Hondros Education Group

What Hondros Education Group does

Hondros Education Group (HEG) is a Columbus, Ohio-based, for-profit provider of state-approved professional licensing education founded in 1980, operating primarily through its Hondros College brand. The company delivers pre-licensing, exam preparation, post-licensing, continuing education, and professional development certifications across multiple regulated industries—real estate (its core), appraisal, mortgage lending, insurance, home inspection, and securities—through five Ohio campuses (Columbus/Westerville, Cincinnati/West Chester, Cleveland South, Toledo/Maumee, Dayton) plus online and livestream formats. Technology is centered on the CompuCram exam prep system (vocabulary tools, practice testing, simulated exams, and a Readiness Indicator), a multi-format learning management system allowing students to switch between online, livestream, and classroom mid-course, and a "Pass or Don't Pay" guarantee backed by a stated 94% pass rate. Since 2013 HEG has expanded via mergers and acquisitions (Arizona School of Real Estate & Business, Realty Continuing Education, Hogan School of Real Estate, Schlicher-Kratz Institute) and in late 2019 merged into the Colibri Group portfolio of 13+ career education brands.

The business model is a mix of one-time course/package fees for pre-licensing and exam prep, recurring continuing education revenue for license renewals, professional certification fees (e.g., Certified Negotiation Expert at $250–$300), and a smaller B2B corporate partnerships and affiliate channel. Pricing is published and standardized (e.g., a $250 promotional discount on pre-licensing packages, a 15% military discount, and Klarna payment-plan financing). Go-to-market combines self-serve online enrollment with phone-based enrollment support, event-driven open houses and career nights, content marketing (blog, email, webinars), and referral partnerships with state and local Realtor associations. Over 70,000 Hondros graduates and 500,000+ students across the Colibri Group family form the customer base, with end customers being individual career-changers and working professionals pursuing or maintaining regulated credentials.

Name

Hondros Education Group

Legal name

Hondros College of Business

Website

https://hondroseducationgroup.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1980

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

101–250 employees

Short description

Hondros Education Group is a Columbus, Ohio-based for-profit provider of state-approved pre-licensing, exam prep, and continuing education for real estate, appraisal, mortgage, insurance, home inspection, and securities professionals, delivered via five Ohio campuses and online, and operating inside Colibri Group since 2019.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Professional Licensing Education

NAICS

Exam Preparation and Tutoring (611691), Educational Support Services (61171), Educational Services (611)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro primary industry

Real Estate, Appraisal & Mortgage (Agent/Broker CE, Appraiser CE) (EDAAALAI)

akta.pro secondary industries

Certification & Licensing Exam Management Platforms (EDAFADAG), Real Estate Licensure Exam Prep (Salesperson/Broker, Appraiser) (EDANAIAH), Securities & Investment Licensing Exam Prep (FINRA Series 7/63/65/66, SIE) (EDANAIAJ)

Keywords

• Real estate licensing
• Continuing education
• Professional certification
• Exam preparation
• Vocational training

Headquarters

HQ city

Columbus

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices5 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Pre-Licensing Courses: One-time course fees for pre-licensing programs for real estate agents, brokers, appraisers, home inspectors, insurance, mortgage, and securities professionals. Offered in multiple formats (online, livestream, classroom).
2. Exam Prep Products: One-time purchase of exam preparation materials and simulated testing products like CompuCram.
3. Continuing Education: Recurring continuing education course fees for license renewal. Courses offered in packages and individual modules for various professional licenses.
4. Professional Development Certifications: Specialized certifications like Certified Negotiation Expert (CNE) offered as standalone courses with fees for professional development.
5. Corporate Partnership Training: B2B training services for employers and corporate partners through corporate partnerships program.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

Hondros Education Group provides state-approved pre-licensing, exam preparation, post-licensing, and continuing education courses for real estate salespersons and brokers, and parallel pre-licensing and continuing education for insurance, appraisal, mortgage lending, home inspection, and securities professionals. Courses are delivered across online self-paced, livestream, and in-person classroom formats through five Ohio campuses and a multi-state online platform, with proprietary CompuCram exam prep and a Pass or Don't Pay money-back guarantee.

