In the US the laws vary by state. In Kansas you must:
be 18 years or older
be a US citizen or legal alien (minor problem here)
have a high school diploma or equivalent
take a 60 hour class
pass the Kansas licensing exam
pass a background check
Kansas also has one of the easiest exams in the US. Other states are more strict and have more difficult tests. CA’s test has a pass rate of around 50%. Even the most strict only requires 135 hours of training, though.
A real estate agent is anyone who is licensed to help people buy or sell residential or commercial property. A Realtor is a trademarked term that refers to a real estate agent who is an active member of the National Association of Realtors (NAR), the largest trade association in the US.