Getting ready to earn your real estate license in California can seem like a difficult task, but the good news for aspiring real estate agents is it’s doable! With these steps, you can rest assured that you will be well prepared for the California real estate exam.
Let’s look at the requirements, the cost, and everything else you can expect to pass the real estate salesperson examination and being your California real estate career.
Requirements for Getting Your CA Real Estate License
- Must be 18 years old
- Complete 135-hours of pre-licensing real estate courses OR complete three college-level courses accredited by the Western Association of Schools and Colleges or the United States Department of Education
- Apply to take the CA real estate licensing exam
- Pass the California real estate exam
- Complete the live scan fingerprinting process and pass a background check
- Apply for your CA real estate license
- Find a Broker
6 Steps to Getting Your Real Estate License in CA
Step 1: Complete 135-hours of Pre-licensing Courses
In order to become a licensed real estate agent in California, you will need to complete 135-hours of pre-licensing courses. Many people choose to take their pre-licensing education course online with an approved provider; we have compiled a list of our top picks.
With real estate industry-leading exam pass rates, you can be sure that Aceable Agent is a great choice!
Career Education for Agents, Brokers & Property Managers
Colibri has helped over 520,000 aspiring real estate agents and brokers get licensed.
With these top picks, you will have access to a great real estate education with instructor support, exam prep, real estate practice exams, live webinars, and private tutoring with their online learning packages.
You can skip this if…
- you are exempt from the college-level course requirements if you have completed the California State Bar Exam.
Step 2: Apply to Take the California Real Estate Exam
After completing the required 135-hours of real estate coursework and passing the final exam, you can apply to take the real estate agent licensing exam in California. You can apply either online or through the mail/fax. Along with your application, you will need to upload/send in copies of your certification of completion or transcripts along with the application fee.
To submit an application online, you first need to create an eLicensing account with the DRE and then select the salesperson examination application form, and fill out the questions. Then you will upload the documentation for proof of completing the 135-hours of pre-licensing courses and pay the application fee of $60.
After you submit the application and it’s approved, which usually takes 2-4 weeks, you will receive a notice in the mail with your scheduled exam date. If you are a qualified examinee, you can now schedule yourself into an available exam via eLicensing as late as 6:00 a.m. on the day of the exam. You will then be able to print a barcoded schedule notice online to take with you to the exam. Additionally, examinees that use eLicensing for exam scheduling will no longer be mailed out exam schedule notices as those can now be printed online. You will have to take your California real estate license exam within two years of the DRE approving your application; otherwise, you will have to reapply and pay the fees again.
Step 3: Pass the California Salesperson Licensing Exam
It is the moment you have been waiting for; all that study is about to pay off, and it’s time to take the CA real estate exam. The California real estate agent exam is a multiple-choice test consisting of 150 questions. You will have 3 hours to complete the exam and will need to get 70% of the questions correct to pass.
Bring This
Form of ID* – A government-issued photo ID
- Current state-issued driver’s license or DMV identification card
- U.S. Passport or Passport issued by a foreign government
- U.S. Military identification card
A calculator will be provided
*You must provide a valid form of photo identification issued within the past 5 years.
Don’t Bring This
Do not bring any personal items!
- Your phone, watch, wallet, hat, and jacket must be left outside of the testing area.
- You will need to leave everything in your car or put them in a locker (electronics turned off) until the completion of the exam.
The test center will provide everything you need for the exam.
If you took an electronic examination, you will be notified immediately if you have passed or failed the exam. Otherwise, the results will be mailed to you within 5 business days after the exam.
If you have failed the exam, you will be given your score and the percentage of questions you got correct in each section. You can apply to retake the exam only after you have received the notice of failure online; you can retake the exam as many times as you need to within the two-year period of the date of the original application.
Is the California Real Estate License Exam Hard?
Getting your real estate license in California isn’t easy, and many test takers fail their first attempt. We recommend checking out Aceable Agent; they have a national real estate exam pass rate of an impressive 94%!
