Whether you want to become a broker or an agent depends on the time (and money) you have for education and the way you want to use your license. Brokers can work on their own, with no supervision, while salespeople cannot; the broker-in-charge at a real estate firm must supervise them. Weigh the pros and cons to determine which path you should take.

Some states do not allow you to be a broker without apprenticing under another broker for a period of time, usually about two years. Even if you get a broker's license, you may not be allowed to work without supervision for a while.

There are plenty of real estate agents who have every bit as much experience as a broker, but no interest in acquiring the title. Sales is their passion and they don't plan to own their own real estate firms. A broker-in-charge of a firm supervises salespeople, but other brokers affiliated with the firm must still abide by office policies and procedures. In other words, the type of license you hold doesn't always affect the way you work for an agency.

Some firms now require all of their agents to be brokers because brokers have proven that they have more knowledge of real estate. Their advanced standing means they shoulder more responsibility for their own actions than a supervised salesperson does. That results in fewer problems for the firm if someone files a formal complaint against a broker.

Acquiring a broker's license pushes you to learn more about the business of real estate. If you need that push to follow through with your education, preparing for the test will certainly provide it. Get accustomed to the idea of becoming a broker. It is likely that many states will eventually require every agent to have a broker's license to help ensure that they are qualified to help the public buy and sell real estate.