(a)

(1) Applications for licensure shall be submitted on forms provided by the Arkansas Real Estate Commission.

(2) The commission may require any information and documentation needed to determine if the applicant meets the criteria for licensure as provided in this chapter.

(3) Each applicant shall pay an application fee and examination fee as the commission may require under § 17-42-304.

(4)

(A) Applicants that have provided all required information and documentation to the commission may sit for the licensing examination, if a request has been sent to the Identification Bureau of the Department of Arkansas State Police for a state and federal criminal background check.

(B) A real estate license shall not be issued until the applicant has successfully completed the licensing examination and the commission receives and approves the state and federal criminal background check.

(b) (1) (A) An applicant who successfully completes the licensing examination shall pay, within ninety (90) days from the date of the licensing examination, such license fee and Real Estate Recovery Fund fee as the commission may require under § 17-42-304.

(B)

(i) If the federal criminal background check has not been received by the commission within ninety (90) days of the date of the licensing examination, the date may be extended by the commission until receipt of the federal criminal background check.

(ii) A real estate license shall not be issued until receipt and approval by the commission of the state and federal criminal background checks.

(2) The applicant's failure to pay the license fee and Real Estate Recovery Fund fee within the ninety-day period under subdivision (b)(1)(B)(i) of this section shall invalidate the licensing examination results, and the applicant shall be required to make new application and retake the licensing examination as an original applicant.