Product overview

Hondros Education Group operates a multi-brand education platform offering professional licensing and continuing education courses primarily for real estate, but also spanning appraisal, mortgage lending, insurance, home inspection, and securities. The core offering centers on pre-licensing courses, exam preparation (powered by CompuCram), and continuing education, delivered across online, livestream, and in-person classroom formats. The company operates primarily through the Hondros College brand in Ohio, supplemented by acquired regional brands including Arizona School of Real Estate & Business (ASREB), Schlicher-Kratz Institute, and Hogan School of Real Estate. Within the Colibri Group portfolio, the company also offers complementary products through sister brands like McKissock Learning (appraisal education) and Superior School of Real Estate (North Carolina). The product portfolio includes professional certifications, exam prep tools, and career development resources including the Certified Negotiation Expert (CNE) designation offered in partnership with the Real Estate Negotiation Institute.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Hondros Learning: Publisher offering online courses, textbooks, and exam prep products for real estate, appraisal, mortgage, insurance, and home inspection industries.

Products and services

• Ohio Real Estate Salesperson Pre-Licensing State-approved pre-licensing education package that enables aspiring Ohio real estate agents to complete required coursework and sit for the state salesperson exam in as little as three months, delivered in online, livestream, and in-person classroom formats.
• Real Estate Exam Prep Package Comprehensive salesperson exam preparation package including instructor support, math review, and the CompuCram all-in-one practice and simulated exam system, designed to ensure readiness for the Ohio real estate salesperson licensing exam.
• Real Estate Post-Licensing First state-mandated coursework for new Ohio real estate licensees needed to maintain their license after initial licensure, offered in flexible online and in-person formats.
• Ohio Real Estate Continuing Education Ohio-approved continuing education courses for licensed real estate salespersons, available as packages (e.g., 30-Hour Livestream Package) and individual modules to satisfy license renewal requirements.
• Ohio Real Estate Broker Pre-Licensing Pre-licensing programs for licensed Ohio real estate agents seeking to advance to broker status, including the Broker Career Start Package, broker exam prep, and post-license requirements.
• Certified Negotiation Expert (CNE) Designation Professional certification in negotiation skills offered through the Real Estate Negotiation Institute as a self-paced 6-hour elective CE course ($250) or 2-day livestream 12-hour elective CE course ($300), including marketing kit, certification badge, email signature badge, templates, forms, and downloadable guidebooks.
• Insurance Pre-Licensing and Continuing Education Pre-licensing and continuing education courses for insurance professionals seeking to obtain or maintain state insurance licenses, delivered online and in-person.
• Appraisal Pre-Licensing and Continuing Education Education for property appraisers including pre-licensing, continuing education, and associate degree programs approved by the Appraiser Qualifications Board, serving professionals conducting real property valuations.
• Mortgage Lending Pre-Licensing and Continuing Education Pre-licensing and continuing education for mortgage loan originators and officers seeking state licensure and professional development, delivered online and through partner channels.
• Securities Licensing Education Pre-licensing and continuing education programs for securities professionals pursuing state securities licensing and professional development, supported by CompuCram exam prep materials.
• Ohio Real Estate Broker Continuing Education Continuing education courses designed for licensed Ohio real estate brokers to satisfy broker-specific renewal requirements, delivered in online and in-person formats.
• Corporate Partnerships Training Program Employer-sponsored group training program offering bulk enrollment, custom corporate solutions, and access to Hondros' pre-licensing and continuing education catalog for real estate brokerages, insurance agencies, and other employers.

