5 Best Online Real Estate Schools in Connecticut for 2023 (Updated!)

If you’re considering getting your Connecticut real estate license through reciprocity, Freedom Trail Realty School is by far your best option. You’ll get both a Massachusetts license and a Connecticut license, so there will be a ton of added benefits if you’re able to work in both states. Their comprehensive packages offer a range of features that cater to students’ needs, including access to livestream and on-demand classes, exam prep materials, and more.

It’s important to note that if you choose Freedom Trail Realty School, you will be enrolling in a 40-hour Massachusetts prelicensing course. As part of the process, you will need to apply for the Massachusetts license exam, obtain your license in Massachusetts, and then apply for your Connecticut license through reciprocity. While this may involve a few extra steps, many students find it worthwhile to complete their studies online and pursue licensure in Connecticut through reciprocity. In fact, there are few other options.

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Convenience: 4.6 out 5. Freedom Trail uses the most up-to-date technology to provide a streamlined learning platform. The user interface is not only user friendly, but it’s also easy to access any where, any time. There are close to a dozen live instructors who are knowledgeable about both MA and CT real estate laws to help provide real-life examples of things you might encounter once you graduate.

Freedom Trail was also built for all students, no matter what their preferred learning style is. They are small enough that they can cater their deliverability to fit your needs. They offer a variety of course formats for self-paced, livestreaming, or OnDemand learning environments. The tiered packages also include thousands of practice questions and additional study guides to help prep you for your exam.

Pass Rate: 4.7 out 5. Freedom Trail’s pass rate among Connecticut students is above the state average. About 64% of Freedom Trail students go on to pass the state exam, and they’ve helped more than 35,000 aspiring agents get their real estate license in MA/CT.  The school does claim that if you purchase their Summit package and follow their advice, the pass rates on licensing exams reaches 99%, but I’m unable to independently verify that number.

Course Duration: 4.5 out of 5. Although the Massachusetts (then you can apply for reciprocity in CT) pre-licensing course only takes 40 hours to complete, some people like more time in case they get busy. You can pay an extra fee to extend your course, but Freedom Trail doesn’t offer many options. You can only extend for one month at a time, and it will cost you a pretty penny.

Support: 4.2 out of 5. Freedom Trail doesn’t have the best customer support out there, to say the least. If you login to their website and click the “contact us” button, it just pulls up a live chat feature. While this is great during regular business hours, you won’t get an answer on evening or weekends. It’s also hard to tell if an actual person is responding, or if it’s a bot of some sorts.

I personally couldn’t find a phone number, or an email address to contact someone directly either. Overall, it’s not the worst out there, but Freedom Trail’s customer support could definitely be improved.

Refund Policy: 4.6 out of 5. Freedom Trail’s top feature, in my opinion, is the Pass or Don’t Pay guarantee. You can get your money back if you don’t pass the exam on your first try. However, there are some caveats to consider. For example, you have to pay extra to receive this feature (lame!), and you must score higher than 85% on all sections of at least six (6) of company’s full online practice exams, as determined by the Education Service, before taking your State administered licensing test.

As far as returns are concerned, you can get a full refund if you notify them within 14 days of your purchase. You will not be allotted a refund if you started any portion of the course, so keep that in mind as well.

Overall Value & Recommended Package: I would recommend Freedom Trails’s Massachussets/Connecticut pre-licensing course. For aspiring agents, I’d suggest taking a look at one of the premium learning packages. The extra perks like the career success tools, the practice tests, and the instructor access make it a great value that will help you find success long after you finish your real estate course.

If you are unsure about which online format would best suit your needs, I highly recommend considering The CE Shop’s course. They offer a range of packages, allowing you to select the features that align with your learning style and preferences.

In terms of affordability, The CE Shop is the most cost-effective option out there. They offer competitive pricing, making it a great choice for those who looking for a budget-friendly option.

One of the standout features of The CE Shop is their free five-day trial. This trial period allows you to test drive their classes and experience their online platform before making a commitment. The trial period is offered without any questions asked, giving you the freedom to make the best decision. All of these combined make it the best online real estate course in Connecticut.

