The Real Estate Commissions in Ohio and Kentucky have reached an agreement to recognize and accept real estate licenses issued by the other state. The memorandum of understanding, reached on April 25, reinstates reciprocity between the states that was temporarily suspended in 2023 following passage of Ohio Senate Bill 131.
Under the new agreement, Ohio and Kentucky’s Commissions recognizes the licensing requirements of each state. Specifically:
- A real estate broker, salesperson, or equivalent licensee currently licensed in either state will, upon completion of the licensure or reciprocity requirements of the other Party’s state, be granted a real estate broker, salesperson, or equivalent license.
- The states agree to fully cooperate with regard to any investigation of the conduct of a licensee holding a license in both state and promptly notify the other Party of any disciplinary action taken against a licensee.
- Each state reserves the right to refuse to issue an applicant any license based upon the grounds provided in their respective real estate license laws, rules or regulations prohibiting such a license.
- Either state may terminate the agreement with 90 days written notice.
- The states will review and evaluate the performance of the agreement annually.
“We’re thrilled that that Real Estate Commissions in Ohio and Kentucky were able to find common ground and reestablish recognition for licensees that operate on both sides of the Ohio River,” said DaVan Gassett, president of the REALTOR® Alliance of Greater Cincinnati. “We’re extremely thankful for the hard work of Ohio REALTORS® and Kentucky REALTORS® to help get this agreement across the finish line so that we can best serve the needs of consumers throughout our region.”
Ohio Senate Bill 131, which went into effect at the end of 2023, established a pathway for non-Ohioans to more easily engage in the Ohio real estate profession. Historically, Ohio license law required that a licensee needed to take the prescribed training and pass the necessary exams. While Ohio and Kentucky had reciprocity, some of the language in SB 131 caused the regulatory bodies in Ohio and Kentucky to hit the pause button to ensure consumer protections were in place.
SB 131 applied to many other types of state licenses, and states that if the person was licensed or certified in another state the Ohio licensing authority must also license them in Ohio. As you know, Ohio has robust real estate licensing requirements. Ohio REALTORS® public policy team successfully added additional requirements to ensure that non-Ohio licensees meet our stricter standards. Specifically, out-of-state agents are required to pass the state law portion of the licensing exam before they are issued an Ohio license. Also, out-of-state brokers must show they have been acting as broker for at least two years, completed at least 20 transactions as a broker and pass the Ohio real estate law portion of the broker exam.
The new agreement between Ohio and Kentucky went into effect on April 25, 2025.