Quantifiable outcome

• 94% exam pass rate for students who follow the proven study plan
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers6 records

Segments7 records

Ideal customer profiles5 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature3 records

Partnerships

Nine partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Colibri GroupcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 December 2019Hondros College merged with Colibri Group in late 2019, becoming part of a network of brands offering career education across multiple industries and states. The partnership provides access to brainpower, marketing systems, and platform technology to help expand reach and build skills. Colibri Group family includes Real Estate Express, McKissock, The Institute for Luxury Home Marketing, and other national brands.
• Make-A-Wish Ohio, Kentucky & IndianaminorGTM or Marketing Partner · 30 October 2018Charitable partnership where Hondros College participates in fundraising activities to grant wishes for local children dealing with critical illnesses.
• Toledo Board of RealtorsminorGTM or Marketing Partner · 8 January 2014New relationship formed to support real estate education in the Toledo, Ohio area and Michigan continuing education. Board recognizes Hondros for full array of real estate offerings.
• Youngstown Columbiana Association of RealtorsminorGTM or Marketing Partner · 12 March 2013Partnership to heighten real estate education in the Youngstown/Columbiana region of Ohio. Association recommends Hondros College for education needs.
• Columbus REALTORS FoundationminorGTM or Marketing PartnerScholarship partnership providing financial support for aspiring real estate professionals through John G. and Linda Hondros scholarship, Women's Council of REALTORS scholarship, and Columbus REALTORS Memorial scholarship.
• Le Petit GourmetminorGTM or Marketing PartnerLocal Toledo restaurant and neighboring business that catered the Toledo location open house event, demonstrating community engagement.
• Schlicher-Kratz InstitutecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerAcquired in December 2018, Schlicher-Kratz Institute is a provider of real estate education, appraiser education, and mortgage loan origination training based in Pennsylvania since 1975. Part of Hondros Education Group portfolio.
• Hogan School of Real EstatecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerAcquired in November 2018, Hogan School of Real Estate is based in Tucson, Arizona. Combined with Arizona School of Real Estate & Business to provide comprehensive real estate education in Arizona.
• Arizona School of Real Estate & Business (ASREB)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerMerger announced December 2013. ASREB offers quality license education for real estate, mortgage, home inspection, appraisal, and insurance with over 300 continuing education courses monthly.

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves8 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• The CE Shop: The CE Shop is a leading online provider of real estate pre-licensing and continuing education courses, competing head-to-head with Hondros in online real estate licensing and CE across multiple states.
• Superior School of Real Estate: Superior School of Real Estate is a Colibri Group sister brand serving North Carolina with qualifying and continuing education for real estate licensees, offering the same product mix as Hondros in a different geography.
• Allied Schools: Allied Schools is a Colibri Group sister brand offering courses for real estate, mortgage, insurance, and home inspection licensing, with comparable online course delivery and exam prep to Hondros.
• McKissock Learning: McKissock Learning is a sister brand within the Colibri Group portfolio and a top national provider of education for licensed real estate appraisers, agents, brokers, home inspectors, and land surveyors, directly comparable in product offering.
• Arizona School of Real Estate & Business: ASREB is a Colibri Group sister brand offering license education for real estate, mortgage, home inspection, appraisal, and insurance in Arizona with classroom and online delivery, comparable in product scope to Hondros.
• Mbition (Kaplan Real Estate Education): Mbition, formerly OnCourse Learning Real Estate, is a Kaplan company offering real estate pre-licensing and continuing education courses nationwide, directly overlapping with Hondros's core curriculum and delivery model.
• 360training: 360training is a major online provider of regulatory-approved training across real estate, mortgage, insurance, and other licensed professions, offering comparable pre-licensing and continuing education to individuals and corporate partners.
• Real Estate Express: Real Estate Express is a Colibri Group sister brand offering online real estate pre-licensing courses with industry-leading pass rates, competing for the same career-changer segment as Hondros.

Emerging players

• Institute for Real Estate Education (IREE): IREE is an online real estate education provider offering pre-licensing and CE courses across multiple states, an emerging niche player competing in the same online real estate licensing category as Hondros.

Broad incumbents

• Kaplan (Diversified Education): Kaplan is a large incumbent provider of test preparation, professional licensing, and continuing education across many fields, including real estate through Mbition, serving overlapping customers at greater scale.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/hondros-education-group

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles5 records

Subsidiaries3 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds1 record

Investors1 record

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A1 record

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Hondros Education Group