Plus, this is one of the courses available for our Tuition Reimbursement program, which is a big help. All you have to do is attend at least 1 interview with one of our recruiters (+ provide feedback) after passing the state exam & before joining another brokerage, and we’ll reimburse you for the entire cost of the course that you purchase from us.

While there is the option to pick the more affordable package, I strongly suggest considering the “Premium” package due to the bonuses. The Pass Guarantee is particularly noteworthy as it provides an added layer of security.

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Convenience: 4.8 out 5. The CE Shop’s user-friendly interface is what makes the learning experience so easy. Their specially designed online platform is made for all devices, including tablets, desktops, and phones. This accessibility allows you to study conveniently on the go, fitting your studies into your busy schedule.

The dashboard provides a great overview of your course progress, displaying how much you have completed and what lessons you have left. This visual representation helps you stay organized and motivated throughout the whole course.

The content itself is far from boring. You’ll find a mix of engaging videos, informative infographics, and interactive quizzes that help you keep a steady pace.

Pass Rate: 4.4 out 5. The CE Shop’s pass rate stands around 60%. This might sound lackluster, but it’s one of the highest pass rates in the state (and on our list for that matter). This achievement is noteworthy, especially when compared to the state’s average pass rate of 43%. That’s one of the lowest in the country, especially since the course itself is so short.

The CE Shop maintains this relatively high pass rate by offering practice tests and a self-paced scheduling system. The option to progress through the course at your preferred speed, whether it be faster or slower, is a significant advantage. This flexibility allows you to tailor your learning experience to your own needs.

Course Duration: 4.6 out of 5. As mentioned, the Connecticut real estate course is relatively short at just 60-hours. If you’re concerned about the timeline for completing The CE Shop course, rest assured that they have a flexible extension policy in place. The initial access to the course expires six months after the purchase date, giving you plenty of time to work through it.

To accommodate any unexpected delays or busy periods, The CE Shop offers a free one-month extension, allowing you additional time to complete the course without any extra cost. However, it’s important to note that any reactivation or extension of the course beyond that will cost you. The CE Shop charges 20% of the current retail price of the course for each 30-day extension after the initial six-month period.

Support: 4.7 out of 5. The CE Shop’s support team goes all out to provide a good (and fast) experience for students. Their availability is unmatched as they can be reached 24/7 through phone, chat, and email. This level of accessibility is better than what most other online schools are able to offer. In my personal experience, I found the support staff on the phone to be very helpful and efficient in providing clear guidance on the next steps I needed to take.

In situations where an immediate answer wasn’t available, the support team would kindly jot down my information and ensure a solid response within a day or two. Initially, I had concerns about the lack of direct access to instructors, but The CE Shop assisted me in establishing communication when I needed clarification on the course content. This prompt and reassuring support was a great relief, as it guaranteed that I would always receive a quick response back if I had an issue.

Refund Policy: 4.8 out of 5. The CE Shop sets itself apart with its impressive 5-day free trial, a feature that is not commonly found among other real estate schools in Connecticut. This unique offering allows prospective students to explore the course without the need to provide credit card information upfront, providing a risk-free opportunity for those who are still undecided about enrolling in an online course.

Regarding the refund policy, The CE Shop follows a standard approach. They offer a full refund within the first month of enrollment, as long as the student has not completed more than half of the course. Similar refund policies can be found with other schools such as Freedom Trail Realty.

Overall Value & Recommended Package: Overall, if I could only recommend one course in Connecticut, it would be The CE Shop. It’s simple to navigate, and will help to prepare you for the real estate exam. I’d suggest taking a look at the Premium package because the extra perks like the pass guarantee make it a better overall value. It also comes with career resource books written by experts, and business building courses which are a huge help even after you pass the test and begin your new career.

We’ve built the most affordable way for you to get your Real Estate License. All you have to do is attend at least 1 interview with one of our recruiters after passing the state exam & before joining another brokerage, and we’ll reimburse you for the entire cost of The CE Shop course that you purchase from us.

That’s right – we’ll reimburse you whether you choose to join our team or not (but we hope you do!).  About 50% of our tuition reimbursement graduates choose to work for our team after interviewing with us.  The other 50% of our tuition reimbursement students that choose to join another brokerage still get their course costs fully reimbursed.

