 | Every year | 16 hours per year | medium | March 2026 |
| Missouri(MO) | Yes | Real Estate License | 72 hours | Yes | $212 | Every 2 years (licenses expire September 30 of every even-numbered year) | 12 hours per renewal | medium | March 2026 |
| Montana(MT) | Yes | Property Manager License | 60 hours (PM license) | Yes | $432 | Every year | 16 hours per year | medium | March 2026 |
| Nebraska(NE) | Yes | Real Estate License | 66 hours | Yes | $365 | Every 2 years | 18 hours per renewal | medium | March 2026 |
| Nevada(NV) | Yes | Property Manager Permit + Real Estate License (Salesperson, Broker-Salesperson, or Broker) | 120 hours | Yes | $470 | Every 2 years (permit expires and renews concurrently with the underlying real estate license) | 24 hours per renewal | medium | March 2026 |
| New Hampshire(NH) | Yes | Real Estate License | 40 hours | Yes | $217 | Every 2 years | 15 hours per renewal | medium | March 2026 |
| New Jersey(NJ) | Yes | Real Estate License | 75 hours | Yes | $376 | Every 2 years (biennial, on a fixed cycle: July 1 of odd years to June 30 of the next odd year) | 12 CE credits per biennial renewal | medium | March 2026 |
| New Mexico(NM) | Yes | Real Estate License | 90 hours | Yes | $475 | Every 3 years | 36 hours per 3-year cycle | medium | March 2026 |
| New York(NY) | Yes | Real Estate License | 77 hours | Yes | $115 | Every 2 years | 22.5 hours per renewal | medium | March 2026 |
| North Carolina(NC) | Yes | Real Estate License | 75 hours | Yes | $209 | Annually (May 15 – June 30 each year) | 8 hours per year | medium | March 2026 |
| North Dakota(ND) | Yes | Real Estate License | 45 hours | Yes | $300 | Every 2 years | 15 hours per renewal | medium | March 2026 |
| Ohio(OH) | Yes | Real Estate License | 120 hours | Yes | $198 | Every 3 years | 30 hours per 3-year renewal cycle | medium | March 2026 |
| Oklahoma(OK) | Yes | Real Estate License | 90 hours | Yes | $360 | Every 3 years | 21 hours per renewal | medium | March 2026 |
| Oregon(OR) | Yes | Property Manager License | 60 clock-hours | Yes | $375 | Every year | 20 hours per year | medium | March 2026 |
| Pennsylvania(PA) | Yes | Real Estate License | 75 hours (5 credits) | Yes | $243 | Every 2 years (biennial; licenses expire May 31 of even-numbered years) | 14 hours per biennial renewal period | medium | March 2026 |
| Rhode Island(RI) | Yes | Real Estate License | 45 hours | Yes | $253 | Every 2 years | 24 hours per renewal | medium | March 2026 |
| South Carolina(SC) | Yes | Real Estate License with Property Manager-in-Charge designation | 90 hours | Yes | $236 | Every 2 years | 10 hours per renewal | medium | March 2026 |
| South Dakota(SD) | Yes | Real Estate License | 116 hours | Yes | $350 | Every 2 years (all licenses expire November 30th) | 24 hours per renewal | medium | March 2026 |
| Tennessee(TN) | Yes | Real Estate License | 60 hours | Yes | $221 | Every 2 years | 16 hours per renewal | medium | March 2026 |
| Texas(TX) | Yes | Real Estate License | 180 hours | Yes | $413 | Every 2 years | 18 hours per renewal | medium | March 2026 |
| Utah(UT) | Yes | Real Estate License | 120 hours | Yes | $311 | Every 2 years | 18 hours per renewal | medium | March 2026 |
| Vermont(VT) | Yes | Real Estate License | 40 hours | Yes | $215 | Biennial (every 2 years) | 16 hours per renewal | medium | March 2026 |
| Virginia(VA) | Yes | Real Estate License | 60 hours | Yes | $400 | Every 2 years | 16 hours per renewal | medium | March 2026 |
| Washington(WA) | Yes | Real Estate License | 90 hours | Yes | $423 | Every 2 years | 30 hours per renewal period | medium | March 2026 |
| West Virginia(WV) | Yes | Real Estate License | 90 hours | Yes | $315 | Every 2 years | 7 hours per renewal | medium | March 2026 |
| Wisconsin(WI) | Yes | Real Estate License | 72 hours | Yes | $215 | Every 2 years | 18 hours per renewal | medium | March 2026 |
| Wyoming(WY) | Yes | Real Estate License | 54 hours | Yes | $375 | Every 2 years | 12 hours per renewal | medium | March 2026 |
Property managers often work alongside other licensed real estate professionals. Explore related licensing requirements.
Study guides for real estate and property management licensing exams.
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See the full comparison table above for all 51 states.
Moving to a new state?
See which states have reciprocity for Property Manager licenses and what's required to transfer.
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