Education

• College courses can provide training to work in the field. An associate's or bachelor's degree program can prepare the real estate broker to operate a small business while handling real estate transactions as well. The degree program may be in real estate, but business courses such as management, finance, economics, accounting and statistics can help the broker succeed in the field. To qualify for a real estate broker's license, a candidate may be required to complete college-level courses. For example, California requires brokers to complete courses in real estate practice, legal aspects of real estate, real estate appraisal, real estate finance and real estate economics to qualify to take the broker's examination.
  
  

Experience

• State real estate boards may require candidates have experience as a real estate agent to qualify for a property broker's license. California requires candidates to have one to three years of experience in sales unless they have a bachelor's degree. Sales experience prepares the real estate professional to operate a real estate business.
  
  

License

• All states require candidates to obtain a license in order to work as a real estate broker. The candidate must meet education and experience requirements before qualifying to take a state examination for real estate brokers. The written examination tests the broker's knowledge in transactions in real estate and state laws for real estate.
  
  

Job Skills

• A successful real estate broker must have verbal and written communication skills, a pleasant demeanor and sales skills to work in the field. Real estate brokers have organizational skills to operate a business and sell property. The broker must have good time management skills to work independently as a self-employed professional.