Why are we the only real estate company that reimburses your course costs even if you don’t join our brokerage?  There are a few key reasons that we’ve decided to set our program this way:

1.   Our 50% join rate is way higher than the industry average for recruiting, and we really want agents to be excited when they join us, which only works if they love what we have to offer.  Most brokerages only want experienced agents, but we specialize in helping new agents build their real estate careers from the ground up.  We have hundreds of agent training courses that range from helping you build out your social media presence to learning the ins and outs of commercial real estate; we have mentors dedicated to new agents to help them through their first sales; we even have a dedicated coach to help with mindset and motivation; and more.  So we don’t need to force new agents to join our team to save a few bucks.
2.   If you choose to join another team, we also hope you change your mind someday and come back to join us.  Many agents reach out to us months or years after trying another brokerage first, and this gives us a chance to keep the door open for the 50% of new agents who don’t join us immediately.  If we can’t be the right brokerage for you right now, then we still hope to be the right brokerage for you some day in the future.
3.   Too many real estate organizations fail to live up to their promises.  We’re not perfect, but we really try to follow-through on every promise we make, including our tuition reimbursement promise.

At the end of the day, we’re betting on you becoming a great agent, and if we can make obtaining your real estate license more affordable, then hopefully you’ll return the favor and join us after graduation or come back to us any time you’re ready for a new brokerage.  It’s that simple, and we’re happy to invest in you.

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How does the reimbursement work?

Email us (support@agentadvice.com) once you receive confirmation from the state that you’ve passed the state exam, and one of our recruiters will reach out to you to get to know you and share any and every thing you’ll want to know to decide if our brokerage is the right fit for you.

We’ll schedule the interview at a time that works for you.  All you have to do is attend the interview and provide a little feedback to our support team, and our support team will reimburse your credit card for the amount that you’ve paid us within 2 business days.  All in, it’s about an hour commitment between the interview and feedback.  No other strings attached.

Tip:  If you’ve already started a different course at your own expense, or prefer to pick your own school at your own expense, we’d still love to interview you.  Just reach back out when you’re licensed, and we can connect you with our hiring team, however, we’re unable to reimburse your course costs at this time unless you purchase the course directly from us. 

AgentAdvice.com is not the provider of any courses, and all state certifications, ongoing support questions, etc. will be provided by and fulfilled directly through the school. 

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Think you have what it takes to be a successful real estate agent?

“When I interview people who have just passed their real estate course, I’m looking for agents that meet a couple of characteristics. If you have these characteristics, it will determine who is successful and who is not in real estate.

It’s not an easy industry. If it was easy, we’d all be rich. First, I’m looking for agents that have a vision for what they want to be, people who want more than what they have. Now, I’m not talking about money, motivated people necessarily. If money motivates you that’s fine, but in most cases, money’s not the motivator.

I am looking for agents that are in touch with their motivations to grow. Is it having a house for your family? Is it providing an education for your children? Is it providing security for your future retirement? It doesn’t matter, I’m looking for agents that have a vision, and are passionate about taking care of present and future concerns, whatever they are. So that’s number one: ambition.

Number two is looking for people that have a little bit of courage. This business requires courage. In my experience, having now been in conversations with well over a thousand agents over the last 18 months, and recruited more than a hundred, there’s one characteristic successful agents have. They don’t shrink from a challenge. They don’t, they still take action even if they don’t know all of the answers to all of the questions. They know that if they get faced with a question that they don’t really answer to, they know they can find the answer.

I’m looking for people that are ambitious, are courageous, and then finally are ready to grow. I want to help give people the opportunity to be the best version of themselves.

Usually, it’s not easy, and many times there are tears, and sweat, and frustration involved, but you go through that because you are so ambitious and in love with the future you’re trying to create. That passion for your future, it gives you courage to press through the hard times. So if you’re ambitious, courageous, and you’re ready to grow, and you think being in a conversation with a guy like me might be helpful to your future then let’s get you the tuition reimbursement you deserve!”