Step 4: Submit Fingerprints and Pass a Background Check
You will need to submit your fingerprints electronically to the State Department of Justice through the live scan program. A real estate license will not be issued until a report from the DOJ and the FBI comes back with no criminal violation.
You can choose to send in your fingerprints after you apply to take the real estate agent exam or after you pass the exam, but it must be completed before you apply for your real estate license. You will have to pay a $49 fingerprinting fee as well as a live scan service fee, which should be paid directly to the live scan service provider, not the DRE.
Step 5: Apply for Your Real Estate License in California
Now that you have completed your real estate licensing exam and passed your criminal background check, you are ready to apply for your actual salesperson license! There are two ways to apply for your license. First, you can choose to apply for your real estate license application when you apply for your salesperson examination, which would cost $305 in fees upfront.
If you choose to take your real estate exam first before applying for your license, you will need to create an eLicensing account with the DRE if you have not done so already.
- Log into your eLicensing account/ create an account
- Go to Examination Services, Examination Records
- Find the date that you passed the exam, & select See Details
- Select Print License Application
- Complete the form and mail it to the DRE (make sure you include an original signature, the licensing fee of $245 (no cash), and your completed live scan information)
Congratulations, you are now a Licensed Real Estate Salesperson in CA! Take time to celebrate your accomplishments and dream about your new future!
Step 6: Find a Broker
Now that you can legally practice real estate in California, the next step is to find a sponsoring broker to help guide you as a new real estate agent. A broker will help you learn and implement property management, trust fund handling, and all the legal aspects of the California department of real estate.
You will want to make sure you find a California real estate broker you believe is a good fit for you. A good broker will help you become a better real estate agent and help you feel confident and find success to ensure you’re on the right path to a career in the real estate market you can be proud of.
How to Choose a Good Online Real Estate School in California
When it comes to completing the pre-licensing course in California online, you want to make sure you choose a great online real estate school for your courses. There are several factors to consider when making this decision.
- Cost – The cost of an online real estate license course can range from about $100 to $1,000, depending on the materials you want and the school you choose. Online courses will also be more expensive if you choose an actual instructor compared to a self-study course.
- Content – Real estate laws are updated often, so you want to make sure you choose an online real estate school with the most up-to-date content.
- Guarantees – Some California online real estate schools offer money-back guarantees and pass guarantees. Read these guarantees carefully and make sure you do what’s necessary to qualify.
- Reviews – It’s also a good idea to read reviews from past students from schools you are interested in. They can tell you quite a bit about an online real estate school, both good and bad.
When you use these tips, you can ensure that you choose the best real estate school for your online real estate courses.
California Salesperson License Frequently Asked Questions
How much do real estate agents make in California?
A licensed agent can make anywhere from $44,741 to $233,141, but many factors determine a California real estate agents salary.
What will the California State Licensing Exam cover?
The real estate salesperson exam in California will cover seven topics, including:
- Property ownership and land use controls and regulations (approximately 15% of exam)
- Laws of agency and fiduciary duties (approximately 17% of exam)
- Property valuation and financial analysis (approximately 14% of exam)
- Financing (approximately 9% of exam)
- Transfer of property (approximately 8% of exam)
- Practice of real estate and disclosures (includes specialty areas) (approximately 25% of exam)
- Contracts (approximately 12% of exam)
How long will it take to get my real estate license in CA?
It depends on how quickly you work through the 135-hours of pre-licensing program and whether or not you pass the licensing exam on the first try, but for most people, it takes about five to six months.
What is the cost of the California Real Estate License exam?
The salesperson exam in California costs $60, while the real estate broker license exam costs $95.
Is there a limit for taking the CA real estate exam?
You can take the real estate license exam as many times as you want within a two-year period of the date of the first application for the exam.
How do out-of-state applicants get a real estate license in CA?
If you are not a California resident, you can still get your license; it just requires a few more steps.
