How to Launch a Real Estate CTE Program at Your High School: Step-by-Step

Step 2 — Choose a Curriculum Provider

Not all real estate pre-licensing curricula are built for high school delivery. For a deeper framework on this decision, see our guide on choosing a real estate education partner for CTE. Here's what to evaluate when selecting a provider:

What to look for

• State approval — two kinds: Is the provider's curriculum approved by your state real estate commission for pre-licensing credit? And separately, does it meet your state CTE agency's curriculum requirements? These are two different approvals from two different agencies
• Hour alignment: State pre-licensing hour requirements vary significantly — 45 hours in Texas, 75 in Florida, 135 in California. The curriculum needs to match your state's requirement and fit within high school course scheduling
• Online and hybrid delivery: Critical for schedule flexibility. A purely in-person model rarely works within high school bell schedules
• Student support: Exam prep, practice tests, and access to instructors matter — high school students are taking a professional licensing exam, often for the first time
• Pricing structure: Understand per-student cost and whether volume licensing is available — this affects what you need to budget in your Perkins V Local Application

Questions to ask every vendor

• Is your curriculum approved by [state] for real estate pre-licensing?
• Does your curriculum meet [state] CTE program of study requirements?
• Do you provide student performance data for Perkins V reporting purposes?
• What support do you provide for the state CTE program approval process?

Step 3 — Get State CTE Program Approval

This is the step most districts either skip or underestimate. Without state CTE program approval, your program does not generate state weighted allotment funding and Perkins V expenditures for it may not be considered allowable. Approval is non-negotiable.

The process varies by state, but the general steps are consistent:

1. Identify the correct Program of Study under your state's CTE framework — usually Business & Finance or Marketing
2. Complete the Program of Study application for your state CTE agency — most states have this on their department of education website
3. Include curriculum alignment documentation — show how the course maps to your state's CTE standards and the real estate commission's pre-licensing requirements
4. Provide evidence of an industry partnership — most states require or strongly prefer a letter from a local brokerage, real estate association, or employer partner
5. Submit teacher credential information — the instructor may need to hold a real estate license, hold a CTE certification, or be supervised by a licensed professional, depending on your state
6. Wait for approval — typically 60–90 days once the application is complete

Once approved, your program generates state weighted allotment funding automatically based on enrollment, and all qualifying expenditures become eligible for Perkins V reimbursement.

Step 4 — Fund the Program With Perkins V (and Other Sources)

A new real estate CTE program is one of the more affordable CTE programs to launch. Here's how to fund it.

What Perkins V can pay for

• Curriculum licensing costs
• Teacher professional development — real estate continuing education, CTE certification coursework
• Technology — student devices, course access licenses, exam prep software
• Career counseling and work-based learning coordination
• Student materials

Other funding sources to layer in

• State CTE allotment — flows automatically once the program is approved and students are enrolled; no separate application required
• State competitive grants — examples include CTEIG in California, Perkins Leadership set-aside grants, and state workforce development funds; deadlines and availability vary by state
• Industry partners — local brokerages sometimes sponsor equipment, provide licensed instructors as guest speakers, or fund field trips; the ask is easy to frame because they benefit from a pipeline of future agents

Step 5 — Build Your Industry Partnership

An industry partnership is more than a box to check on your approval application. It is the mechanism that turns a real estate class into a genuine career pathway.

Why it matters

• Strengthens your program approval application — many states require it
• Provides work-based learning placements: job shadows, internships, externships
• Gives students access to working professionals through career panels and guest speakers
• Connects students with potential employers before they graduate

How to find partners

• Contact your local Board of Realtors — most local NAR affiliates have a community or education committee specifically for this kind of partnership
• Reach out to large local brokerages directly — RE/MAX, Keller Williams, and Coldwell Banker franchisees often engage with schools on workforce pipeline programs
• Frame it as mutual benefit: you get an industry partner letter and work-based learning placements; they get a pipeline of future licensed agents

Step 6 — Recruit Students

The right student for a real estate CTE program is often not who you'd expect. Cast a wide net.

Who belongs in the program

• Juniors and seniors — pre-licensing typically runs 45–180 hours depending on the state, which maps to one or two semester courses
• Students interested in business, entrepreneurship, sales, finance, or community development
• Students considering skipping college, taking a gap year, or wanting a credential before pursuing a four-year degree

Recruitment tactics that work

• Present at career fairs with specific data: median income, time to licensure, no degree required
• Partner with school counselors — flag real estate as a licensure pathway in counseling conversations about post-graduation plans
• Lead with the "get licensed before graduation" angle in all student-facing materials
• Feature early students' success stories in school newsletters, social media, and counselor communications once the program is running

Step 7 — Track Outcomes for Perkins V Reporting

Perkins V requires annual performance reporting. Set up your tracking systems before the program launches — waiting until year-end makes this significantly harder.

What you need to report annually

• Enrollment numbers, disaggregated by the demographic categories required under Perkins V (race/ethnicity, gender, disability status, economic disadvantage, English learner status)
• Course completion rates
• Industry credential attainment — typically the exam pass rate or number of students who complete pre-licensing education
• Post-program outcomes: employment in the field, postsecondary enrollment, or continued credential pursuit
• Performance against the targets set in your Local Application

Timeline Overview

Here's a realistic month-by-month timeline for launching a real estate CTE program for the following academic year:

• Month 1: Confirm state pathway eligibility, identify curriculum vendors, contact state CTE director
• Month 2: Select curriculum provider, identify industry partner, begin program approval application
• Month 3–4: Submit program approval application; apply for Perkins V funding in your annual Local Application
• Month 5: Receive program approval; begin teacher credentialing process if needed
• Month 6: Launch student recruitment for the next academic year; confirm budget allocations
• Year 1: Deliver program, track Perkins V metrics throughout the year, deepen industry partnership

Frequently Asked Questions

How long does it take to get a real estate CTE program approved?

Typically 4–6 months from start to finish. The state CTE program approval itself usually takes 60–90 days once your application is submitted. Allow time upfront to select curriculum, secure an industry partner letter, and prepare teacher credentialing documentation before submitting.

Do students get an actual real estate license in a high school CTE program?

Students complete the required pre-licensing education hours as part of the program. Most states require applicants to be 18 to sit for the state licensing exam, so students complete the coursework in high school and take the exam upon turning 18 — often before or shortly after graduation. Some states allow students to sit for the exam at 17 with parental consent; check your state's real estate commission rules.

Do teachers need a real estate license to teach the program?

Requirements vary by state. Some states require the classroom instructor to hold an active real estate license. Others allow a licensed CTE teacher to deliver the curriculum with oversight from a licensed real estate professional. Check with both your state real estate commission and your state CTE agency — they are separate authorities with potentially different requirements.

Can Perkins V pay for the curriculum?

Yes. Curriculum licensing costs and instructional materials are allowable Perkins V expenditures, provided the program is state-approved and the expenditure is documented in your Local Application and Comprehensive Local Needs Assessment.

What is the biggest mistake districts make when launching a new CTE program?

Starting without state program approval. Until the program is formally approved by your state CTE agency, it does not generate state weighted allotment funding, and expenditures on the program may not qualify as allowable Perkins V uses. Approval is the prerequisite for every funding mechanism described in this guide.

Last updated: April 2026. Sources: National Association of Realtors (nar.realtor), U.S. Department of Education OCTAE (cte.ed.gov), Advance CTE (careertech.org).