Agent Advice Success Stories: 

Terrica C.
New Keller Williams Agent & Tuition Reimbursement Recipient

“I always wanted to become a real estate agent, and finally decided to take the next step. Getting started with my course was easy. Agent Advice just sent me a link, and I did the whole thing online. I finished the class, now I just need to get scheduled for the state test. I would definitely recommend Agent Advice to anyone looking to get their license, especially if they’re wanting to do it for free.”

Rachel K.
New Real Estate Agent & Tuition Reimbursement Recipient

“I was moving from Tennessee to Florida, so I was considering a career change. I always thought real estate might be something I’d be good at, so I connected with someone at Agent Advice and decided to take the course. It was easy to follow and understand, and the course I chose kept me interested. It didn’t take long for me to finish the class and I passed my state exam on the first try! I then reached out again to Agent Advice and set up an interview with a tuition reimbursement sponsor, and got my money back that same day. All in all, it was really simple and easy.”

Marcus W.
New Real Estate Agent & Tuition Reimbursement Recipient

“The entire process was seamless, and the communication from the very beginning was great. When I first came across Agent Advice I had lots of questions, but I was able to get in touch with someone right away who helped explain the process from start to finish. Once I completed the course and set up an interview with a brokerage, they stopped the payments immediately. I also enjoyed the subscription payment option that Agent Advice has. It gave me the flexibility and motivated me to finish the course quickly. I’m still deciding on which brokerage is the right fit for me, but I enjoyed getting to interview with someone so that I could ask questions about what the day-to-day would look like at that company.”

The CE Shop is hands down the easiest online provider to fulfill your continuing education requirements. The state of Connecticut requires all licensed agents to do 12 hours of continuing education every 2 years. Most agents are looking for a quick solution to knock these out, so CE Shop is your best bet.

The price point is slightly higher than other providers, but the convenience is what sets them apart. They also have several continuing education packages to choose from, so you can find the right mix of courses for you. For all of these reasons, The CE Shop is the best continuing education course in Connecticut.

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Convenience: 4.8 out 5. The CE Shop’s continuing education courses are all online. I also really appreciate the custom-designed online learning platform that is easy to access on a tablet or phone. This allowed me to access the course material on the go, which made a huge difference in how efficient I was with my time.

Reporting is also a major thing to consider when you’re trying to finish your continuing education. Many agents wait until the last minute, so you want to find a provider that will immediately report your completed hours to the Connecticut Real Estate Commission. The CE Shop has a policy that they will mark your hours as complete within 24 hours. You will also immediately receive a certificate upon completion, students can access an electronic copy of the certificate for a minimum of five years.

Pass Rate: 5 out 5. Passing a final exam is not required to receive continuing education credit in Connecticut, so The CE Shop system is set up so that final exams can be passed with a 0% passing score. You just need to complete the hours to receive your credit.

Course Duration: 4.7 out of 5. You must complete 12 hours every 2 years to keep your license active in the state of Connecticut. Course expiration dates vary by course but are generally one year after you purchase the package or course. Each individual course will have an expiration date listed in your CE Shop account.

Support: 4.5 out of 5. I used the live chat feature, and the technical team quickly answered my questions and resolved the issue within minutes. However, it’s worth noting that direct access to instructors is not available. In the event of encountering a problem with the course materials, the support team pledges to provide a response within two days. Waiting for two days can feel like quite a stretch if you find yourself stuck in the middle of a lesson.

Refund Policy: 4.1 out of 5. The CE Shop doesn’t offer refunds for continuing education courses. Luckily, the price point is pretty low, so you won’t be out a ton of money.

Overall Value & Recommended Package: Overall, I highly recommend The CE Shop’s Connecticut continuing education courses. They are very quick and convenient, and provide a lot of flexibility. Agents are required to take 3 mandatory hours mixed with 9 elective hours. That gives you the freedom to decide which courses are most important to you when picking your elective courses. You can choose courses about negotiations, fair housing, veteran housing, and financing.

PrepAgent is designed to help future agents pass the real estate exam. They offer online group webinars, online training tools, e-books, and thousands of state-specific practice questions. 

I looked at dozens of different test prep vendors, including the ones that “come with” the courses – and frankly, all fall short of PrepAgent.

