The total cost to get a real estate license in Ontario ranges from about $7,500 to $9,000 in 2026, depending on your study path and how many exam rewrites you need.
The single largest cost is the Humber College pre-registration program, which is mandatory for everyone entering the Ontario real estate profession. The full program costs $5,000 to $5,800 across Courses 1-5 plus Simulations 1 and 2. Self-paced students pay slightly less than instructor-led students.
On top of tuition, you pay RECO's registration fee of $590 (current as of 2026) once you complete the program and join a brokerage. RECO registration is renewed every two years at $480.
You also need errors and omissions (E&O) insurance — usually paid through your brokerage at roughly $400-$500 per year — and there are smaller fees: REIC fee, OREA local board dues, MLS access ($100-$300/year depending on the board), and lockbox subscriptions.
Exam rewrites are the most variable cost. Each Humber rewrite costs about $100-$150. If you fail more than two or three exams during the program, total costs creep above $9,000.
Practice tools like ExamAce ($29.99/month) typically save students more than they cost: by reducing rewrite attempts and shortening the time-to-license window, the typical paid student earns their license 2-3 months faster.
- Humber pre-registration program: $5,000-$5,800
- RECO registration: $590 (renewed every 2 years at $480)
- E&O insurance: ~$400-$500/year (paid via brokerage)
- OREA + local board dues + MLS access: $500-$1,000/year
- Exam rewrites (if needed): $100-$150 each