Real estate agents and realtors both deal in sales and purchases of property of their own or act on behalf of their clients. The main difference between a realtor and a real estate agent is that a realtor is a licensed member of the National Association of Realtors, a worldwide organization of real estate professionals.
The requirements to become a realtor in the United States differ in each state. It is advisable to find out about the requirements before applying for a realtor licence. Most states require that the applicant must be at least 18 years of age and free from criminal convictions. Besides these, the applicant should at least, possess a high school diploma.
The education requirements to become a realtor differ by state, in the courses as well as the hours of training. To become a realtor in California, the applicant has to complete a minimum of three college courses in real estate, which are specified by the department of real estate. These courses include the Principles and Practices of Real Estate, Appraisal, Real Estate Law and Property Management.The requirements to become a realtor in Texas include classes in Principles of Real Estate, Law of Agency, Law of Contracts, and five other related courses.
Florida requires the applicant to have at least 60 hours of pre-licence training while in Nevada, the applicant has to complete 90 hours of training in approved real estate classes.In Ohio, it is mandatory for the applicant to have 120 classroom hours of real estate training. The requirements to become a realtor in Georgia include 75 hours of approved prelicensure real estate courses or 6 semester hours of classroom courses at an approved college or university. In North Carolina, 67 hours of classroom training in approved real estate courses is required.

The approved mode of instruction for realtor classes includes classroom instruction, distance learning, online and computer based courses. However some states insist on only classroom courses. Before enrolling for any realtor courses, it is advisable to check the accreditation of the college or course, to ensure that it is state-approved. After completion of the classes, the applicant is required to register for a state-administered licence exam.
Online classes to become a realtor are widely available. Some realtor training providers offer the courses by states; each course adhering to the legislative requirements of the state. This greatly reduces any hassle in preparing for the realtor education process. Most online courses provide practice exams and tutoring support to help the student in passing their exams.