They are constantly updating their content as the exams change. While the questions cannot be the exact same as the real estate exam, PrepAgent strives to keep their content as close to what the exam will provide as possible. The material in the practice exams is written to reflect what an agent would need to know to pass the actual exam. 

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Convenience: 4.8 out 5. PrepAgent offers multiple ways for the students to study. My favorite feature is that you can focus on your weaknesses with category-specific tests, or go straight for the master exam preparation. Interactive flashcards and study guides are available to quiz yourself with, as well as worksheets to help track and remember all the information that has been provided.

PrepAgent also offers explainer videos to help keep the learning process fun. If students opt for the premium package they have access to live online group webinars 7 times a week with a variety of topics that cover the real estate exam. There is a live chat as well as recorded webinars to watch in the future in case you miss one.

In addition to practice exams and up-to-date information on the real estate exam, PrepAgent also offers one-on-one tutoring for those that feel extra individualized attention may help them to better prepare. The tutors help focus on the struggles students are having with absorbing the material and helping to implement tips and study tricks to prepare for the exam. Students can schedule multiple sessions if necessary. 

Refund Policy: 4.1 out of 5. With PrepAgent, you really can’t fail. If you aren’t satisfied with PrepAgent, their packages are covered with a 100% money-back guarantee. This sets them apart from some of their competitors, who have much more restrictive refund policies.

Overall Value & Recommended Package: Overall, I highly recommend PrepAgents’s Texas test prep. A feature I really appreciated is the ability to listen to the information in their car. I also applaud the instructors for their relatable way of teaching and how easy they made it to retain the information taught. Overall students seem very pleased with PrepAgent and their teaching methods, with many having stated they were able to pass the real estate exam on the first try using all the tools offered.

Kaplan’s course is one of the hardest to sit through in Connecticut, but it can get the job done if you really need it to. Because it’s so boring and there are few redeeming qualities, so I’d say you’re better off choosing another provider.

It’s also more expensive than other courses out there with few added benefits to make up for the high price point. It is not known for being very interactive, so there are definitely better options that will probably hold your attention more.

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Convenience: 2 out 5. The Kaplan courses are built on dated technology. It’s hard to navigate, glitchy, and slow. Even figuring out what courses to purchase gives you a headache.

Pass Rates: 3.8 out of 5: Kaplan’s pass rate amongst Connecticut students is pretty lackluster. While it’s not the lowest pass rate by any means, you can certainly find a course that will give you more confidence. About 48% of Kaplan students go on to pass the state exam, which is still lower than the state average.

Kaplan does offer a PassProtection policy that allows students who enrolled in the Live or Live Online classes to retake their course if they fail the Connecticut state exam. That’s great if you happen to fail, but why not choose a course that’s going to give you the knowledge to pass on the first try?

Course Duration: 3.2 out of 5: Although the Connecticut real estate course only takes 60 hours to complete, some people want to know they have an extension 0ption upfront in case they need more time. Kaplan’s access policy is pretty limited. You only have 6 months to finish from the date of purchase before it expires.

Another thing to note is that students take a longer time to complete Kaplan courses than any other online real estate school providers. I chalk this up to the monotonous content, and the repetitive lesson plans.

Support: 1 out of 5. In my test purchases, I’ve experienced Kaplan support taking up to 3 business days before responding.  All other schools I’ve tested typically respond within 1-2 hours & never longer than 24 hours during Monday-Friday.

Refund Policy: 0 out of 5. On 3 separate occasions, AgentAdvice students were declined a qualifying refund for Kaplan course purchases, and in each case, we (AgentAdvice) had to step in to personally provide the refund to these students after Kaplan declined to refund the courses or offer a replacement course. We no longer buy courses from Kaplan for this reason, and recommend that any student considering a Kaplan Real Estate course purchase do so expecting not to get a refund if they change their mind.

Overall Value & Recommended Package: Overall, I can’t recommend Kaplan’s Connecticut pre-licensing course. For aspiring agents, I’d suggest taking a look at one of The CE Shop packages instead. The interactive capabilities will seem like such a breath of fresh air compared to the monotonous text-based content Kaplan offers. The 96% student satisfaction rate blows Kaplan’s sub par courses out of the water, and their updated test prep is such a great value.