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Illinois: what an unlicensed TC can do

What an unlicensed transaction coordinator may do in Illinois, what needs a license, and why your pay cannot be tied to transactions.

Yes, you can work as a TC in Illinois without a real estate license.Stick to administrative work under a licensed agent and their broker, and leave anything that needs a license to them. Here's where the line is.
Illinois infographic for unlicensed transaction coordinators: administrative tasks allowed under licensee supervision, activities that are not permitted such as showing property or interpreting contracts, and the rule that unlicensed assistants cannot be paid per transaction.

What you can do without a license

You work under the supervision of a licensee, and the licensee who supervises you is responsible for your acts and omissions.

You can do (no license needed)

  • Answer the phone, take inquiries, and forward messages and inquiries to a licensee.
  • Submit listing data and changes to a multiple listing service.
  • Follow up on a transaction after a contract has been signed.
  • Assemble documents for a closing and obtain public information from government sources.
  • Complete contract forms with business and factual information at the direction and approval of a licensee.
  • Record and deposit earnest money, security deposits and rents at the direction of, and with approval by, the designated managing broker.
  • Schedule appointments for the licensee, but not make calls or telemarket to solicit business.
  • Respond to questions by quoting directly from published information.

Needs a license

  • Host open houses, kiosks, or home show booths or fairs.
  • Show property.
  • Interpret information about listings, titles, financing, contracts, closings or other parts of a transaction.
  • Explain or interpret a contract, listing, lease or other real estate document for or with anyone.
  • Negotiate or agree to any commission, commission split, management fee or referral fee on behalf of a licensee.
  • Perform any other activity that requires a license.
Factual entries, yes; explaining the contract, noIllinois lets an unlicensed assistant "complete contract forms with business and factual information at the direction and approval of a licensee," but not "explaining or interpreting a contract, listing, lease agreement or other real estate document for or with anyone." Enter names, dates and amounts your agent gives you; send any "what does this mean" question to the agent.

A practical example

You can:
Enter the closing date and earnest money amount your agent gave you.
Refer to the agent:
Explain to a buyer how the inspection contingency works.

Staying on the right side of the rules

Pay cannot be per transaction

"Compensation for unlicensed assistants cannot be transaction based." (68 Ill. Adm. Code 1450.740(a))

Licensee responsibility

A licensee who supervises an unlicensed assistant is responsible for the assistant's acts or omissions, and a licensee who lets an assistant perform licensed activities violates the Act.

New brokers

If the licensee is a new broker who hasn't completed the 45-hour post-license education, contract forms, advertising and promotional materials need the designated managing broker's approval instead.

How Closima handles it

You can fill out contract forms in Closima. Before you send one for signature, Send to agent for approval gives your agent a link to check the filled form and approve it or ask for changes, and the file records who approved it and when. If your agent signs off another way, you can still send it, and the file notes that.

Thinking about a license?

You don't need one to work as a TC in Illinois. A license lets you also do the work in the "Needs a license" column, under a broker. Here's what's involved:

Illinois's entry-level license is the broker license. You must be at least 18, have a high school diploma or equivalent, complete 75 hours of approved pre-license courses (60 hours of Broker Pre-License Topics plus a 15-hour Applied Real Estate Principles interactive course), and pass the state exam given by PSI; you then apply to IDFPR within one year of passing. You can't do licensed work until a sponsoring broker registers your sponsorship with IDFPR, and new brokers must finish 45 hours of post-license education by their first renewal deadline. How to apply.

Resources

Questions about what's allowed? Ask the regulator: Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation (IDFPR), Division of Real Estate, 1-800-560-6420, [email protected].

Source: Illinois Administrative Code, Title 68, Section 1450.740, Unlicensed Assistants (Department of Financial and Professional Regulation) (Amended at 49 Ill. Reg. 9512, effective July 7, 2025).

Buying or selling a home yourself? These pages are for people who work in real estate. Work with a licensed agent or a real estate attorney.

General information, not legal advice. Rules change, and your broker's policies may be stricter: confirm your duties with your supervising broker and your state's real estate regulator.

See also: Illinois contract deadlines · How to become a transaction coordinator

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