Before you read
Test yourself first: 5 questions
Question 1 of 5
Which licensee is responsible for maintaining and supervising the brokerage's trust account in Ohio?
Answer: B. The principal (managing) broker is responsible for the proper handling and supervision of the brokerage's trust/escrow account in Ohio.
Question 2 of 5
In Ohio, who is responsible for maintaining the brokerage trust/special account and ensuring its proper handling?
Answer: C. The broker is ultimately accountable for trust funds. While salespersons must promptly turn over deposits, it is the broker who must maintain the special/trust account, keep accurate records, and answer to the Ohio Division of Real Estate for any mishandling.
Question 3 of 5
An Ohio salesperson deposits an earnest money check into her personal checking account instead of the brokerage trust account. This conduct is best described as:
Answer: B. Placing client or third-party funds (like earnest money) into a personal or operating account mixes them with personal funds (commingling) and using them is conversion. Ohio license law requires such funds be held in a separate trust/escrow account, and violations are grounds for discipline.
Question 4 of 5
Where can earnest money deposits be held in an Ohio transaction, and who is responsible for safeguarding them?
Answer: B. Under Ohio license law, earnest money and other trust funds must be deposited into and held in the broker's trust/escrow account, separate from the broker's own funds. The broker is accountable for safeguarding, accurately accounting for, and promptly depositing these funds; commingling is prohibited.
Question 5 of 5
What is the primary purpose of Ohio's continuing education (CE) requirement for licensees?
Answer: B. Continuing education keeps Ohio licensees up to date on current law, required ethics/core topics, and practice, and completion is a condition of license renewal.
Keep the streak going with more questions like these, each with a full rationale.
What you need to know
The broker is accountable for the safekeeping and proper disbursement of these funds. Ohio real estate licenses are renewed on a recurring cycle, and licensees must complete approved continuing education, including required core topics such as fair housing and current legal updates, to keep the license active. Failure to complete continuing education or renew on time can place the license on inactive or suspended status.
Ohio Escrow Fund Handling and License Renewal: FAQs
Is Ohio Escrow Fund Handling and License Renewal on the real estate exam?
Yes. State License Law is a scored domain on the Ohio real estate licensing exam, and this topic appears in the state license-law portion.
Is this cheat sheet free?
Yes — every page on Cinna RE's resource library is free to read, print and share. The app adds practice questions, mock exams and a readiness score.
Does Ohio test this differently?
Ohio applies its own license law on top of the national portion. This page covers the Ohio rules specifically, which is what the state section of your exam tests.
