May an unlicensed assistant or other unlicensed employees be a member of a real estate team and be paid by the broker as a member of the team?

No, only active real estate licensees may be a member of a real estate team. A broker may pay compensation only to active licensees for the performance of real estate activity. The broker may pay compensation to a licensee as a natural person or through a registered professional corporation (PC) or professional limited liability corporation (PLC or PLLC). (A.R.S. § 32-2155.A)

Unlicensed assistants and other unlicensed employees receive compensation based on their work, unrelated to the success of a transaction. If an unlicensed assistant is paid on any basis that relies on the ultimate sale of a property, then the assistant must be licensed.